New Paths

Hiruzen delved into the scroll that Sakumo had handed him. With a frustrated sigh, he let the smoke from his pipe rise before setting the document aside and turning his gaze to Sakumo. “The situation is worse than expected. We need to reinforce the troops at the border,” he said with a serious expression, rubbing his forehead. “War is inevitable.”

Sakumo nodded in agreement with the grim assessment. “It was foreseeable. The signs have been unmistakable in recent weeks.”

The Third Hokage took another draw from his pipe, letting the smoke slowly escape. “Of course, it was foreseeable. Still, I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.” Carefully setting his pipe down, he leaned forward. “I will take all necessary steps to reinforce our troops. Thank you, Sakumo. Take a few days off, but be ready—I will need you at the front soon.”

Sakumo sighed and looked out the window. He had long been aware that it would come to this. Once the war broke out in earnest, he would barely spend any time in the village. The thought of leaving Kakashi alone made him uneasy. Even on his last mission, he had felt uncomfortable leaving his son behind. The worry that something might happen still gnawed at him.

“Of course, you can count on me,” Sakumo replied calmly, watching the clouds drift by. Soon, the first raindrops would fall.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The Hokage directed his gaze past Sakumo to the door. “Come in!” he called.

Sakumo turned his attention to the door, tensing as he saw Danzo enter the room. With deliberate steps, Danzo closed the door behind him, walked slowly past Sakumo, and gave him a distrustful look. Sakumo remained calm and focused his attention back on the Hokage.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, watching Danzo, who positioned himself next to the desk, resting his hands on his cane. “What can I do for you, Danzo?” the Hokage asked in a calm tone.

"I heard that Sakumo has returned from his mission. What is the situation?" Danzo cast a fleeting glance at Sakumo before returning his attention to Hiruzen.

Sakumo was not surprised that Danzo was here. Of course, he had immediately known that Sakumo had returned from his mission. It bothered him how much Danzo knew. Surely there would be another argument once Danzo read his report. Danzo had long been dissatisfied with how the Third Hokage was handling the current situation. In fact, he was never satisfied.

The Third Hokage handed the scroll to Danzo, who immediately immersed himself in its content. As Danzo read, Hiruzen explained calmly, “The situation is extremely tense, and war seems inevitable.”

After reading through the scroll, Danzo furrowed his brow and carefully placed it back on the desk. "What do you plan to do now, Hiruzen?”

Sakumo decided to wait and observe the two men closely, crossing his arms over his chest. He could already sense that Danzo would be dissatisfied.

"I will reinforce the troops at the borders and put them on high alert. It is crucial that we act with caution now to avoid escalation," Hiruzen explained, directing his gaze at Danzo.

Danzo snorted angrily. "We should have reinforced our troops at the border much earlier. You waited too long. There’s no point in artificially delaying the war.”

"That wouldn’t have changed our current situation. The other villages wouldn’t have been deterred; on the contrary, the war would likely have broken out sooner," Sakumo interjected, attempting to curb Danzo’s influence. "It was right to wait. The only mistake we made was not talking to the others. We should have sought a peaceful solution much earlier.”

Danzo looked over at Sakumo, frowning. “There’s no point in negotiating with the other villages. They all have the same goal: more power. We can’t be naive and must act decisively!”

Sakumo shrugged. “That’s exactly what we want as well. The balance of power should be evenly distributed. We haven’t even had the chance to recover from the last conflict. The other villages won’t be any better off. Our forces are still weakened.”

"That’s why we need to nurture the youth. We have some talented Genin, and soon some will complete their training. Their potential must not be wasted. We need to start nurturing them early so they can support our forces," Danzo stated with seriousness. "Since war is now unavoidable, we must not hesitate any longer. It’s time to act. The top priority is the protection of the village.”

Sakumo tensed and slowly lowered his arms. He kept his thoughts to himself; he could guess that Danzo was also thinking of Kakashi. But Sakumo would not allow his son to be sent to the front. No child just out of the academy should have to go to the front lines.

Hiruzen reached for his pipe and took a puff before responding. “We are far from the point of needing to send children to the front. Yes, our forces are weakened, but they are still strong enough.”

