"That person, is Sakumo Hatake, right?"
"Yes, it's him."
"Hmph! After causing such a big incident, he can still teach his son ninjutsu with such ease. I think what that kid from the Shimura family said isn't without reason."
"If something really happens to Tatsuma, I will make sure Sakumo Hatake's son experiences what it's like to lose a father's love!"
"Count me in. I still have a technique that I developed back then for dealing with the evil Uchiha. But before I could use it, Hashirama-sama allied with the Uchiha!"
A group of elderly people suddenly appeared in a training ground within the village. Some were using canes, some hunched over and walked slowly, and some were even in wheelchairs, but they were full of vigor, exuding the aura of youthful confidence.
"What can a bunch of old bones like you do? You might die before the fight even starts. In my opinion, we should go find Saru. After receiving so much care from the Senju, he should do something."
"Indeed, such evil deeds should be exposed to the public. Calculating against their own village people is truly disgraceful! Since the village was founded, I haven't taken action against the evil Uchiha."
"Tch! The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Why did Hashirama-sama reconcile with the Uchiha so early? Otherwise, I could have killed a few more!"
"The evil Uchiha are really shameless, having someone like Madara emerge from them, and they still have the nerve to stay in the village."
Their conversation attracted the attention of some ninjas training nearby, but as the topics shifted, they quickly decided not to listen any further.
The elderly men dared to speak these divisive words, but the others did not dare to listen. In the distance, Sakumo Hatake, who was teaching his son, Kakashi, suddenly stopped. Kakashi looked up at his father in confusion, not understanding why he had suddenly fallen silent.
Kakashi couldn't hear the voices of the old men from afar, but Sakumo Hatake could. He recognized those men as some of the earliest villagers, people who may have even built or repaired some of the houses and roads in Konoha themselves. Though they had long since retired from the ninja life and no longer used their surnames, each year, the Hokage and the village elders would make time to visit them out of respect.
These elders might not have any formal authority, but everyone who loved the village, including Sakumo Hatake, held them in the highest regard. Even though the elders' conversation had drifted off-topic, Sakumo Hatake quickly understood why they had come just from a few words.
Thinking about Tatsuma, a wave of guilt rose within Sakumo. He had been reflecting on his actions over the past few days, and the more he reflected, the more he felt like a scoundrel.
He wasn't the one who injured Tatsuma, but he couldn't separate himself from the events that led to it. Hearing these people he once respected misunderstand and blame him filled Sakumo with an unprecedented sense of fatigue. Over the years, he had felt physical exhaustion, but never had he felt this kind of emotional exhaustion.
He always believed that everything he did was for the good of the village, and for that, he never lacked spiritual strength. But this time, from both within and without, everyone, including himself, was blaming him. Sakumo didn't know how to comfort himself, as he also felt that he had made a mistake.
"Father, are you okay?" Kakashi asked, looking up. Sakumo looked down at his son and thought about how, if these rumors reached Kakashi's ears one day, his own son might also despise him.
As a squad captain, he hadn't been able to protect his team members. Completing the mission by sacrificing their safety made him feel ridiculous.
"Kakashi, Dad has some things to take care of. You go on home by yourself, okay?" Sakumo said to Kakashi. He didn't want his son to stay with him, as it would increase the chances of Kakashi hearing the rumors.
Kakashi was puzzled but nodded and said, "I understand, Father. I'll head back now." He then gathered the ninja tools from the training ground and left with his short legs moving quickly. Watching his son leave, Sakumo's already forced smile faded completely.
With a somber expression, he walked towards the group of Senju elders. Seeing Sakumo approaching with a stern face, one of the elders spoke up, "Oh, you're even brave enough to give us a dark look. Are you planning to silence us old folks?"
"Haha, well, I've long wanted to die; every day I wake up is just another day of pain," another elder joked.
Despite their advanced age, these elders showed no fear. Even though they were too old and frail to stand properly, they still had courageous hearts.
Sakumo listened to their taunts but continued his approach. Once in front of them, he bowed deeply and said, "Regarding the incident with Tatsuma, I bear inescapable responsibility, and I will not evade it. I promise that if Tatsuma indeed meets with misfortune, I will spend the rest of my life ensuring that all the culprits pay the price, including myself."
"What, are you planning to go to the Hidden Cloud Village and kill the Raikage?" one elder asked.
"If necessary," Sakumo responded decisively. An elder rolled his eyes and commented, "Hmph, maybe he's looking for an excuse to leave the village and defect."
"Enough," another elder interrupted. This elder, with disheveled and long eyebrows, looked at Sakumo and asked, "Sakumo Hatake, I have a question for you, and I want an honest answer."
