The retreat was a grueling, desperate affair. Each step Sakumo took sent jolts of agony through his mangled leg and bleeding back. Shinnosuke, arm in a makeshift sling, leaned heavily on Hyou, whose face was pale with chakra exhaustion. Taji, though outwardly the least injured, moved with a grimace, nursing what were likely internal injuries. Kagura was carried by Sakumo, her shattered leg making any attempt to walk impossible. The desert night offered little comfort, its vast emptiness mirroring the hollowness of their compromised mission.
They collapsed at a pre-arranged emergency extraction point, a hidden crevice miles from the factory, just as dawn painted the eastern sky in hues of blood-orange and grey.
"We… we made it," Taji gasped, slumping against a rock.
Shinnosuke looked at Sakumo, his masked face unreadable, but his voice held a rough gratitude. "Sakumo-taichou… you saved us. If you hadn't aborted your attack on the Kazekage…"
Hyou nodded, his usual analytical composure softened by exhaustion. "He would have sealed us in there. Your decision… it was the right one for the team."
Kagura, despite her pain, managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Hatake-sama."
Sakumo merely grunted, wincing as he shifted his weight. "The mission was to destroy the supply line and, if possible, eliminate the Kazekage. We achieved neither. Genno is likely dead. The factory still stands, for all we know. That is not success."
Silence fell, the weight of their failure pressing down. The earlier gratitude was still there, but now it was tinged with the stark reality of their report to the Hokage.
Upon their return to Konoha, limping and bearing the marks of their ordeal, they were immediately summoned to the Hokage's office. Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to their report with a grave expression, his pipe emitting slow, thoughtful puffs of smoke. Homura and Koharu flanked him, their faces stern. Danzo was notably absent.
When Sakumo finished, detailing the Kazekage's unexpected resilience, the trap of the Grand Mausoleum, and their subsequent retreat, Hiruzen sighed heavily.
"You are all back alive," the Hokage said, his voice betraying a hint of relief. "For that, I am grateful. Your lives are valuable to Konoha." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "However, the mission objectives were not met. The supply line remains, and the Kazekage, while likely injured, is still at large. This is a significant setback."
Sakumo bowed his head. "I take full responsibility, Hokage-sama. My decisions led to this outcome."
Hiruzen waved a dismissive hand, though his eyes remained troubled. "War is unpredictable, Sakumo. Even for the best of us. You and your team are to take two weeks medical leave. Recover. But this… this failure will be noted in your records." The unspoken implication hung in the air: such a mark could impact future promotions, mission pay, and overall standing.
Shinnosuke, Hyou, Taji, and Kagura accepted the judgment with stoic nods. They were alive, but the shadow of failure would follow them. As they were dismissed, Sakumo lingered for a moment, the weight of his responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. He had saved his team, but at what cost to the war, and to his own reputation?
Flashback: Root's Shadow Play
Days before Sakumo's team had even reached Tanigakure, another, more insidious operation was set in motion. In the cold, sterile depths of Root's headquarters, Danzo Shimura addressed a small, elite squad. Among them stood Toru, his face impassive behind his ANBU-style mask, his true identity as Thorfin buried deep.
"Your primary objective is the elimination of the Suna shinobi guarding the Tanigakure factory," Danzo stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "Do it silently. Genno, our asset, will believe he is coordinating with Sakumo Hatake. You will replace Genno's expected Konoha contact, posing as an ANBU liaison. Once the factory is secured, you are to observe the confrontation between Hatake and the Third Kazekage. Your team leader, Code Name: Kage-Bane, will make the final call."
Danzo's single eye gleamed. "If Hatake is victorious, he is to be… neutralized. His team as well, if collateral becomes necessary. If the Kazekage prevails, or if both are significantly weakened, you are to eliminate the Kazekage. Secure his body for study. Any Konoha ANBU attempting to interfere with this final objective are to be considered hostile. Understood?"
A chorus of "Hai, Danzo-sama!" was their only reply.
Toru's squad, led by Kage-Bane, infiltrated Tanigakure with chilling efficiency. They moved through the shadows of the smithing village, their presence unnoticed. They observed Genno's meeting with Sakumo and Taji, then, under Kage-Bane's direction, systematically and silently eliminated the factory's outer Suna patrols, replacing them with their own disguised Root operatives. One operative, skilled in seals, was tasked with subtly disarming the explosive tags Sakumo's team would later place – a contingency to ensure the Kazekage was drawn into a direct confrontation, rather than being caught in a simple demolition.
As the battle between Sakumo's team and the Kazekage erupted, Toru's squad watched from concealed positions. Kage-Bane was a veteran, his movements economical, his orders precise. He analyzed the flow of the battle, waiting for the opportune moment.
When the Grand Mausoleum jutsu was activated, sealing Sakumo and the Kazekage within, Kage-Bane gave the signal. "Matsuri's team will handle the internal demolition and target the Kazekage if he survives. Our priority shifts. If Hatake escapes, he is the target. If the Kazekage emerges alone, he is ours."
But the Kazekage, through sheer force of will and the unexpected sacrifice of Matsuri, managed to survive the internal explosions, albeit grievously wounded, and claw his way from the wreckage of his own jutsu. He was a broken, enraged beast, but still a Kage.
"He's alive," Kage-Bane hissed. "All units, converge. Eliminate the Kazekage."
The Root squad descended. The Kazekage, fueled by adrenaline and fury, met their assault with a desperate barrage of iron sand. He was a cornered animal, lashing out with devastating power. Kage-Bane, leading the charge, was caught by a wide, sweeping attack of iron sand spikes, impaled through the chest. He fell, gurgling, his mask cracking.
