Land of Fire, Konoha.
Under Danzo's arrangements, certain rumors about the White Fang of the Leaf began circulating within a small circle.
There was not much to them, and they were deliberately vague. They said nothing more than, "White Fang abandoned his mission to rescue a captured teammate, causing major losses to the village."
As for which teammate had been captured, what mission he had abandoned, and what losses had resulted?
None of those details were explained!
The only name definitively mentioned throughout was White Fang of the Leaf.
The reason it was called a small circle was because the total number of people who received the news was not large. But a ninja's social circle was not that extensive to begin with—teachers, students, a few peers who were friends, and nearby neighbors. That was all.
Thus, to Hatake Sakumo, it seemed as though everyone in the world was condemning him for making the wrong choice.
Even the mission report he had written was taken away by Anbu personnel. The Third Hokage had not given him a chance to report in person.
He could not understand it.
As a ninja who believed in the Will of Fire, he did not think his decision to save his comrades had been wrong. As for the mission's failure, he had been prepared to accept punishment.
But!
He had never anticipated being handled with such cold indifference.
"Could my understanding of the Will of Fire truly have gone astray?"
Sakumo searched his heart, but could not find an answer.
In the end, he decided to seek out the two teammates who had shared the experience with him.
"They must be suffering the same pain. As their captain, I should go comfort them."
With that thought in mind, he walked out of his home.
Along