Chapter 40 A New Beginning
Approaching the afternoon, the unfavorable rumors about Sakumo had spread throughout most of the village's corners after fermenting for the morning. It was only a step away from reaching the point of "common knowledge."
No matter how hard the Uchiha operatives of the security division tried to control the spread of the rumors, they were outnumbered by Konoha's large population. With the manpower of the security division stretched thin, just apprehending people was already a challenge, let alone stopping the spread of rumors.
Sakumo's residence was situated in a relatively bustling section of Konoha, but it wasn't close to the village center.
It was an independent small courtyard with the characters "Hatake" written on the nameplate by the entrance.
When Shiroshi and Rui arrived, they saw Kakashi standing by the entrance, looking even more silent than usual.
"Kakashi, is Sakumo-sensei at home?"
Upon hearing his name, Kakashi looked up, saw Shiroshi and Rui, and nodded slightly to indicate that Sakumo was indeed at home.
Shiroshi and Rui sighed in relief; if he was home, things would be easier to handle.
"However, Father..."
Kakashi paused, appearing unsure how to continue.
"Take us to see him."
Sighing, Shiroshi knew that Kakashi must be feeling terrible right now.
With the rumors spreading so extensively, Kakashi couldn't possibly be oblivious.
Leading the way, Kakashi guided Shiroshi and Rui into the Hatake residence.
The Hatake residence was a fairly typical Japanese-style architecture, with houses that exuded a touch of antiquity. The three of them hadn't walked far before arriving at the door of Sakumo's room.
Before they even had a chance to knock, a voice from inside said, "Come in." Clearly, Sakumo, who was inside, had already sensed their presence.
Shiroshi slid the door open and called out to the person inside, "Sakumo-sensei, we've come..."
His voice trailed off.
Shiroshi and Rui stared at the figure of Sakumo in front of them.
"Sakumo-sensei, are you..."
The Sakumo before them didn't match their expectations of a downcast demeanor due to the rumors. Instead, he was seated beside a table, enjoying a large bowl of ramen with a hearty appetite.
Seeing Shiroshi and Rui's arrival, Sakumo wiped the grease from his mouth with a napkin in a composed manner, then looked at the two visitors with a quizzical expression. "What brings the two of you here?"
"..."
"..."
Shiroshi and Rui didn't know how to respond to Sakumo's question.
They had imagined many scenarios where Sakumo would be affected by the rumors and appear despondent, but they had never imagined this.
"Sakumo-sensei, about the rumors outside..."
In the end, it was Rui who spoke up.
"Are you here because of this?" Sakumo's eyebrows raised slightly as he asked, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, this is our duty as members of the security division. We'd like to understand the situation from beginning to end. Sakumo-sensei, as a Jounin, we request your answers."
Approaching Sakumo, Rui spoke earnestly, addressing him in her capacity as the leader of a division within the security division. She intended to investigate the circumstances of the incident thoroughly.
Sakumo pondered for a moment. Since this was the security division's task, there shouldn't be any problem.
With that in mind, he readily provided a concise account of what had happened.
"We were assigned a classified mission. However, we encountered some complications along the way. Considering that my comrades were unable to continue fighting, I chose to abandon the mission and return with them. This ultimately led to the mission's failure."
Sakumo's tone lacked any personal emotion as he recounted the events, presenting them as a bystander. He left it to Rui, a member of the security division, to judge the situation.
Shiroshi and Rui furrowed their brows, and even Kakashi appeared puzzled.
It all felt too straightforward.
"May I ask what the classified mission was?"
Rui's gaze remained fixed on Sakumo's face. That was her main purpose in coming here.
Even classified missions had different levels of significance—some could be life or death matters for the village, while others might be inconsequential.
"I don't know. The orders I received were to retrieve something, but due to the mission's failure, that item was naturally not brought back to the village. As for specifics, I'm not aware."
Sakumo gently shook his head in response to Rui's question, indicating that he didn't know what the mission involved in terms of the item they were supposed to retrieve.
Rui found the situation becoming a bit tricky.
The information she obtained from Sakumo was minimal. If she wanted to know what item Sakumo was tasked with retrieving and how the village suffered due to the mission's failure, she would need to start with the higher-ups.
