Chapter 171: White Fang’s Death?
Chapter 171: White Fang's Death?
A massive hole had been blasted into the walls of Konoha Hospital.
The Root ninja whom Tonari had kicked was now lying on the ground, motionless.
However, before Tonari could catch his breath, four more Root operatives appeared, surrounding him and watching his every move with heightened vigilance.
Tonari, his face flushed from opening the Gate of Life, took slow, deliberate steps toward the hospital room. His tense demeanor screamed one clear message: he was ready to fight anyone who dared stop him.
The four Root operatives didn't dare engage him directly, merely shifting to shadow his movements.
Tonari soon reached the hospital bed, where Yuta lay, his face expressionless. The man seemed utterly indifferent to the chaos that had erupted around him.
Tonari stared down at Yuta, scrutinizing the man's demeanor.
Based on his blank expression, Tonari deduced that Danzo must have something on him—some leverage or weakness that had driven him to this state.
The realization deflated some of Tonari's initial fury.
"You may have your reasons," Tonari said coldly, "but that doesn't mean you're exempt from blame. You'll never truly understand how much harm your actions have caused others."
Yuta's face twitched slightly, and he opened his mouth just enough to let out a hoarse reply.
"Do it."
Tonari clenched his fists. Even though he now understood that Yuta might also be a victim in all this, his anger hadn't dissipated.
He had come here to vent his rage, and vent he would—victim or not!
Tonari raised his fist.
Before it could connect, however, the Root operatives around him sprang into action. They couldn't allow Tonari to assault Yuta; their mission was to protect him at all costs.
Tonari noticed their movements and immediately shifted his focus.
"So that's your play?"
His raised fist veered off course, targeting the nearest Root ninja instead.
Lightning crackled around his arm, amplifying the sheer force of his punch.
"Who said you could get this close to me?!"
Boom!
The impact sent the ninja hurtling through several walls, creating a series of gaping holes.
The remaining three operatives didn't falter. They threw kunai, shuriken, and even small blades at Tonari in an attempt to subdue him.
"Gate of Pain, open!"
Tonari's chakra flared as he activated the next gate in the Eight Gates technique. His body surged with even more energy, and the fierce winds generated by his chakra dispersed the incoming projectiles with ease.
In a blur, he vanished from sight.
When he reappeared, he was beside another Root operative.
Crash!
A single punch sent the second ninja flying.
One by one, the Root operatives fell, unable to withstand Tonari's overwhelming speed and strength.
The team leader, distinguished by the green markings on his feline-patterned mask, barked out a command:
"Alert the commander—enemy assault!"
One of the remaining operatives fired a flare into the sky, signaling for reinforcements.
But even as reinforcements were summoned, it was clear that none of them could handle Tonari in his current state.
The Root operatives were severely limited in their response. Fighting in Konoha Hospital, a restricted area, prohibited the use of large-scale ninjutsu.
While Tonari had the luxury of relying on his overwhelming physical prowess, the Root operatives were forced to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.
Their restrictions only highlighted the disparity in strength.
Bang! Bang!
Two more operatives were incapacitated, leaving the green-masked team leader as the sole combatant standing.
With no options left, he prepared to defend himself—but he, too, was swiftly dispatched.
None of them could have anticipated that someone would dare attack Root within Konoha, much less at a hospital.
Once the room was clear, Tonari stepped closer to Yuta's bedside.
Despite everything, Yuta remained impassive, as if the chaos around him was of no concern.
Noticing Yuta's gaze flicker to his waist, Tonari followed it and saw his short blade, still sheathed.
Yuta seemed to understand something, his expression shifting slightly.
"Do it," Yuta said again, his voice hoarse but resolute.
Tonari didn't hesitate. "This punch is for Sakumo-san!"
Thud!
Blood spattered across the room.
"This one is for the Konoha ninjas who died because of you!"
Thud!
