A Choice Between Duty and Bonds

"Sorry! I'm not interested in joining other villages," Hatake Sakumo responded firmly, his voice unwavering.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the gathered Cloud Shinobi couldn't help but show signs of disappointment.

"It's fine. Trust me, you'll change your mind eventually," the Third Raikage replied with a confident smile, as though certain that Sakumo would come around.

Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly, unease creeping into his mind. He couldn't figure out the source of the Raikage's confidence, but something about the situation felt off.

Nevertheless, determined to complete his mission, Sakumo pushed aside the uneasy feeling and continued to face the Raikage head-on.

After a few moments, an intelligence officer from Cloud Shinobi approached the Raikage and whispered something to him.

A smile flickered across the Third Raikage's face, one that did not go unnoticed by Sakumo. The unease in his heart deepened, but before he could act, a sudden, blood-curdling scream shattered the stillness of the night.

"Ahhh!"

The piercing wail echoed through the air, followed by an alarm that blared across Cloud Shinobi Village.

The gathered shinobi tensed as they turned toward the source of the commotion.

"The alert… it's coming from the top-secret archives!" a nearby shinobi exclaimed in disbelief.

Panic spread quickly across the Cloud Shinobi ranks, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo's expression shifted into a subtle smirk, his voice carrying a tone of playful sarcasm. 

"Thank you for your cooperation, Raikage. I'm not sure why you stalled for so long, but it worked in my favor—it gave me exactly what I needed to retrieve that confidential scroll without issue."

As the words left his mouth, the Shadow Clone prepared to dissipate itself with a wry grin.

Third Raikage's mind raced, realization dawning upon him with grim clarity.

"So, this was your plan all along," he thought bitterly. 

Konoha's White Fang had split a Shadow Clone to confront them, keeping everyone's attention focused on it. Meanwhile, the real Hatake Sakumo had already infiltrated the top-secret archives unnoticed, making use of the distraction.

"This strength! This brilliance! This audacity! You really are extraordinary, White Fang!" the Raikage thought, both in frustration and reluctant admiration.

With sudden urgency, the Third Raikage's gaze snapped back to the Shadow Clone. "Hatake Sakumo!" he roared, his voice filled with intensity. "You're as cunning as expected, but you don't understand! Do you know why I've been delaying time?"

The Raikage's eyes narrowed as he continued. "I advise you, do not dismiss that Shadow Clone just yet! If you do, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Hatake Sakumo's clone hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering across his features. He was confident that as a Shadow Clone, he had little to lose—but the Raikage's cryptic warning planted a seed of doubt.

Seeing that Hatake Sakumo did not leave immediately, the Third Raikage silently exhaled, relieved. 

"Bring them forward!" the Raikage commanded a Cloud Shinobi standing behind him.

Moments later, several familiar figures appeared, dragged into Sakumo's line of sight.

"Aoki? Takeshita? Suzuko?!" 

Hatake Sakumo's breath hitched as he recognized his comrades—ninjas who had fought beside him for years. Rage flared in his eyes, his body tensing with suppressed fury.

"I wouldn't try anything foolish, White Fang." The smirking Cloud Shinobi Kage-level warrior from their previous encounter pressed a kunai to Aoki's throat. "Even if you were here in person, let alone as a mere Shadow Clone, you wouldn't be able to save them all."

"Damn you!" Sakumo spat, his voice seething with anger, glaring daggers at the Third Raikage.

The Raikage remained calm, his voice solemn. "And sending spies into Cloud Shinobi Village to steal our most guarded secrets isn't scummy behavior?"

Sakumo clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure, as the Raikage continued.

"As soon as we learned of your mission, we spread our scouts to monitor the outskirts of the village. The moment your main force arrived, we knew exactly where you were." 

The Raikage's gaze hardened as he glanced at the unconscious prisoners. "When you and Zashi led your team away, we ambushed your comrades and captured them before launching our assault."

A cruel smile tugged at the Raikage's lips as he taunted Sakumo. "We also know these people have fought alongside you since you graduated from the academy. Your bond with them has endured even after entering Anbu."

He paused, savoring the impact of his words. "Such long-standing comradeship... I doubt you'd let them die so easily, would you?"

Sakumo trembled with rage, every fiber of his being itching to lash out. But he forced himself to remain composed, knowing that his rage wouldn't save his comrades.

"Tell me what you want." His voice was ice, cold enough to chill the marrow of anyone listening.

"Simple," the Raikage responded without missing a beat. "Return the secret scroll that rightfully belongs to Cloud Shinobi Village, and your comrades will live."

Sakumo fell silent, his mind racing. An intense inner battle raged within him, torn between the mission and his loyalty to his comrades.

Seeing Sakumo's hesitation, the Raikage's gaze sharpened. His plan was coming together, but even he felt a flicker of nervousness.

These prisoners were not just leverage—they were a calculated move to force Konoha's White Fang into submission, perhaps even persuading him to defect to Cloud Shinobi.

Although the Third Raikage remained confident, he understood the gravity of the situation. Hatake Sakumo, now in possession of the confidential scroll, had seized the lifeline of Cloud Shinobi Village. This forced the Raikage to ease his demands.

The Raikage couldn't afford to resort to deceit. If Sakumo were to be provoked, there was no telling what devastation he might unleash. Even if he didn't launch an open attack, the thought of the White Fang lurking outside the village, systematically assassinating their top shinobi, was a nightmare no one could endure—not even the Third Raikage.

It wasn't about honor; it was about pragmatism. 

The truth was simple: they couldn't defeat him. They couldn't capture him. There was no solution, only survival.

At that moment, Hatake Sakumo, still facing the Raikage, finally spoke. "This decision is not entirely mine to make. Give me half an hour. If my real body appears by then, the deal will be done. If not..." 

With that, the Shadow Clone dispersed into smoke, vanishing without a trace.

Meanwhile, the real Sakumo came to an abrupt halt atop a towering tree just outside Cloud Shinobi Village. The weight of the decision before him bore down heavily as he stood, motionless, wrestling with his thoughts.

Sakumo! Remember, get the scroll if you can, but if you can't, come back alive! 

Back then, before they parted ways, Zashi's words echoed in his mind with clarity. 

Once we return to Konoha, our influence might be stripped away. But as long as we remain alive, that's what truly matters!

The memory of Zashi's plea ignited something in Sakumo's heart, hardening his resolve.

His eyes sharpened with unwavering determination. He turned without hesitation, shifting his path back toward Cloud Shinobi Village.