Konoha, Hokage Building, conference room.
Inside the spacious conference room, Konoha's highest-ranking officials sat on either side of the long table. Though they were called the upper echelon, there were really only the three members of the Elder Council and the Hokage.
These people decided every policy and direction Konoha took. They truly held Konoha's survival in their hands.
And when they gathered together, it meant Konoha was about to face a major issue that required a decision.
"The Kannabi Bridge operation failed. Iwagakure has strengthened its defenses, so taking it later with another surprise attack is practically impossible."
The speaker was an elderly woman named Utatane Koharu. She was in charge of Konoha's finances and foreign affairs, and was also one of the Second Hokage's disciples alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"And Iwagakure's attitude is extremely firm." Utatane Koharu 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 wearing glasses, also well past middle age, slammed his palm onto the table.
"They say that as if they weren't already planning to attack Konoha! Compensation... pfft! That bastard Ōnoki!"
This elder was Mitokado Homura, another disciple of the Second Hokage and Hiruzen Sarutobi's longtime comrade-in-arms. He was likewise responsible for Konoha's foreign affairs and internal development.
"You haven't known Ōnoki for just one day. If he had made any other demand, that would be unlike him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed intermittently on his pipe. He looked calm, but his brows remained tightly furrowed.
Things had reached this point, but they were still within his expectations. Everyone present had lived through two Shinobi World Wars; they would never lose their heads over a momentary incident.
Still, White Fang's failure had forced Konoha's original battle plan to be halted. It was not quite a total loss, but it was absolutely not good news for Konoha.
That was why they were sitting here.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward Shimura Danzō. "What do you think, Danzo?"
"My stance has never changed, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzō narrowed his single eye slightly, and killing intent showed in his cold gaze.
"War will come sooner or later. War has never stopped. 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 no different."
"I told you long ago, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzō looked coldly at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "If you had followed my advice, the only one with a headache now would be Ōnoki."
Kannabi Bridge connected the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, connecting Iwagakure and Konoha.
In peacetime, it was a channel for economic exchange between both sides. It had a long history. For wealthy and powerful Konoha, the need for it was not especially great; Iwagakure, which lacked resources, benefited the most.
But during 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 Danzō had proposed more than once that, even if it risked diplomatic tensions, Konoha had to ensure control of Kannabi Bridge remained in its hands.
The proposal had received neither opposition nor support from the other two elders, but it had not received the Hokage's Office's approval.
"There is a great deal of dissatisfaction with you in the village now, Sarutobi." Shimura Danzō continued. "White Fang's failed operation was your order. During your years in office, Konoha has suffered two successive attacks on the scale of the entire Shinobi World."
"People believe that others have seen Konoha's weakness. I said it long ago... blindly defending yourself will always be proof of weakness."
"Making others fear you and making them see you as fools are two entirely different things, Sarutobi."
After saying that, Shimura Danzō ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's already livid expression and simply narrowed his eyes. He paid no attention to the expressions of the remaining two elders either.
As Konoha's representative of the hawkish faction, Shimura Danzō always possessed a certain degree of influence when war broke out.
After all, the dove faction that represented peace had already proven its judgment wrong.
"Danzo, you've gone too far..." Utatane Koharu said coldly. She sounded as though she were refuting Danzo, but her words carried little force.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "Danzo is right. Konoha has reached the time to display its strength... If we cannot intimidate the Shinobi World, then our teacher and the First Hokage will surely be unable to rest in peace!"
The lion about to enter his twilight years displayed his dominance at that moment.
The meeting immediately turned to Konoha's counteroffensive. Fighting on four fronts meant defense should have been the best course, but everyone present understood without saying it aloud.
Konoha desperately needed to prove its strength.
Finally.
The meeting ended. The two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, left first to carry out orders and arrange matters.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō remained behind.
The air fell silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled clouds of smoke, while Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes as if 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 Danzō finally opened his eye. Rather than answering 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 will only be more detailed than White Fang's report when he returns."
Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted 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 White Fang-san abandoned the mission, then saved his companions?"
At the Hatake Estate's main hall, Obito asked in disbelief.
"Yes..." Kakashi sighed, his eyes filled with worry. "Those ANBU told me. They used to be Father's subordinates, and Father... still hasn't returned to Konoha."
Hideki remained silent beside them.
What happened was basically the same as what he knew. White Fang had abandoned the mission and preserved his companions.
That directly led to a series 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" making Kakashi fall again, followed by Rin, Minato, and his wife.
Like a set of nesting dolls, tragedies kept repeating themselves around Kakashi.
"Sorry... I shouldn't have told you this." Kakashi crouched on the ground, clutching his head in both hands. His body trembled slightly, and he looked deeply distressed.
"I just don't know what to do now. What if Father..."
The current Kakashi was not yet the future Hatake Fifty-Fifty, someone who could even go toe-to-toe with Kaguya Otsutsuki.
In the end, he was only a five-year-old child.
His powerful father had suddenly failed a mission, and his fate was unknown. Clearly, he had encountered tremendous danger. Even an adult would be filled with worry under such circumstances; anyone even slightly emotional might break down completely.
No matter how mature Kakashi was for his age, his heart was still fragile. Otherwise, he would not have shut himself away time and time again.
Obito sat nearby with a conflicted expression, not knowing 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 delivered a flying kick and sent Kakashi crashing to the ground!
"Look at you, you pathetic mess! Forget whether your dad would be disappointed when he gets back—I don't even want to admit I've got a companion like you!"
Hideki rushed straight at Kakashi, grabbed him by the collar, and roared!
The sight left Obito stunned, while Kakashi, the one involved, looked utterly dumbfounded!
"Pull yourself together, Kakashi! Even if White Fang-san really died in battle, he died bringing glory to Konoha!"
"The only thing you can do now is train your ass off and get stronger!"
"If White Fang-san is alive, help him finish the mission he didn't complete. If he's dead, slaughter Iwagakure and avenge him!"
"Got it!?"
Hideki's way of comforting someone was downright hardcore. After knowing Hideki for so long, Obito was seeing this domineering side of him for the first time.
But just as Obito wanted to secretly give Hideki a thumbs-up, he saw Hideki suddenly whip around and stare at him with a solemn expression!
"Uh..." Obito's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. "I'll listen, Hideki! I'll train! I'll definitely become stronger!"
Obito frantically explained himself, though he had no idea why he needed to explain...
Hideki nodded slightly, then looked at Kakashi again.
"For the next week, the three of us are going to train like our lives depend on it, then apply to graduate right away!"
"If White Fang-san really can't come back... then we'll fight our way into Iwagakure. Obito and I will go with you!"
"This is the only thing you can do now, understand!?"
Before you continue