Shift the Blame Elsewhere

Being cursed at was a hard thing to endure, but White Fang stayed curled up inside his house. No matter how hoarse people screamed at him, it was like punching thin air. Gradually, fewer and fewer people continued denouncing him.

It was only after a month that people calmed down, but the other shinobi villages were unwilling to let it go.

A single failed mission because he had saved his comrades could provoke the hatred of an entire village. That seemed rather interesting~

Sunagakure in particular, which had suffered greatly at White Fang's hands, was overjoyed when they learned that Konoha's citizens were cursing him. Countless experts from their village had died by White Fang's hand, and they were practically dancing with delight.

But now that the cursing had stopped, Chiyo, the Sand Village Elder, whose son and daughter-in-law had both been killed by White Fang, could no longer sit still. During a meeting, she slammed her palm onto the conference table and shouted.

"I propose that we immediately send troops against Konoha! Make Konoha continue condemning White Fang's mistakes, and even have him executed under the resentment of their villagers!"

The Third Kazekage glanced at Chiyo, who looked ready to start a war, then smacked his lips helplessly. "Advisor Chiyo, calm down first. Setting aside whether Konoha would execute White Fang, if we sent troops now, we would be no match for Konoha. If we truly wish to deploy, we should join forces with the other shinobi villages. If they refuse, we may only be able to put on a show~"

More wrinkles appeared on Chiyo's weathered face as she snapped furiously, "No! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the Third Hokage's temperament, he will definitely sacrifice White Fang to quell the public's rage. If we wait any longer, there will be no chance!"

Ebizo, who was only slightly younger than Chiyo and had exceptionally long eyebrows, saw his sister glaring at the Third Kazekage and hurriedly pulled her back. "Sister, deploying troops is no trivial matter. Third Kazekage's decision is not improper~"

"I don't care! Either send troops immediately, or let me personally lead them into battle if we must delay!" With her proposal repeatedly rejected, Chiyo crossed her arms and threw a childish tantrum.

The Third Kazekage knew perfectly well that agreeing to either of Chiyo's proposals meant his forces would inevitably clash with Konoha.

Though they had recuperated for more than a decade, they simply could not supply the strategic resources needed for war at this time. But when this advisor threw a tantrum, who could withstand it?

As for the jonin seated around the conference table, from the moment Chiyo began speaking, none of them had been able to get a word in.

After all, she was senior, high-ranking, and powerful. Compared to her, these newly risen jonin were practically elementary school students.

The Third Kazekage could no longer take it and looked at everyone present. Straightening up, he revealed a trace of dominance. "What do all of you think? Do you agree with me, or will you follow Advisor Chiyo?"

The Third Kazekage had clearly dumped the burden onto them, but the instant he did, an incomparably furious and venomous gaze swept over them, making everyone shudder.

"I-I agree with Lady Chiyo's proposal~"

The most timid jonin, who was trembling the hardest, instantly surrendered to Chiyo's intimidation and unexpectedly received a gentle smile from her.

"I-I do agree with Lady Chiyo, but for the village's overall interests, I hope we can be more cautious. Lord Kazekage's proposal is very prudent, so we should follow Lord Kazekage's decision~"

"Creak, creak..."

As though she were chewing something, Chiyo glared at the first person to reject her proposal like a prehistoric beast. Her eyes seemed to say: Kid, you've got some nerve!

Before Chiyo could shift her gaze away, everyone else rose to their feet.

"I think Rasa is right. We should do as he says!"

"I second that!"

"I second that!"

"I second that!"

While Chiyo glared at Rasa, the looks everyone else gave him seemed to soften considerably, making him feel as though he were hearing things.

Hahaha, Rasa is a good man. Truly a good man~

Young people really are impressive. Keep it up~

Even the Third Kazekage seemed to look at him differently, as though he were looking at a successor.

Seeing so many people support the Third Kazekage, Chiyo knew there was no hope of sending troops and gave up making a scene. Still, her cannibalistic gaze would occasionally sweep over that bold young man, as though saying: Young man, you're in deep trouble. You'd better wash up and wait for me!

Rasa's spine chilled, and his face remained pale even after he walked out of the meeting room.

The other major shinobi villages were also beginning to stir. If Sunagakure could see the chance to kill with a borrowed knife, how could they fail to see it? But they all understood that the bird that stuck its head out got shot first. Now it was simply a matter of seeing which village could no longer hold back.

Sure enough, a few days later, they received Flying Scrolls from Sunagakure. The ones who would bear the blame had arrived, and so had the first bird to stick its head out. Naturally, they agreed at once.

Thus, the five great nations began mobilizing their shinobi armies, as though another Shinobi World War were about to erupt immediately.

Konoha quickly received the news, and it gave the Third Hokage a terrible headache. Before he could convene a meeting, a middle-aged man with bandages wrapped around his hands and a gloomy face entered the Hokage's Office.

"Hiruzen, the four great nations are about to attack the Land of Fire. How long are you going to keep protecting White Fang?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was surprised by Danzo's appearance, but he strongly disagreed with Danzo's thinking. "Danzo, it has been so long since this happened. If we severely punish White Fang now, wouldn't Konoha lose usable combat strength before the war even begins!?"

