Chapter 81: White Fang

Kato Gofuu, having meticulously prepared himself and deliberately changed into a clean set of gear, arrived at the mess hall of the main camp. At a glance, he spotted a familiar figure with white hair sitting alone at a table in the corner of the front row, quietly eating breakfast.

Kato Gofuu picked up his food, carried his tray, and walked over to that corner.

“I could see you sitting here alone from afar. You still prefer solitude, don’t you?”

“Say, even after getting married and having a wife, your personality hasn’t changed at all?”

He hadn’t yet reached the table, but his words carried ahead, laced with a tone of resignation.

The man sitting alone at the table was none other than Kato Gofuu’s old classmate, Hatake Sakumo.

Not only was Hatake Sakumo sitting there by himself, but even the tables surrounding him were empty.

...

Hatake Sakumo, sitting across from Kato Gofuu, merely looked up at him upon hearing his words. He continued to eat his breakfast at an unhurried pace. The breakfast before him was modest in quantity, but each item was arranged with exceptional neatness. Soup was in its place, dishes in theirs, and the staple foods were set precisely; even the crumbs and leftovers were neatly piled together.

His short white hair had clearly been carefully groomed that morning, combed without a strand out of place. His features were strikingly handsome, and though he was clearly in the prime of youth, he always conveyed a sense of maturity and steadiness.

His attire, the Leaf Village jōnin uniform—ninja forehead protector, jōnin vest, ninja tool pouch and so forth—was all meticulously kept, spotless and refined. Of particular note was the short blade sheathed across his back; its blade was hidden, but the hilt was so well cared for that from Kato Gofuu’s angle, he could see the polished handle gleaming.

This short sword was clearly a treasured possession.

Its name was White Fang.

Most of Hatake Sakumo’s identity was intertwined with this blade.

Later, as he gained renown in the ninja world, he would become known by the name of his beloved sword—White Fang.

...

After his initial remarks, Kato Gofuu didn’t wait for a response. He simply set his breakfast across from Hatake Sakumo and began eating.

Clearly, Kato Gofuu understood his old classmate’s personality well and didn’t expect an immediate reply.

“No talking while eating, no speaking before bed”—this was one of Sakumo’s guiding principles.

For a while, their table was enveloped in silence, broken only by the quiet sounds of chewing.

Both Kato Gofuu and Hatake Sakumo ate quickly. Soon, they had finished their meals, placing their trays and scraps neatly to one side.

Only then did Hatake Sakumo, sitting across from Kato Gofuu, respond to his earlier question with composed leisure.

He said, “Last night, after finishing my shift and returning to camp, the internal staff told me you’d arrived and were looking for me.”

“I thought you’d come find me last night. I waited for you.”

Hatake Sakumo ignored Kato Gofuu’s earlier teasing and went straight to the matter that concerned him.

Kato Gofuu replied, “I got back to camp late—almost midnight. Knowing your rules, I didn’t come find you.”

“Speaking of time... you’ve got twenty minutes left. In half an hour, I need to attend the daily jōnin meeting in camp. So, are you here on assignment, Kato?”

“And, I forgot to congratulate you on your promotion to Leaf jōnin.”

Hearing the mention of time, Hatake Sakumo checked his watch. He rose, gathered both trays, and walked toward the exit, gesturing for Kato Gofuu to follow as he spoke.

“I... thank you for the congratulations.”

“Twenty minutes, I’m busy too. I came to the Northwest Bulwark Camp mainly for a mission, and to see you as well.”

Kato Gofuu had no way of dealing with Sakumo’s rigid personality, so he could only follow him out while speaking.

Hatake Sakumo was just that kind of person; aside from his formidable strength and mastery of his family sword technique, he was steadfast and principled, sometimes bordering on inflexible.

During ninja academy, Sakumo was a famous prodigy of the Leaf, but his personality made him stand apart from his peers, leaving him with few friends.

Kato Gofuu, driven by curiosity about what Hatake Kakashi looked like beneath his mask, had grown close to Sakumo during school days, making him one of Sakumo’s rare friends.

Even now, Kato Gofuu couldn’t say for certain if they were truly close friends; Sakumo’s personality was simply too peculiar.

Kato Gofuu knew from the original story that Sakumo would eventually take his own life, but the exact reason was unclear—though his character must have played a significant part.

He’d tried many times to advise and tease Sakumo about his ways.

But Sakumo remained unchanged—strong, principled, and sometimes coldly aloof.

Over time, Kato Gofuu could only resort to gentle mockery when dealing with him.

...

After leaving the mess hall, Kato Gofuu walked alongside Sakumo toward his office within the camp.

As they walked, their conversation drifted through the air.

“Hatake, I heard you took on a long-term assignment at the Northwest Bulwark Camp right after getting married, barely finishing your honeymoon.”

“Do you really need to dedicate yourself so much to missions? Leaving your new wife alone at home for so long—are you really at ease with that?”

Kato Gofuu returned to the topic he’d raised at their meeting, rekindling the conversation.

Hatake Sakumo: “...”

“I feel like there’s something wrong with what you’re saying. Besides, isn’t a ninja born for missions? Let’s not talk about me. Tell me about your assignment here at the Northwest Bulwark Camp.”

“Did you bring any news from the Leaf Village? The atmosphere in the ninja world is growing tense. The camp’s clashes with Sand, Stone, and Rain are getting fiercer, and recently there was even an invasion attack...”

Sakumo paused, considered, then finally answered Kato Gofuu’s question, steering the topic back to missions and the state of the ninja world.

“My trip here... Regarding the Leaf Village...”

Kato Gofuu, unable to contend with Sakumo’s stubbornness, could only begin discussing his mission at the Northwest Bulwark Camp.

In Sakumo’s office, their conversation was brief. Aside from a few words of reminiscence, most of the discussion centered on assignments and recent developments in the ninja world.

More often, it was Kato Gofuu speaking while Sakumo listened, only occasionally interjecting when something caught his interest.

In just twenty minutes, their reunion was over.

Hatake Sakumo set off for the daily jōnin meeting at the Northwest Bulwark Camp, beginning his day’s work.

Kato Gofuu didn’t linger, leaving the camp and heading west toward the Land of Wind.

Today would be another busy, demanding day for him—eleven missions awaited him within the Land of Wind.

...

PS: New author seeking support, recommendations, and collections.

Thanks to reader Ren Zhanshen for the reward of 500 Qidian coins and one monthly ticket.