Sakumo decided he’d had enough. He had no interest in engaging with Danzo any further. He longed to go home and rest. Most of all, he wanted to spend time with Kakashi; the mission had taken longer than expected, and he had missed his son. "If everything is settled, I would like to go home,” he said, turning slowly.

Hiruzen looked at Sakumo and leaned forward in his chair. "I must inform you that Kakashi and Minato are currently not in the village. They are on a mission.”

Sakumo immediately stopped, turning back to the Hokage and raising an eyebrow, noticing the small smile on Danzo’s lips. "What kind of mission?”

"They are delivering an important scroll with information to a troop at the border," Danzo explained calmly, fixing his gaze on Sakumo.

Anger rose within him, and he forced himself to stay calm. But sudden fear for Kakashi gripped him as he clenched his hands into fists. “Did I miss something while I was out of the village? Kakashi is a Genin; he has no business being at the border in this tense situation!” His voice trembled with anger, but his body language remained calm. His gaze fixed on Hiruzen. “Did we not agree that I would be involved in such decisions? That was a condition when he became a Genin!”

Danzo struck the floor with his cane, and Sakumo’s gaze immediately shifted to him. “The boy is a Shinobi and, like you, obligated to the village. Besides, he is too talented to be held back.”

“Surely it was your idea to send him to the border, wasn’t it? You don’t care at all if something goes wrong,” Sakumo accused Danzo. He was no longer willing to accept everything. Still, he took a deep breath to calm himself.

Danzo closed his eyes and did not respond. Before the tension could escalate further, the Third Hokage cleared his throat. “Don’t worry, Minato is with him and will take good care of him. If you’ll excuse me, I have much to attend to.”

Sakumo nodded tensely, turned, and made his way out. For him, the conversation was far from over; he planned to continue it, but not in Danzo’s presence. It would be best if Minato were there. Sakumo would not allow Kakashi to be sent to war so early.

As Sakumo left the room, Danzo followed. Once the door closed behind them and they were alone in the hallway, Sakumo stopped and turned to Danzo, who was walking in the opposite direction. "Let's end this charade and speak openly."

Danzo abruptly stopped and turned to Sakumo, his face expressionless, while Sakumo looked at him determinedly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied coolly.

Sakumo couldn’t help a slight, sarcastic laugh. For a moment, he closed his eyes before looking back at Danzo. “We both know you’re aware of the Hokage’s offer. Everything that’s happened in the past few weeks wasn’t a coincidence: Kakashi’s poisoning, you talking to him at the market, and now this mission.” His voice remained firm as he closely watched Danzo’s reaction.

Danzo slightly turned away and looked out the window. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sakumo. That doesn’t suit you. But if it makes you happy, yes, I am aware of the offer that you should become the next Hokage. And I think you’re not suitable for it.” He paused for a moment before continuing calmly. “However, I don’t see what one thing has to do with the other. I had nothing to do with your son’s poisoning. It’s not a crime to talk to Kakashi, and the mission simply had to be entrusted to capable hands.”

Sakumo studied Danzo for a moment and frowned. Either he was a master at lying, or he was actually telling the truth about one point. But Sakumo wasn’t swayed; he didn’t trust the older man. “I don’t care if you think I’m suitable or not. But I won’t stand by and watch you use Kakashi for your political games.”

Danzo slowly turned back to Sakumo, his expression unreadable. "I do what is necessary to protect Konoha. You should understand that, Sakumo. Our views on the village’s future may differ, but in the end, it’s about its safety. I don’t exploit anyone.”

Sakumo looked Danzo directly in the eyes, his determination reflected in his gaze. "That may be your opinion, Danzo. But I will remain vigilant." His voice stayed calm, but his words were full of seriousness. “Stay away from Kakashi in the future!”

Danzo turned and let out a short, cold, humorless laugh. “I told you, don’t be ridiculous. You have nothing to worry about, I won’t harm your brat.” He turned to leave but paused once more, glancing over his shoulder. “But that doesn’t mean I agree with you becoming Hokage.” With those words, he continued on his way, leaving Sakumo alone.

