After three days, Karot and the others finally returned to the village.
"You should go back and get some rest. I'll report on the mission myself."
Matsushita Hokuto looked troubled. He clearly hadn't recovered from his close friend's betrayal.
"Yes, Teacher Matsushita."
As Karot strolled toward the gate, he noticed Kakashi waiting there.
"Well, this is a surprise. You're not out on a mission?"
"Hmph. None of your business. I heard your team was attacked by a Jonin during your mission. Are you all right?"
His tone was still as flat as ever, but there was concern in it all the same.
"Do I look like I'm hurt?"
Afraid Kakashi wouldn't believe him, Karot even spun around in front of him.
"Good. As long as you're fine."
With that, Kakashi turned and left.
The endless stream of missions made people forget the passage of time. Before they knew it, four years had passed. Karot's strength had steadily increased, and a year ago, he had fought his father, Hatake Sakumo, to a draw, reaching Kage Level. Reaching Kage Level at ten wasn't just genius—it was monstrous.
When Karot and the others returned to the village, they noticed passersby keeping their distance and pointing at them. The difficulty of their mission had kept Karot's team away for a whole month.
"So that's Hatake Sakumo's son."
"How shameful."
The awe and respect people had once shown him had vanished. They called him by name, and all kinds of disparaging remarks reached Karot's ears.
Karot furrowed his brow, as if he'd realized something, and hurried home. When he reached the house, he found Kakashi sitting at the entrance with a gloomy expression. Judging by the traces around him, he'd been there for quite a while.
"Brother."
When he saw Karot return, Kakashi called out hoarsely. He had never called Karot his brother before, always addressing him by name. It was hard to imagine how much pressure Kakashi had endured during this time.
Karot felt for his little brother. He stepped forward, patted Kakashi on the head, and said,
"Don't be afraid. Your big brother's back."
Then he turned and entered the house. The once-proud Konoha's White Fang was now kneeling on the floor, utterly despondent, his eyes lifeless.
"You're back."
At the sound of someone entering, Hatake Sakumo opened his eyes. A glimmer of life returned to them.
Karot knelt down and said,
"I never thought you'd fail a mission, Father."
"Isn't that normal? A ninja's missions are full of uncertainties."
Hatake Sakumo's voice was calm, without a hint of emotion.
"Father, can you tell me what happened on the mission?"
Karot wasn't trying to rub salt in Hatake Sakumo's wounds. He wanted to address the problem directly. His father's current state was wrong.
"It happened like this..."
Hatake Sakumo recounted the mission, bit by bit.
He blamed himself entirely for the mission's failure. The village had suffered enormous losses, and he believed himself a sinner. On top of that, villagers came to his door every day to curse him. Hatake Sakumo had already been preparing to kill himself to atone.
"Father, I once asked you whether the mission or your comrades mattered more. You answered without hesitation: your comrades. You're a role model to Kakashi and me."
"So you gave up completing the mission to save your comrades. You followed your ninja way. What did you do wrong?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but.' Would the village gossip stop you from being an excellent ninja? Do you live by their opinions? Are you going to abandon Kakashi and me?"
Bombarded by question after question, Hatake Sakumo's lips parted, but he couldn't speak.
"This was a conspiracy—a plot against you, Hatake Sakumo."
"From the start of the mission, you'd been drawn into a massive conspiracy. Whether you completed the mission or abandoned it, you'd be made to look like a failure. If you completed it, you'd be seen as someone who'd stop at nothing to finish a mission, and people like that aren't welcome in the ninja world. And you've seen what happened when you saved your comrades."
At Karot's icy words, Hatake Sakumo understood what had happened. A sharp killing intent radiated from him, replacing his earlier despair. This was the true Konoha's White Fang, a reaper on the battlefield.
"Why? Why would they do this to me?"
Hatake Sakumo asked furiously. His terrifying aura filled the room, shattering the furniture.
Hearing the commotion inside, Kakashi called from outside,
"What happened?"
Just as he was about to open the door and come in, Karot hurriedly stopped him.
"Kakashi, don't come in. Guard the door and don't let anyone inside."
"Because you shine too brightly, Father. You got in someone's way."
"What? That's the reason?"
"That's reason enough."
Hatake Sakumo stared in disbelief. They'd caused such heavy losses just to frame him? He couldn't understand it.
"In their eyes, that's politics. As long as I get what I want, I can sacrifice anything."
Hatake Sakumo's worldview shattered and was rebuilt.
"Fine. I understand. Go outside and leave me alone for a while."
Karot's words had shocked Hatake Sakumo. He needed to think carefully about what to do next.
"All right, Father."
Karot stood up and reached for the doorknob. Just as he was about to open the door, he spoke over his shoulder.
"I hope you make the right choice. Otherwise, I won't be responsible for what happens."
Though Karot had laid everything out clearly, a mature person wouldn't change so easily. His last words amounted to a threat: if Hatake Sakumo didn't make the choice Karot wanted, Karot would do whatever it took, consequences be damned.
"Brother."
When Karot stepped outside, Kakashi hurried over to him.
"Don't worry! Father's fine. Just let him be by himself for now. We should spend more time with him over the next few days. He'll get better."
"All right, Brother."
Kakashi nodded earnestly.
"Third Hokage, Danzo, you'd better hope nothing happens to Father. If anything does, the Hiruzen clan and the Kimura clan will be buried with him."
After Kakashi left, Karot's expression turned grim. He knew Danzo had orchestrated this while the Third Hokage had watched in silence. But Karot didn't care. If anything happened to Hatake Sakumo, he wouldn't spare a single person involved.
On the third day after Karot returned home, Hatake Sakumo finally left his room. It was as if he'd set down a heavy burden; he seemed completely at ease. After greeting Karot and Kakashi, he went to the Hokage Building. He spent an hour in a private meeting with Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Hokage's office. No one knew what they had discussed.
All anyone knew was that the next day, Hatake Sakumo resigned. Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't try to stop him.
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