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"Given the current situation of the Village, I will likely be transferred to the Land of Wind front line to oversee a portion of the defense work."
"Lord Third asked me to inquire about your opinions."
"Will you decide to go to the front line with me as a squad, or split up and remain in various departments within the Village—I'll say this first, I personally think it's better for you to go together."
The spring breeze was warm, and the grass was like a verdant carpet.
Hatake Sakumo sat on a tree stump, discarded an apple core, and then picked up a blade of grass to chew on, speaking of the subsequent deployment as if it were merely a trivial matter.
However, he was truly not very good at lying.
Sawara Kiri watched Hatake Sakumo sitting on the tree stump—as he spoke, his fingers were interlocked, his brows slightly furrowed, and even though he deliberately chewed on a blade of grass to appear relaxed, the stem was almost completely shredded, and his toes kept tapping.
One must know, on normal days, Hatake Sakumo was a man more relaxed than an old gay man's sphincter, exuding an air of nonchalance from head to toe.
Even when facing an opponent of the Third Raikage's caliber, he seemed as if he were taking a child on a picnic.
But now, he was overly serious.
"..."
The three people present exchanged glances for a moment, clearly all sensing his discomfort.
Finally, it was Namikaze Minato who spoke up and asked:
"Lord Hatake."
"Excuse me, has something happened in the Village?"
Hatake Sakumo clearly hadn't expected that his rare attempt at lying would be seen through so quickly by these children in front of him, and his expression became a little stiff.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally chose to reveal everything.
"Rather than saying something has happened, it's more accurate to say something is 'about to' happen at the top."
"The situation is very complex."
"Because you also participated in that Tsunade rescue mission last time, there's a high chance you'll be affected... If you're on the front line, the impact might actually be smaller."
"Some individuals have set their sights on you."
Hatake Sakumo sighed deeply, spat out the chewed-up blade of grass, and his brows furrowed even deeper: "Minato, Megumi, your situations are still relatively good."
"Kiri-kun, you are actually the most dangerous."
Hearing this, Sawara Kiri immediately recalled the scene a few days ago when Tsunade pointed at Shimura Danzo's nose and cursed him in the Hokage Office, and he instantly understood.
The events of that day had not dissipated but had instead escalated in places they couldn't see.
So much so that Hatake Sakumo, sensing the impending storm, even had to send the young Ninja who might be involved in this incident to the dangerous front line—in his eyes, even the battlefields of the front line, filled with clashing blades, might be far safer than this bloodless political arena.
Among the three of them, Namikaze Minato had Jiraiya's protection, and Megumi had the Uchiha Clan as a backer.
Only he was alone.
No.
He was even, to a certain extent, tied to Tsunade and the Senju Clan, who were at the center of the storm.
However...
Sawara Kiri smiled indifferently.
Wasn't this already expected?
"Kiri?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Megumi, who hadn't yet reacted, instinctively gasped softly.
"..."
Namikaze Minato, upon hearing this, largely understood but did not immediately speak, turning instead to look in Sawara Kiri's direction, awaiting his opinion.
After the last mission and that exhibition match,
The name Sawara Kiri had already settled into a sufficiently profound position in Namikaze Minato's mind.
He wanted to hear what decision this man, who surpassed him in wisdom, talent, and brilliance, would make.
Hatake Sakumo also looked at him, quietly awaiting his opinion.
Sawara Kiri paused, then retorted: "Lord Sakumo, do you think we can escape the blades striking from the rear by running to the front line?"
"The matters in the rear, Lady Tsunade and I will continue to discuss..." Hatake Sakumo mused, though he clearly had no fixed plan in his heart.
Actually, he hadn't initially thought this matter would blow up so big.
Sawara Kiri was also aware of this.
In the original work, whether it was Hatake Sakumo's suicide or Tsunade's disappointment with the Village and subsequent departure, both were results caused by a series of events triggered by similar causes.
Although they were different events happening in stages, it still showed that—
These two young Ninja couldn't outwit those old foxes.
Too upright in conduct, too soft in approach.
How could that work?
When it comes to political struggle, it still has to be done by a Hidden Mist infiltrator like him, who is despicable, shameless, filthy, and can fluently recite classic quotes from "Yes, Prime Minister."
