Aren't you going to deal with the rumors outside?"
Kakashi, who was receiving Shokumo's sword instruction in the courtyard, asked Shokumo softly.
To be honest, he couldn't understand why those rumors outside were so targeted at his father.
The mission failed only once, which did not affect Shokumo's standing in his heart at all, but the words of those people outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.
"Kakashi, if it were you, would you bother with them?"
Shokumo asked with a smile.
"..."
Kakashi gripped his short sword tightly, seemingly hesitant and struggling.
"Sorry, I don't know what to do."
"Why apologize, Kakashi? You still have a long way to go."
Shokumo squatted down, his broad hand grasping Kakashi's sword-holding hand, comforting him with a smile.
"Mm."
Kakashi nodded.
"You got into a fight today, didn't you?"
Shokumo said with certainty.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"I taught a few ignorant guys a lesson. What they said was too awful."
"I'm glad you stood up for me. So, in your opinion, were their words right or wrong?"
Shokumo's smile disappeared. To Kakashi, it was an incomparably serious expression.
Mission and comrades? Kakashi began to ask himself, if he had been in his father Shokumo's position at that time, would he have chosen to proceed with the mission or save his comrades?
He didn't know which choice was correct.
Ninjas should prioritize missions, right? Is the Will of Fire wrong... But that's the will passed down by the First Hokage, how could it be wrong?
If it were wrong, why would such a textbook be chosen as a required subject in the Ninja Academy?
But... Kakashi was a little confused.
With a perfect score in theoretical knowledge, it was the first time he didn't know how to answer this question.
"I don't know."
Ultimately, Kakashi shook his head.
He looked up at his father, Shokumo, hoping he could give him a reference answer.
Which comes first, the mission or comrades?
Shokumo didn't answer. He just patted Kakashi's shoulder, looking at the beautiful setting sun in the distance, the afterglow reflecting on his face, a twilight of an era.
"I don't care about other people's opinions, so you don't need to take these things to heart either."
"But, the person you saved, Dad, is also insulting you..."
"Don't stop doing what you know is right just because others deny you, and don't regret it afterwards because of their ridicule and accusations. I merely upheld the beliefs and principles a Konoha ninja should have."
"Yes..."
Kakashi lowered his head. He still couldn't be as magnanimous as Shokumo.
He could forgive everyone else, but the person Shokumo saved, who then turned to criticize his savior, was something Kakashi could not forgive.
"That's enough for sword training today."
Kakashi nodded, followed Shokumo's instructions, and returned to his room.
Time slowly passed, reaching deep into the night. Due to the rumors, Kakashi had been mentally exhausted during the day. Whether it was training or eating, he was somewhat distracted, and he went to bed early at night.
On the roof of the Hatake residence, Shokumo was alone, gazing at the sparse stars and moon above, enjoying the cool night breeze.
A slight movement came from behind. Someone climbed onto the roof from behind and walked towards him.
"Blowing in the wind late at night like this, you'll easily catch a cold, Shokumo-sensei."
Shiraishi walked up to Shokumo and said with a smile.
"Ayane came during the day, and now it's you at night?"
Shokumo also smiled.
"Ayane? She came too?"
Shiraishi was surprised.
"She came after I had lunch and left a little while later."
"Is that so?"
Shiraishi also followed Shokumo's gaze, looking at the stars and moon in the night sky, muttering softly.
"Coming to see me this late, you're not planning to spend the whole night here with me, are you?"
Shokumo asked.
"I'm just here to see the scenery."
"Scenery?"
"Yes, the same scenery you're looking at... the stone statues of the past Hokage, who established this village, people historically celebrated for their great achievements."
Shiraishi shifted his gaze from the night sky. Directly below were the Hokage Rock faces of the three Hokage.
The First Hokage, who founded Konoha.
The Second Hokage, who laid down important development strategies for the village.
And the current Third Hokage.
In the future, more people would be carved there, revered and admired by the people of Konoha.
The Fourth Hokage... the Fifth Hokage... the Sixth Hokage... Shokumo said nothing, maintaining a tacit silence with Shiraishi, quietly looking at those Hokage Rocks.