Sakumo watched Danzo for a moment longer before turning away and leaving the Hokage Tower. He knew he couldn’t trust Danzo, even if he claimed he wouldn’t harm Kakashi. Distrust gnawed at him, and he decided to keep a close eye on Danzo. The tension in Sakumo didn’t ease as he continued on his way.

**********

Sakumo knocked gently on the door and took a step back. It opened quickly, revealing a slightly annoyed Shikaku. Sakumo smiled warmly at him. "Hello Shikaku, long time no see! I hope you're well?”

"Oh, good day. Thanks for asking, I'm fine. You're probably here to see my father?" he asked politely, though his voice sounded somewhat bored.

Sakumo nodded in agreement. "That's right. I'd like to speak with him. Could you let him know, please?”

A frustrated sigh escaped Shikaku's lips as he stepped aside to let Sakumo into the house. Sakumo's smile remained unchanged as he entered. After taking off his sandals and placing them neatly to the side, he turned back to Shikaku, who motioned for him to follow.

"My father is in his study. He won't mind if I bring you to him," the younger Nara explained, putting his hands in his pockets as he led Sakumo through the house.

The house was simple but tastefully decorated. It wasn't particularly large, but it provided enough space for the family. Sakumo knew that Shikato's wife, Yoshino Nara, placed great importance on a cozy interior. She always wanted the family to have a place where they could retreat and relax. The furniture was carefully chosen, and the rooms exuded a warm, inviting atmosphere that immediately conveyed a sense of comfort.

They stopped in front of a closed door, and Shikaku knocked gently. It didn't take long for a muffled voice to be heard from the other side. "Come in!" Shikaku immediately opened the door and stepped into the room. "What can I do for you, Shikaku?" the voice asked, calm and attentive.

"Sakumo is here and would like to speak with you," the younger Nara explained, stepping aside to allow Sakumo to enter the office.

Shikato immediately rose from his chair and smiled kindly at Sakumo. Sakumo returned the smile and nodded to him. The elder Nara turned to his son. "Thank you. Would you please leave us alone? And tell your mother I'll be down for dinner later.”

A frustrated groan escaped Shikaku as he turned to leave. "How troublesome," he muttered before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

Shikato laughed quietly and gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Sakumo stepped closer and sat down. "Your son hasn't changed a bit," he remarked with a fond smile.

"That's true," Shikato replied with a chuckle, taking his seat as well, "but he's an outstanding shinobi. If only he would show a bit more ambition." His eyes sparkled with pride and slight concern.

Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "He takes after his father. Weren't you the same way?" he asked with a mischievous smile.

Shikato laughed softly and nodded in agreement. "You're right," he said, gazing thoughtfully out of his study window. "But enough about Shikaku. What brings you to me, Sakumo?”

Sakumo's expression immediately grew serious. He crossed his legs and folded his arms. "I just came from the Hokage and submitted my report. The war is inevitable now.”

Shikato nodded slowly, turning his gaze back to Sakumo. "We feared as much weeks ago," he said thoughtfully, rubbing his face. "What is the Third Hokage planning now?”

"Hiruzen plans to reinforce the troops at the borders and wait for now," Sakumo explained calmly, tapping his finger on his arm. "Danzo, on the other hand, was dissatisfied; he would prefer to go on the offensive immediately.”

Shikato raised his eyebrows skeptically and leaned back in his chair. "Danzo? I'm not surprised he voiced his opinion." He sighed thoughtfully before continuing. "We have difficult times ahead.”

"It definitely won't be easy," Sakumo confirmed, and a silence settled over them. Rain pattered against the window as Sakumo gazed outside. "Kakashi was sent to the border on a mission with Minato.”

Shikato's eyes widened briefly before he relaxed again. "I know we haven't fully recovered from the last war, but is it really necessary to send children there?" He paused, his expression darkening briefly. "You think Danzo had something to do with it, don't you?”

