Warlock Invasion of Naruto.

"Could it be that someone did this on purpose...?"

"That's right, it was I who spread the information."

Danzo said in a deep voice.

Sakamoto Kota looked on in disbelief: "Lord Danzo, why would you do such a thing?!"

Danzo: "I'm saving him."

"Save Sakumo?" Sakamoto Kota was dumbfounded. He leaked information and exaggerated the facts to save Sakumo, causing everyone to condemn him?

“Sakumo has a very high reputation in the village, surpassing even the Sannin. He is the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage, and I have always been optimistic about him,” Danzo explained.

"Can......"

Danzo waved his hand: "You don't understand. Sakumo has no intention of competing for Hokage, but both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans hope that he can become the Fourth Hokage, and many Jonin also support him."

Even if he didn't want to go up, the crowd would lift him high and push him upwards.

Do you know who the third generation's preferred candidate for the fourth generation is?

It's Orochimaru!

"You mean..." Sakamoto Kota's eyes widened: "Impossible, the Third Hokage isn't that kind of person!"

"Three days have passed since the information was leaked, and many ninjas in the village are denouncing Sakumo. Public opinion is gradually getting out of control."

Now, as long as the third generation steps forward and makes a public statement, even if Sakumo is severely punished later, public opinion will be quickly brought under control.

But the third generation chose to remain silent... You can't not understand what that means, can you?

"No! How could this be? Sakumo is a ninja who truly inherited the Will of Fire. How could you do this to him?" Sakamoto Kota felt that the image of the Third Hokage that he had always held in high esteem had cracked and was about to collapse.

"This is also a good thing for Sakumo. To prevent him from becoming a victim of the political struggle between the Uchiha, Hyuga and Third Hokage, it's better to take this opportunity to suppress his reputation and make him completely withdraw from the competition for the Fourth Hokage. With Sakumo's abilities, it's only a matter of time before he can clear his name and regain his reputation."

Danzo continued.

"..." Sakamoto Kota fell silent.

"I called you here so that you would stand up and make a statement, letting Sakumo know that his decision to abandon the mission was wrong. In this way, the Third Hokage will also take this opportunity to punish him to some extent, and the matter will be over. The public opinion will also dissipate immediately. Otherwise, if things continue to develop like this, no one knows what will happen."

“But Sakumo…” Sakamoto Kota struggled in his heart. If he stood up and accused Sakumo, would he still be human?

What losses did abandoning an "important mission" whose details were known only to Sakumo cause to the village?

Danzo questioned, "You just said you would take full responsibility! In Sakumo's team, apart from Uchiha Munejin, your other two teammates have already agreed. What are you still hesitating about?"

"Please give me some time to think about it." Sakamoto Kota was in a state of turmoil.

“You can go directly to the Third Generation and see if he's willing to stand up for Sakumo. You can even tell him what I told you; that's not out of the question.”

Danzo said with a resolute expression.

He had been teammates with the third generation for decades and knew him better than anyone else.

Since the third generation did not stand up and express their opinion when the public opinion first fermented, they will definitely remain silent afterward.

This is the consistent style of the third generation; he often turns a blind eye to certain things.

After all, it was paving the way for his beloved disciple Orochimaru.

The current third generation must be struggling with hypocrisy, feeling that doing this is somewhat unfair to Sakumo.

However, if Sakamoto Kota dared to go to the Third Hokage, Danzo could already foresee the Third Hokage's expression and words.

"Someone come here."

Danzo said expressionlessly, and two Anbu ninjas quickly appeared outside the room.

"Send him out."

The ANBU ninja blindfolded Sakamoto Kota again and led him out of headquarters.

......

In the elegant courtyard paved with pebbles, Sakumo sat on the veranda, carefully wiping the chakra dagger in his hand, as if it were not a weapon, but a cherished companion.

"Father, we have a guest." Kakashi entered the courtyard and looked at Sakumo, whose expression was calm. His anxiety and unease were greatly relieved.

Despite the clamor outside, with everyone condemning my father and holding him responsible for the mission's failure, and the harsh words spoken, my father remained as steady as ever, seemingly unaffected.

Sakumo nodded, sheathed his chakra sword, and handed it to Kakashi: "Kakashi, go make some tea."

"Okay!" Kakashi returned the chakra sword to Sakumo's room, then ran towards the kitchen, his steps much lighter than when he came.

Shiraha and Orochimaru arrived in the living room and met Sakumo.

"You've arrived, please have a seat."

Shuo Mao smiled slightly.