Danzo snorted coldly. "To repel invaders, one must first pacify the interior. Konoha is now filled with public outrage. If White Fang does not receive the punishment he deserves, do you intend to let more people imitate his behavior!? What if everyone acts like this during war!? A single defeat on the battlefield could ruin everything. Don't tell me you can't see even that much!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless and fell into thought.

Danzo gave him no room to ease up and continued coldly, "If you do not wish to lose White Fang as a valuable fighting force, that is also possible. But I strongly suggest controlling his son! Only then will he stop disregarding insignificant comrades and prioritize the mission!"

"You! You actually want to target Kakashi? That is absolutely impossible!" As if Danzo had touched a reverse scale, Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to his feet and shouted furiously, "With war about to arrive, you want to threaten the family of someone who has rendered merit and remains useful from behind the scenes. If the people of the village learned of such a thing, how could we unite and win this war!? And how would we explain the Will of Fire taught by the First Hokage!!"

In truth, it was not merely because it went against the Will of Fire. Judging by the talent Kakashi had displayed so far, if he developed smoothly, Konoha would clearly gain another sharp blade.

Hiruzen Sarutobi valued that blade immensely. How could he let Danzo get his way!

"Then what do you suggest? This will not do, that will not do—are we simply supposed to let it go? You and I both know war is coming. Do you still want more from someone as reckless as White Fang?"

Neither Danzo nor the Third Hokage wished to see war.

Therefore, using war to pressure the Third Hokage was the most fitting move.

Faced with Danzo's relentless pressure, the Third Hokage stiffened his face and glanced at him. "Call a collective meeting of Konoha's jonin and let everyone decide what to do. Konoha does not belong to one person. Everyone has the right to take part~"

Seeing the Third Hokage trying to dump the burden onto others again, Danzo gritted his teeth. "Hmph! If you continue acting on impulse, Konoha will sooner or later be annexed by the four great nations!"

With that, Danzo stormed away with a flick of his sleeve, leaving the Third Hokage standing there alone with a troubled expression.

"Ah, war is coming again. Even though I know it was bound to come eventually, I truly wish peace could continue~"

Having experienced the First and Second Shinobi World Wars and witnessed the cruelty of war and the parting of life and death, the Third Hokage could not help sighing deeply.

Out of habit, he placed his old smoking pipe between his teeth, lit the tobacco with a match, and turned toward the glass window behind him.

Through the window, he could see Konoha thriving everywhere. In particular, the huge academy was filled with children training with all their might.

It was the most beautiful sight of all, and the sight he loved most. But war was coming. He was not worried about what Danzo had said; what worried him were those children who had not yet grown up~

Konoha swiftly convened an emergency meeting. Once the meeting room was full, White Fang was the first to rise, and he voluntarily admitted his mistakes, leaving everyone greatly surprised.

White Fang himself understood that during wartime, one could not act on impulse no matter what. After he was released from confinement, he visited several friends and met the child who had surprised him. He had already come to terms with his own problems.

With war descending, he naturally could not be treated with his usual attitude. Bloodshed and sacrifice were common and unavoidable. He truly had not considered things carefully enough.

Of course, merely admitting his mistakes verbally did not show much sincerity. Following the suggestion of a certain unusually clever young man, he dropped another bombshell.

He voluntarily proposed resigning as Anbu captain and being demoted to the rank of Chunin.

Naturally, no one could accept demoting the renowned White Fang all the way to Chunin. Under the Third Hokage's influence, repeated persuasion, and everyone's support, White Fang reluctantly agreed to be demoted only to an ordinary jonin.

Seeing White Fang admit his mistakes so sincerely, everyone admired him even more. But Danzo, who was also attending the meeting, was furious beyond measure.

After scheming for so long, this should have been his chance to crush White Fang and establish his authority in Konoha. Yet White Fang had effortlessly resolved his predicament.

What angered him even more was that White Fang had voluntarily proposed taking part in the first clash between the five great nations as an ordinary jonin. He also promised that wherever the fighting became fiercest in the future war, he would support that front without hesitation.

As if he had never resigned or been demoted, White Fang once again became a hero in everyone's eyes.

Throughout the entire meeting, White Fang seemed to be the protagonist, constantly receiving looks of admiration, reverence, and even fanaticism. Danzo, meanwhile, was like a cockroach that could never be brought into the light—a clumsy supporting character whom nobody cared about. Even the Third Hokage barely paid him any attention.

After inwardly sneering at the Third Hokage, whose spotlight had also been stolen, Danzo returned to his base after the meeting.

"Investigate immediately. Who has White Fang been in contact with recently?"

Danzo sat upon his self-made throne and coldly gave the order to his subordinates.

It had to be said that Danzo's subordinates were highly efficient. Before long, they brought over a stack of documents and began reporting.

"Dozens of friends, and three children?" Danzo muttered suspiciously to himself. His eyes shifted as he continued, "Which three children? Show me at once."

"Shiranui Genma, Obito Uchiha, Asuma! Damn it, it's Asuma! Hiruzen Sarutobi, you bastard!! Bastard!!"

And so Danzo fell into endless roaring.