"Don't you care about what's said outside?"

Kakashi, who was receiving Sakumo's sword skills instruction in the courtyard, looked at Sakumo and asked softly.

To be honest, he couldn't understand why the rumors outside were targeting his father so much.

The mission failed just once, which did not affect Sakumo's status in his mind at all, but the words of those outside made Kakashi feel very uncomfortable.

"Kakashi, if it were you, would you respond?"

Sakumo asked with a smile.

"..."

Kakashi held the short sword tightly, seeming to be hesitating and struggling.

"Sorry, I don't know what to do."

"Why do you need to apologize? Kakashi, you still have a long way to go in the future."

Sakumo knelt down, held Kakashi's knife-holding palm with his generous hand, and comforted him with a smile.

"Um."

Kakashi nodded.

"You must have had a fight with someone today."

Sakumo said in a positive tone.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"I taught a few ungrateful guys a lesson. What they said was too unpleasant."

"I'm very happy that you can stand up for me. So in your opinion, do what they said is correct or wrong?"

The smile on Sakumo's face disappeared, and in Kakashi's opinion, it was an unparalleled serious expression.

Mission and companions? Kakashi began to ask himself, if he had been in the position of his father Sakumo, would he have chosen to carry out the mission or save his companions?

He didn't know what the right choice was.

Seriously, the mission should be the top priority. Something went wrong with the Will of Fire...

But that is the will passed down from the first generation of adults, how could there be any mistakes?

If it was wrong, how could this kind of textbook be selected as a required subject in a ninja school?

but……

Kakashi was a little confused.

With a perfect score in theory, he didn't know how to answer this question for the first time.

"I have no idea."

In the end, Kakashi shook his head.

He looked up at his father Sakumo, hoping that he could give him an answer for reference.

Which one comes first, the mission or the companions?

Sakumo didn't answer. He just patted Kakashi on the shoulder and looked at the beautiful sunset in the distance. The sunset reflected on his face, which was the afterglow of the end.

"I don't care about other people's comments, so you don't have to take these things to heart."

"But the man you saved, dad, is also insulting..."

"Don't stop doing things that should be right because of others' disapproval, or even regret it afterward because of others' ridicule and accusations. I just abide by the beliefs and persistence that a Konoha ninja should have."

"yes……"

Kakashi lowered his head, he still couldn't be as open-minded as Sakumo.

Everyone else can be forgiven, but only the person who was saved by Sakumo came to accuse his savior. This is something that Kakashi cannot forgive.

"That's it for today's sword training."

Kakashi nodded, followed Sakumo's arrangement, and returned to his room.

Time passed slowly, and it was late at night. Due to the rumors, Kakashi was tired during the day. Whether he was practicing or eating, he was a little absent-minded, and he would go to bed early at night.

On the roof of Hatake's house, Sakumo was looking alone at the sparse stars and moon above his head, blowing the cool night breeze.

There was a slight movement from behind, and someone climbed onto the roof from behind and walked towards him.

"It's easy to catch a cold if you blow in the wind here at night, Mr. Sakumo."

Shiraishi walked up to Sakumo, smiled at him and said something.

"Ayane was here during the day, is it you at night?"

Sakumo also smiled.

"Ayane? Is she here too?"

Shiraishi was surprised.

"She came over after I had lunch and went back not long after."

"Yeah?"

Shiraishi also followed Sakumo's line of sight, looked at the stars and moon in the night sky, and whispered to himself.

"You came to see me so late, didn't you mean to accompany me here to enjoy the cold wind all night?"

Sakumo asked.

"I just came to see the scenery."

"landscape?"

"Yes, the scenery is the same as what you are looking at...the stone statues of the past Hokages built this village and are known as those who made great achievements in history."

Shiraishi shifted his gaze from the night sky. Directly below was the shadow rock of the three Hokages.

The first Hokage who established Konoha.

The second generation Hokage who formulates important development strategies for the village.

And now the Third Hokage.

In the future, more people will be engraved on it and worshiped by the people of Konoha.

The Fourth Hokage... The Fifth Hokage... The Sixth Hokage...

Sakumo didn't speak, and he and Shiraishi kept silent together in a tacit agreement, quietly looking at the shadow rocks.

After a long time, Sakumo was the first to break the silence and said: "What will the future of Konoha be like?"

This sentence seems to be asking Shiraishi, or himself, or maybe someone else.

"I don't think there is any need to ask about this kind of thing, because Mr. Sakumo, you have already found the answer you want, haven't you?"

Shiraishi answered Sakumo's question, and then said:

"Just like what you said to Kakashi, do what you think is right, and don't regret it because of other people's accusations after you do it."

"Sure enough, among the three of you, you are the most special one."

Sakumo said meaningfully.

Sakumo knew that Shiraishi had already noticed the decision he had taken in the face of these rumors.

"Since you have already made your choice, it seems like it would be unnecessary for me to come here."

Shiraishi did not respond directly to this question, but sighed.

Unlike Ayane, Sakumo has long passed the age of asking who he is.

He knew exactly why he made such a choice.

I don’t know if I won’t regret it in the future, but if I don’t do it, I will definitely live in suffering in the future.

It was like giving up the mission because he saved his companions. No matter whether the people he saved would blame him for failing the mission, Sakumo would not waver.

It's other people's business to scold him, but it's his business to save his companions. There is no necessary relationship between the two.

He is simply abiding by the beliefs conveyed by the Will of Fire.

I firmly believe that saving my companions and giving up the mission is the highest priority, even if I break some rules.

For such people, the opinions of others can only be used as a reference and cannot be a decisive factor in shaking their beliefs.

"Teacher Sakumo, you should go to bed early. I'm going back first."

Shiraishi knew that he couldn't change anything since he was here, so he might as well go back and rest.

The weather is quite cold tonight.

Shiraishi started walking towards the way back.

"Take care of Kakashi for me."

Sakumo's words suddenly came from behind.

Under the silent night, Bai Shi paused when he heard these words and nodded slightly.

When Sakumo turned around to look, the place where Shiraishi was standing was already empty.

◎
To be continued...