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Sakumo Hatake walked away from Hisato's estate, mind already racing with strategies on how to convince the stubborn old man. He knew it would be difficult, perhaps even a long shot, but Sakumo wasn't one to give up easily, especially when it came to his students.

Hisato had been a formidable shinobi in his prime, a master of genjutsu, and while his bitterness now dominated him, Sakumo remembered the days when Hisato had been driven by a fierce desire to protect. His genjutsu had saved countless lives on the battlefield, opening up opportunities for swift victories, and disrupting enemy formations in ways that regular ninjutsu could never achieve. But, like many powerful techniques, it had come at a high cost, requiring immense concentration and chakra control.

The tragedy that had befallen Hisato's family was a painful one, and Sakumo understood why the man had shut himself off. Losing his wife had been hard enough, but when both his sons were killed in action, something inside Hisato had died too. His genjutsu, which had been so powerful, now felt like a curse—something too dangerous to pass on.

As Sakumo walked through the quiet streets, his thoughts turned to Haruto. He had seen the young genin's potential from the beginning, but Haruto's ability to multitask—especially with his two-mind ability, even though Sakumo didn't know its true nature—was what made him uniquely suited for genjutsu. Most shinobi struggled with maintaining genjutsu and managing their awareness of the battlefield simultaneously, but Haruto had an innate gift that set him apart. His medical-nin training under Tsunade and his experience with fūinjutsu had only sharpened his precision, control, and ability to manage multiple tasks at once.

Sakumo sighed as he realized that, despite these clear advantages, Hisato wasn't likely to be convinced so easily. Hisato's pain ran too deep, and the risk of teaching someone else his techniques was too personal for him. But Sakumo wasn't ready to give up just yet. Hisato's methods had to live on, and Haruto was the perfect candidate.

As he walked, a memory came back to him—one of Hisato's wife, Kanna, a kind and thoughtful woman who had always believed in sharing knowledge for the betterment of others. She had been the heart and soul of the Mura family, always encouraging Hisato to teach and pass on his skills to the younger generation. She had believed that by teaching others, Hisato could leave a legacy that went beyond battle.

It was a low blow, but Sakumo knew it might be the only way to get through to Hisato.

The next morning, Sakumo returned to Hisato's estate. He knocked on the gate again, and after what felt like an eternity, the old man hobbled out once more. Hisato opened the gate, his crutch tapping against the ground as he narrowed his good eye at Sakumo.

"You again?" Hisato growled. "I already told you—no."

Sakumo didn't back down. "Hisato, I understand why you don't want to train Haruto. I know the risks. But you've saved countless lives with your genjutsu. You opened the way for so many of our comrades to survive impossible battles."

Hisato grunted, clearly unimpressed. "And it killed my sons. The risks are too high, Sakumo. You're asking me to train a genin in techniques that could kill even an experienced shinobi. I'm not interested."

Sakumo's voice softened as he continued. "Your genjutsu is one of the most advanced techniques I've ever seen. I understand the concentration it takes, and I'm not asking you to risk Haruto's life. He's not like most shinobi, Hisato. He's a medical-nin, trained by Tsunade herself. He has an extraordinary ability to multitask, to focus on multiple things at once. His chakra control is impeccable—perfect for genjutsu. And, most importantly, he's dedicated to learning."

Hisato's face remained hard, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe. He remained silent, waiting for Sakumo to continue.

"He's been working with fūinjutsu, too," Sakumo added. "The kid's a genius, Hisato. He has the ability to do this, and I think he's the perfect person to carry on your legacy."

Hisato's grip on his crutch tightened, and he shook his head. "Legacy? What legacy? My genjutsu took everything from me. I'm not passing that burden onto anyone else."

Sakumo hesitated for a moment, knowing that what he was about to say would hit hard. But he needed to do this—for Haruto's sake. "Kanna believed in passing on knowledge. She believed that what you had was worth sharing. She would want you to teach someone like Haruto."

The mention of Kanna's name caused Hisato to visibly flinch. His crutch hit the ground harder than usual as he leaned heavily on it, his good eye darkening with pain. "Don't… bring her into this, Sakumo. You have no right."

"I know," Sakumo said quietly, "but she was right. She believed in you, Hisato. Even after everything, she believed you could help others. You still can."

Hisato was silent for a long moment, his gaze turning distant as memories of his wife flooded back. The anger in his face slowly faded, replaced by something much deeper—grief.

Sakumo waited, watching his old friend wrestle with the memories. Finally, Hisato spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "And what if it kills him, too? What then?"

Sakumo stepped closer, his expression serious. "I wouldn't ask you if I didn't believe he could handle it. Haruto is different. He has the control, the focus, and the heart to do this. I believe in him. And I believe you're the only one who can teach him."

For a long while, Hisato said nothing. Then, with a deep sigh, he looked up at Sakumo. "You're asking for a lot, White Fang."

"I know," Sakumo said softly, "but I also know you can do this."

Hisato stared at Sakumo for what felt like an eternity before finally, grudgingly, nodding. "Fine. Two days. Bring him to the training field. But if I see even a hint of him struggling, it's over. I won't be responsible for another life lost to this damn jutsu."

Sakumo smiled, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Hisato. You won't regret this."

As Sakumo turned to leave, Hisato muttered under his breath, "I already do."

Sakumo couldn't help but chuckle softly as he walked away. Convincing Hisato had been no small feat, but it was done. Now, it was up to Haruto to prove that he was ready for this.