"Go ahead," Sakumo replied.
The elder asked, "Do you have even the slightest intention of harming Tatsuma?"
"Absolutely not," Sakumo answered with utmost seriousness, looking directly at the elder in the wheelchair. The elder nodded and said, "If that's the case, then there's no need for you to apologize to us. Casualties in missions are normal."
"Tanama, you—" another elder began, frowning, but Tanama interrupted, "Saru came to see me yesterday. He said he trusts you and that Tatsuma has always regarded you as a mentor. He believes you wouldn't do anything to harm him."
Tanama then turned to his old comrades and said, "Don't forget what the lady said to us before she left. We should wait for Tsunade and Tatsuma to return before making any decisions. And don't you find it strange? We are usually far from the village center, so why are we the only ones being told about these things?"
With Tanama's reminder, the expressions of the other elders shifted. One of them looked at Sakumo and said, "Today's matter ends here. If it was just an accident, we can accept that. But if Tsunade and Tatsuma return and we find out you deceived us, even in death, I will curse you from the afterlife! Cough cough."
As he finished, he began coughing violently. However, Sakumo's expression lightened. He stood up straight and said, "If I have deceived you in any way, I will take responsibility by committing seppuku. Please, continue to oversee my actions."
"Hmph, I may be old, but I still have the strength to act as a second in seppuku. It would be best if it doesn't come to that," said the elder in the best condition, standing unaided, while staring intently at Sakumo. Sakumo nodded in acknowledgment.
Seated in his wheelchair, Tanama spoke again, "Sakumo Hatake, if your heart is truly with the village, do not let yourself be broken. You know what version of yourself is most useful to the village."
Tanama's repeated hints made Sakumo realize the underlying message. He nodded again and said, "Thank you."
The others seemed to catch on as well. Someone asked, "Tanama, are you saying we've been...?"
"Used as pawns," another completed the thought. Tanama didn't reply, but the expressions of the elders turned grim, much like Sakumo's earlier. Anger appeared on their aged faces.
As someone was about to speak out in anger, Tanama interrupted, "I said, we'll wait for Tsunade and Tatsuma to return to settle this matter. We've been out of the ninja circle for decades; it's not our place to intervene."
Interrupted, the others were somewhat displeased but understood that no matter how they handled the situation, it would be inappropriate. It was best to leave it to those who could truly represent the Senju.
Sakumo, seeing the displeased expressions on their faces, knew it was best for him not to linger. He bowed again and said, "Everyone, I'll take my leave now."
"Yes, go on," Tanama waved him off and then turned his wheelchair around, saying, "We should also head back. Someone wanted us to say things we shouldn't have. Now that it's done, this matter is no longer our concern. Let's not speak of it further."
Hearing Tanama's final emphasis, the others nodded and began to help each other as they left.
...
Far off the coast of the Land of Fire, near the central sea between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, two figures appeared. Tatsuma wiped some water droplets from his head and looked out at the vast ocean, where the sea and sky blended together, easily causing a loss of direction. However, based on the time and the direction of the sunlight, he could make a rough estimation. After a brief observation, Tatsuma pointed in a direction and said, "Sensei, that way leads to the Land of Whirlpools."
Tsunade nodded and then asked, "Didn't you learn the Flying Thunder God technique? Can't you just take me back with a swoosh, like you did when you saved Dan last time?"
Tatsuma, a bit embarrassed, replied, "Sensei, my sensing range isn't that far. At least not until we're back in the Land of Fire, where I can use the Flying Thunder God jutsu marks I left behind to return to the village quickly."
Tatsuma missed the state he was in yesterday under Sage Mode. If he were in Sage Mode, he might actually be able to sense the Flying Thunder God jutsu marks he left in Awa from this far away and use that as a first stop to quickly return to the village. But being in the middle of the ocean, he couldn't sense that far.
Tsunade pursed her lips and said, "It seems your training isn't enough."
"Sensei, if you had left a Summoning Jutsu mark, we wouldn't be having this problem," Tatsuma retorted.
"Are you blaming me?!" Tsunade shot back.
"No! You were just too eager to save me, which is why you didn't spend more time leaving a Summoning Jutsu mark."
"That's more like it."
Tsunade raised her fist and then lowered it, saying, "Let's continue."
"Alright."
Tatsuma nodded and started leading the way. Tsunade, following Tatsuma, was somewhat surprised as Tatsuma's speed increased, beyond what she expected from him.
After running for a while, Tatsuma suddenly stopped, crouched down, and reached his right hand into the sea. Tsunade, puzzled, asked, "What's wrong?"
"There are a lot of ninjas ahead, and they don't seem to be Konoha ninjas."
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