After all, the mission started with them and then was handed to Sakumo for execution.
However, the rumors had spread to this extent, and yet there was no movement from the higher-ups. Even if they were to inquire now, it was unlikely that they would receive any substantial answers.
Otherwise, they would have already clarified the rumors and minimized their impact.
Leaving the Hatake residence, Shiroshi and Rui both gazed at the sky and let out a sigh.
Exchanging a glance, Rui asked Shiroshi, "What should we do next? Sakumo-sensei's place isn't a breakthrough point. Should we seek out the person Sakumo-sensei rescued?"
"What we can think of is that the individuals spreading these rumors must have anticipated it. I suspect that during the planning phase, they were already 'protected' by someone. When we went to the hospital, the person had already 'disappeared'."
"Is it the work of the higher-ups?"
"Other than them, there don't seem to be any other possibilities. With such a major incident erupting, according to past practices, Sakumo-sensei should have been taken away by ANBU for a conversation, rather than sitting at home."
Shiroshi was certain that someone from the higher-ups was behind this, possibly even more than one person fueling the situation.
"Could it be a dispute over the position of Hokage?"
Rui shook her head. The higher-ups were keeping this incident under tight control. Relying solely on the manpower of the security division wouldn't be effective.
Compared to the ANBU, the security division did indeed hold more authority, but their reputation within Konoha wasn't particularly favorable, and they lacked the ANBU's overwhelming credibility.
Once the ANBU intervened, it represented the will of the Hokage himself.
"That seems to be the case. After all, the selection process for the Fourth Hokage candidate is coming up soon. It's only natural to exclude irrelevant individuals from the process."
Speaking of it sounded a bit ruthless. In Shiroshi's eyes, Sakumo was likely just a sacrificial pawn in the power struggle.
His personal will and thoughts were not the most important factors, nor would anyone bother to understand them. As long as his current reputation could harm the interests of some, it would suffice.
Whether he had the desire to become Hokage was irrelevant. What mattered was whether he had the qualifications and posed a threat to the position of Hokage.
"Then that's good. Once this political capital is gone, the higher-ups won't have a reason to suppress Sakumo-sensei after this matter passes."
Rui understood Shiroshi's point and felt she might have been a bit impatient.
The struggle for the position of Hokage involved the interests of many factions within Konoha.
A person with prestige and power surpassing that of the Sannin, and not aligned with any faction, was naturally a priority target for elimination.
Diminishing his influence, seizing Sakumo's political capital, and allowing him to peacefully serve as a Jounin within Konoha seemed to have its merits.
Furthermore, after this incident, Sakumo would likely be reinstated later on.
Because this was a crucial period for selecting the Fourth Hokage candidate. As long as they weathered this stage, the White Fang of Konoha would continue to be just that.
In Rui's personal opinion, Sakumo wasn't quite suited for the position of Hokage.
He lacked ambition and aspiration for such a role. He was simply an exceptional Jounin of Konoha.
Just like that.
"Is that so? I hope things turn out that way..."
Shiroshi mumbled to himself, his thoughts clouded by the memory of Sakumo's seemingly unaffected demeanor. That was far from a state of having nothing on his mind.
…
Two days later, the rumors grew more fierce.
The number of people causing trouble at the security division increased, and the cells were becoming insufficient to contain them.
However, the charges against these individuals weren't serious enough to warrant confinement in Konoha's maximum-security prison. Those held there were reserved for hardened criminals. While these people were involved in spreading rumors, their actions didn't reach the level of "serious crime."
Sending them to the maximum-security prison would undoubtedly prompt interference from the ANBU, leading to unnecessary conflicts.
"What's going on? Why are so many people causing trouble now?"
Rui arrived at the security division's headquarters early in the morning, finding the place crowded and noisy, resembling a market.
Two members of the security division, who were part of Rui's subteam, bowed to her and answered, "Yes, new rumors emerged this morning. The security division's manpower is no longer sufficient."
Speaking up to this point, the security division member gave a helpless smile.
He couldn't believe a single rumor had escalated to this extent.
Even though the mission had failed, the White Fang of Konoha was indeed renowned in the shinobi world. Over the past few years, he had gradually become a symbol of intimidation for enemies of Konoha.
