Early in the morning, villagers arrived at the Hatake family's residence.
Just as they were about to unleash a torrent of curses, they noticed a few blood-red characters emblazoned on the white wall beside them:
You all said I colluded with the Uchiha, so I'll grant your wish.
Upon seeing these words, the villagers' expressions changed. After scanning their surroundings, they quickly formed hand seals and vanished from the spot.
Hokage Building.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi emerged from the doorway, he saw an Anbu rushing towards him.
"Lord Hokage, something's wrong!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, "As an Anbu, stability is paramount. You must remain calm in the face of any situation."
"Understood?"
The Anbu ninja immediately stood at attention, "Yes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction. As he walked towards the Hokage's office, he asked, "Speak. What do you need to report?"
The Anbu ninja cleared his throat and replied methodically, "Today, when I went to Hatake Sakumo's house, I found a message on his wall."
The Anbu ninja repeated the message on the wall to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then continued, "I checked inside the Hatake residence and didn't find Hatake Sakumo or Hatake Kakashi."
No sooner had the Anbu finished speaking than Hiruzen Sarutobi's body swayed.
"Lord Hokage, what's wrong? Did you not rest well?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer hear the sounds around him.
He felt as if his head was about to explode, constantly buzzing.
He never imagined that Hatake Sakumo would choose to defect just because he was made to take the blame… Even if there were grievances, he could have discussed them with him first. How could he resort to such an extreme method!
And even if you defect, what does it mean to join the Uchiha clan?
Are you intentionally trying to disgust him?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already exhausted by the various events that had recently transpired. Now, he could no longer hold on. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, he fainted directly.
— — — —
— — — —
Land of Fire.
Uchiha Ketsugō, Hatake Sakumo, and Hatake Kakashi were rapidly making their way towards the Land of Lightning.
Uchiha Ketsugō always had a smile on his face.
This time, he had only intended to visit Konoha to watch the show, but he unexpectedly gained Hatake Sakumo's allegiance.
Although for Uchiha Ketsugō, the power of a Kage-level expert was merely icing on the cake, the thought of thoroughly disgusting Hiruzen Sarutobi and those ungrateful people in Konoha made him uncontrollably happy.
After all, losing a Kage-level expert plus the most talented child of the new generation, even Konoha would find such a price difficult to bear.
Sometimes, Uchiha Ketsugō couldn't help but wonder if Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura would just destroy themselves, even if he did nothing at all.
After thinking for a while, Uchiha Ketsugō looked at Hatake Sakumo and Hatake Kakashi beside him and said, "Why are you two so serious? Smile."
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo showed a wry smile and said, "Ketsugō, from now on, Kakashi and I will be rogue ninjas of Konoha."
For someone who valued honor more than life itself, bearing the title of a rogue ninja was a very difficult thing to accept.
Uchiha Ketsugō waved his hand, "What rogue ninjas? From now on, you are Cloud Ninjas!"
"Besides, when I eventually bring Tsunade, Orochimaru, the Hyuga clan, and everyone else to Kumogakure, who will be the rogue ninjas will be anyone's guess."
Upon hearing Uchiha Ketsugō's words, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but shake his head.
Uchiha Ketsugō was truly treating him like a three-year-old child; even Kakashi wouldn't believe such a thing.
"Hmph!"
"Wishful thinking."
Hatake Sakumo remained silent, but Hatake Kakashi, who was beside him, responded.
"Oh?"
"Dead fish eyes, you can talk?"
Seeing Uchiha Ketsugō's curious gaze, Hatake Kakashi angrily said, "I'm not mute, and I'm not dead fish eyes!"
"You tricked my father into becoming a rogue ninja; you don't seem like a good person."
After speaking, Hatake Kakashi looked at Hatake Sakumo and asked in confusion, "Father, why didn't you try to explain to Lord Hokage?"
"If Lord Hokage came forward to clarify, those who blamed you would surely realize their mistake."
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo sighed, "Kakashi, things are not as simple as you imagine."
"The reason I was blamed and ostracized to the point where everyone turned against me was actually because the Third Hokage was secretly fanning the flames…"
Since he had already left Konoha, Hatake Sakumo naturally couldn't let Kakashi harbor illusions about Konoha and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So, he told Hatake Kakashi the truth of the matter.
"Kakashi, now you understand, don't you? If it weren't for Ketsugō last night, I might already be dead…"
After listening to Hatake Sakumo's narration, Hatake Kakashi was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time.
Could that kind old man, who spoke of the "Will of Fire" on the podium when the Ninja Academy first opened, actually do such a thing?
Thinking of this, Hatake Kakashi bowed to Uchiha Ketsugō and sincerely said, "Thank you for saving my father. I was wrong just now, please don't be angry."
Uchiha Ketsugō smiled indifferently, "Who would get angry with a brat?"
"If you truly remember my kindness, then help me well in the future. One day, I will lead you all back to this land."
Hatake Kakashi was a bit conflicted, "But many people will die that way…"
"For change, bloodshed and sacrifice are inevitable," Uchiha Ketsugō patiently said, "Don't always think about being a goodie-two-shoes. Your father's experience already explains everything."
Recalling the villagers cursing at his doorstep not long ago, Hatake Kakashi said in a deep voice, "I understand!"
Seeing Hatake Kakashi's gaze, Uchiha Ketsugō nodded with satisfaction.
Bringing Hatake Kakashi back, that Obito guy probably wouldn't bother him all day, right?
The three continued their journey for another half a day. As they passed a small mountain, they suddenly heard a woman's suppressed cries and the loud laughter of several men.
Uchiha Ketsugō and Hatake Sakumo exchanged glances and walked towards the source of the sound.
After only a few steps, they saw several male corpses lying on the ground. A woman was having her clothes torn off by three burly men, and not far away, a baby was crying on the ground.
Seeing Uchiha Ketsugō and Hatake Sakumo appear, a man with a full beard picked up a long sword nearby and said coldly, "Who are you?"
His answer was a flash of extreme speed from a blade.
In a few short breaths, the three burly men were decapitated.
Hatake Sakumo placed a bag of soldier pills into the woman's hand and softly said, "Take these to eat. Be careful on your journey."
Watching the woman walk away with her child, Uchiha Ketsugō said faintly, "See, Sakumo."
"This ninja world needs change!"