(T/N: Starting today, I will post 2 chapters a day)
(T/N: I also translated a new story: One Piece: The Overly Cautious Marine. If you want to support this novel, go to patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:TOCM NOVEL tier)
(Lastly: Happy Christmas Day and Enjoy!!)
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At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood.
All the excitement he perceived was his imagination. The villagers' behavior was a result of the news spreading about Hatake Sakumo's mission failure.
At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't feel embarrassed; instead, he felt anger.
He was angry not only about the spread of Hatake Sakumo failure but also about how easily this information leaked right under his nose.
Without thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that this was the work of Danzo Shimura.
At this moment, he lost his appetite for lunch. Trying to maintain an air of indifference, he pacified the villagers on the street.
With a heart full of anger, Hiruzen Sarutobi went straight back to his Hokage office.
Danzo Shimura had blatantly disregarded him and acted on his own.
The first thing Hiruzen Sarutobi did upon returning to the office was to summon Danzo Shimura.
He was ready to question why he had done such a thing.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even bother investigating because he knew Danzo Shimura wouldn't leave any evidence behind.
Instead, he chose to bring him directly to his office for questioning.
As the footsteps approached, Danzo Shimura, summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi, calmly opened the door and entered the Hokage office.
"Danzo, why did you do this?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, with narrowed eyes, questioned Danzo Shimura.
"Hiruzen, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Danzo Shimura didn't hesitate for a second and responded directly.
Seeing Danzo Shimura's innocent expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi squinted his eyes, staring at him intently.
If it weren't for the fact that he was so familiar with Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen Sarutobi might have been deceived by his act.
"Danzo, don't bother pretending with me. You know what I'm talking about! Now, tell me, why did you do this to Sakumo?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't inquire about how Danzo obtained the information. It was a private competition yet to escalate to the point of putting it on the table.
Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's response, Danzo Shimura wore an expression of sudden realization.
He couldn't deceive Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts, but as long as he could keep it from others, he was satisfied.
However, to set the stage for the next conversation, he needed to appear impartial and selfless.
"So, you're talking about this matter, Sarutobi. I'm just considering things for your sake, aren't I?"
"Considering for my sake!?"
Facing Danzo Shimura's seemingly selfless and altruistic demeanor, Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted in anger.
"Do you realize that news of Sakumo's mission failure is spreading all over the village? How do you think Sakumo feels about this? Don't forget, he's not only the head of the ANBU Black Ops but also the clan leader of the Hatake! What will others from different clans think about your actions?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious, and he was on the verge of pointing at Danzo's nose and giving him a piece of his mind.
Under the rebuke, Danzo Shimura, who was usually confrontational, changed his usual stance.
This time, he had already figured out how to convince Hiruzen Sarutobi. Therefore, facing the angry Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura continued to wear a smile and said:
"Isn't this a good thing? Sarutobi, don't forget that Sakumo Hatake is a symbol of Konoha's strength!"
"A good thing? So what if Sakumo is a symbol of Konoha's strength?"
Seeing Danzo Shimura's performance, Hiruzen Sarutobi's temper had subsided somewhat, but he still asked with a furrowed brow.
"Sarutobi, do you not know how high Sakumo Hatake's prestige is in Konoha? You must be aware of how many people are looking forward to Sakumo Hatake succeeding as the Fourth Hokage, right?"
Danzo Shimura spoke to Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face still bearing a smile that concealed his true intentions. Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent upon hearing this.
He was well aware of the situation, but Sakumo Hatake was still one of the pillars of Konoha.
How could he allow the destruction of Konoha's foundation? Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's dilemma, Danzo Shimura added fuel to the fire.
"Sarutobi, do you also hope for Sakumo to succeed as the Hokage?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent. Compared to Sakumo Hatake, the head of the ANBU Black Ops, he naturally leaned more towards the three prominent candidates within Konoha.
"Sarutobi, I know you lean towards Orochimaru as the next Hokage. However, if Sakumo Hatake's influence continues to grow over the next few years, even Orochimaru might not be able to suppress it, let alone you."
"So, isn't this a perfect opportunity to weaken Sakumo Hatake's influence?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi being somewhat swayed by his words, Danzo Shimura continued to strike while the iron was hot.
"Hoo~"
After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally let out a deep sigh.
"I'll pretend not to know about this. Be mindful of your boundaries."
With these words, Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and waved his hand towards Danzo Shimura.
Seeing this, Danzo Shimura didn't waste any time, directly turning and leaving the Hokage's office.
However, the uncontainable smile on his face betrayed his true feelings.
'Sarutobi! This time, I have the upper hand. Everyone has their weaknesses, even you.'
This thought silently echoed in Danzo Shimura's mind as he left the office.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi tacitly agreed, the news of Sakumo Hatake's mission failure intensified within the village.
This became evident through Sakumo Hatake's recent experiences.
Initially, upon returning to the village without immediate missions, Sakumo Hatake felt that everyone was talking behind his back.
At first, he didn't pay much attention, as the villagers had behaved similarly before.
However, he gradually sensed that something was amiss. The villagers of Konoha were slowly distancing themselves and treating him with hostility.
When he tried to inquire about the situation, people scattered before he could approach.
It wasn't until three days later, when Might Duy personally came to apologize, that Sakumo understood the news of him abandoning the mission had spread throughout the village.
From that day on, rumors in the village grew more rampant. Some radicals even approached the Hatake residence, openly labeling Sakumo as a failure.
Sakumo Hatake, naturally, couldn't overlook these developments. The villagers' actions felt like a heavy stone blocking his heart.
Wanting to explain himself, he found himself at a loss for words. After all, he did abandon the mission.
As the rumors intensified, the villagers' behavior became more aggressive.
Even when Sakumo walked through the streets, people no longer concealed their actions, openly pointing fingers at him.
(T/N: The crazy thing is that Sakumo just failed his mission for the first time in his life. With just 1 failure, he got criticized, cursed, and abandoned and the villagers completely forgot over all of his flawless record in his career. This type of event also happens in our real life.)
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