Chapter 227: How Can You Curse At People
Sakumo Hatake opened his eyes, the hesitation in his gaze slowly dissipating.
No matter how unbelievable it was to him, Konoha High Command had indeed tried to assassinate Shinma.
He had thought the difference between him and the village high-ranking officials was just in policy and direction, but it turned out to be a struggle of life and death.
Pakkun continued, “Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s deaths might have been the fox’s doing. Are you going to question the fox, or take this opportunity to do something? Make a decision quickly.”
Sakumo Hatake stood up and said:
“Regarding Shinma’s murder, I ultimately sent Gekko Shizuma to rescue Shinma.
I knew Shinma was going to his death, and the village high-ranking officials, through Gekko Shizuma’s appearance, knew that I knew Shinma was going to his death.
It was tacit understanding, without pointing it out explicitly.
Now, I have no choice in the matter.
If I continue to compromise, the people around me—Gekko Shizuma, Yamashiro Aoba, Shirakumo Hayama, Shinma, and even Kakashi, Minato Namikaze—could all be framed by the village high-ranking officials as a result.
My strength, my threat to the village high-ranking officials, leaves me no other choice.
Sooner or later, I will challenge Konoha’s current order.
If I retreat, Shinma and the others will die sooner or later.
If I advance, there is still a slim chance of survival.
No need to dwell on who killed Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi. Tomorrow, I will go to the Hokage Building, take on Konoha’s most dangerous mission, the task no one else can accomplish.
Advance as a form of retreat, no need to explain anything to the village.”
In the underground training room of Tsuruzuki Izakaya, Yoru waited one night.
He didn’t receive the contract chakra notification from the ninja dog Pakkun, which surprised him somewhat.
How exactly was Sakumo Hatake planning to respond?
If Sakumo Hatake questioned whether he had killed Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had prepared a set of excuses sufficient to handle Sakumo Hatake.
Who could have thought it was him? Who could prove it was him? Even Anbu couldn’t find the culprit—could Sakumo Hatake?
He waited a long time longer, but still no contract chakra from the ninja dog Pakkun.
On the second day, Yoru quickly arrived at the Hokage Building using several Body Flicker Techniques.
Entering the Hokage’s Office, Yoru discovered Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and Orochimaru were in the office.
What were they calling him here for? There was no killing intent from any of them?
It couldn’t be that they had discovered he was the culprit, could it?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “The fox was the first Anbu to investigate the Hidden Cloud Village’s perfect jinchuriki. Let’s hear the fox’s thoughts.”
Yoru was somewhat baffled. Wasn’t the recent major event the murders of Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi? Why bring up the perfect jinchuriki now?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “Sakumo Hatake just came to the Hokage’s Office, expressing his desire to take people to the Land of Lightning to investigate intelligence on the Hidden Cloud Village’s perfect jinchuriki. He asked for my approval.
I didn’t refuse, only said to first study the existing intelligence.
Fox, you were the first to obtain intelligence from the Stone Ninja. Between Sakumo Hatake and Ryuuha, who do you think is stronger and who is weaker?”
Yoru suddenly understood—Sakumo Hatake was preparing to take the initiative, to win greater prestige for himself and build a more brilliant mission record.
What could be more brilliant than suppressing a jinchuriki?
Yoru thought to himself, if he said Sakumo Hatake was far stronger than the jinchuriki, then Sakumo Hatake wouldn’t get the chance to go.
If he said the jinchuriki was stronger than Sakumo Hatake, putting Sakumo Hatake in mortal danger, the Third Hokage would wish for him to set out in half an hour.
After a slight consideration, Yoru said:
“Hokage, Sakumo Hatake’s sword technique is very strong.
If the jinchuriki maintains a normal form, he is not Sakumo Hatake’s opponent.
But Sakumo Hatake lacks means to counter super large enemies. If the jinchuriki goes berserk and turns into the form of a calamity beast, I think Sakumo Hatake would be helpless.”
The Hokage nodded; this evaluation was very objective. He turned and asked, “Orochimaru, what are your thoughts?”
Yoru was puzzled again—why was Orochimaru involved in this high-level discussion?
Orochimaru said, “What’s there to fear? The Hidden Cloud Village has two jinchuriki, one for Sakumo Hatake, one for me. Let’s see who achieves more significant results. What’s the harm in letting him go?”
This time Yoru understood—Orochimaru seemed to have placed Sakumo Hatake in the position of a rival?
It dawned on him: was Orochimaru starting to compete for the Fourth Hokage?
Before Minato Namikaze rose up, Orochimaru, as Hiruzen Sarutobi’s disciple, one of the Sannin, and deputy commander in several wars, was the hottest candidate for Fourth Hokage.
Faced with the aggressive Sakumo Hatake, the high-ranking officials chose to push Orochimaru forward.
Yoru glanced at Danzo, who seemed not to oppose it either.
After a brief thought, Yoru figured Danzo didn’t oppose because Orochimaru had dirty hands—Danzo was confident he could pull Orochimaru down at any time.
After some thought, the Third Hokage said:
“I will allow Sakumo Hatake to investigate the Hidden Cloud Village’s perfect jinchuriki Ryuuha.
Have the fox follow Sakumo Hatake under the pretext of recording intelligence to ensure its accuracy.
If Sakumo Hatake investigates nothing, that’s naturally good.
If he investigates something, Orochimaru, you can use the intelligence Sakumo Hatake uncovers to deal with the Hidden Cloud Village’s other jinchuriki, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Buruubi.”
Orochimaru was somewhat displeased—why should he follow behind Sakumo Hatake and pick up scraps? He didn’t think he was inferior to Sakumo Hatake.
Upon hearing he was to follow Sakumo Hatake, Yoru knew the high-ranking officials had no suspicions about him or Sakumo Hatake at all—he had hidden very well.
Danzo asked, “Are we just letting Tan and Yuu’s deaths slide? Isn’t this Sakumo Hatake’s way of diverting attention?”
Yoru felt slightly uneasy in his heart—were they going to continue investigating? Were they going to investigate him?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “Though Sakumo Hatake’s various ideas clash with ours, I trust his character. He wouldn’t kill Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi out of personal grudge.”
Danzo said, “Yesterday you said the one who assassinated Tan and Yuu absolutely couldn’t be Tsunade. Today you say it’s not Sakumo Hatake. It can’t be the Uchiha Clan, can it?
Uchiha Kane is a compromising, weak dove in the Uchiha Clan. He doesn’t have the guts to rebel against Konoha.”
Hearing Danzo belittle Uchiha Kane so much, even Yoru felt Uchiha Kane had no face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed heavily on his pipe, and soon the entire office was filled with smoke from him alone.
Orochimaru said, “Smoke less. Tsunade says every time she comes to your office, she goes back smelling of smoke and has to change clothes.”
At this time, among the Sannin, the one who cared most about the Third Hokage was actually Orochimaru.
There was a reason the Third Hokage recalled only Orochimaru’s good side before his death.
“Can’t quit, can’t do without it. I rely on this pipe every day to relieve stress,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
“Continue investigating the deaths of Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But I don’t think it’s necessary to waste time on Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake.
Tsunade loves the village her grandfather built deep down; she wouldn’t kill her fellow villagers.
Sakumo Hatake has his own moral bottom line; he wouldn’t do such a thing.
The one who does such a thing must be an extremely despicable ambitious person, an insect scheming in the darkness to incite chaos in Konoha.”
Yoru thought to himself, that’s too much—you can’t just curse people like that. Can you curse because you’re the Hokage?
Cursing me right in front of me?