After a long while, Shokumo was the first to break the silence, saying, "What will Konoha's future become?"
This question seemed to be addressed to Shiraishi, and also to himself, or perhaps to someone else.
"I don't think you need to ask about that, Shokumo-sensei, because you've already found the answer you're looking for, haven't you?"
Shiraishi answered Shokumo's question, then continued:
"Just as you told Kakashi, do what you believe is right, and once you've done it, don't regret it because of others' accusations."
"Indeed, among the three of you, you are the most special."
Shokumo said meaningfully.
Shokumo knew that Shiraishi had already perceived his decision regarding these rumors.
"Since you've already made your choice, then my coming here seems redundant."
Shiraishi didn't directly answer the question but sighed.
Unlike Ayane, Shokumo was long past the age of questioning who he was.
He knew very well why he made such a choice.
He didn't know if he would regret it, but if he didn't do it, he would surely live in torment in the future.
For example, by saving his comrades and abandoning the mission, Shokumo remained unshaken, regardless of whether the rescued person would blame him for the mission failure.
Their cursing him was their business; saving his comrades was his business. There was no necessary connection between the two.
He was merely upholding the beliefs conveyed by the Will of Fire.
He firmly believed that saving comrades and abandoning a mission was the top priority, even if it meant breaking certain rules.
For such a person, others' opinions could only serve as a reference and could not be a decisive factor in shaking their beliefs.
"Shokumo-sensei, you should get some rest too. I'll head back now."
Shiraishi knew that his presence here couldn't change anything, so he might as well go back to rest.
The weather tonight was quite cold.
Shiraishi started walking back.
"Take good care of Kakashi for me."
Shokumo's words suddenly came from behind him.
In the silent darkness, Shiraishi's steps faltered upon hearing these words, and he nodded softly.
By the time Shokumo turned to look, the spot where Shiraishi had stood was already empty.
◎
The air seemed a bit cold the next morning.
Kakashi woke up early and prepared breakfast in the kitchen, but when he saw that his father, Shokumo, hadn't come yet, he was a little puzzled.
At this time, he would usually have been here already, wouldn't he?
After all, they still had morning training after breakfast.
Kakashi carried the breakfast and walked towards Shokumo's room, opened the door, and called out to the person inside:
"Dad, breakfast is rea—"
The breakfast plate fell to the ground with a loud crash.
The abundant, nutritious breakfast spilled everywhere.
But these things were insignificant. In the middle of the room, a man lay in a pool of blood.
With that White Light Blade, which had claimed countless enemies' blood, he had quietly ended his own life.
Kakashi saw this scene, his mind went blank, and he couldn't think of anything.
◎
Shokumo was dead.
This news was spread by the Anbu personnel, and it was confirmed that it was a suicide, not a murder at home.
There were no traces of genjutsu, no violent struggles, or signs of fighting with an enemy.
He had simply and calmly plunged the blade into his own body, ending his life.
This news quickly reached the villagers of Konoha, and the higher-ups also learned of it.
And the rumors all ceased in silent stillness.
—In a vast, dim space in Konoha, the Konoha shinobi who lived here were those who had abandoned everything.
Names, emotions, and even their lives, all were discarded.
Nourished by darkness, they were deeply rooted in the earth.
Root.
That was the collective name of their organization, originating from the Anbu, yet operating outside the Hokage's jurisdiction.
Their leader, Shimura Danzo, was in a conference room, and a Konoha ninja was angrily shouting at the Root leader:
"Why is this happening? Why did Shokumo... Captain Shokumo commit suicide? Danzo-sama, didn't you say everything would be fine? Why did things turn out like this?"
If he hadn't been held back by two Root ninja, he would likely have rushed to Danzo and beaten him severely.
Danzo was also a bit restless and irritable.
Konoha's White Fang committed suicide... Why would he commit suicide?
The rumors were indeed spread by Root, and the Anbu remained silent, neither endorsing nor stopping them.
Because the Hokage could not emerge from Shokumo.
Therefore, his reputation had to be suppressed.