So...
"If I'm not mistaken, Lady Tsunade should have raised a corruption inquiry against the Hokage Advisor Group last time."
Sawara Kiri directly shifted the topic to the core issue: "Now the problem has escalated, right?"
Hatake Sakumo was startled by the words, looking at him in astonishment.
Some issues and resolutions at the top could only be known by them, the highest-ranking Jonin, through meetings, yet he hadn't expected this young Ninja to see through it immediately.
"Where did you hear that?" Hatake Sakumo instinctively thought.
Sawara Kiri smiled helplessly: "During the days you were in meetings, Lord Sakumo, similar news was circulating in every street and alley—various Ninja Clans were taking bribes and extorting money within Konoha's financial system, and engaging in corruption within their clan territories, yet there was little news of the Advisor Group's corruption; the spearhead inadvertently began to shift."
"It's quite obvious."
"While you and Lady Tsunade were still discussing, they had already started their move."
Hatake Sakumo's expression suddenly became several shades more serious.
Even Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Megumi realized the gravity of the situation, their expressions growing increasingly tense.
Sawara Kiri, however, still smiled gently.
Konoha is a Village.
The Hokage is a 'Village Head' who manages tens of thousands of Ninja, as well as hundreds of thousands of civilians who depend on this system for their daily needs.
Because the vast majority of Ninja are in the form of Ninja Clans and civilian mercenaries, the management team of the Hokage Building, from top to bottom, only consists of a few hundred people in total.
After graduation, Sawara Kiri spent most of his time wandering around the Hokage Building, and he clearly understood what a structurally rudimentary, vaguely defined in responsibilities, and undifferentiated in business management team it was.
Even such a rudimentary administrative system has only been in existence for less than forty years, from its inception to its stabilization.
Before this, all Ninja were primitive people who had been fighting each other for thousands of years, unitized by 'clan.'
Even now, the successive top-level rulers named 'Kage' are determined by master-disciple relationships and by force, much like primitive tribes vying for the position of chieftain.
Among them, the most frequent primary methods used in political struggle are spreading rumors and assassination.
Although some people have recently used these same tactics, even encountering assassination attempts while playing golf, the problem is that this group of people in Konoha uses these two tricks against everyone.
Who doesn't know how to do that?
Facing opponents of this caliber, if you ask Sawara Kiri to execute or directly confront others in the political arena, he, being inexperienced, might indeed make a mess of things.
But, if you ask him to be someone's strategist...
Aha!
He would raise a finger.
Therefore, for Sawara Kiri now, what he needed most was actually just one sentence.
"Do you have a plan?" Hatake Sakumo looked at him seriously.
"I do!"
Sawara Kiri gave him a calm smile, composed and at ease.
Will you lose?
You will win.
This moment was exactly like that moment.
Hatake Sakumo's eyes grew deeper.
After a long deliberation, he patted his backside and stood up.
Now, he no longer cared about his other two students, and directly said to Sawara Kiri:
"Come with me."
Hokage Building, Jonin Meeting Room.
The principle of holding small meetings for big matters and big meetings for small matters applies everywhere.
At this moment, it was clear that a very small-scale meeting was being held inside.
As for why he judged it so?
Because Tsunade was letting out bursts of furious roars, cursing very foully.
"What does that mean?"
"Dan and Ando both bled for the Village, and Mokume still hasn't been discharged from the hospital! They sacrificed their lives to ambush the Third Raikage!"
"Now, you're saying all of this is because they and the Hatake Squad failed to complete the mission?!"
"Do you think this will allow you to escape the charges of corruption and selling intelligence?"
Inside the room, Shimura Danzo's voice was steady and calm: "Tsunade, slandering a Hokage Advisor is a serious crime; do not speak carelessly about uninvestigated matters."
Homura Mitokado was still equivocating: "Indeed! That's right."
"The Village is under great pressure now; we're fighting fiercely with Sunagakure in the west, and facing pressure from both Iwagakure and Kumogakure in the north. There's no hope of ambushing the Third Raikage again."
"Now, if we just make a few sacrifices among the deceased heroes and hand over their bodies to ease the situation with Kumogakure, how many fewer people will die in the northern defense forces? Besides, we'll bear the bad reputation!"
