White Fang

"Do you not care about the outside speech?"

Kakashi, who was being taught by Sakumo in the courtyard, looked at Sakumo and asked softly.

To be honest, he couldn't understand the rumors outside, why they targeted his father so much.

The task failed only once, which didn't affect Sakumo's status in his heart at all, but the words of those people outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.

"Kakashi, if it were you, what would you do?"

Sakumo asked with a smile.

"..."

Kakashi held the dagger tightly, as if hesitating and struggling.

"Sorry, I don't know what to do."

"Why do you have to apologize? Kakashi, you still have a long way to go."

Sakumo squatted down, held Kakashi's palm with a broad hand, and comforted him with a smile.

"Um."

Kakashi nodded.

"Did you get into a fight with someone today?"

Sakumo said in a positive tone.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, but nodded.

"I taught a few guys who said bad things about you."

"I'm glad you stood up for me. So in your opinion, is what they said right or wrong?"

The smile on Sakumo's face disappeared, and in Kakashi's view, it was an incomparably serious expression.

Quests and Companions? Kakashi began to ask himself, if he was in the position of his father Sakumo, would he choose to carry out the mission or save his companions.

He doesn't know how to choose the right one.

Ninjas should give top priority to the task, it is the will of fire that made a mistake...

But that is the will handed down from the First Hokage, how could there be mistakes?

If it is wrong, how could this kind of textbook be selected as a compulsory subject in ninja school?

but…

Kakashi was a little dazed.

With a perfect score in theory, he didn't know how to answer this question for the first time.

"I have no idea."

Finally, Kakashi shook his head.

He looked up at his father Sakumo, hoping he could give him an answer for reference.

In the end is the task priority, or companion priority.

Sakumo didn't answer, he just patted Kakashi on the shoulder, looking at the beautiful sunset in the distance, the sunset glow reflected on his face, it was the afterglow of the curtain.

"I don't care about other people's comments, so you don't have to take these things to heart."

"But, the person saved by you, Dad, is also insulting..."

"Don't stop doing what should be right because of others' negation, or even feel regretful because of others' ridicule and accusation afterwards. I just abide by the belief and persistence that a Konoha ninja should have."

"yes…"

Kakashi lowered his head, he still couldn't be as open-minded as Sakumo.

The rest of the people can be forgiven, but only the person who was saved by Sakumo came to blame his savior, which is something Kakashi cannot forgive.

"That's all for today's sword skills training."

Kakashi nodded, followed Sakumo's arrangement, and returned to his room.

Time passed slowly, and it was late at night. Because of the rumors, Kakashi was exhausted during the day. Whether he was practicing or eating, he was a little absent-minded, and he would go to bed early at night.

On the roof of Hatake House, Sakumo was looking at the sparse stars and moon above his head alone, blowing the cool night breeze.

There was a slight movement from behind. Someone climbed onto the roof from behind and walked towards him.

"It's easy to catch a cold if you blow the wind here at night, Sakumo-Sensei."

Shiraishi walked up to Sakumo, smiled and said something to him.

"Ayane came here during the day, is it you at night?"

Sakumo also smiled.

"Ayane? Is she here too?"

Shiraishi was surprised.

"She came over after I had lunch, and went back not long after."

"Yeah?"

Shiraishi also followed Sakumo's line of sight, looking at the stars and moon in the night sky, and whispered to himself.

"You come to look for me so late, don't you plan to spend the night blowing cold wind here with me?"

Sakumo asked.

"I'm just here to see the scenery."

"landscape?"

"Yes, the scenery is the same as what you saw... The stone statue of Hokage of the past generations established this village, and is known as a person with great achievements in history."

Shiraishi turned his gaze away from the night sky, and directly below were the shadow rocks of the three Hokages.

First Hokage Established Konoha's.

Second Hokage who formulates important development strategies for the village.

There are also the third Hokage today.

In the future, more people will be engraved on it and be worshiped by the people of Konoha.

Fourth Hokage...Fifth Hokage...Sixth Hokage...

