"Is the mission really the most important thing for a ninja?"
Haneda stood up, facing the men who were still criticizing Sakumo Hatake, his voice calm but deep with meaning.
One of the middle-aged men scoffed, retorting with condescension,
> "What's the difference between a ninja who ignores orders and a useless dropout?"
Haneda chuckled softly, his tone laced with quiet disdain.
> "Only the weak are bound by rules. The strong know when to break them."
> "Besides, didn't Jiraiya of the Sannin once say a true ninja is someone who endures?"
He paused, letting the words sink in.
> "Endure the blame… endure guilt… endure the judgment of others. Hold the pain inside, and wait for the moment you know is right."
> "A mission can be redone. But a comrade only has one life."
The bar quieted slightly at his words, but the older man wasn't convinced.
> "What do you know? Sakumo Hatake was entrusted with a mission of great importance to the village. If it fails, the consequences could be enormous!"
Haneda didn't flinch. He simply asked,
> "And what exactly was this mission?"
> "How would I know? It was classified—top secret!" the man snapped.
Haneda's tone remained level.
> "If it's top secret, then why are you even speaking about it? Do you know what the objective was? What sacrifices were involved?"
> "Only the participants and Konoha's top officials would know. But Sakumo wasn't just anyone—he was the White Fang of Konoha, a shinobi feared on the same level as the Sannin."
> "If even he believed the mission should be abandoned… shouldn't that tell you something?"
> "Had Sakumo died on that mission, Konoha would have lost one of its strongest defenders. Do you think the other great nations would hesitate to attack if Konoha was weakened?"
He narrowed his eyes, his voice like a blade:
> "Would you be satisfied with that result?"
> "Would you accept the war, the lives lost, the chaos—all because you wanted someone to blindly 'follow orders'?"
Silence fell over the barbecue restaurant.
The words struck a nerve.
Indeed, if Sakumo had died, Konoha might've been plunged into crisis. The White Fang wasn't just another shinobi—he was a pillar of the village's strength.
And if even a Jonin like him had made the call to abandon the mission to save his comrades, perhaps there had been more to the story than the public would ever know.
Obito stepped forward, puffing up his chest.
> "Yeah! Haneda's right! What, you want Sakumo-san to die so you can feel morally superior?!"
His voice rang across the room.
The two men who had been arguing just moments ago now looked awkward. They muttered something under their breath, paid their bill, and slipped out of the restaurant in embarrassment.
At that moment, the room shifted from judgmental whispers to thoughtful murmurs. More people began to reconsider the situation rationally.
---
System Notification
> Ding! Kakashi Hatake's favorability +13
Ding! Kakashi Hatake's favorability +17
> Favorability: 73 — Reward: 0.2 Chakra, Konoha Taijutsu Secret Art: One Thousand Years of Death.
Haneda blinked.
> "One Thousand Years of Death? That prank move? Who even needs to learn that—everyone figures it out on instinct…"
Still, 0.2 Chakra was a decent reward, and Kakashi's favorability increase was even better.
He glanced toward the back of the restaurant.
Kakashi's seat was now empty.
> He left… but the favorability increase means he heard everything. That's enough.
---
Obito came over and threw an arm around Haneda's shoulder.
> "Hey, that was pretty cool back there. Didn't know you had it in you, talking like a seasoned diplomat."
Haneda smirked.
> "I've always been cool."
Obito narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
> "Heh… weird. You don't usually talk this much in class…"
But he quickly forgot his doubts as the waiter arrived, carrying a platter of beautifully marbled meat. The sizzling aroma filled the air, and the trio practically salivated on the spot.
> "Let's eat!"
Obito immediately reached for a piece—but Haneda's chopsticks intercepted him.
> "Hey! Haneda, you looking for a fight?"
Haneda raised a brow, expression flat.
> "Are you stupid? It's not even grilled yet."
Rin tugged Obito's sleeve, giggling nervously.
> "He's right, Obito. Let it cook first."
> "It's already marinated…" Obito muttered under his breath, embarrassed but obedient. He laid the meat onto the grill.
The charcoal crackled, releasing a rich, savory scent.
Within minutes, the meat was golden brown and sizzling in its own juices.
Obito took a bite—and immediately yelped.
> "HOT! HOT HOT HOT!!!"
Haneda couldn't help but laugh.
> "You're truly a lost cause. A certified dead-last loser."
Rin giggled behind her hand, shaking her head.
> "Bastard Haneda!!"
Obito leapt to his feet, puffing his cheeks in anger.
> "Idiot Obito."
> "Alright, you two, that's enough."
Rin pressed Obito back down into his seat with one hand.
> "And Haneda—stop teasing him."
> "Fine, fine." Haneda grinned.
"In a world without video games, trolling Obito is one of the few joys I have."
---
Meanwhile… at the Hatake Residence
> "Father, I'm home."
Kakashi pushed open the door, removing his sandals and placing them neatly on the rack.
Inside, Sakumo Hatake sat in silence.
His silver-white hair matched his son's, though his face was lined with weariness and the beginnings of despair. His usually sharp features were dulled by fatigue. Dark circles ringed his eyes.
> He hasn't slept again… Kakashi thought, standing silently at the entrance.
Sakumo looked up with a tired smile.
> "Kakashi. Is there something you want to say?"
Kakashi hesitated, mouth half open, then looked away.
> "No… nothing."
He turned and disappeared into his room, sliding the door closed behind him.
Sakumo let out a sigh, his voice barely audible.
> "Have you eaten?"
> "Yeah."
> "Don't stay up too late… it's bad for your health."
---
Kakashi lay on his bed, eyes on the ceiling, thoughts running wild.
He thought of the whispers in the streets… the glares… the shame in his father's eyes.
But tonight, something had changed.
Someone had defended his father. Not out of obligation, not out of pity—but because they believed he had done the right thing.
He remembered Haneda's words.
> "A mission can be done again. A comrade only has one life."
Kakashi murmured under his breath:
> "Which is more important… the mission… or your comrades?"
He didn't have the answer yet.
But tonight, for the first time in a long while… he felt a little less alone.