I am the most popular character in Naruto!

Page 150

Sakumo Hatake then realized what was happening and looked up at Danzo in a daze.

Danzo was infuriated by his nonchalant attitude, so he strode up to Hatake Sakumo and grabbed him by the collar.

Where's your usual sarcastic and unpredictable attitude?

"Come on! Say something!"

"Do you know how many people in Konoha have died because of you?"

"..."

Sakumo Hatake glanced at Danzo expressionlessly and said calmly, "If your men hadn't subdued me immediately and instead let me continue my mission, the front lines wouldn't be in this state."

"How dare you talk back?!"

Danzo was furious. "How can I entrust you with missions and the lives of our frontline soldiers if you can't even complete them?"

Sakumo Hatake's expression was indifferent. He didn't want to explain anything. He admitted that the mission had indeed failed.

However, the reason why Sakumo Hatake was so disappointed was not because of the mission failure.

The mission failure was not important; he was confident that he could turn the tide with an even greater success.

but……

What left Sakumo Hatake bewildered and confused at this moment was what the true path of a ninja really was.

Was my judgment really wrong?

Is abandoning the mission to save your comrades really a wrong decision?

If that's the case, then is my path to becoming a shadow also a wrong one?

Achieving Kage rank to protect one's comrades, yet even after becoming Kage, one still has to abandon one's comrades for the sake of mission victory. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse and being self-contradictory?

"Alright, Shimura."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent all along, sat in his office chair smoking. He leaned back in his chair and quietly watched Danzo, who was displaying extreme anger, and Sakumo Hatake, who was clearly distracted.

"Stop acting, it's boring."

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe, exhaled a deep puff of white smoke, and tapped the pipe on the table.

"Humph."

Danzo released Sakumo Hatake, his expression returning to its usual stoic state.

That's right, it's all an act.

The harsher the pressure on Sakumo Hatake, the more Danzo, the vested interest, will gain.

No matter what, he had to make a name for himself.

But since Hiruzen Sarutobi has already spoken, there's no need to make a fuss anymore; it's all the same.

"White Fang, you've done so much for us all these years."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply. If Sakumo Hatake offered a few words of explanation, whatever the reason, he would be happy to accept it.

The fact that Danzo could no longer fully take over Konoha's Anbu was a profound blow to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already tried to dismantle the Anbu during World War II, but only a few years later, Danzo secretly reorganized the Anbu.

That old dog still hasn't given up on his dream of becoming Hokage!

As long as Hatake Sakumo speaks up, Sarutobi Hiruzen will find a way to protect him. Even if he loses his position as head of the Anbu, Sarutobi Hiruzen will have Hatake Sakumo find a puppet to be the head, while he secretly controls him.

But that damned Hatake Onion, who's usually so talkative, is completely silent now.

"...It wasn't particularly meritorious; it was just completing the task."

Sakumo Hatake spoke somberly, suddenly realizing that in the conventional understanding, a ninja's mission and duty is to complete their tasks.

A ninja who cannot complete a mission is a piece of trash.

So, how will he continue on his path of protecting his companions?

"Ah."

Danzo sneered, clearly sensing Sakumo Hatake's somber thoughts.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply. He wanted to give Sakumo Hatake a chance, but he himself wouldn't give himself one.

"So, are you willing to accept the trial proposed by the Konoha Elders, White Fang?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked him in a deep voice, and Sakumo Hatake slowly raised his head, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment.

What went wrong to cause this situation?

Was his path to becoming a film actor a mistake?

If he was wrong, then why was he able to persist to this point?

So if he's right...

Then why is everyone blaming themselves?

Even he himself believed that he had indeed failed this time and made a mistake.

Reason and emotion clashed, rules conflicted with his own path, and Sakumo Hatake felt as if he were about to break apart.

“You obviously didn’t hear me clearly. I’ll ask again.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow and asked Sakumo Hatake again, word by word, "Sakumo Hatake, are you willing to accept the judgment brought against you by the elders?"

Deep down, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want this situation to happen.

However, in Konoha today, no one is capable of taking on the role of the head of the Anbu.

The Legendary Sannin of Konoha are unsuitable. They are already a symbol of Konoha, and given their personalities, the position of Anbu Chief is not suitable for them.

The other Konoha ninjas haven't fully matured yet. Even though the world's level has improved and the ninjas' training has accelerated, their strength is still what it is.

If the position of head of the ANBU is not even at the level of an elite Jonin, how can he gain the respect of the ninjas?

If Sakumo Hatake is indeed dismissed, then Danzo will have to temporarily take over as head of the Anbu.

With Danzo's methods, the Anbu would be full of his people in just a few years.

In the end, were the Anbu members his own direct subordinates or Danzo's direct subordinates?

"Just agree already, stop dawdling."

Danzo sneered at Sakumo Hatake, but Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at him and said, "Shut up!"

Chapter 187 The Unexpected Intrusion of a Thousand Years

"How about it? White teeth?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sakumo Hatake with concern, longing to hear a satisfactory answer from Sakumo Hatake.

Danzo squinted at him as well. He knew what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant; wasn't he just unwilling to let him completely control the Anbu?

But now, besides myself, who else can take on the position of head of the Dark Division?

LOL, even if it really existed, I could easily take it down with a little effort.

Look, even a Kage-level powerhouse like Hatake Sakumo couldn't lift his head under my control.

"I……"

Sakumo Hatake slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He could see the expectation in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

He's not some greenhorn; Sakumo Hatake has experienced far more than this.

If he hadn't become confused about his path, he would definitely have fulfilled all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations.

The title "White Fang of Konoha" is the best proof of Sakumo Hatake's character. He will become Konoha's sharpest tooth, crushing all of Konoha's enemies in one bite.

Unfortunately, Sakumo Hatake is no longer the White Fang of Konoha he once was; he is now just a man lost on his own path as a ninja.

Unlike the future Naruto, who always held onto one idea and persisted in his ninja way, he never wavered.

Sakumo Hatake was too sentimental; he had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and his actions as a great Onmyoji ultimately brought him setbacks.

This setback could very well lead him to permanent decline, or even his downfall.

"I wish..."

Bang! Shakalaka...

Pooh!

Click click

The window of the Hokage's office was kicked and shattered, with glass shards scattered all over the floor. A pink figure carrying a little white-haired boy rushed into the Hokage's office.

"Sakumo Hatake, if you die, I'll make sure your son is buried with you!"

With long pink hair, a blood-stained scarf, and a purple dress, Chiaki angrily grabbed Kakashi by the neck and jumped in front of Sakumo Hatake.

"?"

Sakumo Hatake realized what was happening and looked at Chiaki with a face full of questions.

No, let's not talk about whether he's dead or alive. Why bother with Kakashi?

Didn't you see Kakashi looked completely bewildered?

Also, we haven't even gotten to the issue of life and death yet...

Where did you jump from?

Did the timeline jump too early?

"Thousand Hands, Thousand Autumns!"

"How many times have you broken the rules?!"

Danzo was so angry he was trembling. How many times had this happened?