09 - Four Academy Students vs. The Court of Public Opinion

---Ryouma's POV---

After completing an intense training session, Rin and I decided to visit the ninja tool shop. I inspected my dulled kunai with a critical eye. These were getting dull faster than expected.

The life of a ninja, despite its high earnings, came with equally high expenses.

On our way to the shop, we overheard several villagers murmuring among themselves.

"Did you hear? That White Fang abandoned his mission."

"What?! Are you talking about the same hero?"

"Pfft, still calling him a hero? All the advantage he gained for the frontlines is now gone."

"I heard the village suffered a huge loss because of it."

"My brother's unit had to work twice as hard to make up for that loss," another villager added bitterly.

So it's beginning—the White Fang suicide incident, I thought silently. The timing matched perfectly.

In the original timeline, during Kakashi's first year at the Ninja Academy, his father took his own life.

The incident had originally unfolded when Sakumo, while on a mission, prioritized the safety of his comrades over completing the mission. This decision, though it saved lives, resulted in significant losses for the village.

When he returned to the village, his comrades were safe, but the villagers, upon learning of his decision, began to blame him.

A wave of public criticism crashed down upon him, with rumors of betrayal even surfacing from unknown sources.

Ultimately, even the ninjas Sakumo had saved joined in accusing him. The culmination of this relentless public condemnation was Sakumo's tragic suicide.

To be honest, before his death, no one could have imagined that someone as formidable as Sakumo would choose to end his life in such a shocking manner.

"Ryouma, they seem to be talking about..." Rin began as we continued on our way to the ninja tool shop.

"Yeah, it's probably about Kakashi's father," I said, watching the growing crowd ahead. "But we can't jump to conclusions based on what the villagers are saying." I understood the situation well, but hadn't yet decided what role I wanted to play in the unfolding events.

Of course, if there was a chance to save Sakumo, I would take it. In my previous life, I had deeply regretted the early loss of the White Fang. Moreover, Kakashi was a good friend to both Rin and me.

However, the intricacies of Sakumo's suicide were shrouded in layers of calculation and manipulation. I wasn't confident in my ability to influence the outcome significantly.

As I pondered my next steps, I felt Rin tugging on my sleeve.

"Ryouma, look ahead!" she pointed toward a small gathering of people nearby, where she couldn't clearly make out the situation.

"It's Kakashi and Obito. They're in a conflict with some villagers," I said, using my Rikugan to see through the crowd.

---Third POV---

At the center of the commotion, Kakashi stood tense and rigid. The young prodigy was well aware of his father's tarnished reputation in the village. Despite his talents, he had no effective way to restore his father's image, leaving him increasingly agitated.

He now resembled a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark—leading to the scene before us.

"Look, it's the traitor's son!"

"Watch your mouth! You don't know anything about Kakashi's father!" Obito shouted back, his fists clenched.

The street argument continued to escalate, showing no signs of de-escalation.

"You brats! Do you even know how many ninja sacrificed their lives on the frontlines to gain an advantage?"

"A ninja's duty is to complete the mission!"

"You're just a kid, what do you even know? Abandoning a mission on a whim—does someone like that even deserve to be called a ninja?"

The villagers seemed to have found a vent for their frustrations and hurled accusations at Obito and Kakashi.

"My father... he's not like that!" Kakashi retorted, angered but struggling to articulate a strong defense.

"And what about the Sandaime's teachings about protecting our comrades?" Obito countered.

"Are you dumb? Kakashi's father abandoned the mission to save his comrades! Don't you have any friends?!" Obito shouted back, standing firmly by Kakashi's side—a rare occurrence for someone who often found Kakashi's arrogance irritating.

"Abandoning such an important mission for this? I think the so-called White Fang of Konoha is nothing but a traitor!" one of the loudest villagers sneered.

That remark crossed a serious line.

Ryouma watched as Kakashi, who had originally intended to avoid escalating the situation, turned red with anger and instinctively reached for the ninja tool pouch on his back.

"Stay here for a moment," he told Rin quickly before using Body Flicker Technique.

