Who Could Possibly Have Done It?

The Hokage's Office.

An ANBU operative hurried up to the Third Hokage. "Lord Third Hokage..."

Knock, knock, knock.

Before the ANBU operative could report what had happened in the village, someone knocked on the door.

The Third Hokage motioned for the operative to leave, then let the visitor in.

Sakumo pushed open the door and entered. The Third Hokage failed to notice how subdued he looked and cheerfully prepared to assign him a mission.

The Third Hokage had spent some time negotiating with the Noble and paid a modest sum to persuade him not to pursue the matter of the White Fang's failed mission. With the client satisfied, Sakumo could naturally return to active duty.

But after the Third Hokage explained the mission and started arranging personnel, Sakumo declined.

"I'm sorry, Lord Third Hokage. An old injury may be acting up again. I'm not well enough to undertake covert missions."

The Third Hokage paused and studied him. He knew it was an excuse and immediately sensed it had something to do with what the ANBU operative had been about to report.

"I see. Then take some more time to rest. It'll give you a chance to spend time with Kakashi."

He moved past the subject and joked with Sakumo about Kakashi. Sakumo smiled too, but to the Third Hokage, the smile looked forced.

Once Sakumo left, the Third Hokage summoned the ANBU operative back to hear his report.

After listening, the Third Hokage slowly blew out a ring of smoke and immediately identified the culprit.

S-rank missions were highly confidential, and news of the White Fang's failure had circulated only among Jonin. Yet in less than a day, the whole village knew. Who could possibly have done it?

"Danzo..." the Third Hokage murmured, then prepared to order a clarification in the newspaper. But there was little to clarify. The mission had failed, and shinobi really were tools expected to put their missions first.

The Third Hokage found himself in a bind. For now, his only option was to let the matter die down. Sakumo was a shinobi; surely the rumors would do no more than sour his mood. Besides, knowing the villagers, some sensational story in the paper would probably eclipse this one in a few days.

Wait. The newspaper!

"Bring me the recent issues of the Daily Newspaper."

The Third Hokage flipped through them one by one. Sure enough, a brief item about the White Fang's failed mission appeared in the corner of one issue. Yan had personally delivered that issue to the Hokage's Office.

One line in particular struck a chord with him: "Faced with the risk of failing his mission, the White Fang remembered why the First Hokage had founded Konoha: so children would no longer be sacrificed to war. He resolutely chose his comrade, upholding the Will of Fire."

The First Hokage...

Hashirama Senju's bright smile appeared in the Third Hokage's mind, gradually overlapping with Yan's face.

The Third Hokage felt a weight lift from his shoulders, then sighed at how old he had become. Even Yan had spotted Danzo's scheme before he had. At this point, as Hokage, he could not step in to silence the rumors. That would only make him look like he had something to hide.

"Tell Clan Head Fugaku that although Yan is young, he's exceptionally gifted. Fugaku could try letting him help with Police Force affairs. It would be good experience for the boy, too."

The ANBU operative departed with his orders. The Third Hokage watched the sun sink toward the horizon. Tomorrow, it would rise again.

"Father!"

As Sakumo left the Hokage Building, he ran straight into Kakashi and the others.

"Kakashi?"

Sakumo's eyes flickered. If Kakashi had come looking for him, then the villagers they had passed on the way must have...

But Kakashi was already rushing toward him. Sakumo pushed the thought aside and embraced his son.

Yan stepped forward and said to Sakumo:

"Uncle Sakumo, if you don't have a mission right now, I'd like to ask you to work as a Security Guard for the Heavenly Eye Society."

Their companions stared at Yan in astonishment. The White Fang, whose reputation surpassed even that of the Sannin, working as a Security Guard?!

Homura Uchiha, have you lost your mind?

Ignoring their stares, Yan lowered his voice and told Sakumo:

"You'll find the answer there."

Sakumo paused, then gave a slight nod without taking the offer seriously. Perhaps Kakashi's friend was simply trying to comfort him.

Having delivered his message, Yan did not linger. He told the others that the day's special training was canceled.

Sakumo took Kakashi home, and the others dispersed. Yan walked Anko home along his way.

The Uchiha Clan Compound was in the central district, while the Mitarashi Household lay a little farther out. But the world was round, so technically it was on his way.

"Oh, right! How come you can hire people for the Heavenly Eye Society?" Anko asked as they walked, only now remembering his offer.

"Because I'm the boss."

"Seriously? You're rich now?"

"The Uchiha were already rich, okay?"

"Then can you build me a whole street of dango shops?"

"Not a chance. You'd get so fat I couldn't even pick you up."

"Who asked you to pick me up?!"

Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Clan Compound...

After relaying the Third Hokage's message to Fugaku, the ANBU operative left. Nobody wanted to be stared at by a crowd of red-eyed Uchiha.

Fugaku racked his brain. What did the Third Hokage mean by this?

Was he hinting that Fugaku should step down and make way for Yan? But Yan was only five!

And besides...

Fugaku remembered how Yan had impersonated a Police Force Member at age three to bully other children. Add his apparently questionable tastes, and if Yan took over the Police Force, the Uchiha would be in serious trouble.

Had the Police Force slipped up somewhere recently?

That couldn't be it. The clan members had tempered their attitudes, and the Konoha Rabble were as usual, spending morning, noon, and night gossiping.

Wait! People had been calling the White Fang a failure lately, saying he was useless.

Fugaku understood at once. But would letting Yan get involved in Police Force affairs really not cause trouble?

When Yan got home, Fugaku gravely informed him that he could start participating in Police Force affairs. Yan was surprised, but soon realized he could use the opportunity to teach the Konoha Rabble a lesson. He couldn't help grinning wickedly.

Meanwhile, Sakumo and Kakashi, the father and son at the heart of the uproar, sat in silence after returning home.

"Kakashi..." Sakumo finally spoke. "Is there something you want to ask me?"

"What were you thinking at the time?"

Yes. What had I been thinking?

"Nothing. By the time I realized what I was doing, I'd already done it."

Kakashi's voice came out hoarse at the unexpected answer.

"I don't know whether it was the right thing to do as a shinobi..."

Sakumo sighed inwardly. For a shinobi, what he had done was the act of a failure. Perhaps he no longer deserved to live as one.

"But someone told me..."

"Someone who abandons a mission is a failure, but someone who abandons his comrades is worse than a failure!"

Sakumo's eyes shot up. Kakashi stepped forward and hugged him, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Father, as your son, I can't believe you did the wrong thing. If I had to choose between a mission and Yan, Obito, Asuma, or any of my other comrades, I'd do the same as you."

Sakumo held Kakashi tight and remembered Yan's invitation. Perhaps he should go take a look.

Night fell. After a busy day, the Konoha Rabble prepared for bed, ready to bring an ordinary day to an end.

But...

Knock, knock, knock!

"Open up! Police Force, here to check your water meter!"