Chapter 380: Edo Tensei: Sakumo
"He has accepted."
Through his Rinnegan, Haneda saw a soul descend into the coffin.
With a loud bang, the coffin's door burst open, and Sakumo Hatake's figure appeared in the Third Training Ground.
"It's been a while, Sakumo," Orochimaru greeted politely.
"It has been a while," Sakumo replied. "I remember this being the Edo Tensei technique developed by the Second Hokage, recorded only in the Sealing Techniques."
"Orochimaru, weren't you trying to become Hokage? What are you planning now?"
Orochimaru chuckled and turned his gaze toward Haneda, who was leaning against a tree.
"I did run for Hokage after the Third Ninja War, but things didn't go as planned. An exceptionally talented young man won the old man's favor instead."
"I failed, left the village, and became an S-rank missing-nin of Konoha."
"What?!" Sakumo didn't hesitate. Drawing his blade, he appeared behind Orochimaru in an instant, the blade pressing against his neck.
"What are you planning, Orochimaru? Have you forgotten that this is your home?"
Unfazed, Orochimaru replied, "Sakumo, you should hear me out before you act."
"Your student and your son are both watching."
Sakumo's hand trembled slightly. Taking a deep breath, he awkwardly turned to look at Haneda, who was leaning against the tree.
It had been ten years since they last met, and Haneda had grown so much taller. His appearance had changed considerably.
At first glance, Sakumo didn't recognize him as his student; instead, he assumed Haneda was one of Orochimaru's accomplices.
"Haneda? It's been a long time. It seems you made it back to the village safely."
"Yes."
"Have you eaten? Got a girlfriend? How's life been?"
"Not bad."
"And Kakashi?"
"He's over there."
Haneda pointed to Kakashi, who was crouched on a rock, his back turned to Sakumo. Following Haneda's gesture, Sakumo shifted his gaze.
Kakashi, realizing there was no way to avoid this, turned to face his father. The two locked eyes, neither speaking a word.
Leaning casually against the coffin, Orochimaru observed the awkward silence between them. The earlier conversation was forced, and now, there was only quiet tension.
Breaking the silence, Orochimaru continued,
"Konoha's Fourth Hokage was Minato Namikaze, one of Jiraiya's students. After him, the Fifth Hokage is your student, Haneda Uchiha."
"He's accomplished quite a lot—overthrowing the Third Hokage's rule, dismantling the Daimyo's authority, and consolidating all power within one individual."
"He calls himself the Supreme Leader and is also Konoha's Hokage. Unlike the previous Hokage, he prioritizes not only the village's peace but also the happiness of the people."
"Haneda forced me to do quite a few things. If you get the chance, you might want to talk some sense into him."
Sakumo glanced at Orochimaru, then at Haneda, and asked curiously,
"Didn't you once say being Hokage wasn't worth it?"
Haneda remained silent but reflected inwardly. While he technically held the Hokage title, he rarely did the actual work of a Hokage.
I don't do much Hokage work ≠ I'm not the Hokage.
Besides, under his childhood declarations, he wasn't Hokage; under other circumstances, he was Hokage.
Schrödinger's Hokage—simultaneously Hokage and not Hokage. The contradiction amused him.
Ignoring Sakumo's question, Haneda said,
"Let's not worry about the Hokage business. Uncle Sakumo, let me introduce someone to you."
"This is Kakashi Hatake, my Anbu captain, a respected idol and genius whose name is renowned worldwide thanks to my book."
"And, of course, your eternal son."
"Come on, Kakashi, say hello to your dad."
"…" Kakashi stared at his father, at a loss for words, especially in front of Haneda and Orochimaru.
Noticing Kakashi's discomfort, Orochimaru tactfully said his goodbyes and left the area.
Once Orochimaru was gone, Kakashi finally spoke.
"These years have been good to me. I've inherited the Hatake swordsmanship and your Will of Fire. I've been working with Haneda to protect the village."
"After the Third Ninja War—the one you led—Haneda prevented further conflicts between Konoha and Iwagakure, and between Konoha and Kumogakure."
"Later, he earned the title 'God of Shinobi.' Since the war with Kumogakure ended, the ninja world has remained relatively peaceful."
"He also proposed two Five-Year Plans. Although only the first has been fully realized, everyone in the Fire Country and Konoha holds him in high regard."
"Even our ally, the Rain Country, deeply admires him."
"Just this afternoon, when we were dining in the Rain Country, Haneda was recognized. The restaurant was mobbed by fans, and it felt more like a meet-and-greet."
"The sheer frenzy—I can't even begin to describe it."
Sakumo sat beside Kakashi, smiling.
"It seems Haneda is doing a fine job as the Fifth Hokage."
"His story surpasses my expectations, both in complexity and brilliance."
"I had thought he might become a shinobi as exceptional as Kagami Uchiha, resolving the lingering issues of the Uchiha in Konoha and perhaps even becoming Hokage."
Haneda interjected, "I'm not as great as you think. I'm selfish and domineering…"
Sakumo interrupted, "I remember you once told me that a noble person should be judged by their deeds, not their intentions.
"As long as you've accomplished those things, people decades from now will judge you fairly.
"By then, whatever you thought or truly desired won't matter anymore."
"However, I must warn you—the Edo Tensei requires a life as a sacrifice. Orochimaru must have some specific purpose in using you."
Haneda chuckled, "Uncle Sakumo, have you considered the possibility that Orochimaru is my subordinate?"
"Hm?" Sakumo pondered for a few seconds before cautioning,
"Orochimaru would never be content to serve someone else. He will undoubtedly betray you at some point."
"He's undoubtedly a genius of Konoha, but he's also a cold, calculating snake."
"As long as you're useful to him, he'll appear loyal and competent."
"But once you're no longer of use, he'll abandon you without hesitation."
"When he said he was an S-rank missing-nin, I was certain of it."
"And another thing—don't desecrate the dead, even if it's me."
Haneda shook his head. "He wouldn't dare betray me. He knows I can find him at any time, and besides, I've given him more than enough."
"In just a decade, the world has changed significantly. We can't view it through the lens of the past, Uncle Sakumo."
"Right now, I am the strongest in the ninja world, and Konoha is the strongest village."
"I am the God of Shinobi. I've surpassed the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
"Konoha has ten individuals whose strength rivals or surpasses that of a Kage: myself, Kakashi, Fugaku, Itachi, Shisui, Gai, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the Third Hokage."
"And now, with you, Uncle Sakumo, that makes eleven."
"Eleven?" Sakumo chuckled. "I'm already dead. Even with Edo Tensei, I can't stay in the world of the living for long."
Kakashi interjected, "No, Father. Haneda can revive you!"
...…
***
If you wish to read all the chapters of this fic till chapter 465 (where it ends) and support me.
You can go to patreon. com /NahinS77