Naruto : Konoha Light

At the Uchiha Clan estate, inside a grand mansion, a middle-aged ninja in his thirties and a younger ninja in his twenties sat kneeling in silence. The atmosphere was heavy with contemplation.

"I still can't believe that Lord White Fang chose to end his life like that," the younger ninja murmured.

"If White Fang had become Hokage, with his character, he might have been able to change our clan's current situation," the older ninja mused.

"Senior Hachidai, do you think Lord White Fang's death has anything to do with us?"

The elder ninja, Hachidai, shook his head. "Clan Leader, you may be overthinking things. Although our clan is feared, we are not influential to that extent."

"Perhaps I am being overly sensitive," sighed Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the clan. "It's a pity that I am still too young, and my prestige isn't strong enough to command full loyalty."

"This matter will take time to change the perceptions of others," Hachidai said seriously. "But rather than focusing on the clan, I believe you should pay more attention to the shifts outside of it."

"You observe internal matters more than I do, Senior," Fugaku nodded. "As for the outside world, should we consider aligning with the Fourth Hokage candidate ahead of time?"

"Orochimaru has always been indifferent toward us, though extending goodwill might be beneficial—" Hachidai trailed off when he noticed Fugaku's furrowed brow. "Clan Leader, what's wrong?"

Fugaku hesitated for a moment before replying, "Apologies, Senior, but rather than Orochimaru, I favor Minato Namikaze."

"Minato Namikaze?" Hachidai frowned in thought before recalling the name. "You mean that disciple?"

Takayama nodded firmly. "Although I do not Agree to the Will of Fire, if there is anyone who truly understands and embodies that philosophy, it is him."

Hachidai was taken aback. "You hold him in such high regard? But he is still young. His strength and reputation cannot compare to Orochimaru's."

Fugaku smiled. "Strength and prestige—White Fang possessed both, even more than Orochimaru. But in the end, what happened? The one chosen to be Hokage will not merely inherit the title; he must embody its ideals from the very beginning."

Hachidai fell silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Perhaps you are right. And offering help at a crucial time is always more effective than joining after the fact. But... how do you plan to approach him?"

Fugaku's expression darkened. If his analysis was correct, then the Third Hokage might already be heavily favoring Minato.

In that case, acting too hastily could backfire.

Just then, a commotion erupted in the garden.

"That was insane! Absolutely insane!"

"Yeah! The class rep is a total monster!"

Recognizing the familiar voices, Hachidai's face twitched awkwardly. "Apologies for the disturbance."

Fugaku chuckled. "They're children. It's good for them to be lively."

At that moment, two excited young boys rushed over and quickly saluted.

"Father! Clan Leader!"

Seeing the other child, Hachidai's expression softened. "Zhihui, what are you talking about?"

Zhihui's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It was a spar at the Academy—a battle between A-rank jutsu users!"

Hachidai, initially indifferent, was shocked. A-rank jutsu? In the Academy?

Even among active shinobi, A-rank techniques were trump cards. How could they appear in a school duel?

"Did the Academy hire a new teacher?" he asked suspiciously.

Zhihui and Obito shook their heads in unison. "No, it was between a first-year and a second-year student!"

Hachidai's mouth twitched. He was about to reprimand them when Fugaku interjected. "Was one of them Kakashi Hatake?"

"Kakashi Hatake?" Hachidai repeated in surprise.

"The son of White Fang," Fugaku confirmed.

"No wonder..." Hachidai's expression became complicated. Their entire generation had grown up in White Fang's shadow.

"And the other?"

"Shimizu."

Hachidai's eyes lit up. "That's the boy who guided you back onto the right path?"

Zhihui grinned without a trace of embarrassment. "Yeah! Haha, last year, I could still spar with him evenly. But now? I'd last maybe five seconds!"

Fugaku and Hachidai were stunned. Zhihui, a prodigy in his own right, was admitting inferiority so readily?

Obito nodded in agreement. "Well, the class rep mastered an A-rank jutsu at six years old."

