Before Toneri could react from his thoughts, he followed Sarutobi Hiruzen's Anbu ninja and left the root base.
When he arrived at the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the only one inside.
Standing in front of the huge window behind the desk, with his hands behind his back, he looked out at the bustling scene of Konoha.
"Sandaime-sama, the Toneri jounin is here."
After saying that, he let Toneri enter, leaving only the two of them.
Toneri looked at this familiar environment. The last time he came here, he and Minato were promoted to jounin.
At that time, he, Minato, and Kushina were all washed away by the boundless joy, so they did not notice Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression at that time. Thinking about it now, it seemed that they could detect something strange.
I just don't know if Sarutobi Hiruzen really knows anything about White Fang, or even participated in it, or if he only knows about it now.
This is critical.
This may determine his attitude towards Konoha as a whole and Sarutobi Hiruzen as the Hokage.
"Sheren, you're here, come."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was not surprised when he saw Toneri and waved to him.
Slowly walked to Sarutobi Hiruzen, and looked at the entire Konoha with him.
He gently put his hand on Toneri's shoulder and patted him, looking at him with a hint of relief.
"It's been more than four years since you came to Konoha, right? I was just such a tall kid at the beginning, but now I have grown so tall that I have surpassed me." Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
"Four years and three months." Toneri looked at the bustling streets of Konoha.
"Four years and three months have passed. Time flies so fast..." Hiruzenha Sarutobi sighed.
More than four years ago, he was still the "forbearance hero", but four years later, he can clearly feel that his body is not as good as it was day by day, and it continues to weaken.
This is a limitation of age and a limitation of the body itself.
Now, he has officially passed his peak period.
Even just four years ago, he still felt that even if he was the only one, he was still confident that he could support the entire Konoha.
But now, he no longer has this confidence.
And when he loses this self-confidence, all kinds of thoughts will appear in his mind. The more things he thinks about, the more things he worries about.
He himself also knew that the word "endurance" could no longer be applied to him.
Toneri tilted his head slightly and looked at this old man whose body had become slightly rickety. He was not that tall and majestic, but he was bearing pressure that most people could not imagine.
"Duanzo told you a lot of things, right?
But I hope you won’t blame Sakumo. From his perspective, his choice was not wrong."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked directly into Toneri's eyes, and what he said really came from his heart.
Hatake Sakumo is a Shura who seems to outsiders to be ruthless and murderous without batting an eyelid, but only those who have really come into contact with and understand him know that he is actually a very thoughtful, emotionally rich and complex person.
Indifference towards enemies and tenderness towards companions are a rough summary of Hatake Sakumo's heart.
It may not be completely accurate, but it is well-founded.
Toneri nodded and said: "Uncle Shuomao once taught me swordsmanship. He can be regarded as my enlightenment teacher of swordsmanship. Even if I only look at him a little, I will not blame him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded happily.
Immediately afterwards, Sarutobi Hiruzen continued: "Your teacher Orochimaru came to see me. He told me about your situation. We all know that nothing happened to you."
Hearing this, Toneri was stunned: "Teacher Orochimaru has been looking for you? Then why do others think..."
"Because someone is deliberately promoting it, I believe that with your intelligence, you should be able to guess it.
As early as more than a year ago, Sakumo and Orochimaru became the important candidates for the Fourth Hokage in the eyes of everyone in Konoha, and from that moment on, someone was making plans.
This mission is the last move of his entire game..."
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish speaking, he was suddenly interrupted by Toneri's shout.
"Uncle Three Generations!"
Toneri shouted without hesitation, and the sudden sound made even Sarutobi Hiruzen a little stunned.
This time, it was Toneri's turn to look directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, without giving in, and asked word for word: "Since you knew it so early, why didn't you stop it?"
Looking into Toneri's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a little uncomfortable and slowly turned his head and continued to look at the entire Konoha.
But he didn't notice that at the moment he turned his head and shifted his gaze, a flash of disappointment flashed deep in Toneri's eyes.
I still feel guilty after all...
"It's not that I don't want to, you also know that the roots have an impact on the entire Konoha, and the benefits definitely outweigh the disadvantages, so before their plan is truly confirmed, I can't stop it, and the group of elders won't let me stop it," said Hiruzen Sarutobi on his face.
Showing a hint of bitterness.
It's not that I can't, but I don't want to...
Sheren added silently in his heart.
But soon, these thoughts and thoughts were hidden deep in my heart.
"Go and see Sakumo. Your appearance should make him feel relieved a little bit from the guilt in his heart." Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
Toneri nodded and said nothing more. He glanced at the corner of the office from the corner of his eye, stepped on the window, jumped down, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Toneri in the distance with his eyes in trance.
After Toneri really left, a figure appeared in the office, carrying a huge scroll, and walked straight to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Looking at the prosperity of Konoha.
"This little guy has become even more powerful in just one year. He can actually detect my existence." Jiraiya, with his trademark white hair, said with a sigh.
He had been hiding in the corner of the office because he wanted to see Toneri's attitude and whether he was on Danzo's side or on Sarutobi Hiruzen's side.
