"Did Sakumo-sensei really commit suicide over something like this?"
It was after the funeral when Ayane approached Hakushi alone and asked this question.
In Ayane's view, there was no way Sakumo would commit suicide over such a trivial question as which is more important, a comrade, or a mission.
The Sakumo she knew was not that kind of man.
This was also what puzzled Ayane, and she hoped to get answers from Hakushi.
"What do you mean?"
"The cause of Sakumo-sensei's death."
"That's no longer important."
Hakushi glanced at her and said.
"I feel it's not worth it for Sakumo-sensei."
Ayane wasn't feeling well inside and sighed deeply.
"Sakumo-sensei didn't fit to be a ninja, he was just one of the tragic products of this ninja era."
To Hakushi's words, Ayane was at a loss for a moment, staring at him in astonishment.
"The question that confuses you never had an answer. Missions are a professional duty, while comrades... are a choice of humanity. Either is the correct answer or can all be wrong. The key lies in how the upper echelon defines it."
"But Sakumo-sensei abandoned the mission, causing the village to suffer..."
Saying this, Ayane realized the core of the issue.
And she became even more confused.
What mission was Sakumo executing?
What did the village lose?
The upper echelon never provided any explanation and allowed the villagers to imagine freely.
In other words, from the beginning, the question of which is more important, comrade or mission, didn't exist.
Indeed, Ayane knew Sakumo valued comrades exceptionally, but since the entire mission was based on deception, choosing either meant nothing.
Ayane understood what Hakushi meant.
Both answers were entirely correct, and both entirely wrong.
Which one to choose was not important; what mattered was how the upper echelon defined it.
Today, it could be comrades over missions; tomorrow, it could be missions over comrades.
In the eyes of the upper echelon, this was just a political struggle concerning the election of the Fourth Hokage.
No other meaning.
With bonds as the core, the Will of Fire, where everyone was a family member, had unconsciously become a political tool used by the higher-ups to fight for power and control the village's voice.
No longer serving as a village's belief and soul.
And the villagers were unaware of this and participated cheerfully.
There's nothing more despairing than this fact.
Ayane felt a chill.
She could imagine the despair Sakumo faced at that time.
This was just a ludicrous and laughable political struggle.
Choosing between missions and comrades was never an issue.
Sakumo didn't commit suicide over this issue.
He just saw a village that had completely changed for the worse.
"When did it begin?"
The root of Sakumo's decision was certainly not because of this incident.
The seed was planted long ago, but what puzzled Ayane was when Sakumo started to feel disappointed with the village's higher-ups.
Noticing the confusion on Ayane's face, Hakushi sighed and asked back:
"Ayane, you wouldn't still think Sakumo-sensei was completely unaware of that mission event several years ago, would you?"
Ayane was taken aback.
She knew Hakushi was referring to the mission event four years ago when they clashed with Root.
"Sakumo-sensei, he..."
"How could someone like him not realize Orochimaru's unusual orders? Because of injuries, he was recuperating in the village for two months. What injury would require such long-term recuperation? If it was that severe, he should've retreated from the battlefield; going back would only burden others."
Hakushi picked up a leaf from the ground, playing with it in his hand, and said to Ayane.
"Did he start having doubts back then? I thought our trio's act was convincing enough."
Ayane forced a laugh.
"The acting was fine, but if we three didn't return to the battlefield in high spirits but instead looked ragged and missing limbs, Sakumo-sensei wouldn't have been suspicious."
Hakushi clenched the leaf tightly, looking at the dim and oppressive sky, and softly spoke these words.
"The so-called protecting comrades isn't about choosing between comrades and a mission, but about guarding everything that must be protected. This is the core bond of the Will of Fire. It has never been a tool to serve political struggles, nor to persecute and deceive comrades."
Hakushi speculated that Sakumo must have learned something himself, whether through hints from the Sannin or by other means, it was no longer important.
When he decided to leave, the ninja known as Hatake Sakumo, his life came to an end.
And the Will of Fire he abided by in his heart, completely collapsed.
"I still can't imagine what frame of mind Sakumo-sensei had when he committed suicide."
"No need to imagine because, for people like us who don't believe in the Will of Fire, it's impossible to feel that despair."
"Will the upper echelon ever come to their senses?"
Finally, Ayane questioned.
"If they understood, there wouldn't be this political struggle in the first place. That's why I said, Sakumo-sensei wasn't suitable to be a ninja. He was too pure, too idealistic. He was suited to be a teacher, educating people, rather than a ninja."
That was what Hakushi found sad about Sakumo.
Unfortunately, such a pure and idealistic man was a powerful ninja, threatening the layout for the Fourth Hokage.
The upper echelon indeed never intended to force Sakumo to death, but this way was the least acceptable to Sakumo.
He knew Ayane sympathized, but this was Sakumo's own choice.
Something no one could stop.
The moment his faith shattered, Konoha's White Fang was gone.
"Yes, now we can only hope that one day a great Hokage will come, seeing through this vicious cycle in Konoha."
Hakushi wasn't sure either.