Sakumo nodded, confirming his conviction, and turned back to Shikato. "He wants to provoke me and demonstrate his power. Danzo is using Kakashi to intimidate me, but I won't stand by any longer." A determined expression settled on Sakumo's face. After weeks of contemplation, he had made a clear decision. "I will accept the Third Hokage's offer!"

Sakumo unfolded his arms and leaned slightly forward, his gaze firmly on Shikato. "I won't let him get away with it any longer. If I refused the offer, he would achieve exactly what he wants. After we left the office, I confronted Danzo directly about my suspicions. As I feared, he was already aware. This strengthens my suspicion that he truly has it out for Kakashi and me."

"And yet, you will accept the offer?" Shikato asked, surprised. "Don't get me wrong, I think it's the right decision. But wouldn't that put you even more in his crosshairs?”

"We are already in Danzo's crosshairs, as the past weeks have clearly shown. But how better to protect Kakashi than from the position of Hokage?" Sakumo said thoughtfully. He paused for a moment and lowered his gaze to the floor. The title of Hokage meant little to him; in fact, he had little interest in it. The most important thing to him was his son.

Resolutely, Sakumo looked back at Shikato. "I will take on this responsibility, not for the title, but for the safety of Konoha and especially for Kakashi. If I am at the top, I can ensure that we do not make reckless decisions and do not send our shinobi into danger lightly."

Shikato smiled contentedly and relaxed in his chair. "I like this side of you much better. You're making the right decision, I'm sure of it."

"Let's hope you're right," Sakumo murmured, biting his lower lip thoughtfully. Despite his determination not to let Danzo intimidate him any longer, he remained worried about what else Danzo might be planning. A suspicion that had taken root in him after their encounter at the market continued to gnaw at him.

"Before my mission, I was at the market with Kakashi. He insisted on sitting on a bench. I agreed and kept an eye on him the whole time," Sakumo began, watching the raindrops patter against the window. He snorted amusedly before continuing. "It didn't take long for Danzo to sit next to Kakashi and start talking to him. I held back to find out what he wanted from Kakashi.”

Shikato tilted his head curiously. "And what did he want from Kakashi?”

Sakumo directed his gaze back at the Nara. “Danzo tried to influence Kakashi. He wanted to convince him that he was living in my shadow and offered to help him step out of it.” Sakumo took a deep breath and let his gaze drop thoughtfully to the floor. “He might even succeed. Ever since Kakashi could talk, he’s been telling me he wants to be as strong as I am. I get the impression that Kakashi trains so hard just to make me proud. If Danzo continues like this, I fear he could influence the boy and turn him to his side.”

Sakumo rubbed his face and paused for a moment, his gaze remaining fixed on the floor. "Kakashi is a smart boy and certainly not naive. But I fear that I might be pushing him in the wrong direction," he admitted, exhaling in frustration. A humorless laugh escaped his lips. "I wouldn't claim to be the best father. Who allows their five-year-old son to become a shinobi? My wife would have killed me for that!"

Shikato's expression softened, and he sighed. "That's not true, Sakumo. Believe me, I don't know a better father than you. You're always there for Kakashi and want only the best for him. Not everyone would dare to take on Danzo, but you do it for your son. When he was in the hospital, you didn't leave his side for a moment and even canceled your mission. You didn't care what the Hokage had to say about it. We all know he wanted only you for that mission."

The Nara paused briefly, his expression turning serious. "But if you feel that Kakashi might think that way, you should talk to him. Let him know how much he means to you and that he isn't living in your shadow. That he doesn't need to prove anything to you."

Sakumo followed the pattern of the carpet with his eyes as he considered these words. Although he had already spoken with Kakashi, he wasn't sure if Kakashi had taken it seriously. Kakashi was a master at saying what Sakumo wanted to hear. Given that it was just before his mission, Kakashi might have only been trying to reassure him. "I spoke with him that evening, but maybe I should take the time to really talk to him again. While I'm at it, I could also tell him that I might become the next Hokage. He should hear it from me."

Shikato nodded in agreement and leaned forward. "That's probably for the best. What do you plan to do now?"