Utatane Koharu was even more impolite: "Furthermore, killing the Third Raikage was originally your squad's mission. The Village provided you with the best personnel and sufficient time."
"Isn't it your problem that you failed to complete the mission?"
"And what about Hatake Sakumo? As a reinforcement, he failed to arrive in time to provide support. Shouldn't he be punished?"
"Precisely!" Homura Mitokado affirmed, nodding slightly. "I believe even those fallen heroes would be comforted to know they could contribute to the Village one last time."
The next moment, Tsunade's voice seemed to explode throughout the entire conference room:
"You Motherf—(Konoha vulgarity)!?"
Outside the door, Sawara Kiri showed a hint of a mocking smile.
Tsk.
When it comes to being beasts, you people take the cake.
Konoha's higher-ups are quite Apprentice at being inhumane.
He turned his head again, and sure enough, Hatake Sakumo's face was also ashen.
Even though the two had generally discussed some approaches and the potential situation they might face on the way, Hatake Sakumo still couldn't suppress himself. The chill in his bones seemed to slowly seep out with his breath, freezing the surrounding ground.
Accept punishment?
Killing the Third Raikage, or rescuing Tsunade Squad from him, was an S-rank mission of the highest difficulty, even across the entire Ninja World. In normal times, it would cost at least three million Ryo.
However, because it was a war mission issued in the Village's name, after completing the mission, the four members of the Hatake Squad only received a total of five hundred thousand Ryo as remuneration.
And now they had to accept punishment?
Now, Sawara Kiri remembered that it was Miss Megumi, who had foreseen this scene early on, whose words had come true.
Is scapegoating truly the instinct of politicians?
Thinking this, Sawara Kiri turned his head to look at Hatake Sakumo beside him:
"Sakumo-sensei, do you still have any questions now?"
Hatake Sakumo looked at him, his ashen face showing a hint of struggle: "You should know that insubordination is a serious crime."
"It's just an act…"
Sawara Kiri, however, was full of confidence: "This is for everyone in Konoha after all… Moreover, in this disadvantageous situation, they don't have the guts to make a move."
Hatake Sakumo finally closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, they were filled with a stern resolve.
This is also… for Konoha.
"Clang."
As the two entered the room, the entire conference room immediately fell silent.
Hatake Sakumo walked briskly at the front with a cold face, Sawara Kiri following behind him.
As soon as they entered, they saw Tsunade with one foot on the table, single-handedly grabbing Homura Mitokado by his collar, looking fierce as if she was about to punch him.
But judging from the calm and composed demeanor of the others, Tsunade, who was acting the most aggressively, was actually the weakest in terms of aura.
Three of Konoha's F4 were present.
At this moment, they all turned their heads to look in the direction of the Hatake duo.
"Hatake Sakumo."
Shimura Danzo saw him, likely recalling Hiruko's previous report, and his brow immediately furrowed. While secretly molding Chakra, he coldly reprimanded:
"A high-level meeting is currently in progress here."
"How dare you barge in without permission?"
As he spoke, his single eye glanced in Sawara Kiri's direction, and he said coldly: "…And you brought a little one with you, how audacious."
"If any secrets are leaked, can you bear the responsibility?!"
The first half of his words were clearly directed at Hatake Sakumo himself, but the latter half immediately pointed the finger at Sawara Kiri.
Heh.
He couldn't provoke Hatake Sakumo, but couldn't he provoke this little brat?
Because he had personally witnessed Sawara Kiri and Namikaze Minato's exhibition match, even though Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade's mission reports had roughly summarized his process of 'interfering' with the Third Raikage in somewhat vague terms, Shimura Danzo's heart was still full of confidence.
Got him!
Sawara Kiri, however, was not angered by the words. He merely smiled and turned his head, meeting his single eye.
In an instant, deep within those azure pupils, endless brilliant starlight seemed to shimmer.
Shimura Danzo's brow furrowed slightly.
Vaguely, he seemed to sense that something had been left in his body, yet it was also as if he hadn't discovered anything.
"Oh, secrets?"
Hatake Sakumo, however, turned his head without ceremony, his gaze as cold as a blade sweeping across his neck, and said coldly: "Are you referring to the 'secret' that the Village intends to hand over the body of the heroic Ninja who ambushed the Third Raikage to Hidden Cloud Village as compensation?"
