The next morning.
The atmosphere on Konoha's streets was even more oppressive than it had been over the past few days.
Talk about Hatake Sakumo had not died down. If anything, rumors that "the Anbu surrounded the Hatake Residence late last night" had made them spread even more wildly.
"Have you heard? The Anbu were deployed last night. They surrounded the Hatake Residence!"
"Is Lord Sakumo planning to defect?"
"Defect? I think he's planning to kill himself! I heard he's been shut up at home for days..."
"Alas, a hero of his generation, reduced to this..."
"If you ask me, if he has any shame left, he should just..."
The speaker's voice abruptly cut off.
He had spotted the figure approaching from the street corner.
A white combat uniform, silver hair tied back, the White Fang Short Blade at his waist.
His steps were steady, his back straight.
Though traces of exhaustion remained on his face, his eyes were sharp and clear.
They even held a long-missed edge, the unmistakable edge of the White Fang of the Leaf.
Hatake Sakumo.
He walked down the morning street, meeting the countless gazes of shock, disbelief, and shame.
Step by step, he headed for the Hokage Building.
Wherever he passed, silence fell.
Every voice died away.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the man who should have been "down and out" or might even have "already taken his own life."
Now he had reappeared before them with such force.
"L-Lord Sakumo..." A Chunin who had once criticized him behind his back instinctively lowered his head.
Sakumo didn't break stride. He didn't even look at him.
He simply kept walking.
Like a drawn blade, cutting through every rumor and slander.
The Hokage Building, top-floor office.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Hatake Sakumo enter from outside the window, his expression complicated.
He set down his pipe and said quietly to the Anbu Captain "Kagami" standing beside him, "Have everyone else leave first. And... tell the guards outside to move to the stairwell."
"Yes." Kagami vanished.
A few seconds later, someone knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Hatake Sakumo walked in and stopped five paces before the Third Hokage's desk, dropping to one knee.
"Lord Hokage."
His voice was calm. There was no grievance or excuse in it, only a willingness to accept responsibility.
"Get up, Sakumo," the Third Hokage sighed. "I know everything that happened."
Sakumo stood and looked up at him.
"The mission failed. I'm responsible," he said. "I'm willing to accept any punishment.
"Reducing my mission rank, cutting my Jonin stipend, confinement for reflection... even stripping me of my ninja status. I won't complain."
The Third Hokage watched him in silence.
After a few seconds, he slowly spoke. "Punishment is necessary. But your decision to save your comrades..."
"I don't regret it."
Hatake Sakumo cut him off.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word rang with absolute conviction.
The Third Hokage froze.
"Lord Hokage." Hatake Sakumo took a deep breath. His voice suddenly rose, ringing so loudly it seemed to pierce the walls and carry into the corridor outside.
"A ninja's duty is to complete the mission. That's true.
"But our bottom line as human beings is to protect our comrades!"
His eyes blazed like fire.
"If we can even abandon our comrades for the sake of a mission, then how are we any different from cold-blooded killing tools?!"
"I, Hatake Sakumo, have been a ninja for thirty years. I've killed countless enemies and saved countless comrades.
"This time, I chose my comrades. The mission failed, and I accept the punishment.
"But my 'way of the ninja'—"
He straightened his back and spoke each word clearly.
"Will never waver because of this!"
When he finished, silence filled the office and the corridor.
Outside, several civilian ninja who had "happened" to be passing by, along with two Anbu who were "in the middle of a shift handover," stood frozen in place.
They had heard every word, clear as day.
Each one struck their hearts like a heavy hammer.
Yes...
Ninja were human, too.
If they could even abandon their comrades, then what was the point of protecting the village?
A failed mission deserved punishment.
But was saving a comrade wrong?
No one could answer.
But in every heart, the answer had taken shape.
Inside the office.
The Third Hokage looked at the man before him, standing straight-backed once more. After a long while, he slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Your punishment will be discussed at this afternoon's leadership meeting," he said. "For now, go home and rest."
"Yes." Hatake Sakumo bowed and turned to leave.
As he stepped into the corridor, the people there instinctively moved aside.
The way they looked at him was no longer contempt or pity, but... respect.
Hatake Sakumo didn't stop. He went straight downstairs.
When he walked out of the Hokage Building, sunlight fell warmly upon him.
He lifted his head and narrowed his eyes.
Then he spotted the black-haired boy across the street, leaning against a wall with glasses on.
Uchiha Ryūha.
Hatake Sakumo walked over.
They met each other's eyes but said nothing.
Everything was understood without a word.
Sakumo turned and headed home.
His shadow stretched long beneath the sunlight.
Like a blade that had finally been polished clean of rust and once again reflected the light.
Uchiha Ryūha watched him go, pushed up his glasses, and smiled faintly.
Then he turned and walked away as well.
They went in opposite directions.
Half an hour later.
In the deepest stone chamber of Root Base.
Shimura Danzō stared at the report that had just arrived in his hands, his face so dark it seemed ready to drip with gloom.
The report detailed everything that had happened that morning: Hatake Sakumo's public appearance, his declaration in the Hokage's office, and the shift in the attitudes of villagers and ninja alike...
Once hailed as the "White Fang of the Leaf," Hatake Sakumo had once enjoyed a reputation that surpassed even the Sannin.
He had far more hope of becoming Hokage than Danzō did.
If Sakumo hadn't failed that mission, Danzō never could have manipulated public opinion to pressure him.
He had finally had a chance to get rid of this rival, but now...
Shimura Danzō's hand clenched hard.
The report crumpled into a ball in his grasp.
"Hatake Sakumo..."
Cold light flickered in his one eye as he forced the words through clenched teeth.
"Who... changed you?"
Silence.
Only his heavy breathing filled the stone chamber.
A few seconds later, Shimura Danzō slowly relaxed his grip and dropped the crumpled report to the floor.
He stood and walked to the wall covered in Root's tenets.
His gaze settled on one line:
"Anything beyond our control must be eliminated."
"Or... brought under control."
Danzō closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only cold resolve remained in his gaze.
"Hatake Sakumo..."
He murmured the name.
As if reciting a death sentence.
"You must die!"
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