Hatake Sakumo was not afraid of these challenges. In his opinion, this was the best arrangement. This was what should be done. After all, he was very confident and knew that he was the kind of person who could preside over the overall situation.
But he had always had an indescribable feeling.
It was as if Hiruzen was using him.
However, it was not completely important.
This was just a very strange feeling.
Sometimes, Hatake Sakumo felt that he was thinking too much, but every time, he felt that it was so real.
There was a feeling of ambiguity.
When you need him, you need him but don't need him completely. When you don't need him, he would very direct that he doesn't need you at all.
Of course.
Hatake Sakumo was only feeling this way. He wasn't sure if Hiruzen would always feel this way when facing others.
At least...
Among the people he knew, he had never heard of anyone who had such a feeling.
This time.
It gave him a brand-new experience.
Hatake Sakumo suddenly felt Hiruzen's trust in him. He directly gave him the position of commander and let him lead Konohagakure ninjas to fight Iwagakure so that he could fully display his ability.
This made him feel very grateful.
"Sandaime-sama, please rest assured. I will definitely complete the task and win this battle."
Hatake Sakumo immediately expressed his determination to Hiruzen. Now, his heart was full of ambition. He just wanted to find a chance to show off and rush to the front line to finish this battle beautifully.
"En!"
After hearing Hatake Sakumo's words, Hiruzen slowly nodded his head. In his dark eyes, there were still traces of cold light that only he knew.
"I am very reassured about you!"
"It is also because of this..."
"That is why I ordered you to be the commander and let you lead the village to fight against Iwagakure, who is coming at us menacingly!"
"I will leave all of Konohagakure's safety in your hands!"
Hiruzen stared at Hatake Sakumo with a happy expression. It was as if he unearthed the fine steed, Hatake Sakumo, and had complete trust in him.
"Yes!"
Hatake Sakumo's voice became much louder.
At this time.
He suddenly felt the burden on his body become heavier.
It was as if the fate of the entire village was on his shoulders.
In this conversation, he felt an indescribable sense of mission.
Turning the tide when the building is about to collapse!
This was what Hatake Sakumo felt right now. He felt that he was such a person.
After that.
Hiruzen handed over some things.
The meeting was officially over. The ninjas dispersed one after another. Everyone knew in their hearts that the war was about to begin.
...
Three days later.
Anbu's dormitory.
Dong Dong Dong...
Another series of knocks sounded.
It pulled Aoba's mind back from his wandering state.
"Coming."
The corners of Aoba's mouth curled up slightly. He hadn't opened the door yet, but he already knew in his heart who it was.
Morino Eaton!
There would be no one else than him who would find him at this time!
And...
Aoba felt that it was time for Eaton to come.
Suddenly.
Aoba walked to the door. He immediately open the door and his eyes fell on the man waiting outside.
It was as he expected.
The person who was looking for him now was Eaton.
"Brother Eaton, why are you here?" Aoba pretended to not know anything and asked. The expression on his face matched his performance, and he looked as if he did not know about this at all.
After hearing Aoba's words, Eaton raised his eyes and did not speak at first moment.
This person...
He clearly knew that he would come!
Eaton was the Konohagakure Intelligence Division Captain for so many years and had his own judgment on many things. He still knew what was going on.
After all...
Aoba was no longer the Aoba he had known before.
Ever since Aoba had laid his cards on the table with him.
Eaton understood that Aoba was not a simple person. He thought of many things, and before he thought that Aoba hadn't thought of them, now he would feel that Aoba had thought of them too, even some things he hadn't thought of, he would feel that Aoba had thought of them too.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
After a moment of silence, Eaton cleared his throat and turned his attention back to Aoba.
"Aoba."
"The ninjas of the village are gathering at the main entrance."
"They are going to the front line."
Eaton said in a deep voice. Now, he had specially come over to say these words to Aoba.
This was not what Aoba had instructed him to do.
No one had asked him to say this.
However.
This was something he felt himself.
Even he himself did not know why. From what he knew, he felt that Aoba was paying attention to the Third Ninja World War. It was precisely because of this that he specially came over to tell Aoba about this matter.
Perhaps this was a tacit understanding!
Eaton felt that it was definitely right for him to run over and say it. At most, Aoba would not be interested in these things.
However.
If he was interested.
He did not come for nothing.
Now he wanted to curry favor with Aoba, not because of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. This seal will not restrict his movements and life. As long as he did not mention anything about Aoba, everything was normal.
He did not care about this.
What he cared about was Aoba's own potential and strength.
He originally wanted to curry favor with Aoba because Aoba was Tsunade's student. Gradually, he discovered Aoba's writing talent, and now he understood Aoba's true strength.
This kind of discovery process, coupled with the fetters that he had established between himself and Aoba, made him want to cherish these things even more.
"This is interesting."
Aoba nodded. His eyes lit up slightly. Right now, he did not need to deliberately hide anything in front of Eaton. However, he would not tell Eaton everything.
"Brother Eaton, let's go over and take a look. It would be a pity if we don't take a look at such a scene." Aoba said with a smile.
"Okay." Eaton nodded. He found that the result he wanted was the same as what he expected. Aoba really wanted to see the situation there.
After that.
The two of them left Anbu's dormitory together and walked in the direction of Konohagakure's main entrance.
...
Ten minutes later.
Under Eaton's lead, Aoba arrived at Konohagakure's main entrance. There were already a lot of people gathered here.
