Naruto: Scourge of the Ninja World

In the main hall, Hatake Sakumo looked at the squirming Gekko Chizan with a smile on his face, clearly in a great mood.

"Kakashi, did you see that? You should learn more from your old man. This move, the Thousand Years of Death, is enough to let you run rampant across the shinobi world."

Gekko Chizan felt a sharp pain as his little flower trembled slightly—so intense it almost made him faint.

Yet he still stared defiantly at Hatake Sakumo.

He thought to himself: This old bastard sure holds a grudge! No wonder this move earned him the title of the White Fang of the Leaf.

Same Thousand Years of Death—why is the effect so damn different!?

Off to the side, Kakashi held his butt, speechless.

What kind of nonsense was this? Gekko Chizan stabbed him, and now his dad stabbed Gekko Chizan.

Ah, what a pity—a flower that hadn't even bloomed yet...

"Pakura, how have you been feeling these past few days?"

"Is Konoha better than you imagined?"

Hatake Sakumo poured a cup of tea and handed it to Pakura.

He didn't distance himself from her in the slightest, despite her background.

"Mm... it's quite prosperous, and fairly peaceful."

"The main thing is—the scenery's beautiful."

"Not something the Land of Wind can compare to."

Pakura took the tea and took a sip. Huh? It actually tasted pretty good.

"Hehehe, that's good. Although we brought you here by force, if you're willing to join Konoha, that'd be the best outcome."

"Of course, it all depends on your will. But if your wish is to return to Sunagakure, then that might not be possible."

Pakura nodded. She understood that Konoha wouldn't let her go back.

So she endured. As a shinobi, patience was crucial.

And truth be told, these past few days had been rather pleasant. At the Gekko household, she had Sayo to chat with, who told her all kinds of fun stories—experiences she'd never had in Sunagakure.

Gekko Chizan would even take time to show her around the sights of Konoha. Over all these years, only in the past few days had she truly relaxed.

"Chizan, the reason I called you here today is to ask for your opinion on something."

Gekko Chizan and Kakashi were both trying hard to sit despite the pain, when suddenly Hatake Sakumo addressed him, catching him by surprise.

"Hm? You want my opinion?"

"You've got to be joking. You're the White Fang of Konoha, you know."

Even Pakura raised her eyebrows slightly at that remark.

And then she noticed another trait of Gekko Chizan—he holds grudges and is petty.

"Hahahahaha, you brat—still salty, huh? Aren't we far past the Land of Wind by now?"

"Alright, no need to hide it. I've already submitted my resignation to the Hokage—stepping down as ANBU Captain. Who knows, maybe I'll end up teaching at the academy like you."

The three of them were all shocked by those words.

Kakashi stared wide-eyed at his father. In his mind, Hatake Sakumo had always been Konoha's pillar, and his personal idol.

He couldn't understand why his father would suddenly make such a choice.

Pakura's pupils shrank. No one knew better than enemy shinobi how renowned the White Fang of Konoha was.

If the Kage represented a village's strongest force, then the White Fang was the second Kage of Konoha. His power was terrifying.

But Gekko Chizan's first thought upon hearing Sakumo's words was: This guy's finally wised up?

His second thought: This guy's not gonna die anymore!

If Hatake Sakumo stayed alive, Konoha would have two Kage-level powers on the surface, giving them a stronger foundation in the upcoming Third Great Ninja War.

In his past life, he'd always thought—if only Sakumo had been alive during the Third War, battles like the one at Kikyo Pass on the edge of Konoha would never have happened.

But what had made Sakumo think of retiring?

"Not gonna lie, Chizan, back when you cornered me, my mind was a complete mess."

"I didn't know what to choose. I couldn't understand why someone like me—who never flinched before a thousand enemies—would hesitate between comrades and the mission."

"After I came back, I thought long and hard. I'm not young anymore—I don't have the decisiveness of my youth."

"So I chose partial retirement. And for that, Chizan, I need to thank you. If it weren't for you, I might've made a choice I'd regret for the rest of my life."

As he said this, Hatake Sakumo handed a cup of tea to Gekko Chizan.

This scene truly caught Chizan off guard.

But the problem Sakumo spoke of was the same one that got him killed in the original timeline. This man, powerful as a Kage, actually had a glass heart.

"As for my retirement, the Hokage has already approved it."

"Once the next ANBU captain is appointed, I'll step down officially."

"Then I'll just be an ordinary shinobi. Teaching sounds like a good plan."

At this, his gaze shifted to his son again.

Without realizing it, the boy was already nearing six years old. Time flew.

"Huh? Someone like you stepping down—what's ANBU gonna do?"

"I mean seriously, without you, that elite strike force is gonna suck."

Chizan's comment made Sakumo nod. Then the next second, a faint, unreadable smile spread across his face.

"That's why I recommended you to the Hokage."

"You'll join ANBU—from the bottom."

Gekko Chizan: I freaking knew it. The moment I walked in, my right eyelid wouldn't stop twitching. I thought it was just from the Thousand Years of Death—but clearly I was being short-sighted!

Pakura: This brat? In ANBU? Ptui!

Kakashi: ANBU, huh? Can I join too...?

"Wait wait wait, my dear Sakumo-sama! By your logic, I helped you. I saved you."

"How can you repay kindness with betrayal???"

"I'm just an ordinary shinobi—okay, fine, technically a jōnin by special promotion."

"But my combat ability is basically zero. All I can do is run. Making someone like me join ANBU—how does that make any sense?"

Gekko Chizan was about to lose his mind!

What the hell's been going on lately!? Why is nothing going his way???

"You brat, don't sell yourself short. Your strength is enough to overwhelm a regular jōnin. You may not be elite yet, but you're not far off."

"After all, you're still young."

"Relax. ANBU work isn't as grim as you imagine."

"Besides, there's a benefit to joining ANBU."

As he spoke, Hatake Sakumo glanced over at Pakura.

Pakura looked confused, pointing at herself uncertainly. "Me?"

"Yes. After all, you're a Sunagakure kunoichi. In Konoha, your status is that of a prisoner."

"Normal shinobi wouldn't be allowed near you."

"If Gekko Chizan still wants to continue as your observer, then ANBU is clearly the best option."

"Otherwise, once certain people learn of your identity, I'm afraid he won't be able to protect you."

Shimura Danzo: Why don't you just hand over my ninja registration number while you're at it!? Huh?!

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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