Post-Incident Arrangements

Inside the Hokage's Office Building.

Hatake Sakumo presented the Third Hokage with a report on the handling of the Rock Village Spy Attack Incident.

The Third Hokage, pipe in his mouth, carefully read through the report. Its contents were concise and to the point, and the outcome of the operation was much like Sakumo's swordsmanship—straightforward and neat, without the slightest bit of dragging.

"Very good, Sakumo-kun." The Third Hokage was highly satisfied with Hatake Sakumo's handling of the incident. "As expected of the village's finest jonin. You're still the one I can trust most to get things done."

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage." Hatake Sakumo spoke with modesty. "The village is full of talented people. I merely have more opportunities to let the light of my short blade shine."

"Sakumo-kun is as humble as ever." The Third Hokage smiled and shook his head. "Everyone can see your achievements, so there's no need to be overly modest."

Hatake Sakumo smiled with pursed lips and said no more.

"What do you think of Uchiha Tokimitsu?" The Third Hokage changed the subject.

"...His strength can only be described as formidable and fierce." This had also been Hatake Sakumo's first contact with Uchiha Tokimitsu. "He defeated all five attackers by himself. Four of them were slain by his swordsmanship, and three were cut in two with a single stroke. His methods were rather cruel, but it also shows that he has attained a certain level in swordsmanship. His strength is considerable as well; otherwise, he could not have cleaved enemies in half with one slash. Oh, and he has awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. At his age, he can truly be called a genius..."

The Third Hokage neither confirmed nor denied Sakumo's assessment.

"However, Tokimitsu-kun still seems to have too deep a divide between himself and the village," Hatake Sakumo continued. "I asked my colleagues in the Anbu. While the Anbu did indeed speak carelessly first in this matter, the reason the Uchiha drew their blades was still Uchiha Tokimitsu."

"He is Uchiha Setsuna's heir." The Third Hokage took several hard puffs from his pipe.

"Setsuna of the Uchiha Radical Faction..." Hatake Sakumo was somewhat surprised. "Didn't he retire?"

"The old man may have stepped down, but his heart hasn't." The Third Hokage snorted coldly, indiscriminately pinning a whole pile of blame on the Radical Faction first. "The Uchiha Clan has fallen into its present state largely because of those people from the Radical Faction."

Hatake Sakumo offered no opinion on that.

"Sakumo-kun is truly an upright gentleman." The Third Hokage sighed. "How do you think responsibility for this matter should be pursued?"

"Regarding the spies' infiltration, the Anbu's counterintelligence work had serious shortcomings. And for failing to uncover the spies after they had gone into hiding, the Konoha Military Police Force's investigative division also bears inescapable responsibility." Hatake Sakumo answered without hesitation.

The Third Hokage nodded approvingly. "As expected of Sakumo-kun. You are as fair in your conduct as ever."

"Then we'll handle this matter as you suggested." The Third Hokage picked up his brush and swiftly wrote Hatake Sakumo's proposed measures onto the incident report, then stamped it with the Hokage's Seal.

"I'll leave this matter to you." The Third Hokage handed the incident report to Hatake Sakumo. "This will also give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the personnel of the Konoha Military Police Force."

"I suppose no one in the village wants to have dealings with the Konoha Military Police Force, huh?" Hatake Sakumo accepted the report and joked teasingly.

The Third Hokage froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

A while after Hatake Sakumo left, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu pushed open the door and entered.

Seeing his two old friends, the Third Hokage merely greeted them briefly before continuing his work.

"Hiruzen, have you handed the entire attack incident over to Sakumo?"

"Yes." The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair and took a deep draw from his pipe. "Sakumo-kun is an upright man. Everyone will be willing to accept however he handles the matter."

The smoke drifting from his pipe cast his face in shifting shades of light and shadow.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance. Then Utatane Koharu said, "Sakumo may be an upright man, but his heart is delicate and gentle. He is full of love for the village and his comrades. Sometimes, the village must protect him as well. Don't let him come into contact with certain dark sides..."