"And this last one—" Tonari raised his fist high, his anger boiling over. "This is for me, for the danger you put me in!"
Boom!
The final punch shattered the hospital floor, leaving Yuta unconscious, his body battered and bloodied. His pale face was now tinged with an eerie, unhealthy redness.
Tonari pulled back, his breathing heavy as he released the Eight Gates.
Using the Gates always exacted a toll on his body. Had he not been so furious, he wouldn't have resorted to such extremes.
Still, he had shown restraint. His punches had inflicted significant injuries but were not lethal.
Killing a fellow Konoha ninja—even one who had betrayed others—would have carried severe consequences, potentially branding him a rogue ninja.
No matter how justified his anger, Tonari wasn't about to cross that line.
As he caught his breath, three figures cautiously approached the scene.
"Tonari-sama! You're okay!"
"This is…"
The voices belonged to the three team leaders of the medical squad assigned to Tonari. They were among the few brave enough to approach him in his current state.
"You're here," Tonari said curtly, gesturing toward the unconscious Yuta. "Take care of him. Treating him would dirty my hands."
"Yes, sir!"
As Tonari turned to leave, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Tonari, you've got quite the temper. Do you really think this will help Sakumo?"
It was Jiraiya, stepping through the hole in the wall Tonari had created.
The Toad Sage waved at the ANBU stationed outside, signaling them to stand down.
Tonari glanced at Jiraiya, his expression cold. "And what, exactly, have you done, Jiraiya-sama?"
Without waiting for a response, he brushed past the Sannin, leaping out of the hospital and vanishing into the distance.
Jiraiya rubbed his temples, sighing in exasperation. "That kid… he's got a temper, but damn if he isn't impressive. I think I'm starting to like him…"
Shaking his head, Jiraiya turned back to the hospital. "Patch this place up and keep everyone else away. That guy in there won't survive another punch."
---
The Next Day
A shocking announcement spread across Konoha and beyond.
The infamous White Fang of Konoha, feared across the shinobi world, had taken his own life the previous night.
The news came directly from his wife, leaving no room for doubt.
The entire village was stunned.
Just days ago, they had been discussing Sakumo's decisions and debating his future. Now, the man himself was gone.
Few could comprehend how their words—thoughtless as they might have been—could inflict such devastating harm.
The tragedy of Hatake Sakumo became a grim testament to the power of words, and to how easily they could cut deeper than any blade.
Tonari, meanwhile, stayed in his laboratory, engrossed in his work. He barely reacted to the news, though the weight of it hung heavy on his mind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, was forced to act.
He publicly acknowledged his mistakes, expressing regret over Sakumo's treatment and reaffirming the White Fang's heroism.
Sakumo's name was added to Konoha's Memorial Stone, ensuring his legacy would not be forgotten.
But for many, it was too little, too late.
The man who could have protected Konoha's future was gone, not at the hands of an enemy but from the relentless judgment of his own people.
---
On the day of Sakumo's funeral, the entire village donned black attire to pay their respects.
The sky wept as a steady rain fell, mirroring the somber mood.
Tonari attended, his face devoid of emotion. His friends, Minato and Kushina, stood beside him, their own grief palpable.
Tonari's gaze eventually found its way to Kakashi, who stood silently at the forefront.
The boy's small frame seemed weighed down by the massive sword strapped to his back—the blade of his father, the White Fang.
Tonari approached Kakashi after the ceremony, crouching beside him.
"You ever felt true darkness, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's half-lidded eyes widened slightly at the unexpected question.
"Don't listen to the hollow comfort of others," Tonari continued. "Search your heart. Feel your father's actions and intentions for yourself.
"You might not understand now, but someday you will. Grow stronger, Kakashi. When you do, you'll finally understand."
Kakashi didn't respond, but a faint ripple of emotion flickered in his gaze.
From Tonari's shoulder, the small, blue-striped cat stirred, its chakra faintly pulsing as it observed Kakashi.
(End of Chapter)
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