The Fall of White Fang

He waved a hand behind him again.

"In that case, come on out. Let's give Lord Sakumo a grand send-off."

Figures cloaked in black emerged silently from the shadows, watching Sakumo without a word.

Their masks were fearsome, their blades razor-sharp. They looked like death gods come to reap lives.

Sakumo sighed softly once more.

He knew he probably wasn't going home today.

He had survived against all odds to complete his mission, only to die at the hands of his own people...

"Heh."

Sakumo tightened his grip on White Fang and walked slowly toward the black-clad ninja.

No one spoke.

Only the clear ring of clashing metal filled the air. It was almost pleasant to hear.

It was as though they were performing a silent play.

Blades flashed and figures crossed, displaying the art of strength and speed in full.

As the hero moved across the stage, black-clad extras fell one after another, becoming part of the scenery.

But one man could not fend off so many forever. Even heroes ran out of strength.

After a breathtaking display of combat, the ringing of metal grew faster and faster, carrying the play toward its final act.

A broken blade flew through the air and struck the ground with a heavy thud, as though foretelling the hero's end.

The figure at the center of the crowd suddenly fell, unable to rise again.

And with that, the play was over.

One man stepped out of the crowd and bowed slightly, offering a final curtain call.

"Lord Sakumo, Konoha will remember you as a hero. Please rest in peace."

Lying on the ground, Sakumo asked calmly, "Why?"

He, Hatake Sakumo, had devoted his life to the village. Why was this how they repaid him?

The leader sighed.

"Because you stood in Lord Danzo's way. In Root's way... in Konoha's way!"

"For the greater good, some sacrifices are necessary!"

Sakumo gave a quiet laugh, and blood spilled from his mouth.

"You don't speak for Konoha."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Lord Sakumo."

The leader's expression turned solemn. He raised his right arm diagonally across his chest.

Behind him, every ninja made the same gesture in perfect unison.

They spoke as one.

"No names, no feelings. No past, no future."

"We are the roots that hold up the great tree of Konoha, buried deep in the earth. Because of us, Konoha grows strong and prospers!"

Sakumo simply closed his eyes.

A bunch of brainwashed pawns. Why am I even wasting my breath on them...?

His son's face appeared in his mind.

If I die, Kakashi will be devastated.

But Little Obito will probably stay by his side...

Damn you, Danzo. When you come down here, I'll cut you to pieces!

The leader straightened his robe.

Looking at Sakumo, who showed no sign of life, he waved a hand and said,

"Target dead. Mission complete. Start arranging the scene."

"Get it done quickly so I can report back to Lord Danzo."

Figures stepped forward at his command, methodically arranging the scene to look the way they wanted.

Obito's face twisted with rage, and he charged at them with a roar.

"You bastards! I'll kill you! Aaaah!"

But just then, the scene before his eyes froze, as if someone had pressed pause.

Everything around him suddenly shattered into flecks of light and vanished.

Obito found himself back where he had started.

His nails dug deep into his palms.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

Obito dropped to his knees and pounded the ground, again and again.

The gentle man who never put on airs, who made him delicious food and taught him swordsmanship, was gone!

He had pulled Sakumo back from despair. He had changed the tragedy that was supposed to happen.

But you inhuman bastards... how dare you?!

Anger, despair, hatred, the urge to kill...

Every dark emotion battered Obito's mind and raged through his heart.

Crack.

Something seemed to break inside his mind, as though a shackle had come undone.

The moment it broke, a strange power surged forth and flowed into Obito's optic nerves.

Obito's vision filled with crimson.

Amid that sea of red, a black tomoe appeared.

Driven by that power, a second tomoe slowly began to take shape.

But Obito's young body seemed unable to withstand power of that intensity.

The second tomoe slowly faded, settling once more in Obito's mind to await another chance to emerge.

"So this is the Sharingan..." Obito murmured.

He felt no joy at all, only grief.

It was the first time since arriving in this world that he had experienced the loss of someone close to him.

"Ding!"

The system's emotionless voice rang out.

[Recap video complete. Host, please make your choice.]

[Important notice: This choice will affect the development of the main storyline. Until the chosen option is completed, the system will not issue any other choices. Host, please choose carefully!!!]

Three red exclamation marks in a row stood out starkly.

Obito frowned.

No more tasks until I complete the option I choose?!

He had never seen a choice like this before.

Obito steadied himself a little and looked at the options.

[Option 1: Avenge White Fang by taking Danzo's head. Reward upon completion: White Fang Swordsmanship.]

[Option 2: Avenge White Fang by exposing Danzo's shameless acts to the public. Reward upon completion: Titanium alloy tombstone ×1.]

[Option 3: Forget White Fang and sever your ties. Reward upon completion: Byakugan ×2.]

[Option 4: Join Root and become a traitor. Reward upon completion: Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal ×1.]

[Option 5: Endure in silence and wait for an opportunity. Reward upon completion: Unknown.]

This...

Obito's frown deepened.

At his tender age, he had somehow managed to furrow his forehead.

Sakumo had treated him well, and Obito had come to see him as an elder.

So he would remember this debt of blood!

But with his current strength, he had no chance of killing Danzo. Going after him now would be suicide.

His original plan had been to use the system to grow stronger as quickly as possible.

...But the system apparently had other ideas.

Damn it!

After weighing his options, it seemed he could only choose the fifth.

The system gave him no indication of how long he would have to wait or when an opportunity might come.

Even the reward was unknown...

To hell with it!

So what if I don't have the system?

I'm Obito Uchiha!

What's there to be afraid of? I'll do it!

With his mind, he selected Option 5 decisively.

"Danzo, just you wait."

"Ten years. Give me ten years at most, and I'll take your head!"

Obito reached his front door with a heavy heart.

He brushed the dust from his clothes before going inside.

Hearing him, Grandmother hurried out of the house and asked worriedly,

"Little Obito, why are you home so late? Did something happen?"

Obito forced a smile, hoping Grandmother wouldn't worry.

But as he tried to smile, tears spilled down his cheeks.

"Grandmother, I... I feel awful..."

Grandmother pulled Obito into her arms and gently patted his back.

"My dear grandson, what happened?"

She sounded angry as she added,

"Who bullied my Little Obito? I'll go give them a piece of my mind!"

Between sobs, Obito said,

"Grandmother, you can't beat the person who bullied me."

Grandmother's eyes widened, and she declared with gusto,

"Then we'll call for help! If I can't beat him, I'll get Ogawa to teach him a lesson!"

"Even Naruto doesn't get to bully my precious grandson!"

Obito hugged her tighter.

"Grandmother, I'm so glad I have you!"

Grandmother stroked Obito's head tenderly.

She said nothing more, letting her grandson rest against her.