After completing their daily training, Mitsuki and Rin prepared to visit the Ninja Tool Shop, as their recent training had consumed quite a bit of supplies.
The Ninja profession, while high in income, also had considerable expenses.
On their way to the Ninja Tool Shop, Mitsuki and Rin overheard many villagers whispering to each other.
“Have you heard? Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, voluntarily abandoned a mission.”
“What… you mean the White Fang?”
“Hmph, still calling him ‘the White Fang’? All the advantages gained through hardship on the front lines are now gone.”
“I heard the Village suffered significant losses.”
‘It seems it’s the White Fang’s suicide incident. Yes, the timing matches up,’ Mitsuki thought to himself.
In the original plot, during Kakashi’s first year at the Ninja Academy, Kakashi’s father, Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, committed suicide.
The original sequence of events was that during a mission, Sakumo Hatake’s comrade sustained life-threatening injuries, and he chose to abandon the mission to save his comrade’s life, which in turn caused the Village to suffer significant losses.
Upon returning to the Village, although his comrade’s life was no longer in danger, the villagers, upon learning of the incident, began to criticize Sakumo Hatake.
Suddenly, overwhelming public pressure bore down on Sakumo Hatake, and rumors even spread from unknown sources that Sakumo Hatake had betrayed the Village.
In the end, even the Ninja Sakumo Hatake had saved began to accuse him. The ultimate result was Sakumo Hatake’s suicide.
Frankly, before Sakumo Hatake’s suicide, no one had imagined that a man capable of earning the title of “White Fang of Konoha” on the battlefield, such a fierce individual, would end his life in such a shocking manner.
“Mitsuki, they seem to be talking about…” Rin was the first to speak on their way to buy Ninja tools.
“Hmm, it seems to be about Kakashi’s father, but the specific details can’t be determined by just a few words from the villagers,” Mitsuki naturally knew the situation, but he hadn’t yet decided what role he wanted to play in this incident.
Of course, if he could save him, he would. Mitsuki, in his previous life, also regretted the White Fang’s early demise. Moreover, for him and Rin, Kakashi was also a good friend.
However, in the matter of the White Fang’s suicide, no one knew how much manipulation was involved, and Mitsuki couldn’t guarantee how much of an impact he could make.
While Mitsuki was still contemplating, he suddenly felt Rin tugging at his sleeve.
“Mitsuki, look ahead!” Rin pointed to a small group of people gathered not far away, unable to see the situation inside.
“It’s Kakashi and Obito; they’re in conflict with a few other villagers,” Mitsuki easily obtained the information through his Six Eyes’ x-ray vision.
Being at the center of the storm, Kakashi naturally knew his father’s current predicament in Konoha Village.
However, despite being called a Genius, Kakashi still couldn’t find a good way to improve his father’s reputation, which made Kakashi increasingly irritable recently.
The current Kakashi was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark, leading to the situation Mitsuki and Rin were now witnessing.
The street argument continued, seemingly escalating.
“Kids, do you know how many Ninja sacrificed themselves on the front lines to gain an advantage?”
“A Ninja’s duty is to complete missions!”
“Arbitrarily interrupting a mission, does such a person truly deserve to be a Ninja?”
Several villagers, as if they had found an outlet, furiously ranted at Obito and Kakashi.
“My father, he… he’s not that kind of person,” Kakashi was angry, but his verbal attack power still needed improvement.
“You bastards, Kakashi’s father interrupted the mission to protect his comrades! Don’t any of you bastards have friends?” Obito, at this moment, uncharacteristically stood on the same side as Kakashi.
Although Obito usually disliked Kakashi’s arrogant demeanor, he still regarded Kakashi as his true friend in his heart.
“To voluntarily abandon such an important mission, I think the so-called White Fang of Konoha is simply a traitor to Konoha!” At this point, one of the loudest shouting individuals exclaimed.
The implication behind this statement was quite serious.
Kakashi, who initially didn’t want to escalate the situation, instantly turned red-hot and instinctively reached for the Ninja tool pouch on his lower back.
“Oh, betraying the Village, you really dare to say that.”
Mitsuki instantly appeared beside Kakashi, holding his hand, and at the same time whispered to Kakashi.
“Don’t be impulsive. Your father’s situation isn’t something that can be solved by silencing one or two people.”
“Who are you? Are you here to speak for that person too? What do you kids know?!”
“You were the one shouting just now, weren’t you?” Mitsuki’s gaze fell upon the tall, thin man with small eyes.
“So what? Without permission, he arbitrarily interrupted the mission, why can’t I…”
“Enough!” His words were cut off by Mitsuki before he could finish.
“Hokage-sama has never said that Mr. Sakumo betrayed the Village. Where do you get the courage to slander a hero of the Village? Or are you questioning Hokage-sama’s judgment?”
“You kid, I didn’t mean to question Hokage-sama,” the tall, thin man paused, just about to say something more when.
“Gathering a crowd and causing trouble in the Village, spreading rumors, I think you want to visit the Uchiha Military Police Force, right, Obito?”
“The Military Police Force will definitely arrest all you bastards,” Obito, hearing Mitsuki’s words, immediately picked up the cue.
“Tch… just a few bratty kids.” The tall, thin man and several people around him, after hearing Mitsuki and Obito’s act, especially seeing the Uchiha Clan crest on Obito, left after leaving a few harsh words.
Although it was a bit unfair to the Uchiha, it had to be said that evil still needs evil to grind it down. Against these ignorant villagers, the Uchiha’s threat was quite effective.
“Thank you, Mitsuki,” Kakashi thanked Mitsuki. If Mitsuki hadn’t stopped him just now, the situation would have been much worse.
After the crowd dispersed, Rin, who had been outside, finally managed to meet up with everyone.
“Mitsuki, you suddenly disappeared and gave me a fright.”
“Sorry, sorry, it was an emergency.”
Just as Kakashi was about to act, Mitsuki only had time to say to Rin, “It’s troublesome,” before using the Body Flicker Technique to instantly appear beside Kakashi from above the crowd.
Kakashi also reacted at this moment. The speed at which Mitsuki had suddenly appeared beside him—was that the Body Flicker Technique that only Jonin could master?
Faced with the conflict, Mitsuki acted calmly, while he himself was impulsively hot-headed. Compared to Mitsuki, his title of Genius was truly undeserved.
“Thanks to you, Mitsuki, you’ve been a great help, these bastards.” Obito was still fuming.
“Don’t be so quick to thank me. The important thing is what you plan to do next, Kakashi.”
“I… I don’t know. Father is now holed up at home and hasn’t shown any reaction to the public opinion in the Village.”
“Are you going to stand by and do nothing?”
“Of course not, but so many people in the Village are talking about Father, and abandoning the mission is a fact. I don’t know what to do.”
This was indeed the case. Regardless of whether there were deeper calculations and darkness within the public opinion storm in the Village, the fact that the White Fang abandoned the mission and caused losses to the Village was undeniable.
“Then, Kakashi, ask for help. Don’t try to bear everything alone. Asking friends for help when facing difficulties isn’t shameful. Or are you saying you don’t consider us friends?”
Looking at Mitsuki’s serious expression, Kakashi paused, then quickly reacted, composed himself, and said with determination in his eyes.
“I need your help, Mitsuki, Obito, Rin, please help me.”
“I’d help you even if you didn’t ask, you arrogant Kakashi,” Obito said with a triumphant look, seeing Kakashi perk up again.
“Although I might not be of much help, I will do my best,” Rin responded earnestly.
“Then, without further ado, let’s find a place to discuss our battle plan. We’re going to be busy.”
“Alright!”