Sakumo looked back at Shikato and straightened in his chair. "First, I will wait for Kakashi to return. That is the most important thing right now. After that, I will seek another conversation with the Hokage. This can't happen again. Kakashi is still a Genin and should remain one. Once that is settled, I will inform the Hokage of my decision."

He paused briefly, ran a hand through his hair, and frowned. "I hope that Danzo will be distracted by the war in the near future and won't have time to focus on Kakashi. Nevertheless, I must remain vigilant. But there's something that has puzzled me."

"What exactly puzzled you?" Shikato asked curiously.

Sakumo let his gaze wander to the window. The rain had eased, and the clouds were slowly beginning to clear. "When I spoke to Danzo earlier and confronted him about what happened to Kakashi, I had the feeling that he was telling the truth in one regard."

Shikato raised an eyebrow questioningly but let Sakumo continue. "It's strange, and I don't understand what it means, but my instinct tells me that he really had nothing to do with Kakashi's poisoning. At the same time, I'm convinced it wasn't an outsider. The perpetrator must be someone within the village.”

Shikato's face took on a thoughtful expression as he quietly regarded Sakumo. Then he lightly shook his head. "I know your instincts are usually reliable, but who besides Danzo would have a reason to kill Kakashi?"

Sakumo shrugged. "That's exactly what makes me nervous. Maybe I'm wrong, and Danzo is responsible." It was an attempt to reassure himself, but if Sakumo was right, there was someone else in the village targeting his family. This uncertainty deeply unsettled Sakumo and made him even more nervous.

Sakumo felt something was bothering him, as if there was something he didn't know. This vague feeling had been with him for some time, but he couldn't explain it. Sakumo realized he needed to stay vigilant. He sighed quietly and then stood up from his seat. "I don't want to keep you any longer. Thank you for taking the time," he said to Shikato, smiling slightly.

Shikato also stood up and smiled at Sakumo. "Before you go, I want you to know that I fully support you."

Sakumo nodded gratefully at Shikato and smiled broadly. "I know I can count on you, thank you. But now you should really go to dinner, or Yoshino will be upset if you're away any longer." He winked at the Nara.

Shikato waved dismissively. "I'll survive. You're welcome to join," he suggested with a smile.

"Thanks, but I'd like to go home now. I'm quite tired from the mission, and I want to be home when Kakashi returns," Sakumo explained calmly. His worries about Kakashi were evident; he trusted Minato but was also aware of the dangers at the border.

Sakumo also knew this was Kakashi's first mission outside the village and that he had never faced real battles before. He was concerned about how Kakashi would react to it. Sakumo fervently hoped Kakashi would be spared from fighting and, worst of all, from having to kill.

"Let me know if anything comes up. Don't worry too much. Minato will make sure Kakashi returns to the village safely," Shikato interrupted his thoughts and smiled reassuringly.

Sakumo smiled gratefully and waved casually before turning and leaving the room with Shikato. He now looked forward to a warm bath and his bed, though he expected to have a restless night.

**********

Sakumo looked up from his work and glanced outside. The rain was beating relentlessly against the window panes. A deep sigh escaped him as he returned his gaze to the scroll in front of him. He had been sitting at home for two days now, waiting for Kakashi's return. Although he knew they were still on schedule, his worry grew with each passing day.

In recent days, Sakumo's thoughts had incessantly revolved around who could be responsible for Kakashi's poisoning. Time and again, he tried to reassure himself by suspecting Danzo. Even though he disliked the idea, it meant at least that no other villager wished harm upon Kakashi. Yet, a nagging suspicion persisted: someone from within the village had to be behind the attack.

Sakumo's gaze shot upwards, his brow furrowing briefly before a smile stole onto his lips. He stood up, went into the bathroom, and grabbed a towel. Just as he entered the hallway, he heard the front door open, followed by a familiar voice. "I'm home!"

With a warm smile, Sakumo approached his son who was in the process of removing his sandals. Once Kakashi neatly set aside his sandals and stood upright, Sakumo crouched down, draped the towel over Kakashi's shoulders, and gently rubbed his arms. "It's good to have you back," he said. Kakashi smiled back, and Sakumo asked, "How did you know I was back?"