With their commander down, a moment of hesitation flickered through the Root squad. It was Toru who broke it.
"He's weakened! Press the attack! Earth Style: Stone Fangs!" Toru slammed his hands on the ground. Jagged spikes of rock erupted beneath the Kazekage, forcing him to leap back, his movements sluggish.
Another Root agent, Code Name: Kiri (Mist), unleashed a dense fog. "Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
The Kazekage roared, swinging his iron sand wildly, trying to disperse the mist. "Cowards! Face me!"
Toru, using the mist as cover, moved with the predatory grace of his past life. He recalled his training, the relentless drills, the cold logic of Root. Exploit weakness. No mercy. Secure the objective. He channeled chakra to his feet, appearing silently behind the disoriented Kazekage.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Blade!" Toru exhaled a thin, razor-sharp blade of wind that sliced through the Kazekage's remaining sand defenses, already compromised by his injuries and Matsuri's explosives. The wind blade bit deep into the Kazekage's exposed back.
The Kage stumbled, roaring in pain. He whirled, a massive iron sand fist lashing out. Toru ducked, the blow whistling over his head. Another Root agent, caught by the wild swing, was crushed.
He's expending too much chakra, Toru assessed. His control is failing.
"Lightning Style: Four Pillar Bind!" another Root agent cried, unleashing currents of electricity that momentarily seized the Kazekage's limbs.
It was the opening Toru needed. He surged forward, the Viking dagger – Taro's gift – appearing in his hand as if an extension of his soul. He didn't use a grand jutsu. He used a warrior's instinct. He ducked under a flailing sand tendril, his body low, and thrust the dagger upwards, under the Kazekage's jaw, driving it deep into the base of his skull.
The Third Kazekage, the strongest in Suna's history, froze. A look of disbelief crossed his face before his eyes glazed over. He crumpled to the desert floor, a lifeless husk.
Silence. The remaining Root agents stared. Toru stood over the fallen Kage, breathing heavily, the dagger dripping blackish blood.
"Objective… secured," Toru stated, his voice surprisingly steady. "Retrieve the body."
Back in Konoha, Toru (as Thorfin) delivered the mission report directly to Danzo. The body of the Third Kazekage was presented. Danzo's face remained an impassive mask, but Toru could see the flicker of something – satisfaction? Pride? – deep within his single visible eye.
"The mission was a success, despite the loss of Kage-Bane and two other operatives," Toru reported, detailing every action, every decision.
Danzo listened intently, his gaze lingering on Toru. "You took command after Kage-Bane fell?"
"Hai, Danzo-sama. The objective had to be secured."
"Impressive," Danzo said, the word holding a weight that belied his neutral tone. This one… Toru… he has the potential. The ruthlessness. The skill. He made a mental note. This agent would require… specialized attention. "This is a testament to Root's strength. A Kage has fallen by our hand. It is only natural." He dismissed Toru and the remaining squad members.
Later, Danzo almost felt the urge to inform Hiruzen, to flaunt this undeniable victory. But he restrained himself. This triumph was Root's alone. His alone. He handed the Kazekage's body over to Orochimaru. "Study it. Learn its secrets. Suna's greatest weapon may yet serve Konoha."
Weeks later, the Konoha Council convened. The topic: Sakumo Hatake.
"His failure is undeniable," Koharu stated, her voice sharp. "The Kazekage remains a threat, the supply line intact. He prioritized his team over the mission."
Homura nodded. "While saving his team is commendable on a personal level, a shinobi of his caliber, on a mission of this importance, cannot afford such sentimentality. It sets a dangerous precedent."
Danzo remained silent, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. He knew the Kazekage was dead, but that information was not for this council. Sakumo's "failure" served his purposes perfectly.
Hiruzen listened, his heart heavy. He knew Sakumo's character. The man was loyal to a fault, especially to his comrades. But the political reality was stark. "Sakumo Hatake is a hero to many," Hiruzen began, trying to find a path of mitigation.
"And that is precisely the problem, Hokage-sama," Danzo finally interjected, his voice smooth. "A hero who fails so spectacularly? Whose judgment leads to the compromise of a critical war objective? Such a figure, if left unchecked, can become a symbol of… misplaced priorities. The village needs to see that no one is above accountability."
Hiruzen looked at his old teammates, his advisors. Their faces were set. He was being backed into a corner. He also knew, deep down, that Sakumo's popularity was a concern. The White Fang was too beloved, too capable. If Sakumo ever developed political ambitions, or if the populace demanded it, he could very well be the next Hokage. And Hiruzen, despite his public persona, was not yet ready to relinquish that seat. He still had plans, successors to groom—Orochimaru, perhaps Jiraiya—men who would, he believed, still heed his counsel even from the Hokage's chair. This would give him more time with Biwako, more time for his cherished calligraphy.
It's for the good of the village, Hiruzen told himself, the familiar justification soothing his conscience. Sakumo has no interest in politics anyway. This will blow over. A temporary setback for him, but necessary for stability.
"Very well," Hiruzen said, his voice laced with a regret that felt both genuine and hollow. "Sakumo Hatake will be formally reprimanded. His actions will be investigated. Let the village see that even its greatest heroes are subject to the highest standards."
The decision was made. The whispers would begin. The White Fang of Konoha, the hero, would slowly, inexorably, be tarnished. And in the shadows, Danzo smiled.