"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo sent me to inform you that the White Fang Squad has returned. They should arrive around noon tomorrow." A Root ninja appeared soundlessly inside the Hokage's Office, dropped to one knee, and spoke respectfully, though with a trace of coldness.
Hearing this, the Third's expression darkened slightly. He waved a hand. "I understand. You may leave."
The Root ninja nodded, then vanished in a flash.
Inside the office, the Third remained silent for a moment before letting out a faint sigh. "What was coming has finally arrived."
Utatane Koharu sat nearby and said coldly, "Once the arrow leaves the bow, there is no turning back. Hiruzen, this is no time for hesitation."
The Third nodded, his gaze complicated. "I know. Koharu, Homura, go make the arrangements for me."
"Fine." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, then rose and left to begin making preparations.
Before long, messenger ninja appeared throughout every corner of Konoha. They loudly announced, "At noon tomorrow, the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo, will return from his mission. Lord Hokage hopes everyone will come welcome him!"
"Wow! Lord White Fang completed another S-rank Mission?" The entire village erupted the moment the messenger ninja made the announcement.
The villagers began discussing it excitedly, their faces filled with excitement and admiration. After all, only ninja who had completed important missions received such a welcome ceremony. And important missions were at least S-rank.
Yet amid the cheers, some people with ulterior motives quietly began spreading rumors. "Did you hear? This was an extremely important mission, and fortunately, it succeeded. If Lord White Fang had failed, it would have brought incalculable losses to our village!"
"That was Lord White Fang. How could he possibly fail?" The villagers' admiration for the White Fang of the