"The Hokage told me, so Minato-sensei brought me home," explained Kakashi, glancing out through the still open front door. With a friendly smile, Minato nodded at Sakumo. Sakumo gratefully smiled back and nodded in return. In the next moment, Minato had already disappeared.

Sakumo refocused his attention on Kakashi and scrutinized him carefully. Apart from a few minor scratches and bruises, there seemed to be no serious injuries. However, the bloodstains on Kakashi's clothes revealed they had been involved in fights. Sakumo sighed softly, relieved it wasn't worse but concerned about what they had been through.

Carefully, Sakumo ran his fingers through Kakashi's wet hair before gently pulling down his soaked mask. With a sad smile, he murmured softly, "This way you can breathe better." Kakashi rolled his eyes, but Sakumo didn't let that deter him. "You must be cold. It's best to take a warm bath while I prepare dinner." Obediently, Kakashi nodded, set down his backpack and weapons pouch, and strolled toward the bathroom. As he disappeared down the hallway, Sakumo took a deep breath.

Sakumo watched him for a moment before rising, closing the front door, and heading into the kitchen. As he prepared dinner, his thoughts incessantly circled back to the mission. He worried that Kakashi might have been forced to fight and possibly kill. He needed to talk to him about it. The first kill could be a harrowing experience—especially for a five-year-old who could be deeply traumatized by such an act. Sakumo sighed heavily and resolved to have the conversation with Kakashi later that evening.

It didn't take long before Kakashi entered the kitchen. Sakumo smiled as he saw Kakashi sit down on a chair and yawn. Exhausted, Kakashi rubbed his eyes and then looked at his father. After bathing, Kakashi had forgotten to put on a new mask, so Sakumo could clearly see his fatigue.

"You look tired," Sakumo remarked gently as he placed a plate of food in front of his son.

Kakashi reached for his chopsticks, started eating immediately, and shook his head. "No, just a bit tired," he explained, pushing some food into his mouth.

Sakumo sat down with his own plate in front of Kakashi and looked at him intently. "How did the mission go?" he asked.

Kakashi swallowed his bite, furrowed his brow, and paused for a moment. "We managed to make it to the border without any further incidents and delivered the scroll. On the way back, we encountered a group of shinobi and got into a fight. However, we were able to successfully repel them," he reported seriously. His expression darkened, causing Sakumo to flinch slightly. A five-year-old shouldn't have such a somber expression.

"The situation is very tense, and it seems like war is becoming inevitable," Kakashi said heavily, his words sending a chill down Sakumo's spine. But in the next moment, Kakashi relaxed, smiled sheepishly, and resumed eating. "At least that's what Minato-sensei just told the Hokage," he mumbled between bites.

Sakumo frowned, observing Kakashi for a moment. A strange feeling welled up in him, followed by a heavy sense of guilt. Kakashi shouldn't have to be aware of all this. "Kakashi?" he called gently.

His son immediately paused, looked up at him, and tilted his head slightly. "Yes, Dad?"

Sakumo took a deep breath. "This was the first time you've been involved in real fights, and I know it can be scary at first. It's also okay if..."

"It's all good, Dad!" Kakashi interrupted, smiling reassuringly. "Minato-sensei kept me out of harm's way as much as possible. I really only had to intervene in emergencies. It wasn't a big deal," he added with a shrug.

Sakumo blinked in surprise and studied Kakashi for a moment. His son's nonchalance was unusual for a five-year-old. Doubts gnawed at him: Was Kakashi really telling him the truth? Perhaps he just wanted to reassure his father and hide his true feelings. Sakumo's gaze drifted to the window. Had he failed as a father, making his son afraid to talk to him about his fears?

"Is everything okay, Dad?" Kakashi asked, concerned.

Sakumo immediately turned back to Kakashi and smiled reassuringly. "Of course, everything's fine. Let's finish eating now. You need to go to bed," he said lovingly, taking a bite while his thoughts continued to swirl. The uneasy feeling inside him intensified; something was wrong. He definitely needed to have a quiet talk with Kakashi in the next few days.