By lowering his reputation, Konoha's White Fang would still be Konoha's jōnin, a leading figure among jōnin, but from then on, he would have no connection to the Hokage position.
But... why did Shokumo commit suicide?
This level of rumor shouldn't have been fatal.
He had even planned to stop the spread of rumors that afternoon.
Danzo was lost in confusion.
"Take him out. I need to calm down."
Unable to understand why Shokumo committed suicide, Danzo irritably waved his hand, telling the Root ninja to take away the Konoha ninja who was questioning him.
He also wanted to know why, but Shokumo was dead, and no one could answer his question.
◎
Shokumo's funeral was held on a not-so-gloomy day.
Not many people attended the funeral.
Besides Kakashi, Shiraishi, Ruri, and Ayane, there were only close acquaintances like Tsunade.
Even now, they must find this unbelievable, thinking that Shokumo wasn't such a weak-willed person who would commit suicide because of such rumors and gossip.
"Life is born, and it also passes away..."
Orochimaru faced all of this with a somber look.
Everything seemed meaningless.
Nawaki was like this.
Dan was also like this.
Now it was Shokumo's turn.
If it were his turn one day... Orochimaru didn't know why, but a strange fear arose in his heart.
Finally, he shook his head and was the first to leave Shokumo's funeral.
He had seen too many people die, and Shokumo was just one of them, not the last.
In the future, many more people connected to him would die before his eyes.
Life was such a fragile thing.
"Jiraiya-sensei, why did Shokumo-senpai do this?"
Minato, who was accompanying him, looked at his teacher Jiraiya and asked softly.
"Who knows? The deceased is gone, so let's not discuss it anymore."
Jiraiya shook his head, annoyed.
Minato nodded understandingly, not pressing further, and looked at Kakashi at the very front of the procession, filled with pity and sympathy.
Tsunade walked to Shiraishi's side, seeing his calm face, knowing he must be feigning strength, and wanted to offer comfort but didn't know what to say.
Shiraishi seemed to know what Tsunade wanted to say, and smiled, "Don't worry, Tsunade-sensei, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."
Tsunade nodded.
Not long after, she, Jiraiya, and Minato left the place.
People left one after another. Finally, only Shiraishi, his two companions, and Kakashi remained.
Shiraishi placed the flowers in his hand before Shokumo's grave.
"Shokumo-sensei, you were a true ninja who inherited the Will of Fire, a person who fully embodied that will..."
The higher-ups' thinking was not wrong. Stripping Shokumo of his political capital and letting him be a jōnin in peace was a proper arrangement and consideration for Shokumo's future.
But... the method they used was wrong.
In this world, many people value dignity and faith more than their own lives.
To his enemies, he was the detestable Konoha's White Fang.
To his allies, there was no comrade more reassuring than him by their side.
This was a ninja who considered his comrades his responsibility, more important than his own life.
What he upheld was the Will of Fire in his heart, never tainted by anything.
Now, even the higher-ups failed to abide by it, actively destroying the principle that had existed since the village's inception, and using such a thing as a reason to suppress him. This was the greatest humiliation.
What was the village founded on?
A village founded on bonds. Yet, a ninja who chose bonds was slandered by rumors. Isn't that the greatest irony?
And the ninjas and villagers who thought they had inherited the Will of Fire never doubted this, nor did they raise objections.
The Will of Fire they once believed in was twisted by themselves, unknowingly.
They had forgotten the original reason for the village's founding.
They had lost sight of the village's original and most steadfast principle.
Preserve the people, and both people and land will be gained.
Preserve the land, and both people and land will be lost.
From the very beginning, the higher-ups and Shokumo were not on the same path in their thinking.
Shokumo-sensei, I hope those people can understand your intention to clarify your stance with your death, and take this as a warning. At the end of this funeral, Shiraishi added this sentence in his heart.
It was also the most sincere blessing.
Otherwise, if this vicious cycle continued, Shiraishi could foresee that Konoha's White Fang was just the beginning, but certainly not the last.
In the future, there would be many more such people in Konoha, losing themselves in wavering rules, becoming tragic sacrifices among them.
(PS: Modified many times, finally done...)