A Hard-Core Way to Comfort Someone

Konoha, Hokage Building, conference room.

In the vast conference room, Konoha's absolute upper echelon sat on either side of the long table. Though they were called the upper echelon, there were really only the three members of the elders' council and the Hokage.

These people determined every policy and direction Konoha took. They truly held Konoha's survival in their hands.

And when these people gathered together, it meant Konoha was about to face a major issue requiring a decision.

"The Kannabi Bridge operation failed. Iwagakure has strengthened its defenses. Trying to take it down afterward with another surprise attack is almost impossible."

The speaker was an elderly woman named Homura Mitokado. She oversaw Konoha's finances and diplomacy, and was also one of the Second Hokage's disciples alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"And Iwagakure's attitude is very firm." Homura Mitokado spoke heavily, with a trace of anger in her voice. "They demand compensation for the damage caused by the White Fang Squad's operation. Ten thousand ryo in cash."

"Otherwise, they will launch an attack on Konoha."

"Bullshit!"

With a bang, an elderly man in glasses, also well past fifty, slammed his palm onto the table.

"They talk as if they weren't planning to attack Konoha from the start. Compensation... pfft! That bastard Onoki!"

This elder was Koharu Utatane, a disciple of the Second Hokage and Hiruzen Sarutobi's longtime comrade-in-arms. He likewise oversaw Konoha's diplomacy and internal development.

"You haven't known Onoki for just one day. If he made any other demands, that would be unlike him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed intermittently on his pipe. He appeared calm, but his brows remained tightly furrowed.

Things had reached this point, but it was still within his expectations. Everyone present had lived through two Shinobi World Wars. None of them would lose their heads over a momentary incident.

However, White Fang's failure had forced Konoha to halt its original battle plan. It was not exactly a total waste of their previous efforts, but it was absolutely not good news for Konoha.

That was why they were sitting here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shimura Danzo. "What do you think, Danzo?"

"My stance has never changed, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzo's single eye narrowed slightly, and killing intent seeped from his cold gaze.

"War will come sooner or later. War has always been there. Even if White Fang had destroyed Kannabi Bridge, Iwagakure's offensive would not have ended because of it. The other three great shinobi villages are the same."

"I told you long ago, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzo looked coldly at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "If you had listened to my advice, Onoki would be the only one with a headache right now."

Kannabi Bridge connected the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, connecting Iwagakure and Konoha.

During peacetime, it was a channel for economic exchange between the two sides. It had a long history. For prosperous Konoha, its necessity was not particularly high, while the greatest beneficiary was Iwagakure, which was comparatively lacking in supplies.

But in wartime, this bridge would become an important route for Iwagakure to transport military supplies and shinobi.

Kannabi Bridge was easy to defend and difficult to attack. With only a small force stationed there, it could become a thorn in the throat of any hostile power.

Shimura Danzo had proposed more than once that, even if it might cause diplomatic tensions, Konoha had to ensure it held control over Kannabi Bridge.

The other two elders neither opposed nor supported that proposal, but it had not received the Hokage Office's approval.

"There is a great deal of dissatisfaction with you in the village right now, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzo continued. "White Fang's failed operation was your order. During all your years in office, Konoha has suffered two consecutive attacks involving the entire Shinobi World."

"People believe the others saw Konoha's weakness. I told you long ago... blind defense will always be proof of weakness."

"Making others fear you and making others see you as fools are two completely different things, Sarutobi."

After speaking, Shimura Danzo ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's ashen expression and simply narrowed his eye. He did not even spare a glance for the other two elders' expressions.

As Konoha's hawkish representative, Shimura Danzo always possessed a particular degree of influence whenever war broke out.

After all, the dovish faction that represented peace had already proven its judgment wrong.

"Danzo, you've gone too far..." Homura Mitokado said coldly. She sounded like she was refuting Danzo, but her words carried little force.

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand instead. "Danzo is right. Konoha has reached the point where it must display its strength... If we cannot deter the Shinobi World, then our teacher and the First Hokage will likely never rest in peace, even in heaven!"

The lion nearing his twilight years displayed his dominance at that moment.