---Ryouma's POV---

"Oh? Betraying the village? That's quite the accusation," I said, suddenly appearing beside Kakashi and pressing down on his hand to stop him.

I leaned in and spoke softly to him, "Don't act on impulse. Your father's situation won't be resolved by silencing a few people. Remember, Kakashi, reacting with violence only proves them right."

"Who are you? Are you here to defend him too? What do you kids even understand?" one of the villagers, a tall, skinny man with small eyes, shouted.

"You're the one who was yelling just now, weren't you?" I said, fixing my gaze on the man.

"So what if I was? He abandoned the mission without permission! Why shouldn't I—"

"That's enough!" I interrupted sharply. "Questioning a hero's loyalty during wartime? That's dangerously close to sedition."

"We have the right to question—" the tall villager started.

"The Hokage himself hasn't accused the White Fang of betraying the village. Where do you get the audacity to slander a hero of the village? Or are you questioning the Hokage's judgment?"

"Don't twist my words! I'm not questioning the Hokage!" the skinny man stammered, but as he was about to retort further—

"Stirring up trouble in the village and spreading rumors—sounds like someone's asking for a visit to the Police Force, right, Obito?" I said, my voice calm but menacing.

"The Police Force will definitely round up scumbags like you!" Obito jumped in, eagerly echoing my words.

"Tch... just a bunch of brats," the skinny man muttered, but upon seeing the Uchiha crest on Obito's clothing, he and his group muttered a few more threats before dispersing.

Though I felt a bit guilty for exploiting the Uchiha's reputation, I had to admit that their presence was highly effective against ignorant villagers.

"Thank you, Ryouma," Kakashi said gratefully. If I hadn't stepped in, the situation might have gone sideways.

As the crowd dispersed, Rin finally caught up with us.

"Ryouma, you suddenly disappeared earlier—it scared me!" Rin exclaimed.

"Sorry, sorry. It was an emergency," I replied with an apologetic smile.

I noticed Kakashi studying me with interest, his eyes carefully analyzing what he had just witnessed. The Body Flicker Technique was typically reserved for high-ranking ninja, and I could see him processing the speed at which I had appeared.

"That technique..."

The young prodigy, who usually carried himself with such confidence, seemed to be weighing his own abilities against what he had just seen. In his eyes, I could read a mixture of admiration and self-doubt—perhaps questioning whether his reputation as a "genius" truly meant anything in the face of real-world challenges.

"Thanks again, Ryouma. Those jerks were out of line," Obito grumbled, still simmering with anger.

"Don't thank me just yet. The real question is—what do you plan to do next, Kakashi?"

"I... I don't know. My father has shut himself away and hasn't addressed any of the rumors spreading through the village," Kakashi admitted. You could feel his frustration in his voice.

"Are you just going to stand by and do nothing?" I pressed.

"Of course not! But with so many people talking about my father, and the fact that he did abandon the mission... I don't know how to fix this."

It was true.

No matter the hidden schemes or darker elements at play, the fact remained that Sakumo's decision had caused a loss for the village. I could see the weight of this reality crushing down on Kakashi's shoulders, making him seem smaller than his usual confident self.

The villagers' accusations, though cruel, weren't entirely baseless, and that made the situation all the more complex to resolve.

"In that case, Kakashi, ask for help. Don't carry this burden alone. Leaning on friends when things get rough doesn't make you weak. Or... do you not consider us your friends?"

"And this isn't just about defending your father's honor," I continued, watching his reaction carefully. "It's about protecting what he stood for."

"The Will of Fire isn't just about completing missions," Obito added with surprising maturity.

"It's about standing together, right?" Rin's gentle voice carried strength beneath it.

Kakashi was stunned but quickly snapped out of it. Gathering his resolve, he said, "I need your help. Ryouma, Obito, Rin—please help me."

"You don't even need to ask, you arrogant jerk!" Obito said, grinning proudly at seeing Kakashi regain his spirit.

"I may not be much help, but I'll give it my all," Rin said, meaning every word.

"Then let's not waste any time," I said. "We'll find a place to strategize and come up with a plan. It looks like we've got a lot of work ahead."

"Right!" Kakashi, Obito, and Rin said in unison.