Two Days Later, in the Hokage Meeting Room
The patriarchs of Konoha's clans and senior village officials gathered around the long table. Among them sat Hatake Sakumo, commander of the Anbu, and Aburame Ryoma.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, cleared his throat as he took a slow drag from his pipe.
"Ahem… I assume everyone is aware of the recent mission failure in Kawa no Kuni."
His words barely settled before the Aburame Clan Head rose from his seat, bowing deeply.
"Hokage-sama, please show leniency to Ryoma."
Hiruzen, expression unreadable, ignored the plea and continued, "This failure has caused significant losses for Konoha. Someone must be held accountable."
He turned his sharp gaze to Aburame Ryoma. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Ryoma stood, his expression as stoic as ever. "Hokage-sama, I ask that Hatake-sama not be punished for this."
Murmurs broke out across the room. Even Sakumo himself appeared stunned.
Hiruzen's brows furrowed. "Explain yourself."
Ryoma remained calm. "As a shinobi, the mission comes first. I was prepared to sacrifice my life to ensure its success. However, despite having already secured the hostage, Hatake-sama chose to abandon the mission in order to save me. His decision undermined the very essence of a shinobi's duty."
Silence fell over the room.
Sakumo's expression tightened. He had expected backlash, but not from the very man he had saved.
Hiruzen's face darkened. "So, you claim that White Fang was in the wrong?"
Ryoma nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. I upheld my duty as a shinobi, even at the cost of my life. But Hatake-sama disregarded the mission's importance. He does not deserve to be a ninja."
A deep frown formed on Hiruzen's face. "But it was because you were poisoned that the mission was compromised, was it not? Do you not bear some responsibility?"
The room tensed. Hiruzen realized his misstep too late.
Danzo, ever opportunistic, seized the moment.
"Hiruzen, it was Hatake who failed, not Ryoma. If Ryoma had died, no one would question it. He did his duty. But Hatake... he betrayed the mission."
Hiruzen opened his mouth to object, but Danzo cut him off.
"As Hokage, you must not shift blame unfairly. If we punish Ryoma to protect Hatake, we will only discourage loyalty among our shinobi."
The air in the room grew heavy. The clan heads remained silent, unwilling to take sides.
Danzo smirked inwardly. Hiruzen, you still don't understand human nature.
He turned to Sakumo, voice calm yet cutting. "Do you deny that you placed a companion above the mission?"
Sakumo hesitated, then clenched his fists and answered firmly, "No. I do not deny it."
Danzo's lips curled ever so slightly. He turned back to Hiruzen.
"A shinobi is a tool. The mission is absolute. If we allow emotions to interfere, we fail our clients. When we accept a mission, should we warn the employer that we might abandon it if a teammate is in danger?"
Sakumo lowered himself to one knee, bowing his head before the Hokage.
"Hokage-sama… I take full responsibility. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit."
Hiruzen's hands tightened around his pipe. "I will not punish White Fang. He has completed countless S-rank missions for Konoha. His service outweighs this failure."
Danzo's work was done. Whether Sakumo was punished or not no longer mattered—the damage was done.
Danzo stood, feigning disinterest. "I have no desire to continue this discussion. If there is a vote, mark mine as a 'no' to punishing Hatake."
He turned to Aburame Ryoma. "Come, Ryoma. Our part here is done."
As Danzo left the room, Hiruzen cast a glance around the gathered leaders. Not one met his gaze.
His eyes then shifted to Sakumo, still kneeling. He sighed.
"This meeting is dismissed."
Sakumo looked up. "Hokage-sama…"
Hiruzen gave him a measured look. "Go home, White Fang. Rest. Konoha still needs you."
Sakumo lowered his head. "...Yes."
---
A Few Days Later
Rumors spread like wildfire.
The village's whispers had shifted from Aburame Ryoma to Hatake Sakumo.
"How could White Fang make such a foolish mistake?"
"Ryoma was willing to die for the mission, yet Hatake threw it away?"
"He's a high-ranking shinobi—he doesn't need the money. He just wanted to secure power."
"Think about it. The Hokage is getting older. Maybe White Fang was trying to gain the Aburame clan's loyalty to become Hokage himself."
"So he sacrificed our village's future for his own ambitions?!"
"The Hatake clan is small now, but if he became Hokage, it would rise in power."
"What a selfish move! He only thought of himself!"
The more the rumors spread, the more the villagers' perception of White Fang shifted.
What was once admiration became resentment.
Even those who had once supported him hesitated.
"If White Fang ever runs for Hokage, I will be the first to oppose him."
"Shh—he's nearby! He might hear you."
"I don't care anymore."