However, even the White Fang of Konoha was human, not a deity.
An occasional mission failure wasn't a major issue. After all, there were no official reports on the severe consequences resulting from the mission's failure.
When it came down to it, the title of "Sannin" was just that—a title of generals defeated in battle.
But how many dared to underestimate the Sannin?
In the eyes of the Uchiha operative from the security division, these villagers were causing a ruckus without understanding the situation, spouting nonsensical discussions, and even uttering derogatory words that the security division members couldn't stand to hear. Gradually, they were losing sight of the core essence of the problem.
Beating them up wouldn't be appropriate, but trying to control them within the security division was proving difficult with limited space available.
Thus, the security operatives arriving for duty today were deeply troubled by this issue.
Releasing these people would only further fuel the spread of rumors.
Not releasing them, on the other hand, led to overcrowding and would impact the efficiency of the security division's operations.
"Find a few who are skilled in Earth Release, and set up some simple makeshift cells outside."
Rui's face turned chillingly stern.
"Understood."
One of the security division members immediately complied, heading to the security division to find a few individuals proficient in Earth Release to construct temporary cells outside.
"Will this have a negative impact?"
The remaining security division ninja let out a bitter laugh.
"What's the harm? We're just doing things according to regulations. Even if the Hokage were to come, I'd have the right to argue with him."
"Although that's true, by proceeding like this, our security division's reputation..."
"The security division's reputation has long been tarnished. Why bother caring so much? We won't even have to provide them lunch and dinner. We won't allow their families to bring them meals either. Just give them some water to drink; they won't starve."
Rui gave a cold snort.
"Understood."
Since it was a captain's order, execution was all that was needed.
As Rui had said, missing two meals wouldn't starve these individuals.
"By the way, you mentioned there are new rumors?"
"Yes, Sakumo Jounin abandoned the mission to save someone, right? The person who was saved seems to be blaming Sakumo Jounin for not having a broader perspective. They're saying he's unfit to be a ninja, criticizing and humiliating Sakumo..."
Seeing Rui's expression grow darker, the security division ninja stopped talking.
By this point, Rui probably understood what was going on.
"Where is that person?"
"We couldn't find them. When we went to see, they had already 'disappeared'."
Hidden away, huh? Rui inwardly smirked.
"I got it. You can get back to work."
"Sure... um, there's no need to worry too much, actually. While I'm not acquainted with Sakumo, a ninja like him possesses strong willpower. He'd just dismiss these rumors with a smile."
He knew that his captain, Rui, had once been a member of Sakumo's team, indicating a strong connection between them. Before leaving, he wanted to comfort Rui with these words.
"Dismiss it with a smile, huh?"
Thinking back to her visit to Sakumo two days ago, he was eating ramen with a seemingly cheerful mood, completely unaffected by the rumors circulating outside.
This indeed brought comfort to Rui. It made sense; even if those rumors might have made him a bit uncomfortable, they probably weren't a significant concern for Sakumo.
…
"Do you ignore the rumors outside?"
Kakashi, who was receiving guidance on swordsmanship in the courtyard from Sakumo, looked at Sakumo and asked in a soft voice.
To be honest, he couldn't understand the rumors circulating outside, why they were targeting his father like this.
Failing a mission just once wasn't enough to affect Sakumo's position in Kakashi's eyes. However, the words of those people outside made Kakashi feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Kakashi, what about you? Would you bother with such matters?"
Sakumo smiled and asked.
"..."
Kakashi tightly gripped his kunai, seeming to hesitate and struggle.
"Sorry, I don't know what to do."
"Why apologize? Kakashi, you have a long journey ahead of you."
Sakumo crouched down, his large palm holding Kakashi's hand that held the kunai, comforting him with a smile.
"Yeah."
Kakashi nodded.
"You got into a fight today, right?"
Sakumo stated with certainty.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I reprimanded a few foolish people; their words were very harsh."
"I'm glad you stood up for me. So, in your opinion, were their words right or wrong?"
Sakumo's smile disappeared, replaced by an unparalleled seriousness in Kakashi's view.
Mission versus comrades? Kakashi began to question himself. If he were in his father Sakumo's position at that time, would he have chosen to continue the mission or save his comrade?
