Chapter 134: Rumors
While Hatake Sakumo was still making his arduous journey back to Konoha, a piece of news had already spread—carried deliberately by Sunagakure—to the upper echelons of every major ninja village and to nobles large and small throughout the Land of Rivers.
"Konoha dispatched the White Fang to massacre the high-ranking nobles of the Land of Rivers."
In an instant, the shinobi world erupted.
Some villages remained indifferent, like Kirigakure, treating it as none of their business.
Others issued loud condemnations, most notably Iwagakure.
And among the River Country's nobles, panic spread like wildfire.
Konoha, for its part, quickly issued a response, laying out the entire sequence of events in full. They denounced the Land of Rivers for betraying its alliance, and accused Sunagakure of blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of a smaller nation.
In short—everyone accused everyone else.
After all, no village was innocent. Every power had skeletons in its closet, and nobody could truly claim moral purity.
---
While Konoha's leadership was drowning in diplomatic pressure and public outcry, Hatake Sakumo and his teammate Yūsuke finally returned to the village.
After delivering Yūsuke to Konoha Hospital, Sakumo immediately headed to the Hokage's Office to report on the mission.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Sakumo had abandoned the mission to save a critically wounded comrade, his brows knitted slightly.
But when he learned that Sakumo had encountered Matsushita Taichi on the return route—and that Taichi's intervention had saved Yūsuke's life, allowing the mission to be completed afterward—relief washed over his expression.
Once the report concluded, Hiruzen followed protocol: a few words of encouragement, then dismissal.
---
The Hokage's office fell silent.
Hiruzen calmly lit his pipe and took a slow drag. The aroma of tobacco, sharp and fragrant, filled his lungs before being exhaled in curling smoke that drifted around him.
He let out a long sigh—equal parts satisfaction and regret.
His gaze lingered on the mission scroll on the desk. Thinking of the relentless accusations from other nations over the past few days, his expression darkened.
But then he recalled the intelligence Taichi had sent earlier—
The Fire Daimyō was quietly asking who in Konoha was most likely to become the Fourth Hokage.
At that thought, Hiruzen finally made his decision.
"Summon Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura," he ordered.
"Yes."
A voice answered from the shadows, then vanished once more.
---
Less than half an hour later, Konoha's highest leadership gathered in the Hokage's office.
Once everyone was present, Hiruzen handed Sakumo's mission report to the nearest advisor—Utatane Koharu—gesturing for her to read first.
Silence returned to the room.
Only the soft tapping of Hiruzen's pipe and the rustle of parchment as Koharu read filled the space.
The scroll passed from Koharu to Mitokado Homura, and finally into Shimura Danzō's hands.
When everyone had finished reading, Hiruzen asked evenly,
"What do you think?"
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, clearly unsure what he was getting at.
In their view, the report had flaws—but the mission was ultimately completed. There was nothing overtly damning.
Danzō, however, understood immediately.
He knew Hiruzen too well.
So that's it, Danzō thought coldly. You want to play both sides—preserve your image while cutting someone down.
And given Sakumo's soaring reputation—the White Fang of Konoha, known to all—using this opportunity to suppress him also aligned perfectly with Danzō's own interests.
Without hesitation, he spoke.
"This trend cannot be allowed to continue."
All eyes turned to him. Koharu and Homura looked openly confused.
"What is a shinobi?" Danzō continued, his voice stern and forceful.
"To complete the mission—that is a shinobi's foremost duty. Once a mission is accepted, one must be prepared to sacrifice everything for it."
"How can someone abandon a mission simply because a comrade is gravely injured?"
He spoke with righteous fervor—so convincingly that, had one not known better, they might have thought he himself was the wounded man, urging his teammates to press on.
But beneath that impassioned rhetoric lay something far colder.
Utatane Koharu opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end, she said nothing.
As a member of Konoha's upper leadership, she couldn't deny that Danzō's logic was internally consistent. A shinobi who is unwilling to face death has no business calling themselves a shinobi at all.
As for Hatake Sakumo's actions—while they certainly weren't something to encourage—the fact remained that he had ultimately completed the mission. No irreversible damage had been done to the village.
Koharu thought this was the end of it.
But Danzō's next words made her understand, in brutal clarity, what twisting logic and manufacturing guilt truly meant.
"Precisely because he abandoned the mission the first time," Danzō said coldly,
"the Land of Rivers had the opportunity to spread the assassination to the entire world."
"He should have killed every single witness on the spot. If he had done that, Konoha would not be standing at the center of the storm right now."
Koharu and Mitokado Homura stared at him, dumbfounded.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzō in disbelief.
So this is how you spin it now?
By that logic, the River Country nobles were idiots—ten pro-Daimyō aristocrats murdered, and no one would suspect Konoha?
And killing all witnesses? Did he think Chiyo and that entire group of Sunagakure jōnin were made of clay?
Yet politics had never been about logic or right and wrong.
As long as a justification sounded plausible—even if it was absurd—there would always be people willing to carry it out.
Hiruzen understood immediately.
Danzō had grasped his intent.
The Hokage would preserve his moral authority.
Everything else… would be left to Root.
"Danzō," Hiruzen said calmly,
"we cannot speak like that. The Will of Fire teaches us to cherish our comrades. Helping them in times of danger is only natural."
Then he changed tone.
"However, Sakumo did voluntarily abandon a mission. That action was inappropriate. Issue a formal reprimand."
Koharu and Homura thought it over.
