"Don't you care about the outside talk?"

Kakashi, who was in the courtyard under the guidance of Shuo Mao's sword technique, looked at Shuo Mao and asked softly.

To be honest, he couldn't understand the rumors outside, why he was targeting his father so much.

The mission failed once, which did not affect Shuo Shige's status in his mind in the slightest, but the words of those people outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.

"Kakashi, if it were you, would you take care of it?"

Shuo Mao asked with a smile.

“……”

Kakashi gripped the dagger tightly, as if hesitating, struggling.

"Sorry, I don't know what to do."

"Why apologize? Kakashi, you still have a long way to go in the future. ”

Sakumo crouched down, his broad hand gripping Kakashi's knife-gripping palm, and smiled comfortingly.

"Hmm."

Kakashi nodded.

"Let's fight with someone today."

Shuo Mao said in an affirmative tone.

Kakashi hesitated, but nodded.

"I've taught a few guys who don't know what to do, and what they say is so ugly."

"I'm glad you stood up for me. So in your opinion, is what they say right or wrong? ”

The smile on Sakumo's face vanished, and to Kakashi, it was an incomparably serious expression.

Quests and companions? Kakashi began to ask himself whether he would have chosen to carry out the mission or save his companion if he had been in the same position as his father Shuo Shigeru at the time.

He didn't know what to do to make the right choice.

Earnestness should be the highest priority of the task, it is the will of fire that has made a mistake......

But that was the will handed down by the first generation of adults, how could it be wrong?

If it was wrong, how could such a textbook be selected as a compulsory subject in a ninja school?

But......

Kakashi was a little dazed.

He got a perfect score in theory, and for the first time, he didn't know how to answer this question.

"I don't know."

Eventually, Kakashi shook his head.

He looked up at his father, Shuo Mao, hoping that he could give him an answer.

Whether it's task priority or companion priority.

Sakumo didn't answer, he just patted Kakashi on the shoulder, looking at the beautiful sunset that was sinking in the distance, the sunset reflected on his face, it was the afterglow of the end of the curtain.

"I don't care what other people say, so you don't have to take these things to heart."

"However, the person who was saved by you, Dad, is also insulting ......"

"Don't stop doing what should be right because of the denial of others, or even regret it afterwards because of the ridicule and accusations of others. I just followed the beliefs and persistence that a Konoha ninja should have. ”

"Yes......"

Kakashi lowered his head, he still couldn't be as open-minded as Sakumo.

The rest of them can be forgiven, but the only one who was saved by Shuo Mao has to blame his savior, which Kakashi can't forgive.

"That's all for today's sword cultivation."

Kakashi nodded, followed Shuo Shige's instructions, and went back to his room.

Time passed slowly, and it was late at night, and because of the rumors, Kakashi was tired during the day, whether it was practicing or eating, he was a little absent-minded, and he would rest very early at night.

On the roof of the Qimu Mansion, Shuo Mao was looking at the sparse stars and moon overhead, blowing the cool breeze of the night.

There was a slight movement from behind, and someone climbed up to the roof from behind and walked towards him.

"It's easy to catch a cold when the wind blows here at night, Mr. Shuomao."

Shiraishi walked over to Shuo Mao and smiled at him.

"Ayane has been here during the day, but is it you at night?"

Shuo Mao also smiled.

"Ayane? Is she here too? ”

Shiraishi was taken aback.

"She came over after I had lunch and went back not long after."

"Really?"

Shiraishi also followed Shuo Mao's line of sight, looked at the stars and moon in the night sky, and muttered to himself in a low voice.

"You came to me so late, you didn't plan to accompany me here to blow a cold wind overnight, right?"

Shuo Mao asked.

"I'm just here to see the scenery."

"The view?"

"Yes, it's the same as what you see...... The stone statues of the Hokage of the past generations established this village, and it is known in history as a person of great achievement. ”

Shiraishi shifted his gaze away from the night sky, and directly below him were the shadow rocks of the three Hokage.

The first Hokage who established Konoha.

The second-generation Hokage who formulated an important development strategy for the village.

There are also the three generations of Hokage today.

In the future, there will be many more people who will be carved on it and worshipped by the people of Konoha.

Four generations of Hokage...... Five generations of Hokage...... Six generations of Hokage......