He didn't know which choice was correct.
In theory, the mission should take priority, aligned with the Will of Fire...
But that was the will passed down by the First Hokage himself. How could it be wrong?
If it were wrong, why would this teaching be included in the curriculum of the Ninja Academy?
But...
Kakashi felt a bit lost.
With a perfect score in theory, it was the first time he didn't know how to answer a question.
"I don't know."
Ultimately, Kakashi shook his head.
He looked up at his father, Sakumo, hoping for an answer he could refer to.
Should the mission be the priority, or the comrades?
Sakumo didn't answer; he just patted Kakashi's shoulder, gazing at the beautiful sunset sinking in the distance. The twilight cast its glow on his face, a glow of closure.
"I don't care about others' opinions, so you don't need to dwell on these matters either."
"But the person you saved, they're also berating..."
"Don't let others' negation prevent you from doing what is right. Don't even feel regret later due to their ridicule and criticism. I'm simply abiding by the beliefs and convictions a Leaf ninja should have."
"I understand..."
Kakashi lowered his head; he couldn't be as magnanimous as Sakumo.
While others could be forgiven, Kakashi couldn't forgive the person who had been saved by Sakumo and was now blaming him.
"Let's end the sword practice for today."
Kakashi nodded, following Sakumo's arrangement, and went back to his room.
…
As time passed and it came to late night, due to the rumors, Kakashi was mentally fatigued during the day. Whether it was training or eating, he was somewhat absent-minded, and he would go to bed early in the night.
On the rooftop of the Hatake residence, Sakumo was gazing at the sparse stars and the moon above. A slight rustling came from behind; someone climbed onto the rooftop and walked towards him.
"Standing in the wind so late at night, you might catch a cold, Sakumo-sensei."
Shiroshi, walking up to Sakumo's side, said with a smile.
"Ayane came over in the afternoon, and now you're here at night?"
Sakumo smiled as well.
"Ayane?"
"She visited after lunch and left shortly after."
"Is that so?"
Shiroshi followed Sakumo's gaze to the starry night sky, whispering softly.
"Coming here so late, are you planning to accompany me in the cold breeze all night?"
Sakumo asked.
"I'm just here for the view."
"View?"
"Yes, it's the same view you're looking at... the statues of the successive Hokages, standing here in honor of the village's founding and the people who achieved great deeds in history."
Shiroshi shifted his gaze from the night sky to the ground below, where the shadow rocks of the three Hokages were situated.
The First Hokage, the one who founded Konoha.
"The Second Hokage, who devised critical development strategies for the village. And now, the present Third Hokage.
In the future, more individuals will be etched onto these stones, revered and admired by the inhabitants of Konoha.
The Fourth Hokage... The Fifth Hokage... The Sixth Hokage...
Sakumo remained silent, maintaining a tacit understanding of quietude with Shiroshi as they gazed at the shadow rocks.
After a long time, Sakumo was the first to break the silence, saying, "How will Konoha's future change?"
This statement seemed directed at Shiroshi, at himself, or perhaps at someone else.
"I believe there's no need to inquire. After all, Sakumo-sensei, you have already found the answer you were seeking, haven't you?"
Shiroshi responded to Sakumo's question, then continued:
"Just like what you told Kakashi, do what you believe is right. Once you've done that, don't feel regret due to others' accusations."
"Indeed, among you three, you're the most special."
Sakumo said meaningfully.
Sakumo knew that Shiroshi had already discerned the decision he had made regarding the rumors.
"Since you've made your choice, it seems like I came here unnecessarily."
Shiroshi didn't directly address this query; instead, she sighed.
Unlike Ayane, Sakumo had long passed the age of self-discovery.
He was well aware of why he had made this decision.
He didn't know if he would regret it, but not doing it would surely lead to a life of torment in the future.
Just like choosing to save comrades and abandoning the mission, regardless of whether the person saved would blame him for the mission's failure, Sakumo remained unwavering.
Curses from others were their business; saving comrades was his. There wasn't necessarily a direct link between the two.
He was merely following the beliefs conveyed by the Will of Fire.
To him, the unwavering choice to prioritize saving comrades over the mission was worth breaking certain rules.
