White Fang's blade

Was there even a choice?

The third one, obviously!

Ling Tian: [Calling Hongsi. Once we leave, defect with my big brother. Make a scene. Kill plenty of people.]

Hongsi: [Understood. You really know me best, original.]

Ling Tian glanced at the mission and tapped the option.

Then, under everyone's watching eyes, he took Kakashi's hand and headed out.

As he walked, he said, "My father was an Elite Jonin. He died on the battlefield serving under the Second Hokage. His only regret before he died was never having seen his unborn son."

"My mother named me Hatake Xianyu... aspiring to the worthy, with plenty to spare. It symbolized her hope that I would keep improving and live in comfort and prosperity."

"Over these past few years, I've helped thousands of villagers, made life more comfortable for tens of thousands, and saved countless elderly people who would otherwise have starved."

"If Kakashi wasted even a piece of meat, I'd scold him harshly, because that piece of meat might have kept a starving villager alive."

"From the day I was born until now, I've never owed the Leaf Village a thing. On the contrary, you're the ones who owe us. I'm taking my nephew home now. Let's see just how shameless you higher-ups, who do nothing but exploit the villagers, can be."

Ling Tian was certain no one would attack him.

They could pin a crime on White Fang because the civilians didn't know him well.

But his generosity as the Hatake Good Samaritan, constantly giving away money to build his reputation, was plain for everyone to see.

Besides, a useless nobody posed no real threat to the higher-ups.

In this world, strength reigned supreme!

Most importantly, he still had Dai.

From now on, he would have Dai stay close and protect him.

"Xianyu, are you really not coming to the battlefield with us?"

Hearing that, Ling Tian turned to Orochimaru. "No. I'll stay right here. The Hatake Clan never owed the village anything. Until the Leaf Village gives us back what it owes us, I won't leave. Besides..."

He looked back as he spoke. "I don't want to owe Princess Tsunade anything either, because right now, it's the village handed down by her Senju Clan that owes us."

"Hey, Hatake Xianyu! You'd better explain yourself! What do you mean, I owe you?"

Tsunade felt irritated. I already helped you, and you're still giving me attitude? Believe me, I could join them against your brother!

"Because you've enjoyed the Senju Clan's glory without shouldering its responsibilities. If the Senju Clan wasn't willing to take on that responsibility, then it shouldn't have driven Madara Uchiha out of the Leaf Village in the first place. Isn't that right, Princess Tsunade?"

Hearing those words, especially the pointed emphasis on her title at the end, Tsunade ground her teeth in anger.

She watched the man and the boy disappear into the distance.

Tsunade stomped hard, unleashing Chakra Enhanced Strength and cracking the ground beneath her foot. "What are you staring at? Move out! We're going to the battlefield! Or do you want to stay here suppressing a hero while letting the Sunagakure Shinobi come in and slaughter your own villagers?"

"Let's go!"

Orochimaru agreed, staring after Ling Tian. Remembering their meeting a few days earlier, he drifted into thought.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, could neither bring himself to leave nor stay...

Until Tsunade snapped, "Jiraiya! Acting like this will only let the old man go further down the wrong path! Don't you want him to come to his senses? Or were they right just now? Are you a traitorous ingrate who only survived starvation thanks to the civilians, but now doesn't care whether they live or die?"

"..."

Jiraiya's mouth twitched, guilt showing on his face. "Old man, I'm leaving."

With that, he led the shinobi behind him away, following Orochimaru and Tsunade.

Once the main force had left.

Danzo sneered. "Hiruzen, your students don't seem very obedient!"

At the same time, he thought, The Third is losing everyone's support. The Hokage position will be mine.

The Third ignored him. Only now did he turn a guilty face toward Fugaku and the clan shinobi who remained. "Will the Uchiha do the same?"

Remembering his conversation with Ling Tian, Fugaku didn't know how to answer.

Hongsi, however, said proudly, "Fugaku, take our clansmen home. Don't go to the front either. Even if you went, they wouldn't trust you now."

"What about you?" Fugaku asked, looking back.

"Without the Hatake Clan, I, Uchiha Red Four, would never have gotten this far. I'll stand with White Fang and overturn the heavens themselves!"

Hongsi stood tall and proud, his words ringing with unyielding resolve.

He hadn't lied. Without his original, he would still have been frozen inside the cheat.

"Then we'll head back first."

Fugaku nodded in agreement.

Then he turned toward the higher-ups. "Third Hokage, Uchiha Red Four is expelled from the Uchiha Clan as of today. If he does anything to wrong the village from now on, please inform us. We'll put out a warrant for him ourselves."

With that, he waved his hand and led the clansmen who had been bound for the front back toward their compound.

The plan had gone wrong.

Now they needed to preserve their strength and wait for Ling Tian to launch his coup.

Never mind the argument that White Fang and Hongsi had both defected, so how could there still be a coup?

Didn't they still have Might Duy, the Uchiha Clan, and Orochimaru?

Besides, wasn't Tsunade already leaning toward their side?

And with so many villagers present, today's events would surely spread throughout the village in no time.

The higher-ups had lost both loyalty and trust.

Even Fugaku couldn't help admiring how brilliant Ling Tian's move had been!

He had run circles around the Third and the others.

They left.

Dozens of Root and Anbu operatives surrounded White Fang.

As for Uchiha Red Four, no one was bothering with him yet.

That displeased him greatly, so he told White Fang, "I'll leave this to you. Just don't die. I'll come help you in a bit."

With that, he leaped away.

Without waiting for instructions from the Third or Danzo, several Anbu and Root operatives followed him.

White Fang had already drawn his blade. Surrounded by dozens of shinobi, three advisors, and a Kage, he showed no change in expression.

Gripping his sword hilt tightly, he swept his gaze around them and said coldly, "Anyone who stands in my way dies!"

The Root operatives showed no reaction to the threat. They were still waiting for Danzo's command.

The Anbu, however, had already begun exchanging glances behind their masks.

Not only was he their former superior, but with strength like his, none of them dared dismiss his threat!

Seeing this, Danzo gave the Third a contemptuous look before waving his hand.

Instantly, more than a dozen Root operatives rushed White Fang.

In the eyes of the Anbu and the Third, they were nothing but a pack of idiots.

It was high noon, with the sun overhead and the sky bright.

Yet the instant the Root shinobi charged, a flash of light swept past. Four fell, and the rest scrambled backward.

One slash. Four Special Jonin, gone.

An utterly ordinary slash, with no ninjutsu and only a little chakra reinforcing the blade.

Yet that single slash stunned everyone present.

Even the Anbu Ninja who had witnessed White Fang's strength more than once.

Looking into White Fang's murderous eyes, Danzo, who was witnessing his strength for the first time, began to regret it.

He should have waited a little longer before sticking his neck out.

S: The big climax is coming.

I've been laying the groundwork since the book began. There was a small climax just recently, but now the big one is here.

Three things.

①: Leave your choice here for which of the Calabash Brothers should emerge.

②: A few people are going to die this time. Should the Third be spared? Should Danzo be left alive to keep ruining the village, or killed?

③: With the Uchiha staying off the battlefield, should the village suffer a crushing defeat in the coming war against the Sunagakure Shinobi?

Finally, I'm currently in the K round. All the authors competing alongside me are big names. They have established fans and support from other recommendation slots, while I have nothing but the determination to write ten thousand characters every day. So please don't stockpile chapters, because whether I advance depends on readers keeping up, tips, and recommendation votes. Please!