Naruto: They are all reborn.

Chapter 16 How to Stop a Suicidal Person

Actually, Shi Xu had some things he didn't say.

From the moment power emerges, struggle also arises.

What happened in Konoha Village was never an isolated case. In the history that Toki had studied, there had been far more struggles, and they were far more intense.

Toki had no idea what time the Hokage was waiting for, nor who the mastermind was or how much power they possessed. He had done everything he could; whether he could truly end this matter depended on Hiruzen Sarutobi's abilities.

If he remembers correctly, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage until the beginning of the Naruto storyline. He was able to hold that position for so long, so his abilities must have been quite good.

"Alright! Everyone, just focus on your own tasks and wait for the Hokage to make his move."

Shi Xu clapped his hands and announced the disbandment of the "Simulated Konoha".

After school, Kakashi opened the door to his house, carrying his bag.

"Father, I'm back."

He called out, but received no response, and murmured, "Did they go out?"

Kakashi changed his shoes and went upstairs, only to find the house empty.

Where did Father go?

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard the sound of a door opening from the entrance hall.

When Sakumo Hatake returned from outside, he smelled faintly of alcohol, not strong, probably from just a few drinks.

"Father, where have you been?" Kakashi asked with great concern.

Shuo Mao smiled and said, "I went out to meet some old friends, had a meal, and then came back."

He seemed to be in a good mood, as if he had been relieved and had come to terms with his previous emotions.

But for no apparent reason, Kakashi felt a strong sense of unease.

He didn't know where this feeling came from, nor what it meant, so he could only suppress it for the time being.

Kakashi poured a cup of hot water from the thermos and handed it to Sakumo. Then he sat down opposite him and began to tell him about his experiences at school that day.

Sakumo nodded from time to time, indicating his approval or offering his own insights. He was surprised when he heard Toki's "simulated Konoha".

"I remember Shi Xu is a few years older than you all."

"Tokio is four years older than me. He was assigned to our freshman class because he had no prior knowledge of ninjas."

"That's really impressive," Sakumo exclaimed, picking up his cup and taking a sip of hot water.

"He was able to explain to a group of children with an average age of only five what Konoha is, what the Hokage is, what power is, and what... struggle is in just a few words."

"The wisdom and insight he displayed were completely unlike what a child his age should possess. Moreover, Shi Xu had been wandering in the Land of Rain, struggling on the edge of survival."

After hearing Sakumo's words, Kakashi's eyes also lit up with a strange light.

Because he had been in constant contact with Shi Xu, he overlooked this matter and subconsciously assumed that the wisdom Shi Xu displayed was a matter of course.

Just then, Sakumo suddenly smiled: "However... what Toki said was still somewhat lacking, but that's not his problem, it's just that he knows too little about Konoha."

"What is it?" Kakashi asked.

But then he thought that his father probably wouldn't talk to him about these things, probably because... he was too young to be exposed to them.

However, Sakumo put down his cup, looked into Kakashi's eyes, and slowly said, "Kakashi, the 'mastermind' you're talking about is a man named Shimura Danzo. He's dangerous. If you ever see him again, stay away from him."

"Shimura Danzo?"

Kakashi paused for a moment, his unease surging to its peak once again.

"What happened?"

He touched his chest and continued, "I've never heard of this name before."

"It's normal that you haven't heard of him. Over the years, he has intentionally downplayed his name in the village."

"Why is that?" Kakashi asked, puzzled.

Why would someone who wants to become Hokage intentionally downplay their name?

Sakumo gave the answer: "Because of his thoughts, that's why I say he's dangerous."

"Shimura Danzo was a close friend of the Third Hokage and a fellow student of the Second Hokage. In his words, for a tree to grow strong, it needs both leaves that bask in the sunlight and roots that are firmly planted in the darkness."

"The Third Hokage is Ye, and he is Root, so he controls an organization called 'Root'."

This was the first time Kakashi had heard of this idea, and at first glance, he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Instead of asking where the danger lay in this ideology, he asked, "Does Konoha have an organization called 'Root'?"

Sakumo nodded: "There's a saying that goes, if you want to understand a person, don't listen to what they say, but look at what they do. That's how the Root organization works."

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

"They were nominally the training department for the Anbu, but in reality, they were Shimura Danzo's private army. He brainwashed the members of Root under the guise of 'protecting Konoha in the dark,' making them unconditionally believe in Shimura Danzo and think that 'everything Shimura Danzo does is for Konoha.'"

"How could this happen?"

Kakashi's pupils contracted sharply, and he stammered, "Then...what about the Hokage? Doesn't he care?"

"I can't do it."

Sakumo shook his head: "As of now, Root has never done anything harmful to Konoha. At most, they leaked my mission information. Moreover, they have undertaken all of Konoha's external espionage activities... Of course, most importantly, all members of Root are 'volunteers'."

"Kakashi, stay away from Shimura Danzo. He's good at using righteousness to disguise himself; he's a hypocrite. Also, talk to Toki more; that kid is very smart..."

Sakumo talked on and on, saying whatever came to mind without any restraint, his words full of concern for Kakashi.

At that moment, Kakashi finally understood where his unease came from.

He remained silent until he exploded: "Father, are you making your final arrangements?"

"Kakashi..." Sakumo paused for a moment, then forced a smile. "You figured it out."

Why?

Kakashi gripped his hand tightly, shouting in an almost interrogative tone, "Why did you go to such lengths?!"

Sakumo grasped Kakashi's hand in return, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes: "The last time I held your hand like this was when you were very young, when you had just learned to walk..."

"dad!"

Kakashi, with tears in his eyes, rushed over and hugged Sakumo tightly.

"Dad, I'm your son, please... don't leave me alone..."

-

The Thousand Hands Mansion.

Tsunade, holding a bottle of sake, sat in the courtyard and suddenly asked, "Tokio, tell me... how do you stop someone who wants to die?"

Shi Xu thought about it for a long time, and finally answered, "Family."

Updates in the next few days may not be on time.

There's something inside my body that doesn't belong to me, so I need to have surgery to remove it. I hope you readers can understand.

I kneel in gratitude.

barley

(End of this chapter)