At dawn the next day, a shocking message spread through the village. The White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake, had taken his own life at home during the night.
And today, of all days, was the memorial service Sarutobi Hiruzen had arranged for Mitokado Homura. Two of Konoha's high-ranking figures were gone at once, a devastating blow to the village.
As the memorial was about to begin, some noticed that the Uchiha clan had yet to arrive. The other clans and civilians of Konoha all held white flowers in their hands, ready to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.
A light rain began to fall. Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped onto the stage, sorrow heavy in his voice as he recited the deeds of Homura. But just as he was recounting his comrade's merits, a wave of disciplined footsteps echoed from afar, growing closer.
The crowd turned toward the sound. The Uchiha clan had arrived. Their elders led at the front, and behind them the clan head marched with nine elite Uchiha, their three-tomoe Sharingan blazing. Upon their shoulders they carried a coffin.
Everyone instantly knew who lay within.
Konoha's White Fang - Sakumo Hatake.
They set White Fang's coffin down at the steps. The Hatake clan, with young Kakashi among them, stood silently behind it. Their sky had collapsed, and now they could only rely on allies to demand justice. Though humiliating, it was better than suffering in silence.
The Uchiha Great Elder spoke first.
"Forgive us, Hokage-sama. We are late because we went to fetch White Fang. After all, Elder Homura's contributions were great, and it would be wrong for us not to send him off. To interrupt Hokage-sama's eulogy is our fault. Please, continue."
Danzo exploded in fury.
"Uchiha, what are you doing? How dare you bring a criminal here. This is a memorial for heroes. Sakumo Hatake has no right to attend!"
The elder's eyes turned sharp.
"Criminal? Hokage-sama just listed Elder Homura's accomplishments. In his entire life he completed about six hundred missions. Then let me share the record of this so-called criminal.
Sakumo Hatake, thirty-five years old.
D-rank: 256.
C-rank: 384.
B-rank: 266.
A-rank: 123.
S-rank: 27.
Total missions: 1057. Completed: 1056. With the exception of the very last, every mission was a success. He served as a commander during the Second Great Ninja War, and as the head of Anbu.
And you call him a criminal? Where is the crime? White Fang is a hero of Konoha, more worthy of remembrance than some others here. Or is it that only those close to you deserve tears, while others are discarded?"
The elder's tone grew sharper.
"As for that final failure… does anyone truly believe it so simple? One failed mission, and suddenly all casualties were pinned on him. Was it not due to the flawed strategies of certain high-ranking officials?
A mission of such secrecy, and yet the whole village somehow learned of it. Our leaders fell one by one to assassins. Was it not because someone at the top could not keep their mouth shut? What secrecy is left if our information leaks so easily?"
He pulled out a thick stack of papers.
"From the start, our clan has been tracking and silencing rumors. Here are the confessions of those who spread them. Shall I read them aloud?
And what of that shinobi who supposedly killed himself at Sakumo's doorstep? A ninja who truly intended suicide would have done so during the mission, perhaps even ensuring its success. Strange, isn't it, that he survived until the doorstep of White Fang?
If I recall correctly, he was one of Danzo's men. Danzo-dono, aren't your Root supposed to rather die than fail a mission? Why, then, did your subordinate not take his own life in the field? Or was his true mission to kill himself at White Fang's door?"
Danzo's eyes narrowed, his tone turning icy. Anbu appeared around the square.
"Uchiha, watch your tongue. Words carry weight. You will be held accountable."
The elder sneered.
"Do you think the Uchiha scare so easily? We did not bow to Tobirama Senju, and you, a child who is not even Hokage, think to threaten us? Are you Hashirama himself? No, you're a rat who stabs loyal men from the shadows. And now you dare to strut upon the stage? Pathetic!"
Scarlet light erupted. The first row of Uchiha opened their Sharingan, glaring at the Anbu.
"Enough!" Hiruzen roared.