For individuals like him, others' opinions were only references and couldn't shake the foundational factors of their beliefs.
"Sakumo-sensei, you should rest early too. I'll go back first."
Shiroshi knew that her arrival here couldn't change anything, so she decided to return and rest.
The weather was quite chilly tonight.
Shiroshi began walking back along the path.
"Take care of Kakashi for me."
Sakumo's words suddenly came from behind.
Under the silent night, upon hearing these words, Shiroshi's steps paused briefly before she nodded gently.
When Sakumo turned his head to look, the spot where Shiroshi had been standing was already empty.
…
The air of the next morning seemed a bit cold.
Kakashi had gotten up early, preparing breakfast in the kitchen. He found it strange that his father Sakumo hadn't arrived yet.
At this time, his father usually would have come already.
After all, there was morning training to follow after breakfast.
Kakashi carried the breakfast and walked towards Sakumo's room. He opened the door and called out to the person inside:
"Dad, breakfast is re—"
The plate of breakfast fell to the ground, creating a loud noise.
The hearty, nutritious breakfast was scattered all over the floor.
But none of these things mattered. In the center of the room, a man lay in a pool of blood.
Quietly and soundlessly, he had ended his own life with the White Fang short sword that had claimed countless enemies' blood.
Kakashi's mind went blank as he witnessed this scene, unable to remember anything.
…
Sakumo was dead.
This news spread through the personnel of the Anbu and confirmed it as a suicide that occurred at his home, not an assassination.
There were no traces of genjutsu, no signs of fierce struggle, and no indications of fighting against an enemy.
He had simply driven the blade of a knife into his own body, ending his own life.
This news quickly reached the villagers of Konoha, and the higher-ups were also informed.
As for the rumors, they fell into a silent hush.
…
Within a vast, dimly lit space in Konoha, the Konoha ninjas who survived in this place were people who had abandoned everything.
Their names, emotions, even their lives, were all discarded.
Nourished by darkness, they were deeply rooted in the earth.
Root.
That was their collective name, originating from the Anbu but operating outside the jurisdiction of the Hokage.
Their leader, Danzo Shimura, was currently in the meeting room, while a Konoha ninja was angrily shouting at this leader of Root.
"Why did this happen? Why did Sakumo... Captain Sakumo commit suicide? Elder Danzo, didn't you say everything would be fine? Why did things turn out like this?"
"If it weren't for the two Root ninjas restraining him, he might have charged over to Danzo's side and given him a good beating.
And Danzo was also feeling a bit uneasy, his mood restless.
The White Fang of Konoha committed suicide... Why did he do that?
The rumors were indeed spread by Root, and the Anbu kept silent, neither indicating approval nor intervening.
Because the Hokage couldn't be associated with Sakumo.
Hence, they aimed to suppress his reputation.
By tarnishing his reputation, Sakumo would still be a Jounin of Konoha, a prominent figure among the Jounin, but forever barred from the position of Hokage.
But... Why did Sakumo commit suicide?
The level of these rumors shouldn't have been lethal.
Originally, he had planned to stop the spread of rumors this afternoon.
Danzo found himself lost in thought.
"Take him away. I need some time to calm down."
Unable to fathom why Sakumo had taken his own life, Danzo waved his hand in irritation, instructing the Root ninja to lead the Konoha ninja questioning him away.
He also wanted to know why, but with Sakumo's death, there was no one to answer his question.
…
Sakumo's funeral was held in somewhat gloomy weather.
The number of attendees wasn't substantial.
Aside from Kakashi, there were only three individuals present: Shiroshi, Rui, and Ayane, along with a few more familiar faces like Tsunade.
To this day, they all found it unbelievable that Sakumo, a person seemingly so strong-willed, would end his life due to such baseless rumors.
"Life is born and dies..."
Orochimaru faced it all with a melancholic gaze.
Everything seemed meaningless.
Nawaki went like that.
Kato too.
Now it was Sakumo's turn.
If one day it was his turn... Orochimaru didn't know why, but an inexplicable fear arose in his heart.
Ultimately, he shook his head and left Sakumo's funeral ahead of others.
He had witnessed too many deaths. Sakumo was just one of them, not the last.
In the future, there would be many more individuals related to him who would die before his eyes.
