Naruto: Nara's skill set is incredibly sneaky.

The slander against Sakumo Hatake has not disappeared over time.

Instead, it escalated further.

Moreover, the rumors are becoming increasingly outrageous.

Rumors are circulating that the mission's failure resulted in Konoha losing 100 billion ryo in funds.

When Lu Shi heard this rumor, he almost burst out laughing.

The Daimyo probably doesn't give Konoha that much money in a year. Hatake Sakumo lost it all in one trip.

Within the Thousand Hands Clan.

Lu Shi was lying on a deck chair, basking in the sun.

Nine-Lama lay to one side, a straw dangling from his mouth, sipping his drink contentedly.

Tsunade rushed in.

Seeing a human and a fox like this, I'm speechless.

"Hey! You two are having a good time, aren't you? Look at all the rumors going around about Sakumo-senpai!"

"If this brat isn't in a hurry, why should I be?"

Nine-Lama turned over and stretched.

Seeing the Nine-Tails in such a state, Tsunade was at a loss.

What about that tailed beast that always threatens to destroy the world?

"Lu Shi, say something!"

"Didn't you go to see the Hokage? Didn't you find a solution?" Shika asked with a smile.

The mere mention of this ignited Tsunade's anger.

"That old man just knows how to mix cement! He keeps saying that if we just put it off, it'll all pass eventually! I think he just doesn't want to deal with it!"

"You're right, the Hokage has tacitly agreed."

Shika's eyes were deep as he looked at the sky and said calmly, "Those ninjas mixed in with the villagers outside, if the villagers can't tell, do you think we can't?"

"But why?" Minato led Kushina in, his expression somewhat helpless. "I also went to see the Hokage, and I got a similar reply to Tsunade."

"In order to shrink power."

"Restricting power?"

The three looked somewhat puzzled.

"It's actually very simple. Sakumo Hatake is the captain-general of the Anbu, in charge of the entire Anbu. Although the Anbu is directly under the Hokage, as long as Sakumo Hatake doesn't retire, this position will never be vacant."

"Similarly, when Tsunade went to the Land of Fire to find me, she relinquished the management of the medical ninjas, which was then taken over by the Third Hokage."

"Since the war ended, you've seen the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans all announce their resignation, their aim being to return power to the Third Generation!"

"If you observe carefully, you should see that there are many more members of the Sarutobi clan in these systems."

No one present was a fool.

Minato was somewhat confused. "Why do we need these powers?! Didn't the Third Hokage's Will of Fire say..."

"The Will of Fire is pure political brainwashing." Shika interrupted directly, "You should watch less of Minato's stuff."

"But the police department and the root department, the Third Hokage didn't get involved, did he?" Kushina asked, puzzled.

"The Root organization is being scapegoated, and as for the police department, that's purely a conspiracy against the Uchiha," Shikatoki explained calmly.

"You know so much, why aren't you making a move? Why are you just standing here watching?" Tsunade asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lu Shi stood up from the recliner and stretched his limbs. "I'm waiting for a bet, and at the same time, I'm healing my fragile heart."

Sakumo Hatake himself is held back by Shikatoki's bet, and he won't act impulsively like in the original story until the result is in.

Another connection is with Kakashi Hatake; these days, he's been arranged to have someone take him out to play or train.

So now is the time to heal Sakumo Hatake's fragile ego.

Let him endure it for a while longer to desensitize him. Next time he encounters the same situation, he won't be so extreme.

Time passed day by day.

Today, an important person stepped forward.

"Sakumo Hatake is a sinner of Konoha!" Kurasuke shouted from the crowd.

On a rooftop not far away, Shikatoki, Minato, Tsunade, and Sakumo Hatake were watching.

The moment he heard Kousuke say those words, Hatake Sakumo's face turned pale, and his hands clenched involuntarily.

"My name is Kurasuke. I'm one of Hatake Sakumo's teammates on this mission, and also the person he saved!"

"I love Konoha. If I could, I would rather sacrifice my own life than let the mission fail! I never asked Sakumo Hatake to save me!"

Cangjie spoke with righteous indignation, his eyes brimming with tears.

Anyone who didn't know the specifics would definitely be moved by his feelings.

Sakumo Hatake now felt that he was ridiculous.

He originally thought that even if everyone else didn't understand him, at least his teammates should!

