Honoka sensed the shift in his mood. She glanced up at Kenji.
"Are you alright? Just now... did I say something wrong?"
"It's nothing to do with you," Kenji said. He reached over and patted her head gently. "Just some village politics that pissed me off. Come on, let's get your identification sorted out first. Then I'll take you to my place and get you settled in."
She nodded without pressing further, falling into step beside him. To her, this young man was the only person she could rely on in this unfamiliar village. Everything else was secondary.
With the Third Hokage's approval note in hand, Kenji handled Honoka's ID registration on the first floor of the Hokage Building. The process was quick. He handed her the finished document with her photo printed on it and smiled.
"There. You're officially a Konoha citizen now. Let's go home."
They walked through Konoha's streets together, navigating the evening foot traffic until they reached his residence. The house looked exactly as he'd left it, quiet and unassuming from the outside. He opened the front door and led her inside.
"You'll be staying here," he said, opening the door to the room next to his own. "This was originally meant for a younger sibling my parents were planning to have. But the wars kept dragging on, and they never got the chance. Nobody's used it in years."
The room was clean but sparse. A bed, a desk, a small wardrobe. Just basic furniture that had been maintained but never personalized.
He pulled out the storage scroll containing Honoka's personal belongings and handed it to her. "Your things from the island."
"Thank you," she said quietly. She unrolled the scroll and began extracting items. Clothes, books, a few personal effects. Kenji stepped forward to help, and together they quickly made the room feel more lived-in.
When they finished, he gave her a brief tour of the rest of the house.
"My room's right next door if you need anything. Over here is the bathroom. That's the study, though I don't use it much anymore. And..."
He stopped in front of a firmly closed door at the end of the hall. For a moment he just stood there, then gently opened it.
"This was my parents' room."
Honoka peered inside. The room was neat and orderly.
"Your parents... they're not in the village right now?" she asked softly.
"They died years ago."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"
"It's fine," Kenji cut her off, waving away the apology. "It was a long time ago."
He closed the door and changed the subject quickly.
"I need to go visit a friend. It shouldn't take too long. Just stay here and make yourself comfortable, alright?"
Honoka understood immediately that he meant Sakumo. She didn't ask for details, just nodded.
"Be careful. I'll be here when you get back."
---
The walk to the Hatake residence felt longer than it actually was. The atmosphere shifted the closer Kenji got to his destination. The streets grew quieter, but not in a peaceful way. More like people were avoiding the area. The few civilians he did pass stared at him openly once they realized where he was heading.
Some looked contemptuous. Others seemed almost gleeful, like they were hoping he'd stop and shout insults at the Hatake household. Probably so they could feel righteous about their own condemnation of Sakumo.
Bunch of idiots.
Kenji swept a glance across the gawkers and kept walking until he reached the front door. Then he knocked lightly.
Knock knock.
Footsteps approached from inside. A young voice called out, "Who is it?"
"Kakashi, it's me. Kenji. I'm here to visit your father. Is he home?"
There was a pause, then the sound of locks being undone. The door swung open to reveal Kakashi standing in the doorway. The kid looked terrible. His face was drawn with exhaustion, dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept properly in days.
"Kenji-senpai," he said quietly. "Please, come in. Father's in the living room."
Kenji followed him inside. It felt suffocating, like the walls were closing in. Sakumo was already seated in the living room. The moment Kenji saw him, his heart sank.
This wasn't the same man he'd fought alongside during the war. The proud White Fang had been reduced to a shadow. His hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and hollow. He'd lost weight, his frame looking almost skeletal beneath his clothes. Everything about him screamed exhaustion.
But his eyes... his eyes burned with an unsettling intensity. A desperate, almost fanatical light. Like someone who'd already made peace with their decision and was just waiting to see it through.
"Kenji," Sakumo said with a raspy voice. "I didn't expect you to visit at a time like this. I heard you were deployed on a mission. Did everything go smoothly?"
"The mission went fine, thank you for asking." Kenji sat down across from him, not bothering with pleasantries. "I got back today and immediately heard the rumors about you. I couldn't ignore it. So I had to come check on you."
He met Sakumo's eyes directly.
"The moment I saw you just now, I could tell what you're thinking. You're really planning to go through with it, aren't you?"
Sakumo went still for a moment. Then he laughed.
"You can see even that... You're going to become a stronger ninja than I ever was, aren't you?" His gaze focused on Kenji, like he was looking at Konoha's future. The light in his eyes grew even brighter. "Kakashi, step outside for a bit. I want to speak with Kenji alone."
"Father..." Kakashi's voice was small.
