Will of Fire: Nothing but a Tool

Sakumo explained, "That's the order I received. There was intelligence that the Third Kazekage had gone to the Land of Rain, so I was ordered to lead a team to ambush him at the border of the Land of Wind."

Another Jōnin squad was supposed to meet us at the border, but they never showed up.

We didn't encounter the Third Kazekage, but instead met another group of Sunagakure on the way. After annihilating them, all the team members were injured, so I decided to terminate the mission.

After all, the mission to ambush the Third Kazekage not only had to be successful, but also had to prevent any information from being leaked.

Therefore, without absolute certainty, the mission must be abandoned!

This kind of thing is inexplicable even within Konoha.

Is this a calculated scheme?

Shiraha's heart sank.

Perhaps the initial objective of the mission was not to ambush the Third Kazekage.

After all, even if Sakumo led an entire Jōnin squad, their chances of winning against the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release wouldn't be great.

Furthermore, the Third Kazekage would likely bring his Kage Guard with him when he travels.

Is the person in charge of the building mentally challenged?

Maybe not.

When someone who isn't stupid does something that looks incredibly stupid, then there's clearly a problem.

Given Sakumo's overall perspective, he would likely have terminated the mission if no team members were injured and the situation became unmanageable.

After all, if the information were leaked, the consequences would be unimaginable, and it could ignite a major war between Konoha and Sunagakure.

The higher-ups must have a good grasp of his personality to issue such a stupid task.

In order to suppress his reputation and make Orochimaru take over, they just ruined a ninja who was devoted to the village.

To some extent, this mission is indeed of great importance.

However, Sakumo's termination of the mission not only did not cause any loss to the village, but he should be commended because he prevented the deaths of his team members and averted a war.

No fault whatsoever!

However, the reality is—

What are the task details?

Have no idea!

What losses did the mission failure bring to the village?

I don't know!

Then why condemn Sakumo?

Because everyone is condemning him.

Those who deliberately spread information to slander Sakumo are bad, but those who are easily incited and follow the trend to slander are both bad and stupid.

"I'm going to see the Third Hokage!" Orochimaru stood up to leave. The Third Hokage couldn't possibly be unaware of this mission; he had to be made to stand up and clear Sakumo's name.

"It's no use." Sakumo shook his head. He had been staying at home for the past two days and had thought through many things and seen through many things.

"How will you know if you don't try!" Orochimaru said in a deep voice, and hurriedly left.

"The last time I saw Orochimaru-sensei like this was when Nawaki was injured." Shiraha did not leave with Orochimaru: "Once Orochimaru-sensei calms down, he will realize that finding the Third Hokage is useless."

Sakumo: "Why do you say that?"

Shiraha: "Isn't it obvious? Abandoning a mission to save a comrade violates the code of conduct of a ninja, which is a very serious matter. But abandoning a comrade for the sake of a mission violates the spirit of the Will of Fire."

No matter which choice you make, it's wrong! Or rather, no matter which choice you make, it's right! The key is that if the Will of Fire is subject to human will, then the Will of Fire...

Shiraha didn't continue speaking.

However, both Sakumo and he were fully aware of the truth.

"I didn't expect you to have thought of this much. I've always felt that you're different from others, and it seems my feeling was right."

Sakumo smiled.

"What's different?" Shiraha asked.

"I've always thought I was good at judging people. Your behavior is a lot like mine when I was young. I always thought you were a staunch believer in the Will of Fire. But now it seems that you've been too perfect in many ways, which makes me feel unreal. So, these are all just your outward disguises."

Sakumo gave Shiraha a deep look.

Shiraha smiled and said, "As long as you can keep pretending, and even believe it yourself, isn't that what kind of person you are? One day, I will be loved by everyone like you, right?"

Hearing the word 'love and respect' from Shiraha's mouth, Sakumo felt a little ironic, but he knew that Shiraha didn't mean anything by it.

"Shiraha, go back. This matter has nothing to do with you or Orochimaru." Sakumo's expression suddenly turned serious.

Shiraha nodded, stood up and bowed slightly to Sakumo: "I hope this turmoil can be quelled soon. The road ahead is long, I hope you take good care of yourself."

"Thank you." Sakumo stood up and saw Shiraha out of the backyard.

When he returned, he found Kakashi standing there in a daze, looking at him with a complicated expression.

"What's wrong, Kakashi?"

Kakashi looked up and asked, "Father, what did Senior Shiraha mean by that?"

Sakumo was stunned for a moment, not expecting Kakashi to have overheard his conversation with Shiraha.

Instead of answering his son's question directly, he asked in return:

"Kakashi, if you were faced with this kind of choice, where choosing the mission or choosing your comrades would both be 'wrong,' what would you choose?"

Kakashi fell silent, his expression gradually becoming conflicted, clearly deep in thought about the problem.

