Sakumo Hatake watched Raizen's departing back with a look of utter exasperation.
Being completely stark naked, how was he supposed to have the dignity to go home? If he bumped into an acquaintance on night watch and they saw him streaking, his lifelong reputation would be completely destroyed. He was a man who had once been hailed as a hero; he couldn't just shamelessly run through the main streets in the buff.
Looking left and right, he spotted a massive pile of fresh flowers in front of a certain tombstone. Sakumo crept over stealthily. When he read the inscription on the stone, his expression froze.
"The Third...!!"
"Even the Third is dead?"
The grave Sakumo was looking at was none other than the recently deceased Hiruzen Sarutobi's. Looking at the monument, Sakumo's feelings were complex. Finally, all his thoughts dissolved into a deep sigh.
"Third, I'm borrowing some flowers, okay? You won't need them down there anyway, so give me a few!"
With that, Sakumo grabbed the flowers and began weaving. Soon, a pair of makeshift "trousers" made of floral wreaths was complete. After checking his surroundings and confirming no one was watching, he sprinted toward his old home.
Back when he committed suicide, Sakumo had felt a twinge of regret, feeling he had failed the young Kakashi by leaving him alone. Since he had been luckily resurrected, the first thing he wanted to do was say sorry to his son.
Shortly after Sakumo left, Raizen's figure reappeared in the cemetery. He stopped before a different grave.
Deceased: Might Dai. Father of Might Guy.
He and Guy had become best buds over the years. If he was going to revive people to join the Police Force, he naturally chose the father of his brother. Though Dai was technically a Genin, a man who could open all Eight Gates was effectively Kage-level.
This time, Raizen didn't rush to use Sōnga. Instead, he drew Tenseiga.
"Meidō Zangetsuha!!" With a single swing, a path to the Pure Land of the Naruto world was carved open. Raizen stepped inside without hesitation, and the portal sealed behind him.
Since Raizen was tracking Might Dai's specific essence, he appeared directly at Dai's location in the afterlife. Sensing someone's arrival, Dai blinked in surprise. Seeing the stranger, he realized he didn't recognize him.
"Who are you? How did you get here?" Dai asked, stunned.
Raizen recognized him instantly. "My name is Raizen Uchiha. I'm Might Guy's best friend," he said with a smile.
"Guy made a friend?! That is way beyond my expectations! Thank you for being friends with my thick-headed son!" Hearing that Raizen was Guy's brother-in-arms, Dai's face immediately broke into an enthusiastic, warm glow. "Come, come, Raizen, sit here!"
Dai pointed to a stone step across from him. Raizen sat down casually.
"Can you tell me about my boy?" Dai asked expectantly.
Raizen chuckled. "Guy is incredible. He's become an Elite Jōnin now!!"
"Elite Jōnin?" Dai's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. His son, who had zero talent for ninjutsu and was a bit of a blockhead, had become an Elite Jōnin of the Leaf? "Hahaha! Guy did what I couldn't!" After the shock wore off, Dai roared with laughter. Back in the day, he had remained a Genin until the end.
"So, Raizen, how did you die?" Dai asked curiously.
"I'm not dead!" Raizen laughed.
"Not dead?" Dai froze. He suddenly noticed that Raizen, sitting by the spectral campfire, actually had a shadow. "You're alive? How did a living person enter the world of the dead?" He reached out to touch Raizen, but his hand passed through. If Raizen were a soul, Dai could have touched him; the fact that he couldn't meant Raizen was physically present in a different state.
"I have a way to enter the realm of the dead," Raizen explained. "And I have a way to bring the dead back to the world of the living. Dai-senpai, I came here to revive you so you can see Guy again."
"Really?" Though resurrection sounded like a fairy tale, seeing Raizen stand there as a living man gave Dai reason to believe.
"Of course. Why would I go through all this trouble otherwise?" Raizen smiled. "As Guy's best friend, I want him to see his father again. Are you willing to come back? To train with him, talk with him, and walk through the streets of Konoha once more?"
"I'm more than willing! Please, I'm counting on you, Raizen!" Dai was vibrating with excitement. "Wait... Raizen, is this dangerous for you? If you have to pay a terrible price for this jutsu, then I'd rather stay here."