Abandoning a mission was indeed not something to encourage.
And a reprimand wasn't severe.
They agreed.
What none of them—not even Hiruzen—realized, was that Hatake Sakumo was a purist of the Will of Fire.
To cherish comrades.
To protect the weak.
To burn oneself so others may see the light.
That was the creed he had lived by his entire life.
And when that creed was denied by the village,
misunderstood by his son,
cursed by the man he saved,
and condemned by the villagers—
His world lost all color.
At that point, suicide became the only protest he knew how to make.
---
But fortunately, in this timeline, Taichi existed.
Whether Taichi's interventions would be enough to pull Hatake Sakumo back from his destined end… remained to be seen.
Soon, an official notice was issued by Konoha's leadership:
> Hatake Sakumo, due to improper execution of a mission, caused significant losses to the village. He is hereby formally reprimanded.
No details.
No explanation.
Just "improper execution" and "significant losses."
Vague. Convenient. Absolute.
At first, no one cared much.
Mission setbacks happened all the time.
It didn't even say failure.
The only surprise was that the White Fang had been involved.
So even White Fang-sama can stumble, people thought.
And then—
The rumors began.
Fast.
Wide.
Deliberate.
Anyone with half a brain could tell someone was pushing them.
"Hatake Sakumo abandoned a mission for a comrade."
—still reasonable.
"Hatake Sakumo failed a mission, causing massive casualties along the border."
—pure fabrication.
"Hatake Sakumo's failure caused Konoha's missions to collapse."
—at least internally consistent.
Gradually, all versions merged into one narrative:
Hatake Sakumo should never have chosen a comrade over such an important mission.
---
Amid the storm of rumors, Team Eight finally returned to Konoha after completing their escort mission.
The moment they entered the village, Taichi felt something was wrong.
Trusting his instincts, he released his chakra perception.
Voices flooded his mind.
Among them, the rumors stood out—sharp, venomous.
Taichi sighed softly.
It's still heading in the worst possible direction.
Yamaguchi noticed his expression.
"Taichi, something wrong?"
Yōhei and Saori also turned to look at him.
"I heard rumors… about Sakumo-senpai," Taichi said, recounting everything he'd overheard.
Yōhei exploded on the spot, roaring that he'd go punch the gossipers himself.
Saori's face flushed with anger.
They had been involved—at least indirectly.
Sakumo had survived Sunagakure's pursuit and still completed the mission.
How could he deserve this?
And wasn't protecting comrades the very heart of the Will of Fire?
Yamaguchi, older and more cautious, said nothing.
But the unease in his eyes said enough.
After handing in the mission and disbanding, Yōhei kept grumbling until Yamaguchi silenced him with a punch to the head.
Taichi, however, didn't go home.
He turned at the street corner—
and headed straight for the Hatake residence.
---
Three knocks.
A moment later, footsteps.
The door opened.
"Oh—Taichi," Sakumo said with a self-mocking smile.
"You're the first visitor I've had in a while. Come in."
The house was unchanged.
Plain. Simple.
Training equipment neatly arranged.
After sitting down, Taichi asked directly:
"Sakumo-senpai… I just got back. Why are there so many rumors about you?"
A shadow crossed Sakumo's eyes—but he smiled it away.
"Idle talk. Not worth worrying about."
Taichi watched him carefully.
That shadow was real.
But Sakumo truly didn't care about the rumors themselves.
What he cared about… was how those he valued saw him.
The village's notice had denied his beliefs.
That hurt more than any whisper.
Taichi stopped pressing.
They talked instead—about missions, about absurd rumors.
They even laughed.
Then Taichi asked to spar.
Blades clashed.
Taichi fought with everything he had.
Sakumo responded in kind.
Taichi's swordsmanship had entered the ranks of true competence.
Sakumo's… was the work of a master.
What began as a spar turned into a lesson.
Half an hour later, both were exhausted.
Taichi bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Sakumo-senpai. Today showed me the path forward."
[Combat Instruction: Advanced Swordsmanship EXP +500]
Sakumo accepted the bow, helping him up with a smile.
"Your blade already shines. Among your peers—no, even among those twice your age—you're exceptional. Given time, you'll surpass me."
Taichi smiled, but declined the praise.
This—this generosity, this sincerity—was why he wanted to save him.
As dusk fell, Taichi prepared to leave.
Before going, he said softly:
"Sakumo-senpai… you may not care about the rumors. But Kakashi doesn't have your resilience. Please—watch over him."
Sakumo nodded.
---
Elsewhere, Kakashi's mood was at rock bottom.
Ever since returning from his mission, rumors about his father had filled the streets.
At first, he refused to believe them.
But the village notice… and what he'd heard…
Conflicted thoughts tore at him.
Mission above all—or comrades?
He didn't know.
And today, hearing three shinobi openly insulting his father—
He snapped.
Fists flew.
Outnumbered three to one, including two chūnin, Kakashi was slowly overwhelmed.
Their mouths didn't stop.
"So? Defending your father now?"
"The great White Fang? Just a coward who abandoned his mission."
Kakashi gritted his teeth.
Then—
Two shouts rang out.
"Bastards! Picking on one guy? Fight me one-on-one!"
"Kakashi, hang on! I'm here!"
"Youth burns brightest in adversity! Kakashi, don't be afraid!"
A black-clad and a green-clad figure charged in.
"Guy! Obito!"
Kakashi froze—
then took a punch to the chest and rejoined the fight.
Not alone anymore.