Early the next morning, everyone heard a shocking piece of news—
Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, had taken his own life at home the previous night.
Coincidentally, today was also the day of Mitokado Homura's memorial service, held by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Two of Konoha's high-ranking elders were gone in a single night. The loss to the village was immeasurable.
The service was about to begin. Attendees noticed that the Uchiha clan had yet to arrive.
Every other clan, along with civilians of Konoha, stood quietly in the rain, each holding a white flower—ready to pay respects to the fallen heroes.
A light drizzle began to fall.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped up to the platform, grief heavy in his expression, and began his eulogy.
He spoke solemnly of Homura's lifelong contributions to the village—
Until a steady, unified sound echoed from afar, growing closer with each step.
Everyone turned toward the source.
The Uchiha clan had arrived.
Their elders walked in front.
Behind them, the clan head and nine Uchiha with fully awakened Three-Tomoe Sharingan eyes carried a coffin draped in black.
It wasn't hard to guess whose body lay inside.
The White Fang of Konoha—Hatake Sakumo.
They placed the coffin at the foot of the steps.
Behind it stood members of the Hatake clan, with Kakashi among them.
Their world had collapsed. All they could do now was rely on their allies to seek justice.
Humiliating as that was, it was still far better than suffering in silence.
The Uchiha Elder stepped forward and said calmly,
"Apologies, Hokage-sama, for our delay. We had to go invite the White Fang himself. After all, given Elder Homura's great merits, it would be rude not to send him off personally.
Forgive us for interrupting your eulogy. Please, continue."
"Uchiha!" Danzō's voice thundered.
"What are you doing? Why did you bring a criminal here? This is a memorial for heroes! Hatake Sakumo has no right to be here!"
His anger burned bright.
His old friend's death had already stung deeply, and now the Uchiha had come to make a scene?
Were they out of their minds?
The Uchiha Elder chuckled coldly.
"A criminal, you say? I just heard Hokage-sama speak of Elder Homura's merits—
Six hundred completed missions, was it? Then allow me to list the record of the man you call a criminal.
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha. Age 35.
D-rank missions: 256.
C-rank missions: 384.
B-rank missions: 266.
A-rank missions: 123.
S-rank missions: 27.
Total missions: 1,057 — with 1,056 completed successfully.
He served as field commander during the Second Shinobi War and held the title of ANBU Commander.
And this is the man you call a criminal? Where lies his crime?
To us, the White Fang is a hero far more deserving of this memorial than some others I could name. Or is it only those close to you, Danzō-sama, who are allowed to be mourned?"
His voice rose with quiet fury.
"Even that final 'failed mission'—was it truly a failure?
You blamed the casualties of that operation entirely on him. But wasn't it your strategic blunder, the miscalculation of certain high-ranking officials, that caused it?
And a 'classified mission'—that somehow every villager came to know about?
How interesting.
Are our upper echelons incapable of keeping their mouths shut?
Is Konoha's intelligence so easily leaked that everyone in the village can gossip about it? If so, where does the true guilt lie?"
He drew a bundle of papers from his robe and said coldly,
"The Uchiha have been investigating these rumors since the incident began. These are the confessions of those who first spread the lies. Shall I read them out loud for everyone?
A man takes his own life at another's doorstep—and that's what makes the mission a failure? If death were so easy, perhaps he could've just killed himself during the mission and completed it!
That 'suicidal ninja'—where is his body now?
If I recall correctly, wasn't he one of your subordinates, Danzō-sama? You pride yourself on your ruthless discipline—'Root shinobi die before failing their task,' isn't that your motto?
So why didn't he die on the mission? Or was his true mission to die at the White Fang's doorstep?"
Danzo's expression darkened, eyes narrowing dangerously.
A signal flickered—several ANBU operatives appeared around the square.
"Uchiha, watch your tongue," Danzō hissed.
"A man should take responsibility for his words."
The Elder laughed coldly.
"Do you think you can scare the Uchiha clan? We didn't fear Senju Tobirama, your teacher—and you, a scheming little rat who hides behind the title of 'advisor,' think you can threaten us? You, who stab the loyal in the back? Are you even worthy of standing on the same stage? Uchiha—!"
With that shout, a crimson glare burst forth—
A wall of Sharingan eyes flared to life across the front ranks.
"Stop!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice boomed, finally losing his composure.
