Too Good to Survive

"Did you pass?" I asked as Kakashi stepped out of the room.

He didn't say anything. Just gave me a small nod.

Yeah, that's a yes.

Honestly, I saw it coming. Hiruzen wasn't just going to sign off on our graduation without a proper test. Would've looked like pure favouritism, especially with the way people already talk behind closed doors.

The exam itself was split into parts.

First was a bunch of questions. Stuff about basic missions, village rules, emergency procedures. There were even a few about Hiruzen himself and the whole 'Will of Fire' thing. Loyalty check, obviously. They wanted to know if we were gonna be assets or problems.

I gave the answers they wanted. Truthful, but measured. Kakashi probably did the same.

Then came the jutsu section. Basic techniques were non-negotiable, and after that, we could show off a bit. I used a Fire Style jutsu. Nothing too flashy. Kakashi went with Earth Style.

Next up was taijutsu and shurikenjutsu. Pretty standard stuff. Hit the dummy, show you know how to move, block, counter, throw. As long as you weren't tripping over your own feet or throwing like a drunk academy kid, you were good.

And finally, the mock battle.

They paired us with freshly minted genin, ones who graduated this year. We weren't expected to win, which honestly made sense. The age difference alone means they've got more physical strength and stamina.

But that didn't mean we were helpless.

I played to my strengths. Kept things fast. Focused on speed and precision. My kenjutsu training came in handy. I didn't overpower my opponent, but I didn't get folded either. Kakashi did his thing too.

Neither of us went all out. We didn't need to. The goal wasn't to crush our opponents. It was to show that we belonged on the same battlefield.

And yeah, I think we did.

"Which team did you get assigned to?" Kakashi asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Team 13," I replied. "You?"

"Team 21."

I nodded slowly. Two different teams, huh? I figured they'd split us up. Makes sense, really. Can't put all the prodigies in one basket.

If my assumption is right, I'll probably be put under one of Hiruzen's loyal subordinates. Someone who'll constantly try to steer me. Make sure my loyalty to the village outweighs any bond to the Uchiha.

Right now, I give the impression that I care about everyone equally. Polite. Friendly. Cooperative. But what Hiruzen really wants is more than that. He wants me to love the village. So deeply that I'd be willing to stand against my own clan if it ever came to that.

If possible, he'd shape me into a blade. A blade pointed not just outward, but inward too. Against the Uchiha, if necessary.

Monkey, monkey... I really wanna tap your head.

But maybe this isn't all bad. Maybe it's an opportunity.

If I can make Hiruzen genuinely like me, trust me, then my chances of surviving Danzo go way up. That one-eyed rat won't get the chance to drag me into his little sewer.

Not while the Hokage thinks I'm his.

And since we've officially graduated, that means Sakumo Hatake's death isn't far off.

Damn. I hate thinking about it, but yeah. It's coming.

The story they'll tell is that he failed a mission because he saved his teammates instead of completing it. Then the whole village finds out, starts whispering, pointing fingers, blaming him for everything. And just like that, he kills himself.

But seriously, who the hell actually believes that?

Sakumo Hatake. The White Fang. Freaking ANBU Commander. A man who made it to the top without selling out his principles. You're telling me a few civilians talking crap made him snap?

Nah. I'm not buying that.

He didn't just save his comrades because he felt like it. Most likely, the mission was already in trouble. Rather than letting people die for nothing, he chose to pull them out. Logical. Tactical. Efficient.

And we're not talking about some random genin squad here. His teammates were probably elite Jonin. Losing them would've hurt Konoha more than some half-finished mission.

Besides, it's not like he didn't understand how missions worked. You don't make it that high without knowing when to bend the rules and when to follow them. If he really was someone who always put comrades first, how'd he end up leading black-ops missions? No way someone like that gets to be ANBU Commander without balancing both.

This whole story stinks.

And then there's the way the "failure" was broadcasted across the village. Which is weird, right? ANBU missions are sealed tighter than a frog's ass. Even normal missions don't get talked about openly. Yet this one somehow spread like wildfire?

Who leaked it? Probably Danzo. And Hiruzen, always playing his politics, let it slide. All to ruin Sakumo's reputation.

Because let's be real. Sakumo was too good. Too respected. Too close to becoming the next Hokage. And that scared them.

As for Sakumo's suicide, there are two likely scenarios. First, Danzo probably told him that if he wanted Kakashi to live, he needed to take himself out. The second possibility is Hiruzen. Sakumo probably couldn't stomach the fact that after all he gave for the village, Hiruzen didn't step in to defend him.

Hiruzen left him to rot in the shadows. And I think that was the breaking point for Sakumo. To be abandoned like that, after dedicating his life to Konoha? The man would have been hollow. He couldn't take it anymore. Maybe it was both. The pressure from Danzo and the silence from Hiruzen.

In the end, he thought he was doing it for Kakashi. To leave the world so his son could have a better life.

I look over at Kakashi. He doesn't know what's coming. He doesn't know the sacrifice his father's about to make for him.

And I can't help it. I feel bad for him. And for his old man too. One gave everything for the village. The other will carry that weight for the rest of his life.

Even if it's all a performance, even if Sakumo smiled at me just to play nice, I still respect the guy.

Too bad respect won't save him.

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