The End of the Matter

Kazashiro's speech, objectively speaking, was quite good.

But that massive belch at the end completely ruined it.

"That idiot..." Kakashi closed his eyes and stopped looking at him.

Will of Fire... Was I the only one who understood the Will of Fire?

Yes. The Will of Fire that Lord Third Hokage preached was, in my eyes, truly about protecting one's comrades and the people important to oneself.

Kazashiro was right. I can't keep wallowing like this. I'll show them through my actions what the Will of Fire truly is!

Sakumo, moved by Kazashiro's words, showed a long-lost fighting spirit in his eyes.

Death could indeed make everything go away, but the stigma would follow him—and Kakashi—forever.

Glancing at his son, Sakumo revealed a genuine smile. Bringing this child back from Kirigakure had truly been the right choice.

Seeing Sakumo smile, Kazashiro let out a sigh of relief. It seemed he would not seek death anytime soon. All that remained was to see what attitude the Konoha F4 would take.

Danzo, urgently recalled from the Daimyo's Mansion, sat expressionlessly in the conference room.

He had already heard what had happened and issued a punishment for Yamanaka Zen's dereliction of duty.

However, the fact that his own son had actually attacked Imin Rujin had truly caught Danzo off guard.

It seems that child Kazashiro has a deep bond with Sakumo.

In that case, I must do everything I can to save Sakumo.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin." With an unlit pipe held between his lips, Hiruzen looked at the other three who had arrived and straightened up.

Hearing Hiruzen's words, the two advisors exchanged glances. After a brief silent exchange, Mitokado Homura, as they had discussed beforehand, spoke first. "Danzo, what did the daimyo say?"

"He told us to handle it internally." Danzo's expression did not change in the slightest as he calmly stated the fact.

"Then what about the subsidy?" Utatane Koharu still clung to one last shred of hope.

This woman has money on the brain.

Danzo cursed her inwardly, but his tone remained even.

"Of course there will be none."

"Is that so? It can't be helped. All that remains is the matter of Sakumo and the others' punishment..." Though it was the answer they had expected, the two advisors visibly grew disappointed and helplessly shifted the topic to Sakumo.

"Konoha's White Fang is a powerful jonin who effectively deters Sunagakure. I believe his punishment should not be too severe." As the discussion reached the matter he valued, Hiruzen took the pipe from his mouth and stated his position.

"But doing that would confirm the rumors in the village. The villagers would think we are collectively shielding him, and it might trigger a large wave of people voluntarily abandoning missions." Mitokado Homura looked grave and did not agree with Hiruzen's idea.

"That's right. As Konoha's higher-ups, we must enforce the law impartially. Even if he is a hero of the ninja war, he must receive the punishment he deserves." Utatane Koharu also sided with Mitokado Homura.

As soon as the two of them finished speaking, everyone present turned their eyes toward Danzo.

If Danzo also agreed with them, the situation would become three against one. The two advisors' proposal would have to be carried out, and even Hiruzen, as Hokage, could not go against it.

"Strip Sakumo of his jonin rank, demote him to Special Jonin, and send him to the border to resist Sand Ninja infiltration." Noticing their gazes, Danzo did not state his position. Instead, he directly proposed a plan.

Being stripped of his jonin rank was not much of a punishment for Sakumo. With his abilities, it was only a matter of time before he climbed back up.

As for sending him to the border...

Border missions were fraught with danger and death. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans, as well as civilian ninja, had always guarded those areas. Except during wartime, major clans generally would not be willing to send their own children there.

"This plan can indeed silence the villagers." The two advisors nodded. They did not want to suppress Sakumo too harshly either, but they had not expected Danzo to spare Sakumo, who was openly part of the Third Hokage's faction.

Seeing that the two advisors did not object, the Third Hokage nodded as well. This arrangement had been drafted jointly by him and Danzo, so naturally he had no objection. "Then we'll proceed as Danzo suggests. You two have worked hard—issue an announcement and put this matter behind us as soon as possible."

"Understood. Afterwards, I'll send someone to deliver the announcement to the Daimyo's Mansion. Hopefully, we can recover some of the losses." Utatane Koharu nodded. She had always been responsible for communicating with the Daimyo's Mansion, so she should be able to recover at least some of the losses.

"Very well." Hiruzen approved Utatane Koharu's proposal.

With the announcement issued, the matter of Hatake Sakumo abandoning a mission, which had caused an uproar throughout the village, finally came to an end.

All responsibility was borne by Sakumo alone. Imin Rujin's plan had succeeded, and the higher-ups did not hold him accountable for the incident, but...

Imprisoned in the Root base with his face swollen like a pig's head, he stared at the Root ninja before him with eyes full of despair.

After Kazashiro had beaten him badly, Root had not treated him. Instead, they left him groaning in pain inside the holding cell until Danzo returned.

"Imin Rujin and Imin Kaya are suspected of leaking village secrets. Following a decision by the higher-ups, they are stripped of their ninja status and sentenced to life imprisonment in the ANBU prison."

Yamanaka Zen stood before Imin Rujin and read out the order sent by Danzo.

"No, no! You can't do this! This is all Sakumo's fault! You can't treat me like this!" Unable to accept that all his desperate struggles had still led to this outcome, Imin Rujin scrambled over to him on all fours, grabbed his pant leg, and vented his resentment.

"Get lost." Yamanaka Zen had no patience for him. He kicked him away and signaled to the subordinates nearby with his eyes.

The two Root ninja understood Yamanaka Zen's meaning and nodded. Shortly after he left, they forcibly dragged Imin Rujin, who was crying like a little girl, out of the holding cell and headed deeper into the Root base.

The handling of Imin Rujin and Imin Kaya was carried out in secret. In a village as populous as Konoha, the disappearance of two people did not cause much of a stir.

But to be safe, the ANBU still used the Transformation Jutsu to assume their appearances and wandered around their home for a while. Only after the rumors had completely died down did they stop.

People were forgetful.

Old hot topics would be replaced by new ones and forgotten completely.

As new rumors began spreading through Konoha's streets, no one spoke of Sakumo's affair again, and the day of his departure soon arrived.