P.S. Thanks to readers "johnx," "Bei Zhebi De Neirong," "Shuyou20180907182006357," and "Xieyan Zhi Yao" for the tips. Thanks again to everyone for your recommendations and collections. So many of the rules on Qidian have changed!!
November, Year 39 of Konoha
The White Fang, Konoha's war hero and Anbu commander, famed throughout the Ninja World, Hatake Sakumo, had taken his own life. The news sent shockwaves through the Ninja World.
Some were happy, some worried, some heartbroken, and some pleased. Most of all, people were surprised.
Of course, there were more people who were happy. When they heard the news, most of the shinobi in the Ninja World were overjoyed, clapping their hands in gratitude.
The White Fang had rampaged across the battlefields of the Second Shinobi World War, killing far too many people and making far too many enemies. His enemies had never managed to do anything to him, and neither had the war. In the end, he died during a time of peace, taking his own life for this ridiculous reason. Because he had killed himself, he wasn't even qualified to be commemorated on the Memorial Stone. It was absurd.
The White Fang was dead. Nothing could be undone.
The mood in Konoha grew oppressive. The brazen discussions and whispers from before had vanished. People walked the streets in silence, their feelings complicated, unsure how to face what had happened.
The tears they shed now were all because they'd let their brains turn to water back then!
In Suifeng's eyes, they weren't stupid, foolish, or dumb. They were simply wicked!
Nothing more than wicked.
When the White Fang had been in his heyday, they'd envied him. So when he fell on hard times, they'd kicked him while he was down. Once he was dead, they realized the village had lost a powerful shinobi and grown weaker, doing even greater damage to their own interests. Naturally, they fell silent.
That was human nature. Nothing to criticize!
"Suifeng, Suifeng, are you really going?"
At the Uchiha Clan Compound, Suifeng walked with his hands in his pockets. Obito followed behind him, looking worried, excited, and anxious all at once.
"Why wouldn't I go? That guy's been getting on my nerves. If I don't teach him a lesson, I won't be able to rest easy!"
"But isn't this a bad idea? If the Military Police Force catches us, we'll be locked up. And what if the Anbu...?"
"I never asked you to come along. What are you so scared of?" Suifeng could see what a coward the guy was at a glance.
"That's not what I mean. I mean, I mean...!"
"Hmph. What's there to say? If you're scared, you're scared. No need to make excuses."
"What would I be scared of? Fine, let's go!" Obito was so easy to provoke that he couldn't help taking the bait. "By the way, should we bring Kakashi?"
"So your head really is full of water?" Suifeng said under his breath. "Kakashi isn't in the mood for this right now. Besides, would it even be appropriate for him to come?"
"Oh!"
That one sentence shut Obito right up.
"Wait, that's not right! What do you mean my head is full of water? Your head's the one full of water! I...!"
Though he was displeased and uneasy, Obito still went along.
Inside an ordinary home in Konoha
Chunin Murakami Ame sat silently indoors, his feelings complicated, with a trace of apprehension.
He hadn't expected things to end up like this.
The White Fang was dead. He'd taken his own life!
How was that possible? That was the White Fang, Konoha's White Fang!
During that mission, the White Fang had saved his life, causing the mission to fail. At first, he'd been very grateful.
But after returning to the village, he soon felt unusual pressure. He didn't know where the rumors had come from—or perhaps the rumors had been true all along—but they only grew more widespread.
At first, people had accused the White Fang of abandoning the mission. Then some began to blame him, saying the White Fang wouldn't have abandoned the mission if it hadn't been for him.
The pressure on him mounted. Every day, he had to endure people pointing fingers and even blaming him. He could hardly stand it.
Then a choice presented itself.
He didn't even know who had come to see him, but the person showed him a way out. If someone had to take the blame, it was better for one person to bear it than two. Besides, it had been the White Fang, not him, who had made the decision.
Under threats and inducements—and perhaps with a little help from genjutsu—he made his choice. He publicly apologized, shifting all the pressure onto the White Fang and driving a knife into his back.