"What are you doing? Danzo, stand down. Withdraw the Anbu. This is a memorial for heroes. Do not defile it with fighting."
In truth, guilt already gnawed at Hiruzen. If the Uchiha wanted White Fang's name carved on the Memorial Stone, he too desired it. Sakumo's deeds warranted it. But with Danzo's outburst, the whole affair had escalated to the brink of bloodshed.
"White Fang is no criminal," Hiruzen declared. "On the contrary, he is a great contributor to Konoha. He deserves to be remembered. His name shall be carved upon the Memorial Stone." He bowed deeply toward the coffin. "It was my failure to quell the rumors, and because of it, Konoha has lost another arm. As for the leak, I am already investigating. The truth will come to light."
With those few words, Hiruzen soothed the Hatake clan, while reassuring the other clans that their own fates would not be disregarded.
But Danzo refused to yield.
"The Memorial Stone is for those who fall in battle. Sakumo was not killed by the enemy. He killed himself. He cannot be enshrined."
He stepped forward.
"Ninjas live and die by the mission. This is our iron rule. If everyone could abandon missions on a whim, what would become of our honor? Of our village? His merits earned him rank and promotion, yes. But mistakes demand punishment. Right is right, wrong is wrong. He broke the code. He was weak. And a weakling has no right to be honored. He is trash, and nothing more."
The Uchiha elder trembled with rage.
"Trash? The Senju and Uchiha cast aside their hatred to found a village of peace. That is Konoha. The first village of shinobi in history.
Here, every villager is family, and every shinobi protects them as such. That was the dream. But now? Family can be abandoned. Comrades reduced to tools. No wonder you fear us, no wonder you isolate us. In your eyes, the Uchiha are nothing but disobedient tools. How laughable."
Renji stepped forward, his voice sharp as steel.
"Ninja are not tools. And certainly not yours. You say those who break the rules are trash. But those who discard their comrades are worse than trash. White Fang is a true hero of Konoha!"
Yan raised his voice.
"What right do you have to judge White Fang's choices? Failure is one thing. But what about slaughtering your own comrades, Danzo? Isn't that the greatest sin?"
Retsu sneered.
"From the start, you've contradicted Hokage-sama, acting like you alone decide everything. At this point, do you think you're Hokage? Or do you plan to rebel against the village?"
Danzo's face twisted, but Retsu cut him off.
"Konoha isn't your personal playground. Every villager has the right to speak. If it's about seniority, then our elder could be your father. Shall we call him out to teach you manners?"
Yan added fuel to the fire.
"Danzo only bends rules to his own convenience. What suits him is law, and what doesn't is discarded. That's his way."
Renji quickly intervened before chaos could explode again.
"Enough. We trust in Hokage-sama. He would never allow comrades to be treated as tools. He will clear White Fang's name. He will not let a hero suffer both in life and in death."
"Yes!" others shouted.
"We trust Hokage-sama. We are not tools!"
The surrounding shinobi picked up the cry, the momentum overwhelming. This was exactly the kind of tide Sarutobi Hiruzen excelled at steering.
Still, his heart was heavy. If only his old comrade were alive, he would never be forced into such positions by Danzo. This so-called sword and shield had become a dangerous blade without a sheath.
He sighed, then raised his voice.
"Quiet, everyone. Listen well. Every person in this village is family. This has always been the foundation of Konoha, and it shall never change.
Every shinobi is our comrade, not a tool. Sakumo Hatake was a hero of this village. That is beyond doubt. He will be honored, and his name carved upon the Memorial Stone. We will not let a hero die in vain."
His gaze turned coldly upon Danzo.
"Elder Danzo has spoken out of grief over the death of Elder Homura. He is to return home for rest until he regains composure. His duties will resume afterward."
Then he addressed the crowd.
"Let us put aside this unpleasantness. Together, let us complete the rites, and lay our heroes to rest in peace."
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