Konoha Rumors

Hokage Building

"Lord Hokage, Lord White Fang's S-rank classified mission has been leaked for unknown reasons. The villagers are in an uproar, and White Fang White Fang's reputation is in grave danger..."

"Okay, I understand. You may leave now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand expressionlessly.

"Lord Hokage! Should we issue a statement to clarify and clear White Fang- sama's name?"

The members of the Anbu did not retreat; instead, they asked another question.

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly, then instantly regained his composure.

"Even the Anbu pleaded for you, Sakumo, this is not the kind of prestige you deserve."

A thought flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, and he said softly:

"I'll handle it, don't worry."

"Hi!"

After a slight hesitation, the Anbu Ninja vanished in Body Flicker Technique.

Sarutobi Hiruzen a pipe dangling from his lips, puffed out two puffs of smoke and squinted slightly.

This top-secret mission was known only to Shimura Danzō, Hatake Sakumo, and a few others who were carrying it out.

A ninja who doesn't know how to keep secrets will soon become a corpse.

Those who carry out the missions are all elites; the missions have been going on for many years, and there has never been a leak.

The Third Hokage understood the cause and effect almost immediately.

"White Fang has given so much to Konoha, and his virtue should not be tarnished."

The Third Hokage wanted to raise his hand to summon the Anbu, but every time he tried to raise his hand, it seemed as if he couldn't lift it.

"I..."

Sarutobi tried to speak to summon someone, but found that he couldn't seem to utter the words he wanted to say.

After several attempts, the summoning words still couldn't be uttered.

The Third Hokage remained silent about the rumors.

After returning from his mission, Hatake Sakumo collapsed at Konoha Hospital. This is his second day there, and his injuries have improved somewhat after treatment.

The suicidal explosion of the Explosive Tag would have Hatake Sakumo on the spot had he not been using his Lightning Style Secret Technique and being skilled in Lightning Body Flicker Technique.

Although he Body Flicker Technique, he was still hit by the aftershocks and debris from the explosion, sustaining serious injuries, and barely managed to escape back to Konoha.

Sakumo sighed, regretting that his final attack hadn't killed the commander. Most of the supplies had been hidden on the commander's person using Storage Scroll.

The Lightning Style Secret Technique, which could have pulverized people and objects, failed to achieve its intended purpose, and with the Hidden Sand gathering ever larger numbers, they were ultimately forced to retreat.

The medical staff pushed open the door and came in. Sakumo looked up and saw that the medical staff had cold faces, which he found strange.

When I first arrived yesterday, this person seemed to want an autograph, so why is he acting like this today?

The medical staff, carrying a medical kit, said indifferently:

"The medication has been changed."

A question flashed through Hatake Sakumo's mind, but he didn't think much of it.

Sakumo took off the patient's shirt, turned his back to the medical staff. His upper body had been washed clean of blood yesterday, but many wounds were still very gruesome.

This demonstrates the perilous nature of this mission, and it was also the most serious injury Sakumo sustained.

As Sakumo turned away, the medical staff showed disdain and disgust, applied some medicine to him casually, and then turned and left.

"The dressing hasn't been applied yet..."

Before Sakumo could finish speaking, the medical staff had already left.

Hatake Kakashi had just finished a mission and was walking down the street when his good mood vanished.

The villagers seemed to have nothing better to do than discuss White Fang, and they appeared to despise White Fang immensely.

Kakashi initially didn't want to pay attention, but wherever he went, he could hear people discussing White Fang.

Young Kakashi couldn't take it anymore and stepped forward to argue.

"What are you saying! My father is not that kind of person!"

Eight-year-old Kakashi, wearing a mask, the area outside the mask was red with anger.

"This looks like White Fang's son. Hey, don't you dare follow in your father's footsteps; it's a disgrace."

"He'll probably follow in his father's footsteps and cause destruction for Konoha from now on."

"Hey, how did the village raise such two ungrateful wretches?"