"Please."
The boy hesitated, then obeyed. He turned and quietly closed the door behind him as he left. The moment they were alone, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier. Kenji didn't waste time.
"You're planning to use your death to send a message to the village leadership, aren't you? You want to prove that the 'mission above all else' rule is wrong."
Sakumo's body tensed slightly.
"You even figured that out..."
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.
"Yes. It's the only way to make them understand. Ninjas aren't machines built solely to complete missions. Our comrades are more important than assignments. This wrong rule needs to be corrected. Someone has to use their blood to wake people up."
"That's insane!" Kenji couldn't help the outburst. "You could stand up and appeal to the higher-ups directly! Explain yourself to the villagers! There will be people who support you! Even if they don't understand immediately, you don't have to throw your life away to prove a point!"
He couldn't wrap his head around Sakumo's logic. If he found himself in the same situation, he'd either shut up everyone stirring up trouble or just leave the village entirely. He definitely wouldn't pay for it with his own life.
"I violated the village law," Sakumo said. "The rule states that a ninja must not abandon a mission. I broke that rule. That's a fact."
He leaned forward slightly.
"But the rule is wrong. So someone needs to stand up and correct it. I'm Konoha's White Fang. I'm a jonin of this village. This responsibility is mine to bear."
"And what about Kakashi?" Kenji shot back, going straight for the one weak point he knew Sakumo had. "Have you thought about what your death will do to him? And the timing couldn't be worse! The shinobi world is unstable right now. Another war could break out any day. The village needs someone as strong as you!"
For the first time, Sakumo's expression softened. When he spoke of his son, pain entered his voice. But his resolve didn't waver.
"I believe in Kakashi. He's a strong child. He'll become an excellent ninja." His gaze drifted toward the window. "And the village has many talented young people like you. You all have more potential than I do. The future... you'll accomplish more than I ever could. And more importantly... my body can't hold out anymore."
Kenji froze.
Everything suddenly clicked into place.
A ninja with no bloodline limit or special abilities, who'd risen all the way to being called Konoha's White Fang. That kind of achievement didn't come cheap. Behind that title was a lifetime of brutal sacrifice. Years of combat leaving countless old wounds that never fully healed. Chronic overuse of chakra pushing his body far beyond its natural limits. And now the betrayal by comrades, the condemnation from villagers, all of it had become the final straw breaking a body that was already failing.
He wasn't choosing death. He was choosing how to spend what little life he had left.
"I see," he said quietly. "I understand now."
He knew that no matter what he said, Sakumo's decision wouldn't change. The man had already made peace with it.
"But I still want to say this. A warrior who should have died on a battlefield, a true fighter who gave everything for this village... to end up dying because of wounds inflicted by his own people. That's not sacrifice. That's waste. And it's a great loss for Konoha."
He met Sakumo's eyes one more time.
"I hope you'll think about it. Just once more."
Sakumo didn't answer. He just stared out the window, as though he could already see his own fate laid out before him.
Kenji realized that further conversation was pointless. He stood and gave a respectful bow.
"Thank you for your time. Please... take care of yourself."
He turned and walked to the door. As he pulled it closed behind him, he thought he heard a soft sigh from inside the living room. Quiet as a breeze, but carrying endless sorrow.
Standing outside the Hatake residence, he looked toward the setting sun. His chest felt tight with frustration.
Some tragedies were set in motion long before anyone realized what was happening. By the time you understood what was coming, it was already too late to stop it.
He started walking back toward his own house.
The village preached about the Will of Fire.
About protecting your comrades and understanding each other.
About how bonds between ninjas were sacred.
Then they turned around and destroyed one of their greatest warriors for living by those principles.
It was stupid.
Tragic.
---
"Kenji, what's wrong? You don't look well."
The moment Honoka opened the door, she saw him entering with a heavy expression. She hurried over to check on him with concern.
"It's nothing," Kenji said, taking a deep breath. He forced himself to smile, pushing down the weight of what he'd just witnessed. If Sakumo's fate couldn't be changed, there was no point letting it drag down the people around him.
Honoka studied him for a moment, clearly not convinced. She stepped back and walked toward the door, glancing over her shoulder. "Alright, let's go find Kushina."
Kenji blinked, completely thrown by the sudden shift.
"Right. Let's go," he said, getting to his feet. "I'll take you to meet her."
They headed out together, making their way toward the village center. The streets were quieter now that evening was approaching, most people heading home for dinner.
Honoka asked, her curiosity evident. "Is she older than me?"
"You're around the same age."
He focused on pointing out landmarks as they walked, telling her about the village layout and which districts were which.