Sakumo didn't speak, and kept quiet with Shiraishi tacitly, watching those shadow rocks quietly.

After a long time, Sakumo broke the silence and said, "What will happen to Konoha's future?"

This sentence seems to be asking Shiraishi, or asking himself, or maybe asking someone else.

"I don't think there is any need to ask about this kind of thing, because Sakumo-Sensei, you have already found the answer you want, haven't you?"

Shiraishi answered Sakumo's question, and then said:

"Just like what you said to Kakashi, do what you think is right, and don't regret it because of others' accusations after you do it."

"Sure enough, among the three of you, you are the most special one."

Sakumo said so meaningfully.

Sakumo knew that Shiraishi had sensed the decision he had taken in the face of these rumors.

"Since you have already made your choice, it seems unnecessary for me to come here."

Shiraishi did not answer this question directly, but sighed.

Unlike Ayane, Sakumo has already passed the age of asking who he is.

He knew why he made such a choice.

I don't regret it and don't know, but if I don't do it, I will definitely live in suffering in the future.

It's like giving up on a mission because you saved your companions. No matter whether the rescued person will blame him for the failure of the mission, Sakumo will not waver.

Scolding him is someone else's business, saving his companion is his business, there is no necessary relationship between the two.

He is just obeying the belief conveyed by the will of fire.

I firmly believe that saving my companions and giving up the mission is the top priority, even if some rules are broken.

For such people, the opinions of others can only be used as a reference, and cannot be a decisive factor that shakes their beliefs.

"Sakumo-Sensei, you should go to bed earlier, I'll go back first."

Shiraishi knows that he has come here, and he can't change anything, so let's go back and rest.

It's quite cold tonight.

Shiraishi started walking on the way back.

"Take care of Kakashi for me."

Sakumo's words suddenly came from behind.

Under the silent night, Shiraishi paused when he heard these words, and nodded slightly.

When Sakumo turned his head to look, the place where Shiraishi was standing was empty.

•••

The next morning the air seemed a bit chilly.

Kakashi got up early and prepared breakfast in the kitchen, but he was a little puzzled when he saw that his father Sakumo hadn't come yet.

At this point in time, it would have come here earlier in normal times.

After all, after breakfast, morning exercises are required.

Kakashi carried the breakfast, walked towards Sakumo's room, opened the door, and shouted to the people inside:

"Dad, breakfast is ready—"

The breakfast plate fell to the floor with a loud noise.

The rich and nutritious breakfast was sprinkled all over the floor.

But these things are irrelevant. In the middle of the room, a man fell in a pool of blood.

Using the white chakra sabre that plundered the blood of countless enemies, he quietly ended his life.

Kakashi saw this scene, his mind went blank, and he couldn't remember anything.

•••

Sakumo died.

The news was spread by the guards, and it was confirmed that it was suicide, not being murdered at home.

There is no trace of illusion, and there is no sign of violent struggle or fighting with the enemy.

It is very common to stab the blade into his body and end his own life.

The news was quickly known by the villagers of Konoha, and the high-level officials also knew the news.

As for the rumors, they all stop in silent silence.

—In a huge dark space in Konoha, the Konoha ninjas who live in this place are people who abandon everything.

Names, feelings, and even life are all abandoned.

Feeds on the darkness, deeply rooted in the earth.

Root.

is the general name of their organization, an organization that originated from Anbu but is outside the jurisdiction of Hokage.

Their leader, Shimura Danzo, is in the meeting room, and a Konoha ninja is screaming angrily at the root leader:

"Why did this happen? Why did Sakumo...Captain Sakumo commit suicide? Elder Danzo, didn't you say that everything would be fine? Why did things turn out like this?"

If he hadn't been held up by two root ninjas, he might have rushed to Danzo and beat him up.

And Danzo is also a little restless and irritable.

Konoha White Fang commits suicide...why did he commit suicide?

The rumors were indeed spread from the root, and Anbu was silent, neither expressing approval nor stopping it.

Because Sakumo must not become Hokage.

Therefore, his reputation must be suppressed.