Among these villagers were even ninjas dressed in vests, who hurled unrestrained insults, extending from individuals to fathers and sons.

"You! You all!"

Unable to win the argument, young Kakashi ran to the hospital.

Feeling anxious, Kakashi decides to ask his revered father what the truth really is.

Hatake Sakumo, being a powerful ninja with keen hearing and eyesight, didn't notice at first.

However, the strange behavior of the medical staff and the drastic change in the attitude of the hospital personnel quickly made White Fang realize that something was wrong.

White Fang used his Chakra to listen in on the hospital. He overheard the discussions among the medical staff and their disdain and mockery of him.

White Fang possesses superb Ninjutsu and an extremely strong mental fortitude; of course, he wouldn't be defeated by such rumors.

Hatake Sakumo didn't take the rumors circulating outside too seriously, believing that under the rule of the Third Hokage, the truth would soon be revealed.

Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open, and Kakashi ran in.

"Father, there are rumors outside saying you're a coward. Go out and explain to them!"

Although young Kakashi possesses exceptional talent and formidable fighting power, he currently lacks a deep understanding of the dirty tricks and intrigues involved in such matters.

"Haha, could your father be a coward? It's just a rumor, it'll fall apart on its own. A ninja is someone who needs to be patient."

Hatake Sakumo was a meticulous and upright ninja with great strength and a good mindset. He did not get angry or upset because of rumors or the like.

Kakashi felt somewhat relieved by his father Hatake Sakumo's positive attitude.

The sudden change from being hailed as a genius by Konoha to being ostracized by the villagers was a stark contrast that Kakashi found difficult to accept.

However, Kakashi still respected and revered the words of the White Fang of Konoha.

Naraku, in the headquarters office of the Security Department, there were Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Saburo (head of the Criminal Investigation Division), Uchiha Go (head of the Village Management Division), Uchiha Go (head of the Plainclothes Division Uchiha Hayata), and Uchiha Tasuku (head of the Public Security Division).

The top leaders of the Military Police Force were almost all gathered together.

Naraku has recently been focusing on the work of the Police Force, and has also gained a new understanding of the power of these rumors.

At first, it only said that the White Fang mission failed, resulting in losses, and so on.

Later on, the rumors became increasingly outrageous.

It's now become a case of White Fang intentionally harming teammates and deliberately causing mission failures.

Some say that White Fang was dissatisfied with the Third Hokage and deliberately failed his mission to find an opportunity to assassinate Third Hokage.

Some villagers even went to the Hokage Building to report, warning the Third Hokage Hatake Sakumo, to Sarutobi Hiruzen Sakumo Hatake's assassination attempt, which was utterly ridiculous.

"Everyone, what are your thoughts on the recent rumors circulating in Konoha?"

"Naraku, these villagers have insulted White Fang! It's outrageous! Arrest these people who are spreading rumors!"

"Naraku, I think we should do something about this! The rumors are getting more and more outrageous! White Fang's reputation is being tarnished!"

Naraku was genuinely surprised to find that quite a few members of the Security Department in the audience were fans of White Fang, and he couldn't help but glance at them a few times.

"But since the Third Hokage hasn't come forward to clarify, we probably can't determine the truth of the matter or the details of the mission."

Uchiha Fugaku was mature and prudent, and acted in a very proper and conventional manner.

"Hatake Sakumo is known as the White Fang of Konoha, how could he be a lowly villain? This rumor must be false!"

"This is what the head of the Public Security Division, Uchiha Tasuku, said firmly."

Naraku glanced at the head of the Public Security Division, a die-hard fan of White Fang, stroked his chin, and said:

"Let's wait and see. I heard that Mr. Sakumo was seriously injured after returning from his mission and is currently still in Konoha Hospital."

"Yes, Mr. Zhu, please go and offer your condolences to Mr. Sakumo on behalf of our Police Department."

Head of the Public Security Division Uchiha Tasuku and answered loudly:

"Hi!"