Life was such a fragile thing.
"Jiraiya-sensei, why did Sakumo-senpai do this?"
The accompanying Minato looked at his teacher, Jiraiya, and softly asked this question.
"Who knows? The departed are gone, let's not discuss it."
Jiraiya shook his head, his mind troubled.
Minato nodded understandingly, refraining from probing further. He looked at Kakashi at the forefront of the group, filled with pity and sympathy.
Tsunade walked up to Shiroshi's side, seeing his composed face. She knew he was probably feigning strength and wanted to offer comfort, but she didn't know what to say.
Seemingly aware of what Tsunade wanted to say, Shiroshi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei. I'm okay, you don't need to worry about me."
Tsunade nodded.
Not long after, she, Jiraiya, and Minato left.
People left one by one. In the end, only Shiroshi and Kakashi were left behind.
Shiroshi placed the flowers he held in front of Sakumo's grave.
"You truly inherited the Will of Fire, embodying it in its entirety..."
The thoughts of the higher-ups were not wrong, to strip Sakumo of his political capital, ensuring he'd comfortably remain a Jounin without a chance at Hokage. They had made proper arrangements for Sakumo's future.
But... the method they chose was wrong.
In this world, many individuals valued their dignity and beliefs more than their own lives.
To enemies, he was the detestable White Fang of Konoha.
To allies, there was no one more reassuring by their side than him.
He was a shinobi who considered protecting comrades his duty, valuing it even more than his own life.
He upheld the untainted Will of Fire in his heart.
Now, even the higher-ups weren't adhering to it, actively breaking the village's long-standing rules.
Why was this village founded?
For bonds.
But now, they were broken.
From the very beginning, the perspectives of the higher-ups and Sakumo had diverged.
Sakumo-sensei, I hope that through your death, those people can understand and learn a lesson from this. May they rediscover what they've lost and awaken from their confusion. At the end of this funeral, Shiroshi added this sentence in his heart.
It was the sincerest wish.
Otherwise, in this vicious cycle, Shiroshi could foresee that the White Fang of Konoha was just the beginning, not the end.
In Konoha's future, more people would lose themselves amidst the wavering rules, becoming pitiful sacrifices.
…
"Did Sakumo-sensei really commit suicide because of something like this?"
After the funeral, Ayane sought out Shiroshi privately and asked this question.
In Ayane's eyes, there was no way Sakumo would have taken his own life due to a trivial exchange about the importance of comrades and missions.
The Sakumo she knew was not that kind of man.
This was something that puzzled Ayane. She hoped to find answers from Shiroshi.
"What are you referring to?"
"The cause of Sakumo-sensei's death."
"That's not important anymore."
Shiroshi glanced at her and replied.
"I feel sorry for Sakumo-sensei."
Ayane wasn't feeling too well in her heart and let out a deep sigh.
"Sakumo-sensei wasn't suited to be a shinobi. He was just one of the tragic products of this shinobi era."
Ayane felt a bit bewildered by Shiroshi's statement and stared at him in astonishment.
"The question you're puzzled about doesn't have an answer from the start. A mission is a professional duty, while a comrade... is a choice of human nature. Either could be the right answer, or they could all be wrong. The key lies in how the higher-ups define this matter."
"But Sakumo-sensei abandoning a mission led to losses for the village..."
As she said this, Ayane realized where the problem lay.
And she became even more confused.
What mission was Sakumo executing?
What did the village lose?
The higher-ups didn't offer any explanation; they let the villagers imagine freely.
In other words, the question of whether comrades or missions were more important didn't actually exist.
Admittedly, Ayane knew Sakumo held his comrades in high regard, but since the entire mission was built on deception, choosing either side would be meaningless.
Ayane grasped Shiroshi's meaning.
Both of these answers were right, and both were wrong.
The choice didn't matter; what mattered was how the higher-ups defined it.
Today, comrades could be more important than missions, and tomorrow, missions could be more important than comrades.
In the eyes of the higher-ups, it was merely a political struggle related to the Fourth Hokage election.
Nothing more, nothing less.
With bonds at its core, the collective will—The Will of Fire—had unknowingly become a political tool for the higher-ups to vie for power, control the village's voice.
It was no longer the village's belief and soul.