Listening to Jiraiya's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer, but his eyes that had been lost in thought refocused.
The bitterness on his face was undisguised.
Jiraiya saw it and let out a long sigh, "Old man, you...really did something wrong this time..."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed slightly, and then the bitterness on his face became more obvious, "Do you even think I did something wrong?"
Jiraiya didn't answer, he knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen had the answer in his heart.
"Alas - maybe I really did something wrong this time."
Immediately afterwards, Sarutobi Hiruzen said this to himself as if he regretted or sighed.
Hearing his respected teacher so obviously blaming himself, Jiraiya didn't feel very comfortable.
But even so, Jiraiya still disagreed with his actions this time.
In fact, Sarutobi Hiruzen did anticipate some of the root's behavior this time, but the hesitation in his heart kept him from making a choice.
He held it in until the end, everything had happened, and he still didn't make a choice.
If he doesn't do anything, it seems like he is not at fault.
But by not doing anything, he actually provided the greatest help.
It chilled some people's hearts.
Jiraiya knew why Hiruzen Sarutobi was like this. As he got older, he began to be sentimental and hesitant.
He also doesn't want the teacher who was once upright and upright in his heart to slowly turn into the kind of person he hates the most.
But now it seems to be going on...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's acquiescence of inaction made many people think that he acquiesced in this incident.
Although it is true.
But as a result, many people or families who had the ability to help Hatake Sakumo chose to remain silent.
No one dared to offer help because they would consider whether Sarutobi Hiruzen himself meant this.
This is the greatest sadness.
"Old man, what you are thinking about...
Do you think Shuo is that kind of person? Don’t you still understand his character and conduct?"
This is what Jiraiya cannot accept the most.
He was obviously a person he knew very well, but Hiruzen Sarutobi did nothing because of the concerns in his heart.
"I hope that kid Toneri can resolve the emotions in his heart." Sarutobi Hiruzen's face became increasingly bitter.
He had stopped Danzo's behavior and only hoped to be able to reverse it in time.
"I hope..."
...
Toneri, who was running quickly on the Konoha house, felt a little cold in his heart at this moment.
Hatake Sakumo's chance of becoming Hokage has been completely lost.
On the streets of Konoha, all kinds of people were discussing in whispers that Hatake Sakumo gave up his mission to save his companions, which led to the death of others and also brought huge losses to Konoha, etc.
Although these people may not have much malicious intent when discussing it, after what happened, few people have said anything about whether Hatake Sakumo can become the fourth Hokage.
Few people even discuss when the Third Hokage will step down, when the Fourth Hokage will take office, etc.
What Toneri considered at the beginning was that the biggest beneficiary of this incident would be Orochimaru, who competed with Hatake Sakumo to become the fourth generation.
But after thinking about it carefully, the biggest beneficiary is actually Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage!
No one will use public opinion to force him to resign in a subtle way.
Now as long as he wants, he can always sit in the position of Hokage.
Because in the subconscious of these people, the third generation Hokage made no mistakes, but the best candidate in their minds at the moment made a mistake. Will they make mistakes again after they become Hokage?
With this kind of thoughts and thoughts, it is estimated that there will be no discussion about who can become the Fourth Hokage for a long time in the future.
So it seems that Orochimaru has benefited the most, but in fact, it may be Sarutobi Hiruzen who has benefited the most.
Of course, this is the end of the matter this time.
...
Soon, Toneri came to the door of the Hatake clan's mansion.
Knocked lightly on the door.
The person who opened the door was a woman with a slightly haggard face. Her ordinary-looking face showed indescribable fatigue.
After seven days of fermentation, this ordinary woman endured pressure that she didn't know she should have endured.
She knew Sheren. Although Sheren didn't come often, she still remembered him.
There was surprise on his face, and surprise hidden deep in his eyes.
Sheren is still alive!
"Is Uncle Sakumo at home?" Toneri asked.
"Here! He's...inside..."
"Excuse me." Shiren bowed deeply.
The woman immediately led the man inside.
He came to a somewhat dark room and knocked on the door gently. The woman stood in front of the door and shouted inside: "Sakumo, Tonero-kun is here."
After standing in front of the door for a long time, I heard a slightly hoarse voice coming from inside.
"come in."
The woman looked at Toneri with a slightly pleading look, which made his originally hard heart soften.
He nodded and opened the door and walked in.
Sitting in front of the desk in the corner of the room was a neatly dressed man with a haggard and even pale face. Looking at Toneri, his eyes were full of exhaustion, and there was a hint of loneliness in the deepest part of his eyes.
"I knew you were fine."
An ugly smile appeared on Hatake Sakumo's face, along with a trace of relief.
"Uncle Sakumo, how did you become like this?"
It was hard for Sheren to imagine that the being who once killed people without blinking an eye and was known as Shura actually looked so weak now.
As someone who has experienced the Big Bang era and witnessed online violence, Toneri somewhat does not understand why Hatake Sakumo is so easily influenced by public opinion.
To use Sheren's words to describe it, this is a glass heart!
Hatake Sakumo waved his hands and said nothing.
