Escape From Konoha

"Do you not care about the public opinion 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 targeted his father so much.

The mission failed only once, which didn't affect Sakumo's status in his heart at all, but the words of those people outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.

"Kakashi, if it were you, would you take care of me?"

Sakumo asked with a smile.

"..."

Kakashi held the dagger tightly, as if hesitating and struggling.

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

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

Sakumo knelt down, held Kakashi's knife-holding palm with his generous hand, comforting him with a smile.

"Um."

Kakashi nodded.

"You got into a fight with someone today."

Shuo Mo said in a positive tone.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, but nodded.

"I taught a few guys who didn't know what to do, what they said was 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 on Sakumo's face disappeared, and in Kakashi's view, it was an incomparably serious expression.

Missions and companions? Kakashi began to ask himself, if he was in the position of his father Sakumo, would he choose to carry out the mission or save his companions.

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

The ninja should give priority to the task, it is the will of fire that has made a mistake...

But that is the will handed down from the first generation of adults, how could there be mistakes?

If it is wrong, how could this kind of textbook be selected as a compulsory subject in ninja school?

but……

Kakashi was a little confused.

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

"I have no idea."

Finally, Kakashi shook his head.

He looked up at his father Shuo Mao, hoping he could give him an answer for reference.

In the end is the task priority, or companion priority.

Sakumo didn't answer, he just patted Kakashi on the shoulder, looking at the beautiful sunset in the distance, the sunset glow reflected on his face, it was the afterglow of the curtain.

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

"But, the person who was saved by you, Dad, is also insulting..."

"Don't stop doing things that should be right because of others' denial, or even feel regretful because of others' ridicule and accusations afterwards. I just abide by 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 of the people can be forgiven, but only the person who was saved by Sakumo came to blame his savior, which is something Kakashi can't forgive.

"That's all for today's knife skills training."

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

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

On the roof of Hatake House, Sakumo was looking at the sparse stars and moon above his head, blowing the cool night breeze.

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

"It's easy to catch a cold if you blow the wind here at night, Mr. Shuo Mao."

Baishi walked to Shuo Mao, smiled and said something to him.

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

Shuo Mo also smiled.

"Ayane? Is she here too?"

Shiraishi was surprised.

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

"Yeah?"

Baishi also followed Shuo Mao's line of sight, looking at the stars and moon in the night sky, and whispered to himself.

"Come to look for me so late, don't you plan to spend the night blowing the cold wind here with me?"

Somo asked.

"I'm just here to see the scenery."

"landscape?"

"That's right, it's the same scenery as you saw... The stone statues of Hokage from past dynasties established this village, and they are known as people with great achievements in history."

Shiraishi turned his gaze away from the night sky, and directly below were the shadow rocks of the three Hokages.

The first Hokage who established Konoha.

The second generation of Hokage who formulates important development strategies for the village.

There are also three generations of Hokage today.

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

The Fourth Hokage... The Fifth Hokage... The Sixth Hokage...

Shuo Mao didn't speak, and kept quiet with Baishi tacitly, watching those shadow rocks quietly.

After a long time, Sakumo broke the silence and said, "What will happen to Konoha's future?"

This sentence seems to be asking Baishi, or asking himself, or maybe asking someone else.

"I don't think there is any need to ask about this kind of thing, because Mr. Shuo Mao, you have already found the answer you want, haven't you?"

Baishi answered Shuo Mao's question, and then said:

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

"Sure enough, among the three of you, you are the most special one."

Shuo Mo said so meaningfully.

Shuo Mao knew that Shiraishi had sensed the decision he had taken in the face of these rumors.

"Since you have made your choice, it seems superfluous for me to come here."

Baishi did not answer this question directly, but sighed.

Unlike Ayane, Sakumo has already passed the age of asking who he is.

He knew why he made such a choice.

I don’t regret it and I don’t know, but if I don’t do it, I will definitely live in suffering in the future.

It's like giving up the mission because he saved his companion, regardless of whether the rescued person will blame him for the failure of the mission, Shuo Mao will not waver.

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

He is just obeying the belief conveyed by the will of fire.

I firmly believe that saving my companions and giving up the mission is the top priority, even if some rules are broken.

For such people, other people's opinions can only be used as a reference, and cannot be a decisive factor that shakes their beliefs.

"Teacher Shuo Mao, you should go to bed earlier, I'll go back first."

Baishi knew that he could not change anything when he came here, so he should go back and rest.

It's quite cold tonight.

Shiraishi started walking on the way back.

"Take care of Kakashi for me."

Shuo Mao's words suddenly came from behind.

Under the silence of the night, upon hearing these words, Baishi paused and nodded slightly.

When Shuo Mao turned his head to look, the place where Baishi was standing was empty.

◎

The air seemed a bit chilly the next morning.

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

At this point in time, it would have come early as usual.

After all, after breakfast, there is still morning exercise.

