Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 348

Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo stood facing each other for a long time.

In the end, Kakashi spoke first.

"...Father."

"Kakashi."

Guilt filled Sakumo’s eyes. He had come here for only one reason: to apologize. As a father, he had failed. He had not fulfilled his responsibility, and he knew it better than anyone.

Kakashi noticed that guilt immediately. His heart shook, and the resentment he had carried quietly for years dissolved before it could surface.

Instead, Kakashi smiled.

Just like before. Just like ordinary days that no longer existed.

He spoke casually, as if they were simply catching up.

Sakumo froze for a moment, then smiled as well. Relief surfaced in his eyes. His son had grown well. Strong. Composed.

And yet...

Sakumo remembered Fujimoto Tōma’s brief explanation. His gaze dimmed slightly. That growth had come at a cruel cost.

And the first blade that carved that path into Kakashi’s life...

Had been his own.

What could he say now?

An apology felt inadequate. Comfort felt hollow.

Before he could decide, another figure appeared beside them.

Shizune.

Kakashi paused when he saw her, then understood Tōma’s intention. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. That man really did meddle in personal matters.

Still... it was time to settle things properly.

Kakashi took a slow breath.

Sakumo glanced at Shizune, frowning slightly. Her face felt familiar.

"She is...?"

Shizune, meanwhile, was completely unprepared. One moment she had been summoned without explanation, the next she was standing beside Kakashi and facing a man she instantly recognized.

"White Fang... sir?!" she blurted out.

The moment the words left her mouth, she froze.

Wait. Was this... meeting the parent?

She stiffened, panicked internally, then forced herself to straighten up and smile politely.

"H-Hello, sir. I’m Shizune."

"Oh, Shizune," Sakumo said after a moment of recollection. "Kakashi’s classmate."

His gaze moved between the two of them.

Shizune’s shoulders tensed.

Then Kakashi nodded calmly and said, "She’s also your future daughter-in-law."

Silence.

Shizune’s eyes went wide. She clapped a hand over her mouth, staring at Kakashi in disbelief.

Sakumo, on the other hand, smiled warmly and nodded repeatedly, even as he lay there.

"I see. That’s good. Very good."

To be honest, after hearing about Kakashi’s life, Sakumo had worried his son might end up alone. And he had no right to criticize Kakashi for anything.

That worry was gone now.

Sakumo felt genuinely happy.

"And, Father," Kakashi continued, his tone steady, "if I had been in your position back then, I would’ve made the same choice."

His thoughts briefly drifted to a figure with twin tomoe eyes. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Sakumo stared at him, light bursting into his gaze. He had been cursed and condemned at the end of his life, but his son understood him.

That alone made everything worth it.

"Still," Kakashi added lightly, smiling, "disappearing without a word caused me a lot of trouble. I just happened to survive it."

Sakumo laughed, deep and sincere.

"I’m sorry," he said.

"It’s fine," Kakashi replied. "I’ve moved on. This time... take it as a chance to let go. Wherever you go next, don’t carry guilt anymore. Your son is doing well. And he’ll have a family."

"This time," he added quietly, "it won’t end the same way."

Sakumo smiled. Tears welled up as white light began to rise from his body.

"This is..." Kakashi murmured.

He recognized it. The release of the reanimation technique.

Had Sakumo’s regrets finally been resolved?

Sakumo felt complete control return to him. Slowly, he raised his hand.

Kakashi took it with both of his.

Father and son locked eyes.

"Thank you," Sakumo said softly.

He had come to apologize.

Instead, he had been forgiven.

Understood.

And now, seeing Kakashi beside a gentle woman who would become his family... Sakumo felt his life was finally whole.

His body dissolved into drifting white light, scattering into the sky.

Kakashi stood, watching until the last glow faded, a quiet smile on his face.

Shizune hugged his arm, worry plain in her eyes.

"I’m fine," Kakashi said gently.

"...If what you said earlier was just to comfort him," Shizune said seriously, "it doesn’t have to count."

Kakashi paused, then smiled again.

"I said it. So it counts. After this war ends... let’s get married."

Shizune froze.

Then she smiled brighter than she ever had.

"Yes."

At that moment, loud sobbing echoed nearby.

Kakashi and Shizune turned.

"...Is that Guy’s father?" Kakashi asked, looking at the charred body lying there. Strangely, he felt relieved. Compared to that, his father had been fortunate.

"Probably," Shizune said.

Might Guy and Might Dai were crying at the top of their lungs, completely ignoring everyone around them.

If Dai could still move, they would probably be hugging already.

"Father! I never thought I’d see you again!" Guy cried.

"Me neither, Guy!" Dai sobbed back.

After a long while, the two finally talked themselves hoarse. Eventually, the conversation turned to Fujimoto Tōma.

"Guy," Dai said solemnly, "you serve an incredibly strong Hokage."

"I know!" Guy nodded fiercely.

"I asked him not to let you open the Eighth Gate," Dai continued. "And he agreed."

"Father! Youth must never retreat—!" Guy protested.

"I know," Dai cut in. "I’m telling you the result."

Guy blinked. "So... this was from the Eighth Gate? I thought Hokage-sama burned you with Fire Release."

Dai shook his head. "He never used Fire Release."

The more Dai thought back, the more unsettled he became. Even facing all five of them, the Sixth Hokage had never been hit once.

And if Tōma hadn’t been confident... Dai would never have had time to open the Eighth Gate at all.

Still, Dai smiled proudly.

At least he’d taken a few strands of hair.

That was their only achievement.

"Listen, Guy!" Dai suddenly barked.

"Yes, sir!"

"If the day ever comes when you must open the Eighth Gate... don’t hesitate. That is the final light of a man’s youth. Use it only when there is no other choice."

"I understand!" Guy shouted through tears.

As Dai cried with him, white light rose from his body.

"Guy," Dai said loudly, "live well! Be a true man!"

"Yes! A true man!"

With nothing left undone, Might Dai faded peacefully.

"...Is this some kind of family reunion event?" Momochi Zabuza muttered, walking over with the Executioner’s Blade on his shoulder.

"Sorry," Kakashi said. "This might’ve been their last chance."

Zabuza fell silent. He had seen both men disappear after resolving their regrets. They likely couldn’t be summoned again.

He didn’t fully understand that bond.

But... he envied it.

"...Tch."

Medical Logistics Headquarters

Tsunade was drenched in sweat, working nonstop among rows of critically injured shinobi.

The lightly wounded never made it here. These were the ones standing at death’s door.

Even Tsunade couldn’t save everyone.

"Lady Tsunade," Katsuyu said gently, "you need rest."

"I’m fine," Tsunade snapped. "If I can save one more, that’s enough."

Then a message arrived.

Her eyes widened.

...Grandmother?

The patients needed her.

But that was Uzumaki Mito.

After a brief struggle, Tsunade’s expression hardened.

"Get me a wheelchair," she ordered.

Moments later, a kunai marked with Flying Thunder God lay on it.

White light flashed.

A red-haired woman appeared.

"Grandma," Tsunade said quietly, still operating. "It’s been a long time."

Mito smiled. "Busy, I see."

She looked around, shocked by the scale of the wounded. Even in her long life, she had never seen anything like this.

Only now did she truly understand how brutal this war was.

When Tsunade finally finished and looked up, she met Mito’s smile.

Her eyes burned.