He'd thought that would make things easier. Then the White Fang went and took his own life!
Come on, you were a Kage Level powerhouse! You were Konoha's White Fang! You were the butcher who terrified everyone! And you took your own life over something this trivial? You had less mental fortitude than me! How did you even become so strong?
Bang!!!
A loud crash sounded beside him.
"Murakami Ame, you've been found out!"
"What?!" Murakami Ame jumped. He looked up, but before he could see what was happening, a sharp pain struck his abdomen. A tremendous force sent him flying several meters backward.
"Damn it!"
Instinctively, his hands began forming Hand Seals. "Who's attacking me? Show yourself! You've got some nerve—this is Konoha!"
He roared inwardly as he neared the end of his jutsu, his gaze sweeping around in search of his enemy.
Blood-red eyes instantly filled his vision.
"This is...!"
His thoughts raced, and the scene before him changed again.
"The White Fang!!"
The White Fang was kneeling on the floor, half-naked, holding a short blade and stabbing it viciously into his abdomen.
Once, twice, again and again...
Blood spread and flowed in every direction, gradually gathering into a lake of blood.
Blood splattered across the White Fang's face. His expression didn't change. He simply stared at Murakami Ame, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly into an eerie smile.
"No, no, no, it wasn't me...!"
"Stop, White Fang!"
"Aaaaaah~~~!"
Murakami Ame's hands froze mid-seal. His face went blank, then filled with terror.
Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana
Just as Murakami Ame began forming Hand Seals, his eyes met Suifeng's. He fell instantly into the genjutsu Suifeng had prepared in advance.
"Suifeng, this...!"
Looking at Murakami Ame, who seemed on the verge of going mad, Obito hesitated.
He'd agreed to go with Suifeng to teach Murakami Ame a lesson—or rather, Suifeng had egged him on and dragged him over to do it.
But he hadn't expected to walk into a scene like this.
Murakami Ame was an elite Chunin, after all. A shinobi who could go on missions with the White Fang couldn't be ordinary.
He was a formidable figure even among the Chunin.
So Obito had assumed that even if they came here, they'd be in for a tough fight. He wasn't even sure Suifeng would win. Who could've guessed things would turn out so unexpectedly? Murakami Ame was far too easy to beat.
And now he was caught in a genjutsu.
What were they supposed to do now that Murakami Ame had fallen under Suifeng's genjutsu?
Obito had no idea. This was Konoha, after all, and Murakami Ame was one of the village's Chunin. Konoha strictly forbade its shinobi from killing one another.
Seeing Murakami Ame caught in the genjutsu, Obito naturally lost his nerve.
Suifeng, however, paid him no mind. Seeing Murakami Ame fall for it, he sneered, grabbed a nearby stone, and charged forward. He swung it hard at Murakami Ame's head.
Bang!!
In an instant, blood sprayed everywhere.
Murakami Ame let out a scream of pain, jolted out of the genjutsu.
But it was already too late. Suifeng's beating came at him like a violent storm. In just a few breaths, Suifeng had pummeled him with fists and kicks until he couldn't even defend himself.
"Stop...!"
A shadow flashed by and grabbed for the back of Suifeng's collar. Suifeng shifted his body and sprang backward like a coil, narrowly dodging the hand.
"Who are you?" he barked, looking toward the newcomer with a puzzled expression.
"Anbu, Aoari!" The newcomer wore an Anbu uniform and a mask. His voice was icy. "Uchiha boy, you attacked a fellow shinobi from our village. Come with me to the Anbu!"
Murakami Ame's home wasn't in a remote area. The commotion had drawn not only the Anbu but also nearby shinobi and villagers.
"Oh no, oh no! What do we do? What are we going to do?!" Obito fretted at the side, like an ant on a hot pan, not knowing what to do.
"The Anbu? Hmph. The Police Force is handling this. Since when do you Anbu get to interfere?" Suifeng said boldly, holding his head high.
Before you continue