As long as his reputation is lowered, Konoha White Fang is still Konoha's Jonin and the leading figure among Jonin, but he will have no chance of becoming Hokage.

But... why Sakumo committed suicide?

Rumors of this level should not be fatal.

Originally, he planned to stop the spread of rumors this afternoon.

Danzo fell into a daze.

"Take him out, I need to calm down."

Unable to understand why Sakumo wanted to commit suicide, Danzo waved his hand irritably, asking the Root ninja to take down the Konoha ninja who questioned him.

He also wondered why, but Sakumo died, and no one came to answer his question.

•••

Sakumo's funeral was held in a weather that wasn't too gloomy.

Not many people came to the funeral.

In addition to Kakashi, Shiraishi, Ruri, and Ayane, there are only familiar people like Tsunade.

So far, they are still inconceivable about this incident, thinking that Sakumo would not be such a weak-willed person, who would commit suicide because of such rumors.

"Life is born and it dies..."

Orochimaru faced all this with a sad look.

Everything seems meaningless.

Nawaki died.

 Dan died.

Now it's Sakumo's turn.

If one day it's my turn... Orochimaru doesn't know why, but an inexplicable fear appeared in his heart.

Finally, he shook his head and was the first to leave Sakumo's funeral.

He has seen too many people die, and Sakumo is just one of them, and he will not be the last.

In the future, many people related to him will die in front of him.

Life is such a fragile thing.

"Mr. Jiraiya, why did Senior Sakumo do this?"

The accompanying Minato looked at Jiraiya, the teacher next to him, and asked this question softly.

"Who knows about this kind of thing, the deceased is already dead, so don't talk about it."

Jiraiya also shook his head, upset.

Minato nodded tactfully, did not pursue further questions, and looked at Kakashi who was at the front of the line, full of pity and sympathy.

Tsunade walked to Shiraishi's side, saw his calm face, knew that he must be pretending to be brave, wanted to comfort him, but didn't know what to say.

Shiraishi seemed to know what Tsunade wanted to say, smiled and said: "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei, I have nothing to do with you, don't worry about me."

Tsunade nodded.

Not long after, she left here with Jiraiya and Minato.

People left one after another, and in the end, only Shiraishi and Kakashi remained here.

Shiraishi put the flowers in his hand in front of Sakumo's tomb.

"Sakumo-sensei, you are a true ninja who inherited the will of fire, and you are the one who interprets all of this will..."

The high-level executives were not wrong in their thinking. They plundered Sakumo's political capital so that he could be a Jonin with peace of mind in the future. They also had proper arrangements and considerations for Sakumo's future.

But... the only way to use it is wrong.

In this world, many people regard dignity and faith as more important than their own lives.

To the enemy, he is the hateful Konoha White Fang.

For one of us, there is no companion who feels more at ease by his side.

This is a ninja who he regards as his companions as his own responsibility and is more important than his own life.

What he maintains is the will of fire in his heart that has never been polluted by anything.

Now even the high-level officials don't abide by it, actively destroying the principles that the village has had since the beginning, and using this kind of thing as a reason to suppress him. It is the greatest humiliation.

What was this village established for?

The village established because of bondage, but the ninjas who chose **** were slandered by rumors, isn't it the greatest irony?

The ninjas and villagers who thought they had inherited the will of fire never doubted it, and even raised objections.

The will of fire they believed in in the past was distorted by themselves without knowing it.

They forget why the village was founded in the first place.

They lost what is the village's first and most firm principle.

If people lose land, everyone gains land.

If the land is lost, people will be lost.

From the very beginning, the starting point of thinking of senior executives and Sakumo was not on the same path.

Sakumo-Sensei, I hope that those people can understand what you want to do with your death, and take this matter as a warning. At the end of the funeral, Shiraishi added this sentence in his heart.

This is also the most sincere blessing.

Otherwise, if this vicious cycle continues, Shiraishi can predict that Konoha White Fang is just the beginning, but definitely not the last.

Konoha There will be more people like this in the future, who will lose themselves in the vacillating rules and become sad victims of it.

(end of this chapter)