Chapter 166 The end of 3 battles
The second half of the 49th year of Konoha.
Hatake Sakumo led a raiding force to attack Iwagakure, and the village was nearly taken over.
Afterwards, he fought with Ōnoki and others in the Land of Fire, and used his life to hold Ōnoki back to defend.
Konoha won a great victory against the counterattack of Iwagakure.
At the same time, Kirigakure raided the Land of Fire by boat and at one point reached Mount Kikyo, less than a few dozen kilometers away from Konoha.
After paying a heavy price, the Battle of Platycodon Mountain was won.
Thus, the Third Ninja World War ended.
Peace has come to the ninja world.
…………
"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire grows."
"The fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
The Sandaime stood in front of the memorial stone and spoke in a low voice about the Will of Fire that Konoha had inherited for nearly fifty years.
Holding a bouquet of flowers, he walked step by step to Sakumo's tombstone.
At this time, a figure was already standing in front of the tombstone.
It's Sakumo's son Kakashi.
He stared at the tombstone quietly, motionless.
It wasn't until the Sandaime leaned over and placed the flower in front of the gravestone that Kakashi noticed anyone approaching.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi said hoarsely.
Looking at the dejected Kakashi, the Sandaime said in a soothing voice:
"The village will always remember your father's heroic deeds, Kakashi."
"He will be watching you from another world."
The only response he got was silent.
After the Sandaime left, Minato, Dai, Gai, and people who were close to Sakumo came to visit one after another.
Bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the tombstone, in front of the black and white photo.
But the silver-white figure never moved.
The sun sets, and the afterglow of the sunset shines on Kakashi's face.
He picked up the silver-white dagger left by his father and left.
At this moment, a figure walked over.
He put down the flowers at hand and stared quietly at the black and white photo on the tombstone.
The three-magatama Sharingan opened unconsciously and rotated slowly.
"Haneda, how long do you want to hide from me?"
Kakashi came from a distance.
He was commemorating the souls of those who died in the war, and had not seen Haneda arrive, but he knew that Haneda would come after he arrived.
Sure enough, he left one step ahead and Haneda came the next.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi, I..."
Haneda opened his lips slightly, said sorry, and then couldn't say anything else.
Guilt flooded my heart and finally turned into silence.
No matter what, Kakashi's father died to save him.
Originally he didn't have to sacrifice.
Haneda was ready to be held accountable by Kakashi.
"Actually, I already know what happened that day, Haneda."
"I am very proud that my father sacrificed his life to protect his companions."
“That’s what he’s always taught me.”
Kakashi walked over, put a hand on Haneda's shoulder, and whispered to him,
"You don't have to feel guilty."
"I asked my father to protect you."
"He said it was a man's promise."
Haneda responded silently.
He didn't know what to say. After a long while, he said:
"Uncle Sakumo asked me to tell you before he left."
"He died to protect his companions and the village."
"You are the son of a hero."
After Haneda finished speaking, he fell silent again.
Recalling the figure of Uncle Sakumo standing in front of him and turning back to smile, tears welled up in his eyes, but were quickly suppressed.
"I understand, Haneda..."
"My condolences and acceptance."
Kakashi whispered soothingly.
The comforting voice in his ears was like a blow to Haneda's chest, crushing the last line of defense.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
He tried to hold it in, but to no avail.
"Kakashi, leave me alone for a while."
Haneda said hoarsely.
After a while, Kakashi patted Haneda on the shoulder:
"Okay, take care."
"Remember to go back early and don't stay up late."
Kakashi looked back at Haneda's back and walked towards home alone.
A line of tears wet his black mask.
How could he not be sad about his father's death?
But he didn't want to show it in front of Haneda.
In front of the tombstone, Haneda still stood quietly.
Until the moon rose, a mature and steady-looking man came over, holding a child.
"Haneda, the wind is very cold at night, be careful not to catch a cold."
Fugaku took off his coat and put it on Haneda's shoulders.
"I heard about what happened to Sakumo-senpai."
"I understand how you feel, but if you do this...he will feel bad in the other world too."
Itachi looked at the silent cemetery, thinking of the sadness of the people after the war, and asked in a low voice:
"Dad, why do people die and what is the meaning of life?"
"Grandpa is like this, and so is Haneda-nii's teacher."
Hearing this, Fugaku was silent for a moment and said:
"To allow new leaves to sprout."
"One against seven, these are what adults should think about."
After hearing the conversation between Fugaku and Itachi, Haneda understood something.
He glanced at Fugaku, then at Itachi, and said in a low voice:
"Where there is war, people will die; where there is conflict, there will be conflict."
"The meaning of life is how one wants to live and how one practices it."
Without further explanation, Haneda ruffled Itachi's hair and left the cemetery.
Itachi thought for a while and asked Fugaku:
"Is Grandpa like this too?"
Fugaku recalled his father's annoying teachings, as well as his father's back, and replied in a low voice:
"Yeah, he's always been like this."
After saying this, Fugaku felt his nose was sore, blocked, and he couldn't breathe.
But thinking of his father's instructions, he forced himself to suppress his sad tears and his face became more mature.
Fugaku inherited the position of Uchiha clan leader, he couldn't cry.
…………
The Uchiha clan territory was deserted than ever at night, with almost no one on the streets.
The lonely street lamp emitted a faint light, barely illuminating the street.
Haneda was walking on the dim street, and when he passed a corner, he stopped unconsciously.
On the other side of the corner is Obito's house.
He had promised here that he would bring Obito back, but he didn't do it.
He stuck his head out and looked quietly around the corner.
Obito's grandmother sat in front of the door, her eyes always looking at the street, as if waiting for something.
As soon as Haneda stuck his head out, he was discovered.
"Xiao Haneda, come in and sit down."
Grandma smiled and waved to Haneda.
Seeing this, Haneda hesitated for a moment and walked out from the corner.
Looking at the kind grandmother, he went from being a stranger to being familiar with her.
"Grandma, I see you've been hiding in the cemetery all day. Are you hungry?"
As soon as Haneda walked in, grandma came out of the kitchen with food.
Some of the dishes had already gone cold, so grandma took the cold dishes back, heated them up and put them back on the table.
Originally, Haneda didn't have much of an appetite, but when he smelled the aroma of rice and the familiar taste, his stomach started growling.
At this time, grandma took another glass of orange juice and placed it in front of Haneda.
Looking at the table filled with his favorite food and drinks, Haneda understood something.
The food that was fed into his mouth became choked.
The sweetness of orange juice cannot take away the bitterness in the throat.
Grandma already knew that Obito was "dead".
She stayed in the cemetery, watching herself hiding behind a tree, not daring to face Kakashi...
