High-Level Meeting

Two days later, in the meeting room of the Hokage.

The heads of various clans and the higher-ups of Konoha were sitting together.

Of course, it also included Sakumo, the captain of the Anbu, and the Aburame Shihei.

Seeing that everyone was already present, Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed and said,

"Cough cough, I believe that everyone has already learned about the mission of the Kingdom of Sichuan recently."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had just finished speaking.

The clan leader of Aburame immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hokage sama, please give Shihei a chance."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his cigarette and ignored the head of the Aburame clan. He continued,

"The failure of the mission caused the village to suffer heavy losses. This responsibility needs to be shouldered by someone."

"Shihei, what do you think?"

After he finished speaking, he stared at Aburame Shihei with a meaningful gaze.

Aburame Shihei stood out in front of everyone and bowed expressionlessly, "Hokage sama, please do not punish Lord White Fang."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Aburame Shihei with a strange gaze.

Even Sakumo himself was confused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and said, "What do you mean?"

"Ninjas should focus on missions."

"In order to save the hostage, I was poisoned and asked Lord White Fang to save the hostage."

"But unexpectedly, Lord White Fang decided to give up on the mission and exchange the hostage for the antidote."

"Let this subordinate's efforts go to waste."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not expect that Aburame Shihei would make a false accusation. His face immediately darkened.

"You mean that this is White Fang's fault?"

Aburame Shihei nodded and said,

"Yes, I didn't do anything against my duty in the mission. I was even willing to use my life to complete the mission."

"However, Lord White Fang had already completed the mission, but he still gave up. He was not worthy of being a ninja."

"However, since Lord White Fang was trying to save me, I don't want him to be punished."

"Hokage Sama can ask White Fang if I asked him to save me. "

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the silent Sakumo san and smiled.

"Well, you explained it well. Even if this is White Fang's dereliction of duty."

"But in the end, it is still because of your accidental poisoning. Do you have no responsibility?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had just finished speaking when he suddenly realized that he had said something wrong.

At this time, Danzo impatiently said:

"Hiruzen, the one who did something wrong was White Fang, not Shihei."

"Aburame Shihei was just lacking in strength. Even if he died in the mission, no one would say anything."

"But it doesn't make sense for him to take on this responsibility."

"As the Hokage, how can you brazenly let Shihei take the blame for White Fang?"

"Wouldn't this making Konoha's Ninjas disappointed?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi eagerly explained: "That's not what I meant..."

Danzo immediately snorted,

"Even if you don't mean it that way, your words just now have admitted that this is White Fang's fault."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and looked at the higher-ups and chiefs, "Everyone should be able to see whose fault this is."

However, the higher-ups of Konoha and the chiefs all thought that this matter had nothing to do with them.

No matter what, they would offend people now.

If it's Shihei's fault, then they would offend Danzo and the Aburame Clan.

If he said that it was the fault of White Fang, then he would offend Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sakumo.

Seeing that no one spoke up to help Sakumo, Danzo laughed in his heart, [Hiruzen, you still don't understand the human heart. ]

"Anyway, I can tell at a glance that it is White Fang's fault. As a ninja, it is wrong to not focus on missions."

White Fang, do you want to explain yourself?

""

Danzo copied Hiruzen Sarutobi's method and let the person in question say it himself.

However, White Fang was a reserved person and was not good at playing this language. He stammered,

"I..."

Danzo sneered in his heart and pretended to be concerned.

"You can explain why you gave up on the mission halfway as a ninja. Is your companion more important than the mission?"

"Yes." Sakumo nodded.

When Danzo heard Sakumo admit it, he couldn't help but smile and say to Hiruzen Sarutobi,

"Ninjas are just tools. Missions are more important than anything else."

"This was the promise every village made to their employers."

"When the employer released the mission, did we have to tell them that if the mission was dangerous, we would prioritize saving our companions?"

As soon as Danzo finished speaking, Sakumo immediately knelt down on one knee to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said:

"Sorry, this mission is my fault. I am willing to accept the punishment."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo angrily and said in a deep voice:

"I object to punishing White Fang. After all, White Fang has done many S rank missions for Konoha."

His contribution could make up for this mistake.

Danzo had achieved his goal, and it didn't matter whether Hiruzen Sarutobi punished Sakumo or not.

As long as someone took the responsibility.

Danzo stood up and said in a victorious tone,

"I don't want to continue the discussion. If you want to vote whether you want to save White Fang or not, just count my vote of opposition."

"Let's go, Shihei. We have nothing to do here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo's back with a gloomy face and then looked at everyone present.

However, everyone present chose to avoid Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sakumo, who was kneeling on the side, and sighed:

"Dismissed."

"White Fang, go home and have a good rest. In the future, Konoha will depend on you."

"Yes..."

After coming out of the Hokage building and confirming that no one was watching them, Danzo whispered to Shihei:

"Before Hiruzen Sarutobi can react."

"Spread the contents of today's meeting as quickly as possible."

"Yes."

.....

Only a few days later.

The whole of Konoha was full of rumors.

The target of the villagers' criticism changed from Shihei to Sakumo.

"How could the White Fang make such a stupid mistake this time?"

"Aburame Shihei was willing to exchange its life for the ten years of mission in the Land of Sichuan."

"But he still had to give up the mission."

"A big shot like him doesn't lack money at all. He doesn't care about the life and death of a low-level ninja."

"Shihei is a member of the Dark Group. White Fang is the captain of the Anbu."

"A big shot like White Fang no longer cared about money. What he cared more about was power."

"I guess he gave up the mission to obtain the loyalty of Shihei."

"The level is so deep? I can't even tell."

"The third Hokage is not young anymore. In the past few years, he might have already begun to look for a successor."

"White Fang must have wanted to compete for the position of Hokage."

"Hiss, isn't your explanation too reasonable?"

"There are only a few people in the Hatake family now. As long as White Fang becomes the Hokage."

"It won't be long before the Hatake family becomes a noble family."

"Why is he so selfish? He only thinks about himself and his family."

"What are you saying? Why are others thinking about us?"

"No matter what others think, when White Fang wants to run for the Hokage, I will be the first to object."

"Don't say anymore. White Fang is here. If he hears it, you will be finished."

"I am not afraid."