Inside the Hatake Residence.
Hatake Sakumo sat in silence, his sharp eyes watching Byakuya warily. Despite his years of service, he couldn't quite figure out why someone from the Uchiha clan had come to his door unannounced.
There was no notable relationship between the Hatake and Uchiha clans—certainly no trust. So why would the Uchiha security force, historically marginalized and mistrusted, seek him out? And more importantly, what was the Hokage planning behind the scenes?
Sakumo's thoughts were a whirlwind of suspicion.
Byakuya, however, wasn't paying attention to Sakumo's inner turmoil. His eyes were fixed on the boy standing quietly beside him.
"You... are the son of the White Fang of Konoha?" he asked, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
"Yes!" Hatake Kakashi replied confidently. "I'm Hatake Kakashi. I'll become a ninja as strong as my father someday!"
At this point in his life, Kakashi idolized his father. He hadn't yet experienced the tragedy that would later shift his perspective.
"Hah... well said." Byakuya smiled faintly, though his tone held a hint of mockery. "But the name Kakashi doesn't do justice to your future... I think Hatake Fifty-Fifty would be more appropriate."
Kakashi tilted his head in confusion. "Fifty-Fifty? What kind of name is that?"
Byakuya chuckled. "You'll understand when you grow up. Against Kaguya, Zabuza, or the Akatsuki—somehow, you always manage to just barely pull through."
Kakashi didn't fully grasp the joke, but something about the name made him curious.
Just then, footsteps and hurried voices echoed from outside.
Byakuya turned. "Looks like En and the others are back."
A moment later, Uchiha En entered, followed by a squad from the Konoha Police Force. They dragged three restrained shinobi behind them, all of whom bore the emblem of the Sarutobi clan.
"Lord Byakuya," En said firmly, "we've apprehended the targets."
He tossed the captives at Byakuya's feet. "Sarutobi Otake. Sarutobi Kawasui. Sarutobi Omo."
Sakumo's expression darkened. "Why have you arrested them?! Do you intend to use them against me?"
These three weren't just any Sarutobi. They were part of Sakumo's Anbu unit. Seeing them restrained, bruised, and silent sent a surge of anger through him.
"Captain Sakumo..."
The three couldn't meet his gaze. Their eyes wavered with guilt and fear, as though hiding something serious.
Byakuya observed the tension with a calm sneer. "Interesting. You clearly care about your men... but it seems they don't feel the same."
He crouched beside the captives. "Well then. Do you want to speak on your own, or should I help you remember?"
"We've done nothing wrong!" one of them spat. "Let us go! We are members of the Sarutobi clan. The Third Hokage won't let this go!"
"Even the Uchiha Police can't just arrest us without cause!" barked another.
Despite knowing what Byakuya was getting at, they feigned ignorance, clinging to their clan status for protection.
"Tough guys, huh?" Byakuya stood and nodded to En. "Let's try another method."
"Understood, Lord Byakuya."
Uchiha En stepped forward with his squad. They began to physically subdue the three men, roughing them up and weaving subtle genjutsu to break their resistance.
"Stop this madness, Uchiha Byakuya!" Sakumo shouted, drawing his short blade. "You're attacking fellow Konoha shinobi!"
He dashed forward, blade flashing.
But Byakuya was ready. His own sword met Sakumo's in a loud clang, the force of the impact pushing Sakumo back several steps.
"Calm down," Byakuya said, his voice low and threatening. "You won't have the energy to stay mad once you know the truth."
He turned again toward En.
"Break them."
"Yes, Lord Byakuya."
Uchiha En's expression hardened. His genjutsu grew sharper, his strikes more precise.
The truth would come out—whether the Sarutobi admitted it willingly or not.
Finally, under the relentless pressure—both physical and psychological—the three Sarutobi clan members collapsed.
"Ah… it hurts! Please—no more!"
"Stop! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything…"
"These rumors… they were spread under orders from Hokage-sama!"
"We had no choice—we were just following his command… We don't know why Lord Hokage wanted it!"
The trio, completely broken, confessed everything they knew.
"What… What did you just say!?"
Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened in disbelief as he stepped forward, trembling. The sharpness of the famed Konoha no Shiroi Kiba returned to his expression, but this time, it was mixed with devastation.
"I… I'm sorry, Lord Sakumo…"
"We were ordered to spread the rumors… about you…"
"They all came from Hokage-sama…"
Shame overwhelmed them. None dared to meet Sakumo's gaze.
Hatake Sakumo froze.
He had devoted his entire life to the village, had led the Anbu with unwavering loyalty, had trusted Sarutobi Hiruzen implicitly—even in the face of slander and disgrace. He had believed that bearing that shame in silence was his duty.
But now…
The source of the rumors that ruined his reputation, that led to his isolation, that made even comrades doubt him—it was the very man he had sworn to protect.
For a moment, Sakumo's entire world collapsed.
Just then, a sharp voice rang out as a group of Leaf shinobi arrived, flanked by masked Anbu operatives.
"Uchiha Byakuya! What is the meaning of this!?"
"How dare the police force arrest members of the Sarutobi clan without authorization!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen himself stepped forward, his tone sharp and accusatory.
Byakuya, captain of the Uchiha Police Force, stood firm. His expression was calm, but his eyes glinted with cold amusement.
"Hmph… Lord Third, you arrived just in time."
"We've apprehended three individuals spreading subversive rumors within the village—rumors that nearly destroyed one of Konoha's greatest heroes."
He gestured to the fallen Sarutobi clan members.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze shifted to the three collapsed men… then to Sakumo, who was visibly shaken. His heart sank.
He was too late.
He had hoped to intervene before the confessions were extracted. If he could retrieve the men before they talked, the truth could be buried again.
But Byakuya had moved faster than expected.
The thing he feared most had already happened.
His eyes narrowed.
Now, he would have to act swiftly to spin the narrative.