And the villagers were oblivious to this, participating with smiles on their faces.
There was nothing more despairing than this fact.
Ayane shuddered a bit.
She could imagine the despair Sakumo must have felt at that time.
This was nothing more than a ridiculous and laughable political struggle.
The question of how to choose between missions and comrades was never the issue.
Sakumo certainly didn't commit suicide because of this question.
He just saw a village that had completely decayed.
"When did it start?"
The root of this decision certainly wasn't because of this incident.
The seeds were planted long ago, but what confused Ayane was when Sakumo became disappointed in the village's higher-ups.
Seeing the confusion on Ayane's face, Shiroshi sighed and asked in response,
"Ayane, you surely don't still think that Sakumo-sensei knew nothing about that mission from a few years ago, do you?"
Ayane's expression froze.
She knew Shiroshi was referring to the conflict they had with Root a four years ago.
"Sakumo-sensei..."
"A person like him, how could he not understand the abnormal mission orders from Orochimaru? We stayed in the village for two months to recuperate from our injuries. What kind of injury would require someone to rest for two months? If it was really that severe, we should've just withdrawn from the battlefield. Returning to the battlefield would only burden others."
Shiroshi picked up a leaf from the ground and played with it in his hand, observing it with interest as he spoke to Ayane.
"Did doubts start arising at that time? I thought the three of us pulled off the act convincingly."
Ayane gave a wry smile.
"The acting was fine. If the three of us hadn't returned to the battlefield with energy, if we had returned with missing limbs, dressed in a more miserable manner, Sakumo-sensei wouldn't have been suspicious."
Shiroshi clenched the leaf tightly in his hand and looked at the gloomy sky, softly uttering these words.
"The so-called protection of comrades isn't about choosing between comrades and missions. It's about safeguarding everything that must be protected. That's the core bond of the Will of Fire. It's never meant to serve as a tool for political struggles or even to persecute and deceive comrades."
Shiroshi speculated that Sakumo had certainly come to understand something, whether it was from the Sannin disclosing information to him or through other channels. It didn't matter anymore.
As people moved on and things cooled down, the ninja named Sakumo Hatake had come to an end.
And when he decided to leave, the Will of Fire he followed in his heart crumbled completely.
"I still can't imagine what kind of feelings Sakumo-sensei had when he chose to end his own life."
"No need to imagine, because for people like us who don't believe in the Will of Fire, we can't experience that kind of despair."
"Will the higher-ups ever wake up to this?"
At the end of it all, Ayane asked with doubt.
"If they understood, this political struggle wouldn't exist. That's why I said Sakumo-sensei wasn't cut out to be a shinobi. He was too pure, too idealistic. He's suited to be a teacher, to educate and nurture, not a shinobi."
This was also the tragic aspect that Shiroshi saw in Sakumo.
Unfortunately, being so pure and idealistic, he posed a threat to the Fourth Hokage's plans.
The higher-ups certainly didn't intend to drive Sakumo to his death, but this method was the one Sakumo couldn't accept.
Shiroshi knew Ayane felt reluctant, but this was Sakumo's own choice.
It was something no one could prevent.
At the moment his faith shattered, White Fang of Konoha had already perished.
"Yeah, now we can only hope that Leaf will produce a great Hokage in the future who will recognize this vicious cycle."
Shiroshi couldn't be certain.
Could the current Leaf's higher-ups really cultivate a Hokage who wouldn't be blinded by the desire for power and would dare to reform everything?
Therefore, Shiroshi held a pessimistic view about Sakumo's death in pursuit of his beliefs.
However, Shiroshi wasn't particularly interested in this matter.
His path had never been tied to Konoha.
Whether Leaf would produce the Hokage Sakumo hoped for didn't concern Shiroshi much.
The story of White Fang of Konoha ended here, but his life had only just begun.
…
"Shiroshi-senpai, which is more important: comrades or missions?"
Returning to Sakumo's grave, only Kakashi stood there.
Shiroshi and Ayane walked over and, upon hearing Kakashi's question, their hearts sank.
"When Sakumo-sensei made his choice, he never regretted it."
"But he died..."
"Death is just a form of release; it doesn't necessarily signify a mistake."
"Is that so?"