Sakumo didn't urge him, and just watched quietly.

After a long silence, Kakashi shook his head. "I don't know."

"So you think my choice was wrong?"

Sakumo changed the subject.

"No! Father's choice was right!" Kakashi's answer was firm this time.

Sakumo smiled with satisfaction, ruffled Kakashi's hair, and said, "Kakashi, let me tell you my choice. Even if I had known the outcome beforehand, and been given another chance to choose, I would still have chosen to end the mission. That is the true Will of Fire!"

"Yes! I've got it." Kakashi nodded emphatically, though Shiraha's words were still echoing in his mind.

His father did not answer his question directly.

The main road of Konoha.

The White Fang incident has spread throughout Konoha.

The pedestrians on the street were talking about it.

The Uchiha Clan who control the Konoha Military Police Force are on patrol, and the one leading them is Uchiha Soujin, a member of the White Fang Squad.

Upon hearing someone slander White Fang, Uchiha Soujin angrily retorted:

"Shut up, all of you! Anyone who dares to spread rumors! Arrest them all!"

The Uchiha Clan traveling with them quickly dispersed the talking crowd.

People backed away when they saw the Military Police Force.

However, some people were not afraid of the Uchiha and instead retorted emphatically, "What rumors? It is a fact that White Fang abandoned the mission, causing great losses to the village!"

Uchiha Soujin coldly questioned, "Then let me ask you, what significant losses did he cause to the village? Money? Supplies? Or manpower?"

"I"

"Can't say anything? Isn't that spreading rumors?"

"If White Fang is not at fault, why doesn't the Lord Third Hokage step forward to defend White Fang?"

"The Third Hokage? He can only represent himself!" Uchiha Soujin sneered. "This is a top-secret mission. Even I, as one of the participants, don't know what the mission objective is. Where did you hear that from? I suspect you deliberately leaked high-level secrets, or you're a spy trying to create chaos in Konoha. Arrest him!"

"Yes!" The Uchiha officers from the Military Police Force rushed forward, pinned the rumor-monger to the ground, and tied him up with chains.

"Let me go! I only heard these things from others. You have no right to arrest me."

The rumor-monger struggled violently, but after being punched in the stomach by a member of the Military Police Force, he collapsed to the ground, curled up like a shrimp, and finally calmed down.

"You're not a spy, so why are you spreading rumors?!" Uchiha Soujin grabbed the rumor-monger by the collar and lifted him up.

"I am also Konoha Ninja. I am not a spy."

"Now you know you're Konoha Ninja, and you know you should trust your comrades? Is the Will of Fire meant to protect people like you?" Uchiha Soujin laughed, throwing the rumor-monger away. "Take him back and lock him up for three days!"

"Yes!"

"Stop!"

A sharp shout came from behind the Uchiha group.

Uchiha Soujin turned around and his face immediately darkened.

Danzo slowly walked over with two Anbu, and it was one of the Anbu who spoke up to stop them.

"Danzo." The Uchiha group forced themselves to bow to Danzo.

"Jōnin Uchiha Soujin, do you know what you just said?"

Danzo said with a sullen face.

Uchiha Soujin frowned and asked, "What did I say? Do you think I said something wrong?"

"It seems your Uchiha Clan has a lot of opinions about the Third Hokage and the Will of Fire?"

Danzo calmly.

The Uchiha ' expressions changed slightly.

Although they did have opinions about the Third Hokage and the Will of Fire, only Uchiha Soujin dared to express them publicly.

Uchiha Soujin was one of the strongest members of the Uchiha in this generation, and he and Uchiha Fugaku were known as the two heroes of the Uchiha.

Moreover, he is the grandson of the most senior elder in the clan, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that his remarks represent the attitude of the Uchiha.

Danzo slapped on his head with such a huge label!

The Uchiha couldn't withstand that.

"My words represent only my own opinion and have nothing to do with the Uchiha!"

"Uchiha Soujin said in a deep voice."

"Can't your words represent the Uchiha?" Danzo retorted.

"I'm just an ordinary Jōnin in the village. When did I become the representative of the entire Uchiha? It's the Lord Third Hokage who represents the vast number of Konoha Ninja and the Will of Fire."

Uchiha Soujin stared directly at Danzo, his words filled with sarcasm.

"I underestimated your courage. Good! It seems the One-Eyed Vulture has trained you well!" Danzo narrowed his eyes and left.

The rumor-monger who had been struggling just moments before lay down on the ground and pretended to be dead after Danzo arrived, remaining completely still.

"Sōnin, how dare you say such things in front of Danzo? What will the Third Hokage think of us Uchiha? How will you explain this to Hayato?!" The other Uchiha Clan panicked. They never expected Uchiha Soujin to ridicule the Third Hokage and the Will of Fire in front of Danzo.

"This matter has nothing to do with you!" Uchiha Soujin snorted coldly and turned to leave.