Shuo Mao didn't speak, and kept quiet with Shiraishi, quietly looking at the shadow rocks.

After a long time, Shuo Mao was the first to break the silence and said, "What will the future of Konoha become?" ”

This sentence seems to be asking Shiraishi, as if he is asking himself, or maybe he is asking someone else.

"I don't think I need to ask about this kind of thing, because Mr. Shuomao, you've already found the answer you want, haven't you?"

Shiraishi answered Shuo Mao's question, and then spoke:

"Just like you said to Kakashi, do what you feel is right, and don't regret it because of other people's accusations."

"Sure enough, among the three of you, you are the most special one."

Shuo Mao said meaningfully.

Shiraishi knew that Shiraishi had sensed the decision he had taken in the face of these rumors.

"Now that you've made your choice, it seems like I'm going to do it too much."

Shiraishi didn't respond to this question head-on, but sighed.

Unlike Ayane, Shuo Mao is long past the age to ask who he is.

He knew very well why he had made such a choice.

I don't know if I regret it later, but if I don't do it, I will definitely live in torment in the future.

It's like giving up a mission because he saved his companion, no matter whether the rescued person will blame him for the failure of the mission, Shuo Mao did not waver.

Scolding him is someone else's business, saving his companions is his business, and there is no inevitable relationship between the two.

He was simply obeying the beliefs conveyed by the Will of Fire.

I firmly believe that saving my companions and giving up the mission is the highest priority, even if I break some rules.

For such people, the opinions of others can only be used as a reference, and cannot be the decisive factor that shakes their faith.

"Teacher Shuomao, you should rest early, I'll go back first."

Shiraishi knew that he had come here, and he couldn't change anything, so he better go back and rest.

It's cold tonight.

Shiraishi began to walk towards the way back.

"Take care of Kakashi for me."

Shuo Mao's words came from behind him.

Under the silent night, Shiraishi, who heard this, paused and nodded slightly.

By the time Shuo Mao turned his head to look, the place where Shiraishi had been standing was empty.

◎

The air seemed a little chilly the next morning.

Kakashi got up early and prepared breakfast in the kitchen, only to be a little confused when he saw that his father, Sakumo, hadn't come yet.

At this point in time, I would have come by a long time ago.

After all, after breakfast, there is a morning exercise.

Kakashi took his breakfast and walked towards Shuo Mao's room, opened the door, and shouted to the people inside:

"Daddy, it's time for breakfast—"

The breakfast plate fell to the ground with a loud noise.

A hearty and nutritious breakfast was sprinkled all over the floor.

But it didn't matter, and in the middle of the room, a man lay in a pool of blood.

With the white-fanged short knife that plundered the blood of countless enemies, he quietly ended his life.

Kakashi's mind went blank when he saw this, and he couldn't remember anything.

◎

Shuo Mao is dead.

The news was disseminated by the security guards, who determined that it was a suicide and not a murder at home.

There was no sign of illusion, no signs of violent struggle, no sign of a fight with the enemy.

It's very common to stab the blade into his body and end his life.

The news was quickly known to the villagers of Konoha, and the higher-ups also knew the news.

And about the rumors, they all stop in silent silence.

- In a huge dimly lit space in Konoha, the Konoha ninjas who survive in this place are the ones who give up everything.

Names, feelings, and even lives are all abandoned.

Nourished by darkness, it is deeply rooted in the earth.

Root.

It's the general name of their organization, which originated in the shadows, but was outside the Hokage's jurisdiction.

Their leader, Shimura Danzo, was in the middle of the conference room, and a Konoha ninja was roaring angrily at the root leader:

"Why is this happening? Why Somao...... Captain Shuo Mao, will he kill himself? Elder Tuanzang, didn't you say that everything would be fine? Why did things turn out like this? ”

If he hadn't been held up by two root ninjas, he would probably rush to Tuanzang's side and beat him up severely.

And Tuan Zang is also a little restless and irritable.

Konoha White Fang committed suicide...... Why did he kill himself?

Rumors are indeed spread at the roots, and there is silence in the shadows, neither acknowledging nor stopping them.

Because the Hokage can't be produced on Shuo Mao.

Therefore, his reputation should be suppressed.