"Don't you understand that someone is planning something against you?" Seeing his appearance, Shiren couldn't help but frown and yell.
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo was stunned, with a bit of bitterness on his face.
"You mean Danzo, right?"
Shiren was stunned.
"you know?"
Immediately he realized that Hatake Sakumo was not a small character. He was the head of Konoha's ANBU and held a high position. He must know who Danzo was and who was behind this incident.
Toneri stopped and looked at Hatake Sakumo silently, and gradually understood.
In fact, external public opinion is part of the reason why he has become what he is now. Someone in Konoha did die because of him, which is another part of the reason. But the real impact may be the inaction of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The person he once respected, trusted, and stood at the highest position in Konoha acquiesced in what happened.
This may be what stimulates him the most and hurts him the most.
He had obviously been instilling the "will of fire" into people from the beginning to the end, but after others followed the "will of fire" to save their companions, he was questioned and even despised by everyone.
Someone wanted to target him, but the person in the position of Hokage turned a blind eye.
Even he knew that Danzo did this, would Sarutobi Hiruzen not know?
This kind of damage to a person's belief is the greatest.
The collapse of faith is sometimes accompanied by a person's downfall.
For a moment, Shiren didn't know what to say.
It was as if I could feel the sadness in Hatake Sakumo's heart.
Strictly speaking, Hatake Sakumo is a member of the Hokage family.
I just didn't expect it would turn out like this in the end.
Shiren pulled up a chair and sat down in front of him.
At this moment, in this situation, whether he is really alive or not has little impact on Hatake Sakumo.
In him, he felt a kind of sadness that was greater than the death of his heart.
An atmosphere of silence spread between the two of them.
At this moment, some sounds were heard outside the Hatake clan's residence, and they were getting closer and closer, becoming more and more obvious.
"Hatake Sakumo violated the ninja code... causing Konoha to face huge losses..."
"Yuta Ninja also believes that Hatake Sakumo should not save him, but should put Konoha's interests first and follow the ninja code as the criterion!"
"Yuta Ninja..."
"..."
This ninja named Yuta is the ninja who was rescued by Hatake Sakumo
Shiren's expression changed.
He saw that Hatake Sakumo who was in front of him at this moment, his face that was already a little pale, became even paler, and could even be said to be pale.
"Uncle Sakumo..."
"Well--"
Suddenly, in front of Toneri, Hatake Sakumo's pale face turned from white to red, and a wisp of bright red blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.
The last straw for him!
For Hatake Sakumo, the companion he had saved under so much pressure was standing on his opposite side at this moment.
The feeling of being betrayed by a companion is enough to break any determined person, let alone Hatake Sakumo, who is already very fragile at this moment.
"Uncle Sakumo, I have a suggestion. You might as well listen to it. After all, it has become what it is now, and you have nothing to lose anymore."
Hatake Sakumo's lifeless eyes slowly raised, looking at Toneri without much emotion.
With a final attempt, "This way..."
...
On the other side, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya were still in the Hokage's office.
When they heard the sound outside, their expressions changed at the same time.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned pale. The content of the sound this time officially proved that this matter was beyond his control as the Hokage.
Danzo did not obey his orders and it ended like this!
And he also left a final trump card!
"Old man, you really screwed up this time." Jiraiya's face was gloomy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pursed his lips, the chakra in his body surged, and the white god robe on his body made a sound in the wind.
His somewhat rickety back was straightened, as if he had regained his original strength.
The hand holding the pipe made a "crunching" sound.
"Someone's coming!"
Whoosh whoosh——
Seven or eight figures appeared in front of him and Jiraiya.
"The root!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly.
"yes!"
These masked ANBU ninjas responded solemnly.
Later, these people disappeared into the office together with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The most he wanted to do was to beat Sakumo Hatake, but Danzo kept it secret from him, as if he wanted to slap Sakumo Hatake on the ground.
Jiraiya looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen who was leaving in an angry manner, his expression became a little complicated, "As you get older, you really start to change..."
...
Half an hour later.
Toneri left Hatake Sakumo's home with a cold face.
The figure of the lost man and the figure of the woman sitting on the ground covering her face and crying were all deeply imprinted in his mind.
Konoha?
Is this Konoha?
My understanding of anime in my previous life was far less impactful than experiencing it personally.
Go straight to Konoha Hospital.
Ignoring the slightly surprised looks from others, and ignoring the respectful names of many people, I walked in with a cold face and went straight to the ward where Yuta was.
At his door, there was a masked ninja.
Others may think that this is an ANBU ninja, but he knows that this is a ninja at the root.
Seeing Shiren coming forward, he stretched out his hand to stop him.
But at this moment, is Sheren still in the mood to make jokes with others?
Zizzi...The lightning armor on his body instantly appeared on his body.
at the same time.
"Shengmen, open!"
"Konoha Tornado!"
boom!!
The root ninja who blocked him was kicked away by Toneri's unexpected kick.
Also blown away with him was the entire wall of the medical room, or rather a corner of Konoha Hospital.
This angry kick directly caused the entire Konoha Hospital building to shake.
Everyone in Konoha Hospital showed horrified expressions.
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