87: Death

"Don't you care about the comments outside?"

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 were so targeted at his father.

The mission only failed once, which did not affect Sakumo's position in his heart, but the words of those outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.

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

Sakumo asked with a smile.

"..."

Kakashi clenched the dagger, as if hesitating and struggling.

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

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

Sakumo squatted down, his broad hand grasping the palm of Kakashi's knife , comforting him with a smile.

"Yeah."

Kakashi nodded.

"Did you have a fight with someone today?"

Sakumo said in a positive tone.

Kakashi hesitated, but nodded.

"I've taught a few guys who don't know what they're talking about, and their words are too ugly."

"I'm very happy that you can stand up for me. So in your opinion, is what they said right or wrong?"

The smile disappeared, and in Kakashi's eyes, it was an unparalleled serious expression.

Mission or companions? Kakashi began to ask himself, if he was in the position of his father Sakumo at that time, whether he should choose to carry out the mission or choose to save his companions.

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

Serious ninjas should give the highest priority to the task, so it is the will of fire that is wrong... But that is the will handed down from the first Hokage, how could it be wrong?

If it was a mistake, how could this kind of material be selected as a compulsory subject at the ninja school?

But...

Kakashi was a little dazed.

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

"I don't know." In the end, 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 priority to complete the task, or is the priority to protect companions.

Sakumo didn't answer, he just patted Kakashi on the shoulder and looked at the beautiful sun that was sinking in the distance, the sunset reflected on his face, it was the afterglow of dusk.

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

"But the person you rescued is also insulting..."

"Don't stop going because of others' denials. Do the things that you believe are right, and ignore the ridicule and accusations of others afterwards. I just obeyed 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 can be forgiven, but the one who was saved by Sakumo has to blame his savior, which is something Kakashi cannot forgive.

"Let's stop here for today's swordsmanship practice."

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

Time passed slowly, and it was late at night. Due to the rumors, Kakashi was tired during the day. Whether it was training or eating, he was a little absent-minded, and he would rest early at night.

On the roof of the Hatake House, Sakumo was alone looking at the sparse stars and moon overhead, enjoying the cool night breeze.

There was a slight movement from behind, and someone climbed up the roof from behind and came towards him.

"It's very easy to catch a cold here at night, Mr. Sakumo."

Shiraishi walked to Sakumo and smiled at him.

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

Sakumo also smiled.

"Ayane? Was she here too?"

Shiraishi was surprised.

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

"Really?"

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

"You came to me so late, did you intend to accompany me here with the cold wind all night?"

Sakumo asked.

"I'm just looking at the scenery."

"Scenery?"

"Yeah, it's the same scenery as you... The stone statues of Hokage in the past built this village, and are known as people who have made great achievements in history."

Shiraishi turned his gaze. Transferred from the night sky, directly below, is the Hokage rock with three Hokage watching over Konoha.

The first Hokage who built Konoha.

The second Hokage who formulated important development strategies for the village.

There is also the third Hokage today.

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

The fourth Hokage... The fifth Hokage... The sixth Hokage...

Sakumo didn't speak, and kept quiet with Shiraishi, quietly looking at the Hokage rocks.

After a long time, Sakumo was the first to break the silence and said, "What will the future of Konoha look like?"

This sentence seemed to be asking Shiraishi, but also asking himself, or perhaps asking someone else.

"I don't think I need to ask this kind of thing, because Sakumo-sensei, you have already found the answer you want, right?"

Shiraishi answered Sakumo's question, and then said:

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

"As expected, among the three of you, you are the most special one."

Sakumo said meaningfully.

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

"Since you've already made a choice, it seems like I'm overkill."

Shiraishi didn't respond directly to his statement, but sighed.

Unlike Ayane, Sakumo is long past the age to ask who he is.

Sakumo knew very well why he made such a choice.

Will I regret it later, I don't know, but if I don't do it, I know I will live in torment in the future.

It's like giving up the mission because he saved his comrade. Sakumo didn't waver whether the rescued person blamed him for failing the mission or not.

It's someone else's business to scold him, and it's his business to save his companion. There is no necessary relationship between the two.

He's just abiding by the beliefs conveyed by the Will of Fire.

He firmly believes that saving his companions and giving up the mission is the highest priority, even if he breaks some rules.

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

"Sakumo-sensei, you should rest early too, I'll go back first."

Shiraishi knew that he was here and couldn't change anything, so it's better to go back and rest.

It's pretty cold tonight.

Shiraishi started walking back.

"Take care of Kakashi for me."

