The morning sun rose quietly.
Some villagers had already gathered before the Hatake residence.
They came intending to curse and shout, but their voices froze the moment they saw the words painted in fresh blood-red strokes on the white wall—
[You all said I colluded with the Uchiha, so I'll grant you your wish.]
At that, the villagers' faces paled. After glancing around nervously, one of them formed a quick hand seal and vanished from sight.
At the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen had just arrived at the entrance when an Anbu sprinted toward him.
"Lord Hokage, it's terrible!"
Hiruzen frowned. "The most important quality for an Anbu is composure. No matter what happens, you must remain calm. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!" The Anbu straightened up immediately.
Satisfied, Hiruzen nodded and continued walking toward his office. "All right, report. What's happened?"
Clearing his throat, the Anbu began in an orderly tone: "When I went to Hatake Sakumo's home this morning, I found a message written on his wall."
He repeated the message word for word, then added, "I also checked the house. Neither Hatake Sakumo nor Hatake Kakashi were anywhere to be found."
Before the Anbu could finish, Hiruzen swayed unsteadily.
"Lord Hokage, are you all right? Didn't you rest?"
But Hiruzen could no longer hear him. His mind was ringing—like something had exploded inside his skull.
He never imagined that by letting Sakumo take the blame for one incident, the man would go so far as to defect.
Even if he had grievances, couldn't he have come to discuss them first? Why take such an extreme path?
And defecting was one thing—but joining the Uchiha clan? Was he doing this just to spite him?!
Already worn thin by the chaos of recent days, Hiruzen finally reached his breaking point. Blood spurted from his lips before he collapsed unconscious.
Land of Fire
Uchiha Yuzuru, Hatake Sakumo, and Hatake Kakashi raced swiftly toward the Land of Lightning.
A faint smile lingered on Yuzuru's face.
He had only come to Konoha for some entertainment, but unexpectedly, he had gained Sakumo's allegiance.
To him, another Kage-level ally was merely a luxury—but the thought of tormenting Sarutobi Hiruzen and those ungrateful wolves of Konoha filled him with satisfaction.
After all, losing one Kage-level ninja and the village's most talented prodigy was a blow even Konoha would struggle to bear.
Sometimes Yuzuru couldn't help but wonder—if he did nothing at all, would Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō eventually destroy themselves?
After a moment's amusement, he glanced at Sakumo and Kakashi beside him. "Why so serious, you two? Smile a little."
Sakumo managed a weary smile. "Yuzuru, from now on, Kakashi and I are rogue ninjas of Konoha."
For someone who valued honor above life itself, bearing the mark of a traitor was unbearable.
Yuzuru waved dismissively. "Rogue ninjas? No, from now on you're Cloud shinobi. And who knows—once I bring Tsunade, Orochimaru, and even the Hyūga clan to Kumogakure, maybe it'll be hard to tell who the real traitors are."
Sakumo shook his head helplessly. Yuzuru was treating him like a child. Even Kakashi wouldn't believe such nonsense.
"Hmph! Delusional."
Sakumo said nothing, but Kakashi muttered coldly.
"Oh?" Yuzuru arched an eyebrow. "So the dead-fish-eyed brat can talk after all?"
"I'm not mute—and stop calling me that!" Kakashi snapped. "You tricked my father into becoming a rogue ninja. You're no good person."
He turned to Sakumo, frowning in confusion. "Father, why didn't you try to explain yourself to Lord Hokage? If he clarified things, the villagers would realize their mistake."
Sakumo sighed. "Kakashi, things aren't that simple. The reason I was blamed and shunned—it was all because the Third Hokage fanned the flames from the shadows."
Now that he'd left Konoha, Sakumo saw no reason to let Kakashi cling to false hopes. He told his son everything.
"Kakashi, now you understand. If not for Yuzuru last night, I'd already be dead."
Kakashi was speechless, shaken to his core.
That kind old man from the Academy, who once lectured them about the 'Will of Fire'… could he really have done such a thing?
After a long silence, Kakashi bowed deeply to Yuzuru. "Thank you for saving my father. I was wrong before. Please don't be angry."
Yuzuru chuckled. "Who gets angry at a little kid? If you're truly grateful, then work for me. One day, we'll take back this land."
Kakashi hesitated. "But that would mean many people will die…"
"To bring change, blood and sacrifice are inevitable," Yuzuru said patiently. "Stop trying to be everyone's good guy. Your father's fate should have already taught you that."
Recalling the faces of the villagers who had screamed insults at his home, Kakashi's gaze hardened. "I understand."
Yuzuru nodded, satisfied.
Bringing Kakashi along might finally stop Obito from pestering him all day.
The three continued traveling for half a day. As they passed a small hill, the sound of a woman's muffled crying mixed with men's crude laughter reached their ears.
Yuzuru and Sakumo exchanged a look and moved toward the noise.
Moments later, they found several male corpses sprawled on the ground. Nearby, three bandits were tearing at a woman's clothes while a baby wailed on the dirt beside her.
When the bearded thug noticed them, he hefted his blade and snarled, "Who the hell are you?"
His answer came in the flash of a blade—too fast to see.
In mere heartbeats, all three men lay in pieces.
Sakumo placed a small pouch of Military Ration Pills into the woman's trembling hands. "Take these. Eat them when you need strength. Be careful on the road."
As she clutched her child and staggered away, Yuzuru spoke softly. "You see, Sakumo… this shinobi world—needs change."