Chapter 36 – The Return of the White Fang
A week passed. Then another.
The days in Konoha blurred into training, academy lessons, and restless nights. Kakashi hid his worry under layers of discipline, while Akira's sharp gaze caught every flicker of unease.
Then one gray morning, word spread across the village like wildfire.
The White Fang has returned.
The Hatake compound stirred before dawn. Kakashi was already outside, kunai clenched, when the gates creaked open.
Sakumo stepped through, his silver mane unkempt, armor scuffed, and his blade resting at his side. Yet it wasn't the scars of battle that made him look different—it was the weight in his eyes.
"Kakashi," he greeted softly.
Kakashi froze. For a moment, relief lit his features, but it faded when he caught the emptiness behind his father's smile.
Akira, who had slipped into the courtyard earlier, stood quietly at the edge, watching. He could see it clearly—this was no victorious return.
The village thought Sakumo would come home bathed in glory. Instead, whispers began as shinobi passed through the streets:
"He abandoned the mission…"
"Because of that, we lost the war effort…"
"The White Fang… failed?"
Kakashi's fists trembled. "Father, tell me it's not true."
Sakumo paused. His eyes, usually so steady, faltered as he looked at his son. "…I chose to save my comrades. The mission was lost."
The words hit Kakashi harder than any kunai. His world, built on the pride of being Sakumo's son, cracked.
Akira stepped forward, breaking the silence. His tone was calm but sharp, cutting through the heaviness.
"You saved lives. That's not failure."
Sakumo looked at him—at this boy with eyes too old for his age. For a moment, something flickered in his gaze, almost gratitude. But the storm of judgment from the village weighed heavier.
Later, when the courtyard emptied and the village whispers grew louder, Akira sat alone beneath the sakura tree near the Hatake compound. His thoughts churned.
This is it. The start of the path that breaks him… the path that makes Kakashi into the man I know. But not this time. Not if I can reach him first.
Above, the blossoms swayed gently, as if warning that even beauty could wither under too much weight.
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✨ End of Chapter 36
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