Hatake Sakumo was that kind of man.
He did not want to become Hokage.
But if the village were in danger, even if it needed him to temporarily become Hokage, he would definitely step forward... for his comrades, for the village that had raised him.
"Teacher Sakumo, if, during a mission, a comrade were in danger, but failing to complete the mission would cause major losses to the nation... how would you choose?"
Akira Sarutobi raised his second question.
It was also... the difficult question that had led Hatake Sakumo to take his own life.
Hatake Sakumo smiled, his eyes narrowing into crescents once more.
He answered in a firm, unhesitating tone, "I would never watch a comrade die before my eyes..."
Of course, he would choose his comrade.
"..."
Akira Sarutobi nodded.
This was Konoha's White Fang.
A man who could devote everything to his comrades and his village.
Yet such a man had been plotted against and persecuted by the higher-ups, ultimately using his death to prove his convictions.
Even in death, he had held fast to his beliefs.
For that, he had waited for Kakashi on the road to the underworld for more than ten years, making his stance clear.
In the end, Kakashi had understood his father's beliefs as well.
Comrades... were the most important.
And that was the true essence of the Will of Fire.
"Walls have ears, Teacher. Let's talk somewhere private."
Akira Sarutobi rose and gestured for Hatake Sakumo to join him in the study next door.
It was quiet there, and no one could eavesdrop.
What they were about to discuss was not suitable for anyone else to hear.
Rin Nohara: Young Master Ryo Is Handsome and Rich
Inside the study.
"Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura favor Minato Namikaze. They believe he should be the next Hokage..."
"Danzo disagrees with the two advisers. He wants to support Orochimaru..."
As Akira Sarutobi revealed one secret after another,
the shock in Hatake Sakumo's eyes deepened.
He remained stunned for a long while, unable to process just how complicated the upper ranks' scheming and infighting were.
This was the difference in instincts caused by different environments of upbringing.
Although Hatake Sakumo was exceptionally powerful, he had not been immersed in such matters, so his political sensitivity was not particularly sharp.
Meanwhile, Akira Sarutobi, who in his previous life had been obsessed with discussing politics online, had learned far too much, both passively and actively.
Besides, history sharpened one's mind. Five thousand years of history were, at their core, chronicles of eras that devoured people.
Akira Sarutobi was all too familiar with these political methods and tricks. With one glance, he could tell what nonsense the three higher-ups were spouting.
"And you, Konoha's White Fang, have accomplishments too great for your position. You're too strong, too conspicuous..."
Akira Sarutobi analyzed the pros and cons for Hatake Sakumo.
No matter how Hatake Sakumo looked at it, he would be regarded as a thorn in the higher-ups' side because of the crime of possessing a treasure.
In this regard, he was different from Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, one of the Three Ninja, had the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as his teacher.
Therefore, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura considered Jiraiya one of their own. The two advisers would never harm him.
Hatake Sakumo, on the other hand, was isolated and helpless. He had no family ties, no backing. Alone, he had become someone the higher-ups had no choice but to deal with.
Akira Sarutobi said, "Teacher Sakumo... sometimes, refusing to choose a side is also choosing a side."
"Not choosing a side... is also choosing a side..."
Hatake Sakumo lowered his head, murmuring those words as he sank into thought.
In this world, no one in any nation could remain completely detached.
Wherever there were people, there were political factions and people who argued politics.
A basic political concept: politics was closely tied to every person.
That was absolutely not an empty phrase.
Hatake Sakumo's expression changed several times, as though he were struggling. After a long while... he slowly raised his head and looked at Akira Sarutobi, seeming to plead, "Young Master Ryo, if that's the case, why didn't they tell me directly?"
Why could some things not be said plainly? Why did they have to beat around the bush?
Akira Sarutobi slowly stood, gazing out the window. "During the Warring States era, an ancient sage called 'Shuren' once said... 'I know their methods. They are unwilling, and do not dare, to kill me outright, fearing repercussions. So they all joined together, spread their nets everywhere, and forced me to kill myself.'"
"Kakashi~, goodbye."
In the courtyard, Kakashi saw off his two little companions.
Just then, Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka emerged from the study as well.
"Where's Father?" Kakashi turned around. It was strange that he did not see his father seeing them off.
"Mr. Sakumo is a little tired. Kakashi, we'll be leaving first."
Akira Sarutobi said it casually.
Watching their figures slowly disappear into the darkness, Kakashi scratched his head, not noticing anything unusual.
