Regarding the rumors about Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"The idea of a single blade cleaving dozens of Tailed Beast Bombs is clearly fake, but it has high topicality. Tailed Beasts are legendary creatures of calamity; the villagers understand neither the beasts nor Hatake Sakumo. By linking the two, Sakumo has effectively promoted his name to the entire civilian population of Leaf."
Hiruzen looked at Yagami. "Fox, arrange for your squad to secretly spread rumors that Hatake Sakumo was defeated by the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Ryujin. Say he was driven away by her. We cannot let the narrative around Sakumo spiral out of control."
"Yes, sir!"
Yagami thought to himself: 'Spreading rumors of his defeat now? I wonder if the villagers will even buy it.'
In the eyes of the common folk, simply being compared to a legendary creature like a Tailed Beast was already a massive validation of Sakumo's power.
"Leave the rumors to your subordinates, Fox. There is another mission," Hiruzen continued. "Tomorrow, you will accompany Orochimaru to the Land of Lightning to gather intelligence on the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B."
"Yes, sir!"
Leaders are always like this—once you take on a specific type of job, that job belongs to you forever. Because Yagami had provided the initial intel on the Cloud's Jinchuriki back at the Earth Country fortress, he was now the "Jinchuriki expert" for every related mission.
In the original story, Orochimaru was the one who caused Blue B to go berserk. 'Is it happening this time?'
Orochimaru pursued immortality because he feared death, and his survival skills were maxed out. Any battle he could survive, Yagami...
Well, it just so happened that Yagami also feared death and had maxed out his own survival skills.
Danzo suddenly spoke up. "Root will also send a representative. Let C go along."
Yagami feigned confusion. "Lord Orochimaru is a ninja of Root, is he not?"
Danzo's pupils shifted slowly, fixing a cold gaze on Yagami. Yagami quickly lowered his head. 'Did I overstep?'
Had Orochimaru already left Root without his knowledge? Or had Orochimaru moved back toward Hiruzen, distancing himself from Danzo? While Orochimaru's identity as Root's "Shin" (Alpha) was important, it was worthless compared to the position of the Fourth Hokage.
Hiruzen broke the silence. "Fox, Orochimaru is still Root's 'Shin,' but let C go along as well."
...
After leaving the office and returning to the ANBU, Yagami summoned his three sub-squad leaders.
"Recently, absurd rumors praising Hatake Sakumo have surfaced. These rumors are spreading too far. Your three squads are to secretly enter various public spaces and spread a new narrative: Hatake Sakumo was defeated by the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and was forced to flee."
The leaders took their orders and left. Yagami knew it was likely too late; the seeds of prestige had already been sown. Using a counter-rumor now was like trying to put out a forest fire with a bucket of water.
He then entered Yellow Dog's office. Seeing Fox without a mission scroll, Yellow Dog knew it wasn't a formal report. "What is it, Fox?"
"Commander, I saw in our internal intel that Root's D and E are dead?"
"Yes, they are dead." Yellow Dog set down his pen, his tone grave. "A Fire Style master has been targeting leaf since the war ended. Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yui—two elites on the verge of becoming Jonin—fell to him. Now D and E from Root have followed.
The rest of Root and the Golden Eagle squad are searching for info on this person, but so far, nothing. D was a capable hand; Danzo even intended for him to replace Lynx as an ANBU Squad Leader. Who would have thought he'd die just like that?"
The Golden Eagle leader was a Jonin from the Hyuga clan. Hearing that he was leading the investigation reminded Yagami to be extra careful around that squad in the future. As for D... *Replace Lynx? With his level?* That was just one more reason for him to be dead.
"One more thing, Commander. I've been assigned to investigate the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. I'll be gone for at least a month."
"Understood. I've seen the scroll from the Hokage's office."
...
At the Hatake estate, Kakashi rushed home excitedly.
"Father! The neighbors are all praising you! They say you can take on a Tailed Beast. Father, what is a Tailed Beast?"
Sakumo's expression was complex. He didn't know who was building this momentum for him. He explained to his son: "Tailed Beasts are masses of chakra, immortal disasters in the form of giant beasts. If the neighbors praise me again, tell them it's just a rumor. I'm not that powerful."
"Okay," Kakashi chirped, though he was secretly thrilled. He had no intention of denying the rumors; in his mind, his father was the greatest ninja in Hidden Leaf.
Soon after, Yamashiro-Ji and the others arrived. Sakumo asked them point-blank, "The Hokage summoned me to ask about the rumors. It wasn't you lot, was it?"
They all denied it. They weren't fools; doing something so obvious would leave evidence, and the village was already looking for excuses to deal with them.
Gekko Munen said, "Sakumo, I think the rumors are good. Even if they're exaggerated, the villagers are fascinated. Your name recognition has skyrocketed."
Yamashiro-Ji nodded. "Exactly. Even my civilian neighbors who don't know any ninja besides the Hokage now know the name 'White Fang'."
Sakumo sighed. "The village already views me with suspicion. I fear the higher-ups won't be happy about this."
"Once a rumor starts, you can't take it back," Munen countered. "The Hokage Building can control ninjas, but can they control what ordinary people chat about?"
...
Before leaving the village, Yagami made one last trip to the orphanage and checked the menu through his binoculars.
"Oh? Root's F and G are leaving for the Land of Iron?"
Yakushi Nono's intel was vital. Another pair of Root members. To Yagami, no matter how many subordinates Danzo had, it was never "too few" to kill.
'You love hiding in the shadows, Danzo, letting your 'loyal' followers test the waters for you? Fine. I'll kill enough of them that you'll eventually be forced onto the stage yourself. That's when I'll deal with you.'
That night, Yagami sent the news of F and G's departure to Yuka via the Stone Panda. He warned her in the scroll: 'Since D and E were assassinated, they will be on high alert. Your initial scouting must be even more cautious.'
The next morning, Orochimaru, Yagami, and Root's C left the village.
As soon as they cleared the gates, C spoke up. "Lord Orochimaru, once we enter the Land of Lightning, I will immediately contact our spies. They will have the latest on Blue B."
Orochimaru said nothing to C. Instead, he turned to Yagami. "Fox, regarding this mission... do you have any specific tactics in mind?"
Yagami was taken aback. 'Why is Orochimaru suddenly placing such importance on me? Asking for my opinion?'
.