Consensus

by grassyhyuuga

Can I call it a drabble if it's over a hundred words? Well, if not, this is 152 words of angst. "While opinion differed wildly when he was alive, after his death, the consensus was obvious — Hatake Sakumo was a good man."

While opinion differed wildly when he was alive, after his death, the consensus was obvious — Hatake Sakumo was a good man.

With that, most patted themselves on the back for their enlightened mindsets and kept on with their lives, consciences sufficiently assuaged.

A few spared some moments to feel guilt, for their actions or inactions or both. A handful allowed themselves to scatter shreds of pity for the son he had left behind, but only shreds, because wasn't that boy supposed to be a prodigy, and didn't prodigies have it easier than everyone else?

His son agreed, with all of the above. He hadn't been a very good son, more taciturn than supportive, more shinobi than child.

Then again, perhaps that was fair after all, because though Hatake Sakumo was a good man, he hadn't been able to be a good father. (At least, not when it counted.)