The Situation Grows Worse

Hatake Sakumo Chakra abundant chakra and formidable strength. After resting in the hospital for a few days, he recovered and was discharged.

However, Sakumo's mood did not improve as a result; the attitude of the medical staff puzzled Sakumo greatly.

After recovering and being discharged from the hospital, Hatake Sakumo decided to buy some good food and wine, cook something at home, and have a simple celebration.

Konoha is a ninja group, and ninjas do not engage in production, although there are many restaurants in the village.

However, Utatane Koharu, still designated a section of the market and was responsible for purchasing fresh food supplies to sell at the Konoha Vegetable Market, providing fresh ingredients for the ninja.

"Hey, look, isn't this the person who abandoned the mission and caused such heavy losses to Konoha?"

"Shh, White Fang is a serial killer who's killed countless people. Are you out of your mind?!"

"What are you shushing me for! Someone like that doesn't deserve to be in Konoha!"

"My son died on the border!"

Is that him?

Hatake Sakumo rarely picked food himself, and it was a rare occasion for him to be in such a good mood at the market. However, despite his sharp ears and eyes, he overheard these comments and couldn't help but frown.

"Get out! You're not welcome here!"

"No need to look anymore, I won't sell it to you, please go to another store!"

"Coward! What has Konoha ever done to wrong you!"

Some of the more irritable villagers and vegetable vendors even threw vegetables and eggs at Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo neither dodged nor avoided, his clothes covered in vegetable leaves. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.

After leaving the market, Hatake Sakumo returned home, took a shower, and changed his clothes.

Hatake Sakumo is powerful and wouldn't stoop to the level of these ordinary villagers.

Hatake Sakumo Konoha, even though Sakumo missions never failed.

However, Hatake Sakumo himself never became arrogant because of this, and he knew that one day, there would be missions that failed.

No one can succeed in a mission 100% of the time; mission failure is perfectly normal in the Shinobi World.

Those who went against Hatake Sakumo's mission simply abandoned it, without even facing any punishment.

These rumors and criticisms puzzled Sakumo.

Sakumo was a meticulous and upright ninja with many admirers and fans in Konoha. Anbu and the Security Department had people who worshipped him.

Kakashi hasn't taken on any missions these past few days; he's been training at home and spending time with his father.

Upon seeing Kakashi, Sakumo smiled.

"Let's go, Kakashi, today we're going to the Gourmet Street."

"Hi!"

Kakashi, as the son of White Fang, has always been admired and praised by the villagers. Now that his father has been discharged from the hospital, they probably won't dare to gossip about him anymore.

Kakashi's adoration for his father still retained some naivety, unaware of the dangers of the world.

That night, the father and son ate something simple to satisfy their hunger. Even someone as mentally strong as Hatake Sakumo was somewhat at a loss after what had happened during the day.

"Father, humph, I'll argue with them again tomorrow! I'll show them their narrow-mindedness and ignorance!"

Upon hearing Kakashi's words, White Fang, as a father, could not show weakness in front of his son.

"Kakashi, sometimes things aren't as simple as they seem. Look beyond the surface; they're just ignorant villagers. We shouldn't hold a grudge against them."

"There's no need to argue with them about victory or defeat, right or wrong. A ninja is someone who needs to endure. Only by adhering to one's ninja way can one become strong."

"But Father..."

"It's getting late, let's get some rest."

"Hi..."

Kakashi went from being highly praised and recognized as the son of the White Fang to now being ostracized because of that same identity.

Kakashi's young mind couldn't accept such a thing. He had originally planned to argue with those restaurant owners again the next day, but his father wouldn't allow it.

Kakashi didn't understand the connection, and feeling anxious, he couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally falling into a deep sleep.

Hatake Sakumo, however, was sitting on the couch, not asleep.

As a top-tier ninja, a warrior who has shed blood on the battlefield and killed countless enemies, a ninja whose very name makes people wet their pants, he is naturally not so easily defeated.

Hatake Sakumo looked at the White Fang Short Sword in his hand, sighed, and slowly fell asleep.

Konoha

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, stimulating Kakashi and waking him up. He had been anxious all night and had fallen asleep without realizing it, but his sleep was restless.

In the living room, Hatake Sakumo was making breakfast; there was still plenty of food left. He could have something to eat for now, and once the storm passed, everything would surely return to normal.