But now?

Just as Shika said, Kuranosuke betrayed them, and what he said was even more disgusting than what the villagers said.

"Shikatoki, you won!" Hatake Sakumo's voice was a little hoarse, filled with countless exhaustion.

Suppressing her anger, Tsunade thought, "That traitorous bastard, I really want to punch him to death!"

Minato's heart was also in turmoil.

His aspirations for the Hokage were mostly positive, and this was the first time he had directly confronted the darkness brought about by power.

"That's enough for now," Shikatoki said. "Senior Sakumo, how about you follow my instructions?"

Sakumo Hatake nodded. "Okay!"

"Sakumo-senpai, go to the Third Hokage and resign from your position as Captain-Commander of the Anbu. At the same time, request to leave the ranks of ninjas. Remember! No matter how the Third Hokage tries to persuade you, you must insist on not being a ninja anymore. As for the reasons, you can come up with whatever you want."

"I understand." Sakumo Hatake disappeared without asking why.

Tsunade asked curiously, "Why didn't you become a ninja?"

"The Third Hokage wants power, and he also wants Sakumo-senpai to be his henchman. There's no such thing as a free lunch. It's not good to have it all."

As Lu Shi spoke, he looked down at Kurasuke, who was still giving a speech.

"As for the issue of reputation, that's easy to solve. Do you know how a skilled chess player wins a game quickly?"

Minato shook his head, puzzled. "Is there some explanation?"

"It's simple, just smash the chessboard on their head!"

Shika gave a wicked smile, disappeared from the spot, and appeared in front of Kuranosuke.

Upon seeing the suddenly appearing deer, Kousuke was visibly startled. "Lord Deer Toki?!"

"Kurasuke! After graduating from the Ninja Academy, he participated in a total of 76 D-rank missions, 51 C-rank missions, 11 B-rank missions, and 2 A-rank missions. He was later recruited into the Anbu, during which time he participated in a total of 36 Anbu missions."

"We failed six times, not including the missions led by Sakumo Hatake."

"After failing so many missions, how much damage have you caused Konoha?!"

The deer's voice grew colder and colder.

An immense aura continuously pressed down on Cangjie.

Deer approached Kuranosuke step by step.

"Having caused so much damage, why don't you just die? Since you just spoke so eloquently, you should be prepared to pay the price for your failure, right?!"

Killing intent!

An undisguised killing intent enveloped Kurasuke!

So frightened, Cangjie collapsed to the ground, and a strong smell of urine involuntarily rose from his body.

"Lord Shikatoki! Spare me! Spare me! I was forced to do it! If I didn't do it, my whole family would die! I had no choice!" Kousuke begged frantically.

Lu Shi smiled knowingly, "Oh? Who forced you? Tell me and I'll stand up for you!"

"It's a group..."

"Nara Shikatoki! How dare you openly attack the village ninjas! Are you planning to betray the village?!" Shimura Danzo appeared with the Root ninjas, interrupting Kurasuke's words.

Faced with Danzo Shimura's indifferent eyes, Kurasuke felt as if he couldn't utter a sound.

"Isn't this Danzo's advisor?" Shikatoki said fearlessly. "I attacked, so what?"

"Hmph! You've broken the laws of Konoha, I'm taking you to prison! I hope you won't resist!"

Danzo Shimura waved his hand, and a Root ninja tried to step forward to grab the deer.

"Kurama, lock onto everyone in this area who harbors ill will towards me and was involved in the Hatake Sakumo incident! Don't worry about whether they're ninjas or not!"

A massive wave of malice surged in from all directions.

The villagers were so frightened by this malice that they fainted.

The Root ninjas were so intimidated by this malice that they dared not move.

Danzo Shimura was the strongest and felt it most clearly.

He could feel a pair of vertical pupils staring at him from behind. If he dared to make any sudden movements, the Nine-Tails would attack him!

"Shikatoki! What are you trying to do! How dare you lay a hand on the villagers?" Shimura Danzo roared.

"Stop playing the good guy, Danzo. Since those villagers can't distinguish right from wrong, I'll teach them a lesson so they won't blindly take sides next time. As for you! Looks like I didn't really hurt you last time!"

Shikatoki burst forth amidst Danzo Shimura's terrified gaze.

No ninjutsu was used.

Pure physical strength, only punches landing with flesh!