Root Base.
Thump, thump, thump...
In the dim underground passage, only the sound of one person's footsteps echoed, somewhat chilling.
Creak!
Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door to Root, feeling a strange sense of familiarity with the place. It seemed he hadn't been to the Root base in a long time.
Regarding Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood him well. Generally, without important matters, Danzo would be researching, training, or even eating and sleeping at Root.
Sigh, is this the life of a single man?
"You've come, Hiruzen."
A hoarse voice echoed in the darkness. Danzo's figure emerged from the shadows, standing face to face with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Is there something?" Danzo's expression was unreadable. He seemed to know why Hiruzen Sarutobi was looking for him, but he was confident he could persuade Hiruzen.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo for a while, then said in a deep voice, "Was that your doing?"
Danzo's expression remained blank as he coldly asked, "What are you referring to?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelids twitched. He sternly asked, "Were you the mastermind behind the widespread condemnation and abuse of Sakumo Hatake throughout the village, Danzo!"
Danzo neither admitted nor denied it, instead saying, "Hiruzen, you should understand the reasons for my actions. The village needs an explanation."
There was another reason Danzo didn't voice: Sakumo Hatake posed too great a threat to him. Without this, Danzo wouldn't sleep soundly.
However, with today's verdict, Danzo could finally breathe easy. He hadn't withdrawn the public opinion he had orchestrated outside. One must do things thoroughly!
Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Danzo and said, "Danzo, Sakumo's contributions to the village far outweigh this failure. Do you know the consequences of your actions? You're disheartening the ninjas of the village!"
Danzo snorted and didn't reply. He, Danzo, didn't care about others' opinions. As long as his own strength was great enough, other ninjas and clans were merely his vassals and pawns.
Seeing Danzo's silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became somewhat distant. He posed a soul-searching question, "Danzo, if you were in Sakumo Hatake's shoes, would you choose to complete the mission or save me?"
Danzo's face changed, and he glared in anger, "Hiruzen! Are you insane? You're asking such a childish question?"
"Danzo, answer me! What would you choose?"
Danzo flicked his sleeve and said, "Hmph! I, Danzo, would never let such a situation arise. What a joke! I, Danzo, never make choices. I'd have both the mission and saving him!"
Danzo smiled confidently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "My actions have always been flawless, Hiruzen, you know this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to stare intently at Danzo, earnestly asking again, "Danzo, I'll ask again, save me or complete the mission!?"
Danzo saw a hint of sorrow in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, and a pain surged in his chest. What was wrong with him?
Seeing Danzo's silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have understood the answer. His expression immediately turned disheartened. He slowly turned around, no longer pressing Danzo for an answer.
"Hmph! I understand. I will withdraw the village's deployment. Hiruzen, one day you will for..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted Danzo, saying softly, "Danzo, do you know? Even though I am the Hokage, if I were in Sakumo Hatake's position, and the person who needed rescuing was you... I would choose to abandon the mission and rush to your side."
After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a dashing smile, as if a knot in his heart had been untied. His steps became much lighter.
Hiruzen! You...
Danzo watched Hiruzen Sarutobi's retreating back, his chest trembling. For some reason, at this moment, he felt that even becoming Hokage wouldn't make him happier than Hiruzen's words.
It seemed all his cells were leaping with joy, cheering their delight!
Hiruzen! You do still care about me!
...
Lin Yu, after leaving the Hokage's office, did not head directly to Sakumo Hatake's house. With Might Duy present, Sakumo Hatake should not feel so despairing as in the original story.
Lin Yu trusted Might Duy completely. He wouldn't allow anyone to be negatively youthful!
Lin Yu planned to go home, bring Kushina to visit Sakumo Hatake, and then go to Ichiraku Ramen for lunch. Those fifty years of free meals couldn't be for nothing!
"Huh? Teacher Lin Yu! Are you also going to see Kakashi?"
Lin Yu turned his head. The standard orange goggles. It had to be our Tou-bro!
Lin Yu smiled and greeted Obito, "Good morning, Obito. Don't you have class today?"
Obito glanced at the sky and slumped his face, "Teacher Lin Yu, it's almost afternoon. And isn't today a weekend holiday!?"
Obito almost blurted out, "Teacher Lin Yu, are you a fake teacher? As a teacher, you don't even know about the ninja academy's holidays!"
Lin Yu's expression was quite awkward. It was his first day on the job, and he was still a bit unfamiliar with the operations. Please forgive him.
Lin Yu looked up at the somewhat dim sky. The clouds obscured the sun, no wonder he still felt like it was morning.
He didn't like this weather. It had a sense of looming clouds about to destroy the city. He really wanted to blast the heavens with Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!
Lin Yu scratched his head and said to Obito, "You're going to see Kakashi. It seems you've heard about that incident too?"
Obito's face showed worry. Although he didn't like Kakashi, Kakashi didn't give him a good look either, always being sharp-tongued, constantly calling him a dead last, and always beating him to the ground in sparring...
Still, Obito wanted Kakashi's approval. He wanted to be friends with him!
Because his dream was to become Hokage!
"Teacher Lin Yu, do you think something will happen to Kakashi?"
Lin Yu looked at Obito with a strange expression. He only let go when Obito started blushing under his gaze, teasingly asking, "Why? I thought you two didn't get along very well? Why are you so concerned about Kakashi, Obito?"
Obito's face turned red, and he retorted, "That's not true! I don't care about that arrogant white-haired guy! I just..."
Obito's gaze drifted to the side, his lips pursed. He didn't know how to explain.
Lin Yu stopped teasing Obito and turned around, "Let's go, we'll go see Kakashi together."
Obito pulled his goggles up onto his forehead and followed with his short legs.
"Wait for me, Teacher Lin Yu!"
...
Meanwhile, at the Hatake family residence.
Kakashi crouched in a corner, his eyes vacant. He kept muttering, "How could this be? My father, whom I've admired since I was a child, is a failure who abandoned his mission and broke the rules! I don't believe it!"
Beside him, Sakumo Hatake and Might Duy stared wide-eyed, looking at a loss.
Sakumo Hatake: This... why does Kakashi seem more depressed than me!
Might Duy: ...Should I call Guy? Are these father and son eyeing our Might family!