Walking down the road, Akira Sarutobi was accompanied by Rin Nohara and Obito.
Hehe, I can use this chance to walk Rin home~! Obito secretly rejoiced, happy to have an opportunity to show off.
But Akira Sarutobi took the initiative first. "Rin Nohara, although it's late, there's still something I'd like to ask of you. It concerns the Anbu..."
Upon hearing the word "Anbu," Obito and Rin Nohara's expressions tightened.
To ordinary people, the Anbu were the most secretive and mysterious existence.
They were also a department that was much like something that could not be spoken of.
Obito immediately shut his mouth and wanted to go home.
After all, Anbu secrets were not something an elementary school student like him could hear.
"Obito, I'll personally take Rin Nohara home later, so please don't worry."
As Akira Sarutobi spoke, he also issued a dismissal.
"Oh, Rin... I'm heading home first. Bye." Obito waved and immediately broke into a run.
"The Anbu?"
Rin Nohara could not help looking at this young master.
Under the moonlight, his already handsome face seemed coated in a mysterious glow, leaving her slightly dazzled.
The maturity about him was also something Kakashi could not compare to at all...
Oh my, Rin, what are you thinking...
As Rin Nohara's thoughts churned, Akira Sarutobi spoke again. "One capable operative in the Anbu, Nonō, has gone out on a mission, so the work of researching and analyzing intelligence from enemy corpses has been delayed... I'm very anxious about it..."
He had instilled the Will of Fire into Ringo Yuri and had also obtained the corpse of a Jonin from the Snow Clan.
Everything was ready now except for the final key.
All he needed was a skilled medic to unravel the corpse's secrets.
My fate is mine to make.
The system was a prompt, a guide.
But the fate of the strong would ultimately remain in their own hands.
Akira Sarutobi believed that was also the meaning behind the system's existence.
"Today, I saw your Medical Ninjutsu. I think your talent... may be able to help me uncover the corpse's secrets. Rin Nohara... may I commission you?"
Akira Sarutobi clasped his hands behind his back and stopped walking.
Under the moonlight,
Akira Sarutobi looked down at the little girl before him.
Akira Sarutobi's resolute, handsome face made Rin Nohara nod almost as if possessed. "No problem, Young Master Ryo..."
More than ten minutes later, at the Sarutobi Clan compound, the ancestral home of the Third Hokage.
A corpse lay on a table, surrounded by a complete assortment of surgical instruments.
Alarm barriers and traps had been set around the room.
One needed a "password" to enter and leave freely.
Akira Sarutobi told Rin Nohara the password and granted her permission to come and go as she pleased.
Rin Nohara also promised to keep it secret. After all... Anbu work was all confidential.
"This is the advance payment... thirty thousand ryo in total. Count it first."
Akira Sarutobi picked up a bag filled with money.
The average reward for a D-Rank mission was around five thousand ryo, since it had to be split with the supervising Jonin and two teammates.
After deducting the taxes paid to the village, a Genin would receive roughly five hundred ryo.
Thirty thousand ryo was equal to the reward for sixty D-Rank missions or ten C-Rank missions.
For Rin Nohara, this was undoubtedly a windfall, an enormous sum!
"This is only the advance payment. If the analysis succeeds, I'll pay you another hundred and fifty thousand ryo. What do you say?"
One hundred and fifty thousand ryo was equivalent to what a Jonin would earn after taxes from completing two A-Rank missions alone.
"..."
Rin Nohara's eyes widened, and she froze completely.
There was no helping it. Th-this was simply far too much~~~.
Originally, Akira Sarutobi could not have produced so much money with his seniority as a newly promoted Jonin.
But that had changed after Akira Sarutobi defeated the female Guardian Ninja and took over the port town's businesses from her.
With the dock shipping business in his hands, Akira Sarutobi was already a future tycoon in the making.
When ninja went out into the world, they needed food and clothing in addition to lofty ideals.
Or rather... only after material needs were met could one better pursue one's dreams.
Young Master Ryo really is handsome and rich~.
Rin Nohara silently thought this, then immediately nodded in agreement.
She did not particularly pursue material comforts, but buying medicinal herbs and researching medical techniques also required a great deal of money.
Now that such a good opportunity had fallen into her lap, and she could contribute to the village as well, Rin Nohara was naturally overjoyed.
As the cloth was lifted, the corpse of the Snow Clan ninja appeared before Rin Nohara.
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