Though Utatane Koharu's words were somewhat indirect, her meaning was perfectly clear.

The Third Hokage only lowered his head and drew hard on his pipe, neither confirming nor denying his old friends' words.

Seeing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu found it inconvenient to stay any longer. They did not linger and took their leave.

The Third Hokage said nothing, merely waving them off.

When Hatake Sakumo arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters, Uchiha Tokimitsu was enthusiastically bragging to a large group of officers about all sorts of things from the Border Defense Force. Uchiha Makoto stood timidly at his side, clutching the hem of Uchiha Tokimitsu's clothes.

When Uchiha Nakagen led Hatake Sakumo inside, he heard this and could not help laughingly scold, "Little Tokimitsu, stop bragging. The Konoha Military Police Force is already short-handed enough. If you lure away some of our people too, what are we supposed to do?"

Uchiha Tokimitsu merely laughed. After all, this was his own father, so it was not easy to argue back.

"This is Sakumo-kun. He has come under Lord Hokage's orders to handle the spy attack incident. Aside from the incident itself, he also wanted to meet you, kid." Uchiha Nakagen introduced him with a smile. "Sakumo-kun is one of the village's most upright men."

"Hello, Jonin Sakumo." Uchiha Tokimitsu's expression turned serious as he spoke formally.

"No need to be so polite, Jonin Tokimitsu." Hatake Sakumo scratched his head. "Actually, it's nothing major. But since you were directly involved in the incident, I thought I'd take this chance to talk with you."

"Please ask away, Jonin Sakumo." Uchiha Tokimitsu said politely. "I will tell you everything I know."

Hatake Sakumo nodded slightly, then began asking about the course of the incident and how Uchiha Tokimitsu had killed the attackers.

After the questions and answers were finished, Hatake Sakumo put away his notebook and said with a smile, "Jonin Tokimitsu, thank you for your cooperation with my work."

"You're too polite, Jonin Sakumo." Uchiha Tokimitsu hurriedly replied. "You are the village's most renowned senior jonin. We juniors should naturally learn from you."

Uchiha Tokimitsu was actually filled with curiosity about Hatake Sakumo, this tragic figure shrouded in a rather legendary aura.

He truly could not understand what sort of rumors could crush a jonin of such formidable strength, what kind of despair could drive a steadfast jonin to take his own life.

What he understood even less was whether the Hokage Faction, in allowing those rumors to spread, failed to realize how deeply they would hurt an upright jonin so devoted to the village.

"...Jonin Tokimitsu?" As Uchiha Tokimitsu's thoughts ran wild, Hatake Sakumo asked with some confusion, "Are you listening to me?"

"Oh—haha, sorry." Uchiha Tokimitsu came back to himself and gave an awkward smile. "Please continue, Jonin Sakumo."

"Mm, it's not really anything important." Hatake Sakumo rubbed his chin. "I just wanted to know when you plan to return to the Border Defense Force. How about we travel together then?"

"That would be perfect." Uchiha Tokimitsu was delighted. He had long heard of Hatake Sakumo's strength, and traveling together would give him the chance to seek some guidance. "I'll be returning to the Northwest Border Defense Force in three days. But I may have quite a few accompanying people with me then. You don't mind, do you, Jonin Sakumo?"

"That would be even better." Hatake Sakumo said with a smile. "That way, I won't have to rough it all the way. This poor jonin can enjoy some fine treatment under the Uchiha's generosity."

"You're far too modest, Jonin Sakumo..."

"Alright, alright." Hatake Sakumo waved his hand. "Your little girlfriend is already very, very unhappy. I won't keep the two of you apart any longer."

Hatake Sakumo's words drew a round of soft laughter from everyone.

Uchiha Makoto's face turned as red as a ripe peach, but her hand clutching Uchiha Tokimitsu's clothes did not relax at all.

Thanks to [Lin Guisen] for 2 Monthly Tickets; thanks to [Book Friend 2020091322945661] for a Monthly Ticket; thanks to [On the Contrary, the Majority] for a Monthly Ticket; thank you for your support—your support is my motivation.