Kakashi carried the breakfast, walked towards Sakumo's room, opened the door, and shouted to the people inside:

"Father, breakfast is ready—"

The breakfast plate fell to the floor with a loud bang.

A rich and nutritious breakfast was sprinkled all over the floor.

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

With the white tooth dagger that plundered the blood of countless enemies, he quietly ended his life.

When Kakashi saw this scene, his mind went blank and he couldn't remember anything.

◎

Shuo Mao died.

The news was spread by the guards, and it was confirmed that it was suicide, not being murdered at home.

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

It is very common to stab the blade into one's own body and end one's own life.

The news was quickly known by the villagers of Konoha, and the high-level officials also knew the news.

As for the rumors, they all stop in silent silence.

——In a huge dark space in Konoha, the Konoha ninjas who live in this place are people who abandon everything.

Names, feelings, and even life are all abandoned.

Taking darkness as nourishment, it is deeply rooted in the earth.

roots.

It is the general name of their organization, an organization that originated from Anbu but is outside the jurisdiction of Hokage.

Danzo Shimura, their leader, is in the meeting room, and a Konoha ninja is screaming angrily at the root leader:

"Why did this happen? Why did Sakumo...Captain Sakumo commit suicide? Elder Danzang, didn't you say that everything would be fine? Why did things turn out like this?"

If it weren't for being held up by two root ninjas, he would probably rush to Danzo and beat him up.

And Danzo is also a little restless and irritable.

Konoha Baiya committed suicide...why did he commit suicide?

Rumors were indeed spreading from the root, and Anbu was silent, neither expressing approval nor stopping them.

Because Hokage cannot be produced on Sakumo.

So to suppress his reputation.

As long as his reputation is lowered, Konoha Baiga is still Konoha's Jonin and the leading figure among Jonin, but he has no chance of being a Hokage since then.

But... why did Shuo Mao commit suicide?

Rumors of this level should not be fatal.

Originally, he planned to stop the spread of rumors this afternoon.

Danzo fell into a daze.

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

Unable to understand why Sakumo wanted to commit suicide, Danzo waved his hand irritably, asking the root ninja to take down the Konoha ninja who questioned him.

He also wondered why, but Shuo Mao died, and no one could answer his question.

◎

Shuo Mao's funeral was held in not too gloomy weather.

Not many people came to the funeral.

Apart from Kakashi, Shiraishi, Ruri, and Ayane, there are only familiar people like Tsunade.

So far, they are all incredulous about this incident, thinking that Shuo Mao would not be such a weak-willed person, who would commit suicide because of such rumors.

"Life is born and it dies..."

Orochimaru faced all this with a sad look.

Everything seems to be meaningless.

Rope trees are like this.

The same is true for breaking.

Now it's Shomo's turn.

If one day it was his turn... Orochimaru didn't know why, but an inexplicable fear appeared in his heart.

Finally, he shook his head and was the first to leave Shuo Mao's funeral.

He has seen too many people die, and Shuo Mao is just one of them, and it will not be the last.

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

Life is such a fragile thing.

"Teacher Jiraiya, why did Senior Sakumo do this?"

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

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

Zilai also shook his head, upset.

Minato nodded tactfully, did not pursue further questions, and looked at Kakashi who was at the front of the line, full of pity and sympathy.

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

Shiraishi seemed to know what Tsunade wanted to say, smiled and said: "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei, I have nothing to do with you, 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 Shiraishi and Kakashi remained here.

Shiraishi put the flowers in his hand in front of Shuo Mao's tomb.

"Mr. Sakumo, you are a true ninja who inherited the will of fire, and the one who interpreted all of this will..."

The high-level officials were not wrong in their thinking. They plundered Shuo Mao's political capital so that he could be a Junin with peace of mind in the future. They also had proper arrangements and considerations for Shuo Mao's future.

But... the only way to use it is wrong.

In this world, many people regard dignity and faith as more important than their own lives.

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

For one's own people, there is no companion who feels more at ease by his side.

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

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

Now even the higher-ups don't abide by it, actively destroying the principles that the village has had since the beginning, and using this kind of thing as a reason to suppress him. It is the greatest humiliation.

What was this village founded on?

Isn't it the greatest irony that the village established because of the fetters, the ninja who chose the fetters was slandered by rumors?

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 they believed in in the past was distorted by themselves without knowing it.

They have forgotten what made the village come into being in the first place.

What is the first and most firm principle of Lost Village.

Where people lose land, everyone gains land.

If you lose your land, you will lose your land.

From the very beginning, the starting point of thinking of senior executives and Shuo Mao was not on the same path.

Mr. Shuo Mao, I hope those people can understand what you want to do with your death, and take this matter as a warning. At the end of the funeral, Baishi added this sentence in his heart.

It is also the most sincere blessing.

Otherwise, if this vicious cycle continues, Shiraishi can predict that Konoha Baiya is just the beginning, but definitely not the last.

Konoha will have more people like this in the future, who will lose themselves in the vacillating rules and become sad victims of it.

(PS: I modified it many times, and finally got it right...)