CHAPTER 96

"How the hell did he move so fast?!"

In the Root headquarters, Danzo was furious. He incited civilians to curse Sakumo Hatake—a scheme carefully orchestrated by him. Behind the scenes, things were even more intense. Danzo had already "persuaded" the ninja that Sakumo had saved. This key player had long been manipulated to play the role of a scapegoat, forcing Hatake out of Konoha. But now, the situation had completely changed.

"Master Danzo, more and more civilians outside are supporting Sakumo Hatake," a Root shinobi reported coldly. "They've even occupied the area in front of his house."

Danzo's face darkened, his fists clenched tightly. He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to react so swiftly—and exactly as he did. Hiruzen had already gained the support of enough civilians to block Danzo's plans. Sakumo could no longer be pushed out.

But Danzo refused to back down. "Send more operatives to stir up trouble. Win over more civilians!"

"Yes, Danzo-sama!"

…

Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan shared Danzo's intent. Sakumo Hatake was Hiruzen's trusted right hand; getting rid of him would weaken the Hokage's influence. Using their authority within the police force, the Uchiha incited civilians, but thanks to the Naruto family's intervention, their actions were exposed.

After Uchiha Chinatsu was summoned by Hiruzen for a stern ideological reprimand, the Uchiha calmed down.

Danzo found himself increasingly isolated. After a few more fruitless days, he resorted to his "trump card."

The ninja whom Sakumo had saved was publicly denounced. He loudly claimed he had already resigned himself to death and sacrificed for the village's sake. He spoke proudly of this, yet scolded Sakumo repeatedly for attempting to save him—insisting Sakumo had neglected the village.

"Hatake Sakumo doesn't have the village's interests at heart. Such a traitor doesn't deserve respect! Everyone, please—ah! Who threw that rotten egg?!"

Clap! Clap!

Soon, the angry crowd began throwing all kinds of foul things—smelly socks, filthy underwear, even diapers and fresh feces.

"You white-eyed bastard!"

"Master Hatake saved you, and you say such things? Are you even human?"

"That kind of person isn't worthy of being a shinobi!"

"Kick him out of the village! He has no right to stay here!"

"That's right! Hatake gave up the mission to save him, causing losses to the village. He's the root of all this!"

The ninja's legs shook as he stared blankly at the furious crowd below. Was this really the story Danzo had prepared?

Soon, the man was beaten senseless, his nose broken and face swollen.

Danzo stood in the shadows, cold-faced. Seeing this, he understood that the situation was lost.

At the Hatake residence, things were very different.

Sakumo Hatake finally smiled after days of torment.

"Master Hatake, we support you!"

"Master Hatake, a kind-hearted shinobi like you is the true hero of our village!"

"Master Hatake, we love you like mice love rice!"

Cough. That last line definitely came from Fenghuo.

How could Sakumo be anything but in good spirits with such support?

"Thank you all," Sakumo said quietly.

He glanced at Tsunade and Jiraiya, who were drinking together, but felt like his words meant little to them.

"Thank us?" Tsunade slurred, clearly drunk. "You're wrong, haha, don't thank us."

Jiraiya took a swig and added, "If anyone deserves thanks, it's that brat—ha! That annoying brat."

"Right!" Tsunade raised her glass to Jiraiya, but knocked them together too hard—both glasses shattered, spilling sake on the table. Oblivious, the two continued drinking from the broken glasses, tilting their heads higher and higher until they finally collapsed into a drunken heap.

"…"

Sakumo was speechless.

"Little Ghost? Could that be Uchiha Fenghuo?"

"Father." Kakashi entered, his face back to normal and the proud expression masked beneath his usual cold, deadpan eyes.

"Kakashi, you should rest early. I've worried you these past few days," Sakumo said kindly.

"I'm fine, Father. You did nothing wrong. I support you."

"Thank you."

Seeing his son hesitate, Sakumo asked, "What is it?"

Kakashi gritted his teeth. "The ninja you saved—he... he..."

Sakumo smiled gently. "I understand. It's nothing."

Tsunade and Jiraiya had already informed him of the public backlash and the dark forces behind it. The ninja was likely coerced into his false accusations.

Relieved by his father's calm, Kakashi nodded. "I'm going to rest now, Father."

Sakumo closed the door softly, his face serious.

"Public opinion is a terrifying force."

Truth be told, after being trapped at home and verbally abused for days, Sakumo's spirits had nearly broken. Without Tsunade and Jiraiya's support, and with the public opinion still hostile, he might have been driven to despair.

"This terrible power cannot be left in the hands of outsiders."

His eyes gleamed. "Perhaps it's time for me to change my role."

The next day, in the Hokage's office, Sakumo Hatake officially resigned before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen sighed impatiently. "Sakumo, are you still angry about what happened? It's over. Why dwell on it?"

Sakumo shook his head, smiling. "Master Hokage, that's only part of it. Regardless, the village suffered losses because of me. Leaving Anbu is my punishment."

"Other reasons?"

Hiruzen relaxed, lighting his pipe. "Go on."

"Public opinion," Sakumo said. "This incident showed me how important it is. Before, we ignored the voices of ordinary people. Now, we must pay attention."

Hiruzen nodded deeply. Public opinion—an invisible but lethal force—terrified him. He feared the entire village might one day gather at his own doorstep, demanding his removal. If that happened, even the Hokage's position would be doomed.

"So you want to monitor public opinion?" Hiruzen asked, tapping the table.

Sakumo blushed slightly. "Honestly, I don't know how. I thought someone else might know."

Hiruzen's eyes suddenly brightened. "Seal the Fire!"

It was indeed Kakashi—his son, known by that codename.

Sakumo smiled. "Hokage-sama, I ask for your approval."

"Then I must approve your request," Hiruzen said, happily puffing on his pipe.

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