The Will of Fire
After the New Year
On a dark, windy night one month before Hatake Kakashi's early graduation from the Ninja Academy, Hyūga Bin finally fulfilled Kakashi's long-standing wish—he accepted his challenge.
Hyūga Bin used approximately 100% of his strength to defeat Kakashi.
Despite his loss, Kakashi was not discouraged. As the heir to the Hatake clan's kenjutsu, he wouldn't be shaken by one or two defeats.
Back when he was only a year old, his father, Hatake Sakumo, had already begun training him by placing ten different blades in front of him to choose from. He survived that trial—so what was a loss against Bin now?
Still, Kakashi couldn't help but feel curious about the extent of Hyūga Bin's true strength. Something told him that Bin hadn't gone all out.
> "Bin, can you tell me how much strength you really used?" Kakashi asked.
> "I probably used about 80%," Hyūga Bin replied with a smile.
As a cautious and composed ninja, Hyūga Bin deliberately withheld the truth. Partly to preserve his trump card—and partly so as not to wound Kakashi's pride.
> "Eighty percent?" Kakashi did a quick mental calculation, then said with renewed determination, "Bin, I'll challenge you again next year."
He believed that with hard training, he could close that remaining 20% gap.
> "Alright." Hyūga Bin agreed without hesitation.
> "Are you planning to apply for early graduation this year?" Kakashi continued. He had already discussed it with his father, Hatake Sakumo, and planned to graduate in March. With his current strength, staying at the Academy wouldn't do him much good. He also wanted Bin to graduate, so they could continue to compete on equal footing.
> "I still want to study more of the fundamentals," Bin said, shaking his head with a calm smile.
Becoming a ninja was undeniably dangerous. He planned to remain in the village for a few more years, strengthening himself before setting foot on the battlefield. He had no intention of becoming cannon fodder.
After all, the shinobi world was perilous—Jōnin roamed freely, and even the Kage weren't safe.
Then, as if remembering something, Bin turned serious.
> "By the way, Kakashi... you should pay more attention to your father."
In the original timeline, Hatake Sakumo took his own life after being disgraced over a failed mission. It happened not long after Kakashi graduated. Kakashi was more than just a classmate to Bin—he was a friend. If there was even a chance to prevent him from becoming the emotionless tool of Sarutobi Hiruzen like in the original history, he had to try.
> "I understand. Thanks, Bin," Kakashi said. He didn't quite grasp the full meaning of Bin's words, but he still appreciated them.
> "I mean it, Kakashi. Don't forget." Bin emphasized it once more.
> "Yeah." Kakashi nodded again, more earnestly this time.
---
March, Year 39 of the Hidden Leaf Calendar
Hatake Kakashi graduated from the Ninja Academy.
With his seat now vacant, Hyūga Bin couldn't help but feel something was missing from the classroom.
During this period, his system had been randomly assigning attribute points. Most often, it gave him [+0.1 to Pupil Power], and the frequent gains made his eyes feel swollen and uncomfortable from time to time.
---
Autumn, Year 39
Hyūga Bin entered his second year at the Ninja Academy.
Normally, the Academy course lasted six years, but due to the ongoing war and the high death rate among shinobi, the curriculum had been compressed to just four years.
That meant, at the latest, Bin would graduate by Year 42—and likely be sent straight to the battlefield.
The Third Shinobi World War officially broke out in Year 42.
With the assassination of the Third Kazekage by Sasori in Year 43, the war entered its most intense phase.
Time was running out for Hyūga Bin to make his choices within the safety of the village.
---
In the first week of the new term, the Academy held a mandatory lecture on the Will of Fire, taught by none other than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Every student was excited—except Hyūga Bin.
As someone who had grown up with a different worldview, Bin wasn't about to be taken in by the Will of Fire's romanticized idealism. He had no intention of blindly dedicating his life to Konoha's ambitions.
He had his own standard for what was worth protecting.
Sarutobi Hiruzen began and ended his lecture with the same poetic phrase:
> "Wherever the leaves dance, there the fire burns. The fire's shadow will shine upon the village... and new leaves shall bud once again."
The words stirred the hearts of students and teachers alike. Many were moved to tears. Some seemed ready to lay down their lives right then and there for the Will of Fire.
According to the Third Hokage, the essence of the Will of Fire was this:
The young are the future of the village.
The older generation must protect and nurture them.
Their sacrifices inspire the next generation to rise and lead.
The flames symbolized the older generation's noble sacrifices. The new leaves represented the youth inheriting that will.
But to Bin, the reality of the Will of Fire was much different.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, despite being hailed as "the strongest Hokage of all time," had not once set foot on the frontlines since the Second Great Ninja War ended. Instead, he sent freshly graduated Genin—children barely ten years old—to die in a war they didn't understand.
Many never returned.
Bin couldn't help but see the contradiction. The man who preached the Will of Fire from a secure position in the village was the same one who sent children to their deaths under the guise of legacy.