Not all of these people were going to the battlefield. Some of them were relatives of these ninjas and some ninjas came here to see them off.
The people standing here now, all clearly understood.
These ninjas who were rushing to the battlefield were all Konohagakure's heroes. What they stepped on was very likely to be a path of no return.
After these people leave.
How many people would come back?
No one knew the answer to such a thing.
It was even possible that no one would be able to return.
This made everyone here feel a little heavy. They wished they could look at these people a few more times and bid farewell to Konohagakure's heroes in their hearts.
"When we left, there was no such ostentation." Aoba looked at the scene in front of him and said indifferently. He did not feel that way, nor was he surprised by these people. He only felt that there was something unfair about it. It was unfair to the people who went to the battlefield last time.
"Yes!" Eaton nodded. He also felt very uncomfortable in his heart. When they left, not to mention being sent away, even leaving was very rushed. There was almost no time to prepare. Now, looking at these people, he felt that the treatment they received was completely different.
"Let's look at them!"
Aoba walked step by step in the direction of Konohagakure's main entrance. He was not very impatient but slowly looked at these people.
As a transmigrator who knew the progress of the ninja world's history.
He was very clear.
All of these people.
In the future, the names of most of them would be engraved on the Memorial Stone. This was the pain and cost of war, and it was unavoidable.
Aoba's gaze swept over these people. There were many familiar faces.
There were many people from the Uchiha clan.
Aoba also saw Fugaku.
However, he did not greet Fugaku. He only silently watched the determination and bravery of these people who were about to enter the battlefield.
After another period of time.
They seemed to feel that it was about time.
Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, who was wearing a half-sleeve Hokage robe, stood out. He stood in front of everyone and swept his gaze over the ninjas waiting here.
Every sound faded away as he looked.
Konohagakure's main entrance gradually quieted down.
It had to be said.
Hatake Sakumo was indeed very prestigious in Konohagakure.
This kind of effect was not something that anyone could achieve.
People believed in Hatake Sakumo.
"Everyone!"
Hatake Sakumo shouted loudly. His voice passed through the surrounding space and clearly reached everyone's ears.
"I don't want to say more about the reason why we are standing here. I think every one of you should be clear about it. Then let us set off and defend our village together!"
Hatake Sakumo said a very short mobilization word. After he finished speaking, he gestured to everyone, indicating that they could set off.
"Yes!"
Konohagakure's ninjas responded repeatedly. They all flashed out and headed in the direction of Konohagakure's main entrance.
Not long after.
The ninjas here had already set off and only an empty ground in front of the main entrance was left behind.
"This is Konoha White Fang. He really has prestige. Almost all of Konohagakure ninjas believed in him!"
"White Fang is strong, has a good character, and is very loved!"
"I think White Fang is very likely to become the Fourth Hokage of the village!"
"What a coincidence, I also think so. Now in the village, I can't think of anyone who can be like White Fang!"
"I know that White Fang's reputation is higher than that of the Sannin!"
"I support White Fang to become the Hokage!"
"The current Third Hokage has been in position for a long time, and it is almost time to give up the Hokage position!"
"..."
The people at the main entrance began to talk one after another. The focus of everyone's discussion has changed from the fact that these ninjas were about to go to the front line to fight to Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
Everyone had a hidden feeling in their hearts.
As long as Hatake Sakumo led Konohagakure ninjas in the Third Ninja World War, they would be able to win.
In that case, Hatake Sakumo would be Konohagakure's hero.
This was not something that could be compared with the usual high-profile missions. This was a real battle achievement.
All of a sudden.
In the eyes of the people who watched the ninjas leave, they already felt that this battle was like a dragon returning to the sea for Hatake Sakumo, and it would completely earn his reputation.
"Interesting."
Aoba stood behind these people and could hear these people talking about Hatake Sakumo from a distance.
"How is it interesting?" Eaton asked doubtfully. He did not keep up with Aoba's thinking and did not know what the latter was talking about.
"A tree that is beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Have you heard of this?" Aoba said lightly. Now he somewhat understood why Hatake Sakumo was killed by public opinion. This person's style was too high-profile, so many people were jealous of him in many things.
"Never heard of it..." Eaton shook his head. He really did not understand what this meant so he asked, "What does this mean?"
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand."
Aoba directly shook his head and did not explain deeply. After all, this attitude and style of doing things were not suitable for everyone.
Because of this.
It was useless to say too much.
In the modern world, such a thing would be called a disagreement of three views.
Most of the ninjas in the ninja world were hot-blooded and mission-oriented. They had ideological awareness and could sacrifice themselves at any time.
This kind of spirit was something that Aoba did not possess.
It was also not something that he wanted to possess.
"You only need to know that the higher you stand, the more people will see you, and the more likely you will become a target in the eyes of others."
Aoba said simply.
It was not so much an explanation of what he just said.
But it was better to say something than not.
"Oh..."
Eaton answered half-heartedly. He seemed to understand Aoba's words, but at the same time, he didn't seem to understand them. However, he didn't intend to ask any further.
"Aoba, do you have any plans now?"
Eaton asked Aoba. He directly put the topic in another position. After all, these ninjas who were going to the front line had already left, so there was nothing to say about this topic.
"Go back and sleep."
Aoba said these few words indifferently. After that, he immediately turned around and walked toward the direction of Anbu's dormitory which make Eaton dumbfounded.