Sakumo's words came from behind.

Under the silent night, Shiraishi who heard these words paused in footsteps and nodded lightly.

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

◎

The air in the morning seemed a little cold.

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

At this time, he usually would have come already.

After all, after breakfast, we have to do morning exercises.

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 ground, and there was a loud noise.

A hearty nutritious breakfast spilled all over the place.

But these things didn't matter. In the middle of the room, a man lay in a pool of blood.

With the white-toothed dagger 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 afterward.

◎

Sakumo is dead.

The news was spread by members of the garrison, and it was determined that it was suicide, not murder at home.

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

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

The news was quickly known by the villagers of Konoha, and the senior management also knew the news.

As for the rumors, they all ended in silence.

——In a huge dark space in Konoha, the Konoha ninjas living in this place are the ones who gave up everything.

Names, feelings, and even life are all abandoned.

Feeding on darkness, it is deeply rooted in the earth.

Root.

It is the general name of their organization, which originated from Anbu, but is separated from the organization by being outside the jurisdiction of Hokage.

Their leader Shimura Danzo was in the conference room, and a Konoha ninja was roaring angrily at the root leader:

"Why is this happening? Why did Sakumo... Captain Sakumo kill himself? Elder Danzo, didn't you say everything would be ok? Why did things turn out like this?"

If it wasn't for the two root ninjas restraining him, he would probably rush to Danzo and beat him hard.

Danzo was also a little restless and irritable.

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

The rumors are indeed spreading from the root, and Anbu is silent, neither expressing approval nor preventing it.

Because the position of Hokage cannot be given to Sakumo.

So suppress his reputation.

As long as his reputation is lowered, Konoha White Fang is still Konoha's upper ninja, the leading figure in the upper ninja, but he never has a chance with the position of Hokage.

But... why did Sakumo commit suicide?

Rumors of this level should not be fatal enough.

He originally planned to stop the spread of rumors this afternoon.

Danzo was stunned.

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

Unable to understand why Sakumo committed suicide, Danzo waved his hand irritably and asked the root ninjas to take away 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 not-so-gloomy weather.

Not many people came to the funeral.

In addition to Kakashi, Shiraishi, Ruri, and Ayane, there is Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato.

To this day, they all feel incredible about this matter, thinking that Sakumo would not be such a weak-willed person who would commit suicide because of such gossip.

"Life will be born, and it will pass away..."

Orochimaru faced all this with a sad look.

Everything seems to be meaningless.

Nawaki was like that.

Kato Dan as well.

Now it was Sakumo's turn.

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

Finally, he shook his head and left Sakumo's funeral first.

He had seen too many people die, and Sakumo was just one of them, not the last.

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

Life is such a fragile thing.

"Jiraiya-sensei, why did Sakumo-senpai do this?"

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

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

Jiraiya also shook his head, distracted.

Minato nodded wisely, without further questioning, and looked at Kakashi at the front of the group, full of pity and sympathy.

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

Shiraishi seemed to know what Tsunade wanted to say, smiled and said, "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei, I'm fine, 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 the three of Shiraishi's group and Kakashi stayed here.

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

"You are the true ninja who inherited the will of fire, the one who interprets all of the will..." The high-level thinking was correct, plundering Sakumo's political capital, so that he could become a Jōnin with peace of mind. In the future, there are also proper arrangements and considerations.

But...the way is wrong.

In this world, there are many people who regard dignity and belief as more important than their own lives.

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

For his own people, there is no comrade who feels more at ease than in his presence.

This is a ninja who regards his companions as his own responsibility, more than his own life.

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

Now even the high-level people don't follow it, and they take the initiative to break the rules that the village has had since the beginning.

What was this village for?

Isn't it the biggest irony that the village was established because of fetters, but the ninja who chose fetters were slandered by rumors because they gave up their mission?

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

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

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

What is the first and most firm principle of the Hidden Leaf village?

Everyone loses ground together, everyone gains together.

People are the most important.

From the very beginning, the perspectives of the senior management and Sakumo's thinking were not on the same path.

Sakumo-sensei, I hope you can help enlighten those who have forced you to die, to take this as a warning, find what they once lost, and awaken from the confusion in their hearts. At the end of the funeral, Shiraishi added this sentence to his heart.

It is also the most sincere blessing.

Otherwise, if this vicious cycle continues, Shiraishi can predict that Konoha White Fang is only the beginning, but it is by no means the last.

Konoha will have more such people in the future, losing themselves in the wavering rules and becoming the sad victim of it.