"What do you think you're doing? Do you still acknowledge me as your Hokage? Danzō! Stand your men down! Withdraw the ANBU—this is a memorial for heroes, not a battlefield!"
In truth, Hiruzen's heart was heavy with guilt.
He too had failed Sakumo.
If the Uchiha wanted to have White Fang's name engraved on the Memorial Stone, he wouldn't oppose it.
But with Danzō fanning the flames, chaos had erupted.
"The White Fang was no criminal," Hiruzen said solemnly.
"He was a hero of Konoha. He deserves to be honored. His name shall be carved upon the Memorial Stone. It was my failure to stop the rumors that led to the loss of yet another of Konoha's arms. As for the information leak—I will see it investigated, and justice will be done."
A deft move.
In a few words, the Third Hokage calmed the Hatake clan, while also placating the other clans—
defusing their fear and resentment in one breath.
The Uchiha had fought hard, but Sarutobi's few words carried greater weight than all their shouting.
"His name cannot be engraved!" Danzō snapped.
"The Memorial Stone is for those who died in battle. Hatake Sakumo killed himself. A shinobi's duty is to complete his mission—that is the iron law! If everyone were to abandon their tasks out of fear or guilt, where would our credibility as shinobi be? Merit is merit, fault is fault—they cannot be mixed.
He earned his promotions through his accomplishments. But he made mistakes, and mistakes must be punished. A man who breaks the shinobi code is trash—and a piece of trash has no right to our mourning!"
"Trash?"
The Elder's voice trembled with fury.
"It was the Uchiha and the Senju who once set aside hatred to build this village—a paradise for shinobi, founded in the name of peace. That is Konoha! The first village in all the shinobi world. We swore to protect this place and its people as our family. That bond—that is the foundation of Konoha!
So tell me, has the Uchiha changed? Or has this world changed? When did comrades become tools to be discarded?
No wonder our clan is so despised—you see us as nothing but disobedient weapons!"
"A shinobi is not a tool!"
Uchiha Kairen stepped forward, his voice ringing clear.
"Especially not a tool for people like you!
Those who break the shinobi code are called trash—
but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash!
The White Fang of Konoha was a true hero!"
"You dare decide what's right or wrong?" Uchiha Kaze retorted coldly at Danzō.
"If failing a mission is a crime, then slaughtering one's own comrades is an even greater sin, isn't it?!"
"And from the way you speak," Uchiha Gorou barked,
"one would think you were Hokage! Konoha doesn't need two Hokage—unless you're planning to betray the village! Are you undermining Lord Third right here, in public?!"
Danzō's face flushed with rage, but before he could respond, Gorou cut him off.
"What a sight, truly—the 'great' Danzō being lectured by brats! What's next, will you gag the entire village. Konoha doesn't belong to you, Danzō-sama. Every villager has a voice. If it's by seniority, then our Great Elder could be your father—
so why don't you let your father come out and speak instead?"
"Don't you get it?" Uchiha Kaze mocked.
"To Danzō, the rules mean whatever suits him best. The 'law' bends to his convenience!"
"Enough!" Uchiha Kairen cut in, raising his voice.
"We trust Hokage-sama. He will not allow someone who treats comrades as disposable tools to tarnish this ceremony. He will clear the White Fang's name, and see justice done!"
"Yes!" voices cried from the crowd.
"The Hokage won't let a hero's blood and tears go unacknowledged!"
"We believe in the Hokage! We are not tools!"
The sentiment spread like wildfire—
voices rising, momentum swelling—
turning the tide in the Hokage's favor.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes softened.
It was bittersweet.
If his old friend were still alive, things would never have reached this point.
Danzō—his double-edged sword—had become dangerous without its sheath of balance.
"Everyone, quiet," Hiruzen finally said.
"Listen to me.
Every person in this village is our family—that is the foundation of Konoha. It was true before, and it will always be true. Every shinobi is a comrade, not a tool. Hatake Sakumo was a hero of Konoha.
He deserves to be honored, and his name shall be engraved on the Memorial Stone. We cannot let a hero die in vain—or in shame."
Then his gaze turned toward Danzō.
"Elder Danzō has spoken out of grief over Elder Homura's death, and in his sorrow has lost composure. Therefore, I order him to rest at home until his emotions settle, and he may resume duties thereafter."
Finally, Hiruzen addressed the gathered crowd:
"Let us set aside our unpleasantness and finish this memorial with dignity.
Let us lay our heroes to rest—with the honor they deserve."