"I've lost. You passed the test this time!"
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with the hand still gripping his chakra blade, Sakumo admitted defeat of his own accord. He made no excuses for his carelessness.
A loss was a loss.
"Just lucky." As he spoke, Aoshi sheathed his sword.
He had no intention of underestimating Sakumo because of this outcome.
After all, this was only an assessment—he knew very well that Sakumo had not used any true killing techniques. It would have been impossible for such methods to appear here.
And besides, it was his own sudden use of concealed strength that had led to such a decisive result.
Hearing Aoshi's words, Sakumo found himself momentarily speechless.
Lucky? If anyone else were to say such a thing, it would only make listeners collapse in disbelief. Not everyone could pull off what Aoshi had done.
"Uncle Sakumo, don't move yet. Let me treat you first."
Even as he spoke, Aoshi had already stepped forward, green medical chakra blooming in his palm.
Sakumo's hand bones were indeed fractured—but with Aoshi's medical ninjutsu, it was hardly a serious injury and would heal quickly.
[Complete the treatment of Sakumo Hatake; reward: One Rainbow Orb.]
[Congratulations— You acquired Top-tier Swordsmanship Talent.]
"You just need to rest for a few days. Try not to use this hand too much." Aoshi instructed calmly.
"Thank you for your help."
Despite being injured by Aoshi's attack, Sakumo harbored no resentment at all. After offering his thanks, he turned and walked away.
As Aoshi watched him leave, a thought surfaced.
With his current influence, Sakumo should never fall into despair and end his own life over baseless rumors.
If Sakumo lived on, Kakashi would not grow up ostracized, nor be forced to rely on ruthless efficiency and mission-first ideology.
He would not transfer teams repeatedly, nor end up in Minato's squad with Obito and Rin by coincidence.
In the future, the "Copy Ninja" Kakashi might never exist. Instead, perhaps titles like "Konoha's Silver Fang" or "Konoha's Lightning Fang" would emerge.
While pondering this, Aoshi reunited with Minato and Nono, who had both passed their own assessments without any injuries.
After all, an assessment was not meant to cause harm. As long as one demonstrated sufficient capability, passing was simple.
Aoshi had only injured Sakumo because his test was… special.
"Next, we should go to the Hokage's office to receive the final assessment task."
---
Hatake Household
The moment Sakumo stepped into the house, Kakashi—who had been practicing alone—immediately froze.
"Dad, you're back… you're hurt?" Kakashi's shock was beyond words.
No one understood Sakumo's strength better than he did.
No matter the enemy or the danger, his father always returned victorious and unscathed. Since his earliest memories, his father had never once been injured.
Yet now, he stood before him wounded.
But… Sakumo had only gone to oversee a Jonin promotion exam. Meaning his opponent was merely a Chunin-level candidate.
"Who in the world could injure you?"
"It's alright. I've already recovered," Sakumo replied with a gentle smile. "Just need a few days of rest."
Then he added lightly, "Perfect timing. I can use this opportunity to guide your swordsmanship properly."
However, Kakashi's mind was on something else entirely. He stared intensely at Sakumo, waiting for the real answer.
Seeing this, Sakumo reached out and ruffled his hair. "It was Hirakawa Aoshi."
It's him…! Kakashi was no stranger to the name.
Two years ago, Aoshi's reputation had spread far and wide. He had heard about him many times from his classmate, Kurenai Yuhi.
According to her, Hirakawa Aoshi was a kind, handsome older brother with remarkable medical skills.
Kakashi didn't think much of it back then. After all, he was only a medical ninja.
Even when Aoshi later became Konoha's celebrated hero, Kakashi remained indifferent. But now… this man had defeated his father.
It was difficult for him to accept.
"That's right," Sakumo said firmly. "Aoshi is an even more incredible genius than you, Kakashi."
I will surpass him.
"I must!"
The words burst from Kakashi instinctively. At that young age, he had already found a rival he was determined to overcome.
Only when he grew older would he realize how arrogant that vow had been.
Hearing his son's earnest resolve, Sakumo felt genuinely pleased. He didn't discourage him at all.
"Alright then—you'll have to work even harder."
"I will!" Kakashi answered with absolute conviction.
---
The Hokage's office.
Aoshi and the other two arrived to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Not bad. The three of you did not disappoint me."
As he spoke, Hiruzen handed Minato and Nono each a mission scroll containing their assessment tasks. After the two left, he turned to Aoshi, his eyes filled with astonishment.