Kushina's residence was located near the village center, surrounded by a massive sealing barrier. The setup was designed to contain the Nine-Tails if it ever went berserk. ANBU operatives were stationed around the perimeter year-round, both to protect the jinchūriki and to restrict her movements.
As they approached the barrier's edge, an ANBU operative stepped out from the shadows.
"State your business," the masked ninja said.
"We're here to see Kushina," Kenji explained. "This is Uzumaki Honoka. The Hokage is already aware of the visit."
The ANBU's mask tilted slightly as he studied them. After a moment, he nodded.
"Follow me."
He led them through the barrier, the sealing matrix parting to allow their passage. Kenji felt the familiar tingle of chakra against his skin as they crossed the threshold. Honoka tensed beside him but didn't say anything.
As they walked toward the small building at the center, she tugged lightly on Kenji's sleeve.
"What kind of person needs ninja guards like this?" she whispered.
"Her situation is complicated," Kenji said quietly. "I'll explain everything when we get home. It's not really appropriate to discuss it here."
Honoka nodded, understanding the message. Some things weren't meant to be said in front of ANBU.
When they reached Kushina's door, Kenji raised his hand and knocked before the ANBU could announce them.
"Kushina? It's Kenji. I need to talk to you."
He'd visited often enough over the past few years, coming to discuss sealing techniques with Jiraiya and Kushina, that this wasn't unusual. The ANBU simply stepped back and waited silently.
Light footsteps approached from inside, followed by Kushina's cheerful voice.
"Kenji? Do you have more sealing questions for me?"
These days, confined within the barrier, the only people she regularly saw were Minato, Jiraiya, and Kenji. She always seemed happy when someone came to visit.
The door swung open and she started to speak, but the words died on her lips. Her eyes locked onto the red-haired figure standing beside Kenji. Her expression shifted from cheerful to shocked in an instant.
"You're..."
Her voice trembled slightly. She stared at Honoka like she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
"Hello," Honoka said with a gentle smile. "My name is Uzumaki Honoka."
"I'm Uzumaki Kushina!" The words burst out of her.
Suddenly she was moving, grabbing Honoka's hand and pulling her inside.
"Come in, come in! We need to talk!"
Kenji watched them disappear into the living room, both already chattering rapidly. He smiled to himself and followed them inside, but made no attempt to join the conversation. Instead, he walked over to the bookshelf in the corner, pulled out a sealing scroll he'd been studying, and settled in to read.
He understood Kushina's excitement perfectly. After the fall of Uzushio, she'd been brought to Konoha as a child. Her only relative had been Mito. After Mito passed away, she'd been completely alone in the village. Even after falling in love with Minato, her status as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki made most people keep their distance.
Meeting another Uzumaki, someone from her own clan, had to feel like finding a piece of home.
Time passed quietly. he read while the two women talked, their conversation flowing easily. He was about to suggest they should probably head back when he sensed a familiar chakra signature approaching from outside.
Sure enough, a moment later the door opened.
"Kushina, I came to see you..."
Minato stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Then he stopped, taking in the scene. Kenji sitting in the corner with a scroll. An unfamiliar red-haired woman on the sofa with Kushina. His expression shifted to puzzlement.
"Kenji, you're here too? And this is...?"
He looked at Kushina questioningly.
"Minato!" Kushina shouted, still holding Honoka's hand. "This is Uzumaki Honoka! She came specifically to meet me!"
Then she glanced at Kenji with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Kenji. I got so excited about meeting Honoka that I completely forgot to be a proper host."
"It's fine," Kenji waved it off. "I understand."
Minato's gaze softened as he looked at Kushina, seeing the joy radiating from her. He walked over to where Kenji sat and spoke in a sincere tone.
"Kenji, thank you. I haven't seen Kushina this happy in a long time."
"Don't thank me. We're all friends here," Kenji replied with a smile.
His eyes shifted toward Honoka. She was talking with Kushina, but must have felt his gaze because she turned her head. When their eyes met, she gave him a warm smile.
He turned to Minato and said, "Besides, now that Kushina is her friend, Honoka will be able to adjust to Konoha much faster too. Works out for everyone."
The setting sun poured through the window, bathing the room in warm golden light. The atmosphere was peaceful. For this brief moment, everything felt right.
For Honoka, this marked the beginning of finding family in Konoha.
For Kushina, it was a rare burst of joy in an otherwise lonely existence.
And for Kenji, this warmth, this simple moment of connection and happiness, was exactly the kind of thing worth protecting in a world that seemed determined to tear itself apart.