The meeting immediately turned toward Konoha's counteroffensive. Fighting on four fronts meant defense should have been the best course, but everyone present understood without saying it aloud.

Konoha needed to prove its strength too badly.

Finally.

The meeting ended. The two elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, left first to carry out orders and arrange affairs.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo remained behind.

The air fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed out clouds of smoke, while Shimura Danzo sat with narrowed eyes as though dozing. Neither showed any intention of leaving.

"Tell me what you think about... Kannabi Bridge, and White Fang's failure."

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to sigh and speak slowly.

Shimura Danzo finally opened his eye. Rather than answer directly, he first took out a scroll.

"This contains every detail of White Fang's operation, from the beginning of the mission to its abandonment... My Root was involved throughout. It is only more detailed than White Fang's report when he returned."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll, and his expression changed again and again.

Not because Danzo had extended Root's reach into the ANBU, into White Fang's direct subordinates.

But because of that particular phrase...

"Abandoned the mission?"

"So, Uncle White Fang gave up the mission and brought his companions back?"

At the Hatake Estate's main hall, Obito asked in disbelief.

"Yes..." Kakashi sighed, his eyes full of worry. "Those ANBU told me. They used to be Father's subordinates, and Father... still hasn't returned to Konoha."

Hideki, standing to the side, remained silent.

This was basically the same as what he knew. White Fang had abandoned the mission and saved his companions.

That directly led to a string of tragedies—White Fang's suicide, Kakashi falling into darkness for the first time, Obito finally pulling him out of it, then Obito's "death" causing Kakashi to fall again, followed by Rin and Minato's wife.

Like nested dolls of tragedy, the cycle kept repeating itself around Kakashi.

"Sorry... I shouldn't have told you about this." Kakashi crouched on the ground, clutching his head with both hands. His body trembled slightly, and he looked utterly miserable.

"It's just that I don't know what to do now. What if Father..."

The current Kakashi was not yet the future Hatake Fifty-Fifty, someone capable of going toe-to-toe with Kaguya Otsutsuki.

At the end of the day, he was only a five-year-old child.

His powerful father had suddenly failed a mission, and his life or death was unknown. He had clearly encountered tremendous danger. Under such circumstances, even an adult would be terribly worried, and anyone slightly more emotional might suffer a complete breakdown.

No matter how mature Kakashi was for his age, his heart was still fragile. Otherwise, he would not have shut himself away again and again.

Obito stood nearby with a complicated expression, unsure how to comfort him.

His first instinct was to use the allowance he had just received to treat Kakashi to a bowl of ramen.

But before he could say anything, Hideki suddenly launched a flying kick and sent Kakashi straight to the ground!

"Look at you, acting like some pathetic wimp! Forget whether your dad would be disappointed when he gets back—I don't even want to admit I have a companion like you!"

Hideki rushed directly in front of Kakashi, grabbed him by the collar, and shouted loudly!

The sight left Obito dumbfounded, while Kakashi, the person involved, looked even more bewildered!

"You need to man up, Kakashi! Even if Uncle White Fang really died in battle, he would have died bringing glory to Konoha!"

"The only thing you can do now is fucking train and get stronger!"

"If Uncle White Fang is alive, help him finish the mission he couldn't complete. If he's dead, kill every last Iwagakure shinobi and avenge him!"

"Got it!?"

Hideki's way of comforting someone was unbelievably hard-core. Having known Hideki for so long, Obito was discovering for the first time that he had such a domineering side.

But just as Obito wanted to secretly give Hideki a thumbs-up, he saw Hideki suddenly whip his head around and stare at him with a stern expression!

"Uh..." Obito's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. "I'll listen, Hideki! I'll train! I'll definitely get stronger!"

Obito hurriedly explained himself, though he had no idea why he needed to explain...

Hideki nodded slightly, then looked back at Kakashi.

"For the next week, the three of us will train like our lives depend on it, then apply to graduate right away!"

"If Uncle White Fang really doesn't come back... then we'll kill our way to Iwagakure. Obito and I will go with you!"

"That's the only thing you can do now. Understand!?"