"Don't worry, Senpai. It's a special ability of mine. There's no risk." Raizen paused. "However, I do have one small request."
"Anything! If I can do it, I will!" Dai promised.
"It's nothing major. Since you were technically dead, your old rank was voided. You're a free man. I'm hoping that once you're revived, you'll join the Uchiha Military Police Force."
"The Police Force?" Dai was confused. "But Raizen, isn't that just for the Uchiha? The Second Hokage set it up specifically for your clan. How could an outsider like me join?"
"A lot has happened, Senpai..." Raizen began to explain the massacre and the current state of the clan.
Dai sighed heavily. "I had no idea your clan suffered such a tragedy. Don't worry, Raizen. I'll help you to the very end. As long as you don't find me useless, I'll serve in your Police Force."
"Then it's a deal." Raizen was satisfied. "Wait here for a moment. I'll head back and summon you."
Raizen used Tenseiga to tear the barrier between worlds again, leaving Dai staring in awe. My son sure made a legendary friend.
Back at the grave, Raizen drew Sōnga. The blade glowed with malevolent red light. He drove it into the ground. Soil churned, a skeleton emerged, and flesh knit itself back together. Soon, a naked Might Dai stood before Raizen.
"Senpai, welcome back."
Dai, though mentally prepared, was still shaken by the physical reality of being alive. Then he looked down at his naked body and turned beet-red. "Uh, Raizen... do you have any clothes? This is a bit awkward."
"Ah! My mistake, Senpai. I didn't bring any. There are plenty of flowers and grass here, though. Why don't you improvise?"
"I guess I have to." Dai nodded, quickly gathering flowers from nearby graves to weave a floral "skirt." An old man, stark naked except for a wreath of flowers around his waist—it was a bizarre sight.
"Go give Guy a surprise, Senpai. Don't worry about the Police Force yet; go have a reunion first."
"Thank you, Captain Raizen!" Dai bowed deeply and sprinted off.
Raizen watched him go, wondering: When Guy sees a man with a bare chest and a flower skirt who looks exactly like his dad, will it be a surprise or a heart attack?
The Reunion of the White Fang
In his home, Kakashi was reading his smut novel and using his "Golden Right Hand" when he heard a noise at the door. He awkwardly stopped, hid the book, and drew a kunai.
A figure stepped in. In the dim moonlight, Kakashi couldn't see his face. He blurred forward, pressing a kunai to the intruder's throat. "Who are you? Why have you broken in?"
"I'm sorry, Kakashi," the voice said.
Kakashi's body shook. That voice... "Father?"
"It's me. Raizen brought me back."
Kakashi dropped his kunai and flipped on the lights. He stared at Sakumo.
The legendary White Fang was standing there, bare-chested, wearing a skirt made of funeral wreaths. "Father... what is that outfit?"
Sakumo coughed awkwardly. "Raizen didn't have clothes, so I... borrowed some wreaths from the Third Hokage's grave."
Kakashi: So that's why they looked familiar...
"Kakashi, do you have any of my old clothes? This is... pretty embarrassing."
"Yes! I kept all your things. Wait here!" Kakashi felt like a child again. He brought out a set of fresh pajamas. "Your old things are a bit dusty; wear these for now."
After Sakumo showered and changed, they sat down.
"Kakashi... do you hate me?" Sakumo asked, his voice full of guilt. "I left you all alone."
"It's okay," Kakashi said softly. "It's in the past. Having you back now... the loneliness doesn't matter anymore. And I wasn't alone; I had true friends."
"Do you think I was wrong?" Sakumo asked. He wanted to know what his grown-up son thought of the incident that led to his death.
"Father, if we don't save our comrades, how are we different from trash?" Kakashi replied. "There's no absolute right or wrong. You followed your heart. I'd rather have a warm father than a cold-blooded hero."
Sakumo's eyes misted over. He finally felt at peace.
Meanwhile, Raizen was standing in front of another grave.
Deceased: Rin Nohara.
Raizen mused for a moment, then drew Tenseiga to open the path to the Pure Land. It was time to pay Rin a visit.
_______________________________________________________
Read Advanced chapters on → patreon.com/Bagga_10
• Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus chapter...
• Push this Story forward with your [Power Stones]