After finishing breakfast, the two heard a commotion in the yard. Hatake Sakumo came out of the house and went to check.

Seeing many villagers outside the courtyard throwing stones into it, Hatake Sakumo frowned deeply.

"You ungrateful wretch! What did the Third Hokage ever do to wrong you?!"

"Sakumo! Why did you save me back then! As a ninja, have you forgotten the mission rules?!"

But then he saw that among the crowd outside the courtyard, the companion that Sakumo had saved was now pale-faced and bloodshot-eyed, throwing stones and scolding Hatake Sakumo.

"You..."

Hatake Sakumo opened his mouth, facing his companion's accusations. At that moment, he didn't know what was wrong with the world.

"This mission failed, causing heavy losses to Konoha! As a ninja, I was prepared to sacrifice myself!"

"You are not worthy to be Konoha ninja! Why won't you let me sacrifice myself!"

"You are not worthy to be Konoha Ninja!"

Many stones and fragments were thrown into the yard, Hatake Sakumo did not dodge or avoid them, and was hit by the stones.

The physical pain is nothing compared to the emotional trauma. Even the teammates and comrades he saved are now blaming him.

Sakumo turned away silently without a word and staggered back into the house.

Root base

Shimura Danzō looked at the dossier in his hand, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"Originally, I only wanted to damage White Fang's reputation, but I never expected that I would actually ruin White Fang's reputation."

"Hiruzen, you can rest assured now..."

Danzo fueled the rumors and even summoned and berated the person Hatake Sakumo saved last night.

I also instilled in them the idea that ninjas must be willing to sacrifice themselves.

The Jonin, after being reprimanded and instilled with the concept of sacrifice by Danzo, the Hokage's Danzo, left with a pale face.

Hokage Building

Inside the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the dossier in his hand, took a deep breath, and a hint of relief appeared in his eyes.

As Danzo had predicted, White Fang's disgrace brought a sigh of relief to the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had ruled Konoha for many years, had become addicted to power.

Sarutobi Hiruzen held the Hokage Position for over twenty years. Feeling it's not enough, he plans to serve for another twenty years or so.

During this period, he did not want anyone to threaten his position.

Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the letter in his hand and pondered inwardly:

"Now is the time to clear Hatake Sakumo."

The rumors are now spreading like wildfire, even if we try to clarify the truth now.

At most, it might salvage some of White Fang's reputation, but the political threat posed by White Fang can be considered completely eliminated.

People ostracized and criticized them, but later it turned out they were wrong. Expecting those people to have a change of heart and apologize? That's impossible.

These people might feel some guilt, but they definitely wouldn't support White Fang becoming Hokage.

Who knows if White Fang, the highest leader of Konoha, will bring up past grievances once he becomes Hokage?

Even if you forgive someone you've offended, the rift will still remain.

A broken mirror can be mended—that's just a fairy tale. No matter how you glue a broken mirror together, there will always be cracks.

As the ruler who succeeded Konoha during its time of crisis, Sarutobi Hiruzen was well aware of this mentality.

With the First Hokage and Second Hokage dead, Konoha had been established for less than twenty years. The major ninja clans had been fighting for a thousand years; what was a mere twenty years? Konoha would crumble in the blink of an eye.

At this critical juncture, the Third Hokage's shrewd political skills united Konoha and consolidated his rule.

Furthermore, he cultivated numerous elite ninjas, allowing Konoha to continue for over forty years. The current stability of Konoha owes much to the Third Hokage.

However, the Third Hokage had become obsessed with power; he was no longer the Shinobi Hero he was when he first ascended the throne.

"Ghost Fox, issue a statement clarifying the White Fang mission incident and clearing Hatake Sakumo's name."

"Hi"

Security Department Building

Uchiha Nara looked at the dossier in his hand; he had been following this incident closely these Naraku few days.

Hatake Sakumo is dead. It's a social death. Whether he's still alive or not is no longer important. Even if he were alive, he would be nothing but air in Konoha from now on.

"The White Fang of Konoha, the kind of ninja that strikes fear into the hearts of enemies, are being treated like this in Konoha."

"Third Hokage, will things turn out the way you expect?"

Naraku murmured softly, "Neither the Third Hokage nor Danzo would want such a powerful, signature ninja as Hatake Sakumo to die."

But for normal people, what difference is there between living and dying in the context of such social death?

"Bai, gather the squad and head to Mr. Sakumo's house."

"Hi!"