Kakashi muttered these words and then walked away, looking lost and hollow, like a wandering soul.
"Why didn't you tell him the whole story?"
Ayane looked at Shiroshi with incomprehension.
"Take care of Kakashi. It's not just Sakumo-sensei's request; it's also because for a child whose life values aren't fully formed, it's easy to take the extreme path. Let him see everything about this village with his own eyes."
Only when he learns to question can he understand why Sakumo died."
"Instead of getting caught up in such trivial questions about missions and comrades. Even if I were to say it now, it would likely have the opposite effect, exposing Kakashi to the darkness of Konoha prematurely, which wouldn't be beneficial for his future."
Shiroshi believed that the high-ranking officials of Konoha would be his best allies. He was confident that they would assist without the need for any specific arrangements.
He even had more confidence in them than he had in himself.
After all, they had never disappointed him. Wasn't this the best proof?
Moreover, the opportunity would come soon enough. Sakumo's suicide had probably given them quite a headache.
Losing such a valuable combatant was indeed a problem.
"When he goes out on missions, I'll have someone secretly follow him. As for the truth of the matter, let him understand things on his own. Perhaps we don't even need to explain; one day he'll grasp it himself."
Becoming a Chunin at the age of six, Kakashi's ninja talent was beyond question. He lacked only life experience and the discerning eyes that saw the essence of things.
Ayane also agreed that this was a good approach. When Kakashi asked about the importance of missions and comrades, she already understood that he must have misunderstood something and was trapped in a corner of thought.
He simply hadn't realized that his father, Sakumo, had chosen the path of suicide for a reason.
Some things he needed to realize on his own and question the village about, rather than being taught directly. Right now, he probably wouldn't be receptive to any words.
"Well then, I should head back. I'll leave the Hyuga matter to you."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it properly."
…
After bidding farewell to Ayane, Shiroshi returned to the Uchiha district. At the moment when the funeral was about to conclude, Rui was the first to come back.
It was clear that her mood was sour; she had even abandoned her guard duties and appeared agitated.
"The funeral is over. There's no need to be so downcast. Still brooding over Sakumo-sensei's situation?"
Seated on the corridor, Rui heard these words and turned her head towards the source of the sound.
"You seem rather calm."
Shiroshi sat down beside Rui and gently held her hand, looking at the courtyard's scenery together.
"Sakumo-sensei wouldn't want anyone to mourn his death. Whether it's us or others, it was a choice he made himself. He never held any resentment toward anyone. He loved this village and its people more than anyone."
"I know. That's why I despise these boring political struggles. The high-rank officials, the old fogies of the clan, and those foolish villagers. Do people become pitiful like this the older they get, the more experience they have?"
Rui blurted out these words and sighed on the corridor, revealing her troubled state of mind. She could never have imagined that Sakumo would depart from this world so resolutely.
"The era chose ninjas, and ninjas, in turn, chose this way of life."
"Chose? Is that so?"
Rui lowered her head and after a moment's contemplation, gently rested her forehead against Shiroshi's chest.
Even through his clothes, Shiroshi could feel Rui's warmth. He tenderly used his palm to touch her snow-white cheek.
Then, he placed his hand on Rui's jet-black hair, gently stroking it. Her hair was of excellent quality, dense, straight, and black. It seemed she took great care of it every day.
After all, she was still a girl.
"I'm not a child."
Sensing the movement on her hair, Rui frowned, her voice slightly annoyed. Yet, she didn't brush away Shiroshi's hand that was toying with her hair.
Though she expressed annoyance with her words, in truth, her body was giving an entirely different message.
"Doesn't the guard duty have something to be done today?"
"Took a break in the morning. There's nothing important to do if I go now."
Lifting her forehead from Shiroshi's chest, she began resting her head on his thigh, lying on the corridor floor with no defenses, closing her eyes, preparing for a nap.
Seeing Rui so defenseless in that moment, though he enjoyed the close view of her sleeping expression, Shiroshi felt like something was missing.
As he contemplated, the face of another young girl surfaced in his mind.
"... I don't know why, but I suddenly feel a faint sense of discomfort. Do you know why that is?"
"That's just your imagination. You must be tired today. I'll call you for dinner."
(Chapter End)