"What?"
"You dare to do it, but you don't dare let all of Konoha's Ninja know?"
"Bang!"
As if a nerve had been hit, Utatane Koharu, who was hot-tempered and the most muddle-headed, immediately stood up, slamming the table, and loudly reprimanded:
"Hatake Sakumo!"
"How dare you be so insolent in front of us?"
They had long been accustomed to bullying this honest man. Even if he was strong, so what? How dare he act wildly here?
But today, Hatake Sakumo's reaction stunned everyone.
"Boom—"
No sooner had the words fallen than an explosive Chakra reaction mixed with killing intent suddenly erupted around Hatake Sakumo, forming a storm that spread outwards. The wooden floor beneath Hatake Sakumo's feet cracked.
Just his murderous gaze alone made everyone present experience a near-hallucinatory sensory dislocation.
Fierce, unbridled.
That was his pure and extreme will, not as a Ninja, but as a swordsman.
Utatane Koharu, who had been baring her fangs and claws just a second ago, felt as if her entire body was locked, unable to move even a single finger.
His hand was clearly not on the sword hilt.
Yet Utatane Koharu suddenly had a strong illusion that if she made any move, she would immediately be cut down by his blade.
Her entire body stiffened.
Shimura Danzo and Homura Mitokado also couldn't sit still. They both stood up, confronting the man before them.
However, their momentum was three points weaker.
What was wrong with him today?
Hatake Sakumo's gaze swept across the three of them, his expression disdainful, his voice bone-chillingly cold:
"That's right."
"What are you going to do about it?"
This was the arrogance of him, a Ninja in his prime, one of the strongest in all of Konoha today.
Just as he could take his own life to uphold his beliefs, he could naturally cut down others to uphold his will.
Throughout his life, Hatake Sakumo despised those who would abandon their comrades for various reasons, or even desecrate the bodies of heroes.
Out of loyalty to the Village, he had never been as arrogant as he was today—but that didn't mean he feared the people in front of him.
Konoha F4?
Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen, also in his prime, were to come, in a one-on-one fight, he would at most be at a 60/40 disadvantage. If Sakumo got close, it would turn into a 70/30 disadvantage, and Hiruzen could lose his head with a slight lapse in attention.
What were these three old men, who had been away from the battlefield for nearly a decade, anyway?
All he cared about was the Village.
Taking advantage of the opportunity created by Sawara Kiri today, Hatake Sakumo suddenly unleashed this fury here.
Everyone present, just as he said.
Stood motionless.
Who would dare to face the wrath of an honest man when the situation was unclear?
At this moment, even Tsunade, who was standing by, couldn't help but be intimidated by Hatake Sakumo's aura.
Don't let her usual fiery temper fool you; this woman, who could patiently study medical Ninjutsu just to save lives, was actually quite soft-hearted.
As a fellow pillar of the front lines, she knew that Hatake Sakumo, who usually seemed laid-back and joked with everyone, was actually the one with the biggest temper in all of Konoha.
If someone truly lost their temper and drew their blade today, at least three people in this room would die.
Just then, Sawara Kiri, whom no one in the room had paid attention to, suddenly spoke.
"Sakumo-sensei."
"It's almost time."
With just that one sentence, Hatake Sakumo, who had been exuding killing intent a second ago, suddenly reined in his aura.
Everyone present felt a release in their hearts.
Leaving Shimura Danzo aside, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, who were responsible for finance and law respectively, had indeed, as everyone knew, long lost the fighting spirit they had in their prime on the battlefield.
Hatake Sakumo glanced at them and then stepped out of the room first.
"Lady Tsunade, we came for you."
"Please come with us too."
Sawara Kiri still greeted them politely.
Seeing him, Tsunade felt a strange sense of calm. She nodded slightly, got off the table, and followed them out the door.
Finally, Sawara Kiri smiled gently and nodded to the remaining three:
"Excuse us."
After speaking, he walked out the door as if nothing had happened.
Once the long table was empty, the three Advisors suddenly exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment.
After a long moment, Shimura Danzo's roar of impotent rage suddenly echoed through the room:
"Bastard!!!"
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