"This..." The White Fang of the Leaf Squad had just stepped into the village when they saw the villagers' enthusiastic welcome and awkwardly stopped in their tracks. Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly, a complicated look flashing through his eyes. Behind him, Nara Jiaozhi and Hyuga Hidaka also looked uneasy, lowering their heads and not daring to meet the villagers' gazes.
"Sakumo, you're back! The villagers have all come to welcome you. Thank you for recovering such major losses for the village!" The Third Hokage approached quickly with a broad smile, his tone carrying both relief and praise.
"That's right, Sakumo. You've all worked hard. We've prepared a banquet and were just waiting for you to return so we could celebrate your victory." Utatane Koharu also stepped forward, wearing a hypocritical smile and speaking with deliberately affected delight.
"Everyone, welcome our heroes home!" Mitokado Homura immediately urged the villagers on, his voice loud and stirring.
"Welcome home, heroes! Long live Lord White Fang!"
"Welcome home, heroes! Long live Lord White Fang!"
In an instant, the villagers' cheers surged like a tide, resounding through the sky. Hatake Sakumo opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. He lowered his head, pain and struggle flashing through his eyes.
Nara Jiaozhi and Hyuga Hidaka also awkwardly turned their heads away, their faces filled with shame and helplessness. They knew what lay hidden behind this welcoming ceremony, but they were powerless to change it.
Just then, a note was suddenly slipped into Uchiha Tieyue's hand. He quickly lowered his head and glanced at it. It read: "You wouldn't want the villagers to find out that you sold intelligence, would you? Then tell the truth and bring down the White Fang of the Leaf." At the end of