Pfft!

Fugaku and Hachidai nearly choked on their tea.

A child developing an A-rank technique was beyond extraordinary. Was that even possible?

Seeing their shock, Obito quickly added, "Actually, the class rep said he only came up with the idea and inspiration. Minato-senpai helped refine the details."

"That makes a bit more sense..." The two elders sighed in relief—until they realized something.

"What did you say his name was?"

Obito flinched. "Minato Namikaze!"

Fugaku and Hachidai exchanged knowing smiles. Then, with a suddenly affectionate tone, Fugaku asked, "Tell me, how old is this Shimizu boy? Does he have any close female friends? You should invite him to visit our clan. We have plenty of lovely young kunoichi!"

Obito and Zhihui glanced at each other in horror.

The clan leader had lost his mind!

At Konoha Hospital

Kakashi Hatake lay in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in silence.

A knock on the door broke his daze.

"Kakashi, may I come in?"

The voice made his expression shift slightly.

After a moment, he replied, "Come in."

Shimizu entered the room, closed the door behind him, and pulled up a chair.

"what do you want?"

"I've been thinking about something for a long time," Shimizu said seriously. "And it has to do with what you said yesterday before you collapsed."

Kakashi's expression remained indifferent. "You want to talk about that failure?"

"Doesn't it feel wrong to say something that goes against your own heart?"

"I don't feel anything."

"If that were true, you wouldn't have brought your father's blade to challenge me," Shimizu countered, locking eyes with Kakashi.

Kakashi flinched, his voice turning irritable. "I—I just wanted to prove that I'm different from that kind of failure!"

At that moment, Shimizu formed a hand seal.

Kakashi frowned. "A sealing jutsu?"

"This is just a precaution," Shimizu said with a smile. "I wouldn't want anyone overhearing our conversation."

Despite himself, Kakashi felt a flicker of curiosity.

Shimizu's gaze grew serious. "First, do you think White Fang was strong?"

Kakashi hesitated, then answered, "He was the strongest person I ever met."

"Even my teacher admired him," Shimizu agreed. Then, he shifted gears. "So, do you believe someone that powerful would lack a strong will?"

A trace of pride flickered in Kakashi's eyes before he scoffed. "Isn't his death proof enough?"

Shimizu shook his head. "Let me ask you this instead—didn't you notice that White Fang's health had been declining in the past few months?"

Kakashi frowned. "That's because he kept interfering with missions, saving people who didn't matter!"

"And in the end, did public opinion turn against him, calling him cold-blooded?"

Kakashi stiffened. "That... that wouldn't make sense. Completing a mission should make someone a hero!"

Shimizu sighed. "Who knows? But maybe, just maybe, he wanted to make sure his son didn't grow up under a cold-blooded father."

Kakashi's mind reeled.

Shimizu continued, "Another thing—why did White Fang keep taking missions despite his declining health? There wasn't a wartime emergency."

Kakashi clenched his fists. "Are you saying... someone set him up?"

"I don't know," Shimizu admitted. "But if it were me, I wouldn't want to be misunderstood by my own son."

Kakashi shook his head violently, as if trying to reject the idea. "That's impossible! He was too strong—who could scheme against him?"

Shimizu's voice dropped. "What if it was because of you?"

Kakashi's breath hitched.

Shimizu smiled faintly. "This is just my theory. But if you want the truth, shouldn't you seek it yourself?"

Kakashi inhaled deeply. "You're right. No matter what, I need to find out the truth!"

As Shimizu turned to leave, blood seeped through his bandaged right hand.

Kakashi, his vision blurring with unshed tears, whispered, "Shimizu... thank you."

Without turning back, Shimizu sighed. "A gentle and righteous person will always struggle to survive because this world is neither gentle nor righteous."

"It is not gentle... not righteous..." Kakashi muttered, watching Shimizu's departing figure, his gaze burning with determination. "If it were you, Shimizu... you could surely create such a world!"