"Aoshi, you gave me quite the pleasant surprise. I tried my best to overestimate you, yet I still underestimated you."
Indeed, Aoshi's effortless victory over Sakumo had been far beyond Hiruzen's expectations.
If Aoshi hadn't been only twenty years old—still so young—Hiruzen might have retired on the spot and handed him the position of Fourth Hokage.
"It was just luck. Uncle Hatake didn't use his full strength."
Knowing full well that Hiruzen must have watched the entire battle through the Telescope Technique, Aoshi remained modest.
Hiruzen froze mid-smoke, then chuckled inwardly.
Ah… youth. He actually thinks he could withstand Sakumo going all out?
Sakumo's reputation was carved into the battlefield itself, not earned through mere bragging. If the White Fang truly fought to kill, Aoshi—caught unprepared—would have died instantly.
This was Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
Of course, Hiruzen had no idea that Sakumo wasn't the only one concealing his true strength.
"Enough small talk, Aoshi. Your assessment task this time is to hunt down a rogue Jonin."
Aoshi raised an eyebrow. Hunting rogue ninjas?
Those missions were normally assigned to pursuit squads. Receiving the scroll, Aoshi opened it immediately.
It read:
Hayakawa Arashi, former Jonin of Konoha, is skilled in Wind Release and swordsmanship. Performing brilliantly in the First Shinobi World War, he was promoted to Jonin afterward.
During the Second Shinobi World War, he single-handedly took down two Sunagakure Jonin, his strength ranked among Konoha's elite.
However, two days ago, during a routine patrol, Hayakawa murdered his comrade for unknown reasons and deserted, fleeing to the northern region of the Land of Fire.
He showed no mercy to the Konoha pursuit team that followed—he slaughtered every one of them, leaving no survivors.
So that was the reason. An entire pursuit squad being wiped out justified assigning him this mission.
Although Aoshi's rank on paper was still only Chunin, no one truly saw him as such. Giving him a mission far beyond the Chunin level was perfectly reasonable.
But how could a Jonin of that caliber suddenly defect?
Aoshi glanced at Hiruzen, who simply shook his head. The truth behind the case was still unclear.
"With your strength, completing this mission should not be difficult. But be careful," Hiruzen warned. "Hayakawa's betrayal is too unusual. I suspect there may be forces behind him that we do not yet know about."
"This mission is A-rank."
No wonder Hiruzen saved his task for last. Normally, Jonin exam missions were B-rank. Though A and B differed by only one level, the danger increased severalfold.
Aoshi put the scroll away and nodded.
"Yes, I'll be careful." After leaving the Hokage's office, he set off immediately, heading north out of Konoha toward the Land of Fire.
Root Base
Aburame Ryoma approached Danzo respectfully.
"Lord Danzo, Yakushi Nono, and Hirakawa Aoshi have left Konoha for the Land of Fire, exactly as planned."
Danzo's eyes snapped open. "Good. Send word to Shadow—they are to begin the operation."
He had prepared thoroughly for dealing with Aoshi. Several days earlier, he had already dispatched ten Root operatives through various covert routes.
They were merely waiting for the order to strike.
"Yes!" Ryoma replied, leaving at once.
Danzo leaned back, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
"Once the inherently dangerous Hirakawa Aoshi is eliminated, the orphanage will be back in my hands."
Over the past two years, forced to recruit orphans from outside Konoha, his efficiency had plummeted.
Not only was the process slower, but the quality of these children was inferior to that of the ones from Konoha's orphanage.
"This is the price for defying me… and defying Konoha." He sneered. "Next, Sakumo Hatake must be dealt with. As long as he lives, he stands in the way of my path to becoming Hokage."
Konoha Mission Administration Office
Elsewhere, Hiruko arrived.
"I'll take this mission."
He picked a random C-rank assignment, registered it, and left immediately. Unlike Danzo, he could only leave Konoha under the guise of completing a mission.
Before long, he arrived in a small town, though it was not his actual mission site.
He was here to meet allies. At the predetermined location, three figures were already waiting: two men and one woman.
The first was a tall, bald man named Yugata.
The second was a short, sleazy-looking man known only by his nickname: Rat—and it suited him perfectly.
The third was a curvaceous kunoichi named Kaoru, whose alluring figure often drew Rat's shameless gaze.
These three were well-known bounty hunters—and they were the helpers Hiruko had hired in advance.