In the current Konoha leadership, is it really possible to groom a Hokage who is not blinded by the lust for power and is brave enough to reform all this?
Therefore, Sakumo's death to make a point leads Hakushi to hold a pessimistic attitude.
However, Hakushi is not very interested in this.
From the very beginning, his path was never focused on Konoha.
Whether Konoha will see the kind of Hokage Sakumo hoped for in the future has little to do with Hakushi.
The story of the Konoha White Fang ends here, but his life is just beginning.
◎
"Senior Hakushi, what's more important, comrades or the mission?"
Returning to Sakumo's grave, only Kakashi remained standing there.
Hakushi and Ayane walked over, and upon hearing Kakashi's question, a heaviness settled in their hearts.
"When Teacher Sakumo made his choice, he never regretted it."
"But he died..."
"Death is just a release; it doesn't represent a mistake."
"Is that so?"
Kakashi murmured these words and walked away, looking like a walking corpse.
"Why don't you tell him the whole story?"
Ayane looked at Hakushi with incomprehension.
"Taking care of Kakashi is not only Teacher Sakumo's dying wish, but for a child whose life's worldview is not complete, it's too easy to stray down an extreme path. Let him see everything about this village through his own eyes."
When he learns to question, he will understand why Sakumo died.
And not get caught up in trivial questions like missions versus comrades.
Even if Hakushi explained now, it would backfire and expose Kakashi too early to the darkness of Konoha, which would be detrimental to his future.
Hakushi believes that the Konoha leadership will be his best ally.
He doesn't even need to arrange anything; the leadership will willingly take care of this.
In this matter, Hakushi's confidence in the leadership is even greater than his confidence in himself.
Think about it, they've never let him down.
Isn't that the best proof?
Moreover, the opportunity will come soon.
Sakumo's suicide must be as troubling to them as well.
After all, losing such a valuable fighter is quite a blow.
"When he goes out on missions, I'll have someone follow him in secret. As for the truth, we'll tell him once he understands some things. Maybe without our explanation, one day he will come to understand it on his own."
Becoming a Chunin at the age of six, his ninja talent is undeniable.
What he lacks is life experience in facing the world, and a discerning eye to see things for what they are.
Ayane also considers this a better approach.
When Kakashi asked which was more important, missions or comrades, Ayane already understood he must have misunderstood something and was stuck in a dead-end of thought.
He hasn't realized why his father, Sakumo, chose the path of suicide.
Some things, letting him awaken to them and questioning this village, may be more effective than pure lecturing.
Now, he probably won't listen to anything, and saying more would be meaningless.
"Well, I should be heading back. Please take care of things at the Hyuga."
"Don't worry, I have things under control over there."
After saying goodbye to Ayane, Hakushi returned to the Uchiha Clan Land.
Just as the funeral was about to end, Ruri had returned first.
It was clear to see that she was in low spirits and even abandoned her Security Team duties, feeling distressed.
"The funeral is over, no need to be so downcast, right? Or are you still grieving over Teacher Sakumo's matter?"
Sitting on the veranda, Ruri heard this from the direction the voice came from.
"You seem pretty calm."
Hakushi sat down next to Ruri, gently holding her hand, and watched the scenery in the courtyard with her.
"Teacher Sakumo wouldn't want anyone to be sad over his death. Whether it's us or others, it was a choice he made himself. He never resented anyone; he loved this village and its people more than anyone."
"I know. That's why I hate these boring political struggles, the leadership, the old guys in the clan, and those annoying villagers. Does being older and more experienced mean becoming this pathetic?"
Ruri quickly said this, exhaling heavily on the porch, showing her unrest.
She still couldn't imagine why Sakumo would choose to leave the world in such a determined way.
"The times chose the ninja, and the ninjas chose this way of life."
"Choice, huh?"
Ruri lowered her head, and after a bit of consideration, gently rested her forehead on Hakushi's chest.
Even through his clothes, Hakushi could feel the warmth from Ruri's body, tenderly touching her snow-white cheek with his hand.
Then he lightly and tenderly stroked her black hair.
Her hair was of good quality, dense, dark, and very smooth, clearly cared for daily.
After all, she's still a girl.
"I'm not a child."
Ruri's brows furrowed with dissatisfaction when she felt the movement in her hair.
But she didn't swat away Hakushi's hand playing with her hair.
Saying no with her mouth, but her body was already being very honest.
"Isn't there work to do at the Security Team today?"
"I took leave in the morning, and there's nothing important to do anyway."
Raising her forehead from Hakushi's chest, she laid her head on his thigh, settling defenselessly on the floor of the corridor, closing her eyes to take a nap.
Hakushi looked at Ruri's unguarded state. Though it was nice to admire her sleeping face up close, he felt something was missing.
Thinking carefully, wasn't there something lacking on the other side of his thigh?
At that moment, the image of another girl appeared in his mind.
"... I don't know why, but I suddenly feel a slight displeasure in my heart? Do you know why that is?"
"It's your imagination, Ruri. You must be too tired today. I'll call you when it's dinner time."