As long as his reputation is lowered, Konoha White Fang is still Konoha's upper ninja, and he is the leading figure in the upper ninja, but he has never had a chance with the Hokage.

Can...... Why did Shuo Mao commit suicide?

This level of rumors should not be fatal.

Originally, he had planned to stop the spread of rumors this afternoon.

Danzang was at a loss.

"Take him out, I need to calm down."

Unable to understand why Shuo Mao wanted to commit suicide, Danzo waved his hand irritably, asking the root ninja to take the Konoha ninja who questioned him down.

He wondered why, too, but Shuo Mao was dead, and there was no one to answer him.

◎

Shuo Mao's funeral was held in a weather that was not too gloomy.

Not many people came to the funeral.

In addition to Kakashi, there are also Shiraishi, Ruri, and Ayane, and only Tsunade is a person who is more familiar.

To this day, they are all surprised by this, thinking that Shuo Mao would not commit suicide because of such a fragile person.

"Life is born and it is gone......"

Orochimaru faced all this with a gloomy look.

Everything was as if it didn't make sense.

The rope tree is like this.

The same is true of breaks.

Now it's Shuomao's turn.

If one day it's your turn...... Orochimaru didn't know why, and an inexplicable fear appeared in his heart.

Eventually, he shook his head and was the first to leave Shuo Mao's funeral.

He'd seen too many people die, and Shuo Mao was just one of them, not the last.

In the future, there will be many people who have a relationship with him who will die in front of him.

Life is such a fragile thing.

"Mr. Jiraiya, why did Senior Shuomao do this?"

The accompanying water gate looked at the teacher next to him, Jiraiya, and asked this question softly.

"Who knows about this kind of thing, the deceased is gone, so don't talk about it."

Jiraiya shook his head, distraught.

Mizumon nodded knowingly, didn't ask any further questions, and looked at Kakashi at the front of the line, full of pity and sympathy.

Tsunade walked over to Shiraishi's side, saw his calm face, and knew that this must be pretending to be strong, and wanted to say something comforting, but he didn't know what to say.

Shiraishi seemed to know what Tsunade wanted to say, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei, I don't have to worry, don't worry about me." ”

Tsunade nodded.

It didn't take long for her to leave the place along with Jiraiya and Watergate.

One after another, people left, and in the end, only the three Shiraishi and Kakashi remained here.

Shiraishi placed the flowers in his hand in front of Shuo Mao's tomb.

"You are the true ninja who inherited the will of fire, and the one who interprets all of this will......"

The ideas of the high-level people are not wrong, plundering Shuomao's political capital, so that he can be a ninja in the future, and there are also proper arrangements and considerations for Shuomao's future.

But...... The only way to do it is wrong.

In this world, there are many people who value dignity and faith more than their own lives.

To the enemy, he is the hateful Konoha White Fang.

For his own people, there is no companion who feels more at ease than he is by his side.

This is a ninja who regards his companions as his own responsibilities and puts his life above all else.

What he upholds is the will of fire in his heart that has never been tainted by anything.

Now even the higher-ups are not complying with it, and they have taken the initiative to break the rules that have existed in the village since the beginning.

What was the reason for the establishment of this village?

Isn't it the greatest irony that a village that was founded because of the bond was instead slandered by rumors that the ninja who chose the bond was instead slandered for abandoning the mission?

However, the ninjas and villagers, who thought they had inherited the will of fire, never doubted this, and even raised objections.

The will to fire, which they had believed in in the past, was distorted by themselves without knowing it.

They have forgotten why the village was founded in the first place.

Lost what the village's original and most important principles should be firm.

If you save people and lose land, you will gain all people.

If the land is lost, the people and the land are lost.

From the very beginning, the starting point of the higher-ups and Shuomao's thinking was not on the same path.

Mr. Shuo Mao, I hope that those people with your intention to die can understand and take this as a warning, go back to what they have lost, and awaken the confusion in their hearts. At the end of this funeral, Shiraishi added this sentence in his heart.

It is also the most sincere blessing.

Otherwise, if such a bad cycle continues, Shiraishi can expect that Konoha White Fang is only the beginning, but it is by no means the last.

There will be more such people in Konoha in the future, who lose themselves in the wavering rules and become pathetic victims of them.