Both Bai Yu and Orochimaru were taken aback and knelt down on the cushion.

Soon, Kakashi came in carrying a tray, placed tea on the three of them, and then left.

"Sakumo, about this matter, I..." Orochimaru hesitated.

Sakumo raised his hand to interrupt him: "I know you are unaware of this matter. Although I am the biggest obstacle to your becoming the Fourth Hokage, you are definitely not that kind of person."

Seeing that Shuo Mao had already seen through the problem so clearly, Bai Yu stopped pretending and went straight to the point:

"It's likely that someone deliberately leaked information to damage your reputation."

Sakumo nodded, a look of disappointment on his face: "Actually, this is completely unnecessary. I never thought about becoming Hokage. I just wanted to be a sword of Konoha."

"What mission did you abandon? Why are there so many rumors and condemnations outside, but when asked about the mission details, no one seems to know anything?" Bai Yu continued to ask.

Sakumo frowned slightly, his voice low: "We are ordered to ambush the Third Kazekage."

"What?!" Bai Yu was shocked and subconsciously lowered his voice. Had the higher-ups lost their minds?

Orochimaru also looked incredulous.

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[Chapter 89. The Will of Fire: Merely a Tool (2nd Update, Seeking First Subscription)]

Sakumo explained, "That's the order I received. There was intelligence that the Third Kazekage had gone to the Land of Rain, so I was ordered to lead a team to ambush him at the border of the Land of Wind."

Another Jonin squad was supposed to meet us at the border, but they never showed up.

We didn't encounter the Third Kazekage, but instead met another group of Sand Village ninjas on the way. After annihilating them, all the team members were injured, so I decided to terminate the mission.

After all, the mission to ambush the Third Kazekage not only had to be successful, but also had to prevent any information from being leaked.

Therefore, without absolute certainty, the mission must be abandoned!

This kind of thing is inexplicable even within Konoha.

Is this a calculated scheme?

Bai Yu's heart sank.

Perhaps the initial objective of the mission was not to ambush the Third Kazekage.

After all, even if Sakumo led an entire Jonin squad, their chances of winning against the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release wouldn't be great.

Furthermore, the Third Kazekage would likely bring his Shadow Guard with him when he travels.

Is the person in charge of the building mentally challenged?

Maybe not.

When someone who isn't stupid does something that looks incredibly stupid, then there's clearly a problem.

Given Shuo Mao's overall perspective, he would likely have terminated the mission if no team members were injured and the situation became unmanageable.

After all, if the information were leaked, the consequences would be unimaginable, and it could ignite a major war between Konoha and Sunagakure.

The higher-ups must have a good grasp of his personality to issue such a stupid task.

In order to suppress his reputation and make Orochimaru take over, they just ruined a ninja who was devoted to the village.

To some extent, this mission is indeed of great importance.

However, Sakumo's termination of the mission not only did not cause any loss to the village, but he should be commended because he prevented the deaths of his team members and averted a war.

No fault whatsoever!

However, the reality is—

What are the task details?

do not know!

What losses did the mission failure bring to the village?

Not sure!

Then why condemn Shuo Mao?

Because everyone is condemning him.

Those who deliberately spread information to slander Shuomao are bad, but those who are easily incited and follow the trend to slander are both bad and stupid.

"I'm going to see the Third Hokage!" Orochimaru stood up to leave. The Third Hokage couldn't possibly be unaware of this mission; he had to be made to stand up and clear Sakumo's name.

“It’s no use.” Sakumo shook his head. He had been staying at home for the past two days and had thought through many things and seen through many things.

"How will you know if you don't try!" Orochimaru said in a deep voice, and hurriedly left.

"The last time I saw Orochimaru like this was when Nawaki was injured." Bai Yu did not leave with Orochimaru: "Once Orochimaru calms down, he will realize that finding the Third Hokage is useless."

Sakumo: "Why do you say that?"

Bai Yu: "Isn't it obvious? Abandoning a mission to save a comrade violates the code of conduct of a ninja, which is a very serious matter. But abandoning a comrade for the sake of a mission violates the spirit of the Will of Fire."

No matter what you choose, it's wrong! Or rather... no matter what you choose, it's right! The key is that if the Will of Fire is subject to human will, then the Will of Fire...

Bai Yu didn't continue speaking.

However, both Sakumo and he were fully aware of the truth.

"I didn't expect you to have thought of this much. I've always felt that you're different from others, and it seems my feeling was right."

Shuo Mao smiled.