The Return of the White Fang: A Reckoning Begins
Amidst the swirling dust, a figure slowly emerged. As the haze settled, Kakashi's breath hitched—his vision sharpened, recognition striking him like a lightning bolt. The man before him, whose features had morphed from those of a faceless prisoner, now bore the unmistakable countenance of Hatake Sakumo—the White Fang of Konoha.
Hatake Sakumo lay motionless at first, his eyes fluttering open as life returned to his form through the unnatural energy of the Impure World Reincarnation. He sat up, scanning his surroundings before his gaze locked onto his son.
"Kakashi!" His voice was firm, yet tinged with an emotion that hadn't dulled with death.
Kakashi's throat tightened. He hadn't seen his father in over a decade. The weight of years of unanswered questions and lingering regret threatened to spill over, but he held firm.
"Father…" His voice was hoarse, his usually stoic demeanor momentarily cracking.
Sakumo exhaled lightly before placing a reassuring hand atop Kakashi's silver head, ruffling his hair just as he had when Kakashi was a child.
"Come now, what is this? Didn't I teach you that a shinobi must not let emotions cloud their resolve?"
Kakashi straightened instantly, wiping away any trace of vulnerability. "Yes, Father!" he responded with the discipline of the war-hardened shinobi he had become.
Sakumo studied his son, his heart aching at how much he had missed. Kakashi, no longer the small boy he left behind, had become a hardened warrior. Had he been alive, would things have been different? Would his son have carried less burden?
But this was not the time for regret. His return meant unfinished business.
"We must go," Sakumo said, his expression hardening. "There is someone I need to see… the Third Hokage."
A glint of understanding flashed in Kakashi's eyes. His fists clenched involuntarily as years of unspoken resentment surfaced. He had dedicated his entire life to Konoha, serving the very system that had driven his father to ruin.
"Yes, Father!" Kakashi echoed.
With that, the resurrected White Fang and his son made their way toward Konoha. Their arrival did not go unnoticed.
A murmur spread through the village streets as people stopped in their tracks, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Is that… the White Fang?! But that's impossible!"
"He looks… terrifying! What if he's back for revenge?"
"I—I was one of the people who spoke ill of him back then… am I in danger?"
"It wasn't just us! Everyone turned their backs on him! But… wasn't the Third Hokage involved in all this?"
"Yeah, but we didn't know the full story back then… Who would have thought he'd take his own life?"
A chill ran through the gathered crowd. Whether out of guilt, fear, or admiration, all eyes were now on the man once condemned by his own village.
And this time, he wasn't alone.
"That's right! He took his own life—how can we be to blame?!"
As Kakashi walked through the streets, he could hear the whispers and murmurs around him. At first, the villagers had feared the return of Konoha's White Fang, dreading his retribution. But soon, they began to shift the blame, absolving themselves of any wrongdoing. Did they truly not realize their mistakes?
Kakashi's grip tightened around his tanto, his cold eyes flashing with fury. He was ready to strike, but before he could move, a firm hand stopped him.
"Father, they—"
Sakumo Hatake shook his head, his expression unreadable.
"Kakashi, we're here to see the Third Hokage. These people are nothing more than pawns in his game."
Kakashi hesitated but eventually nodded, his frustration evident. He cast one last glance at the villagers. His sharp, beast-like gaze sent a shiver down their spines, and panic spread like wildfire.
"K-Kakashi's back—with Konoha's White Fang! They've come for revenge!" someone screamed as the crowd scattered.
"Hmph! Lightning Style: Thunder Wave!"
Sakumo had remained silent while they insulted him. But the moment they slandered his son, his patience snapped. With a swift series of hand seals, a surge of electricity crackled around him, spreading through the air. The fleeing civilians were caught in the storm, their terrified screams drowned out by the roar of thunder.
As the lightning dissipated, Kakashi watched the scene unfold, a complex emotion rising within him. His father hadn't retaliated for his own suffering, but the moment Kakashi was falsely accused, he had struck without hesitation.
Not far away, a lone observer named Kaito watched in silence. The darkness in Konoha ran deep—it wasn't just the actions of the higher-ups but even the civilians who blindly followed them.
"Should I intervene? …No. This isn't my fight."
With Sakumo now seeking an audience with Sarutobi Hiruzen, change was inevitable. Perhaps, by the time this was over, Konoha would no longer be the same.