Chapter 65: Implementing the Way of Ninja

If Konoha lets go of the Sand Rain Ninja, will they let go of the people of the Fire Country?

On the battlefield, only fools would believe the enemy's promises.

Even if they really let the migrating people go, there is no doubt that after escaping, the Sand Ninja and the Rain Ninja will continue to ask for support from the village, striving to regain control and complete the mission.

Then Konoha will face a tough battle. Although the frontal forces of the Sand Rain Ninja seem to have no ability to fight back at this time, this is only because the opponent's top powerhouses have not arrived and the frontal forces are surrounded by Konoha.

Even if the current enemy could escape danger and regroup to fight again, Konoha might not necessarily win, not to mention that the enemy already had the advantage in numbers, and if they got reinforcements, they could surround Konoha in turn.

Even if Konoha wins, there won't be many people left.

Now, rather than a choice between killing the enemy and rescuing the people, it is more of a choice between the lives of the Konoha ninjas who are carrying out the mission and the lives of the people of the Fire Nation.

So, Lord White Fang, which one would you choose?

"Master White Fang, it has been confirmed that people from more than a dozen villages were indeed detained by Rain Ninja in a canyon 10 kilometers away. Our people transformed and hid among the people, and have not been discovered yet."

"What about the other people?"

"No unusual news has been received. I am trying to contact them. However, judging from the performance of the Rain Ninja, this should be their last resort. Sir, what should we do now?"

"Yu Jiu, we have known each other for many years, right?" Bai Ya suddenly said this without any reason.

The masked ninja, also known as Yujiu, paused as a bad feeling came over him.

"...Yes, sir. The first time I went on the battlefield was in your army."

"Well, inform everyone that the plan remains unchanged. We must do our best to annihilate the enemy's frontal forces."

"grown ups……"

"Excuting an order."

"Lord Sakumo..." Ye Shan, who had been silent all the time, suddenly interrupted. The best option now was not to annihilate the enemy but to abandon the mission and request support later. Anyway, the migrating team moved very slowly and there was plenty of time.

"Ye Shan, you can survive, and so can I, but most of the people in this army can't." Hatake Sakumo said lightly.

It was originally a siege and annihilation war. If he had to fight a war of attrition or even be besieged with the enemy with superior numbers, this was something that Hatake Sakumo could never tolerate.

"Lord Sakumo, this is for the mission." Ye Shan said. If the mission is not completed just because there is danger, then what is the point of having ninjas? The five major countries with forehead protectors can just go and do nothing.

Don't forget, the purpose of the mission is to cover the retreat of the people of the Fire Nation and save the village from the impact of the failure of Konoha White Fang's previous mission. If these hundreds of civilians are allowed to be massacred, it can be said that everything Konoha has done so far has become useless.

"Mission? Haha, this is not for the mission." Hatake Sakumo sneered, his words full of sarcasm.

Ye Shan was silent for a moment and realized that he had nothing to say.

If the leader of the Konoha troops at this time was an ambitious man like Danzo, or a pragmatist like Orochimaru or Hayama, he would definitely turn back to save the lives of the people of the Fire Nation first, or in other words, to save "their own mission results" first.

Yeshan believes in the quality of the Konoha ninjas. They will never be afraid of the sacrifices required to complete the mission, even if such sacrifices are completely unnecessary.

Considering the blame he would inevitably face if he gave up the mission, as well as the heroic cheers and praise he would receive if he returned to complete the mission, Ye Shan believed that if he were in White Fang's position, he would turn back without hesitation and fight to the death with all his troops, using their lives to save himself.

Yes, that's right. There are countless high-sounding explanations for this behavior - for the glory of the village, for the people of the Land of Fire, for the duty of a ninja... But no matter how much you say, it can't cover up one essence:

This is to treat your subordinates as tools and sacrifice them in exchange for the things mentioned above.

“Yayama, I’ve said before that ninjas are not anyone’s tools.

"Before, when I was selecting the candidates for the second echelon responsible for regional blocking, I repeatedly emphasized the dangers that this team would have to bear. Yes, it is impossible to be a ninja without facing danger, but facing danger and being sacrificed are two completely different concepts.

"A ninja's sacrifice can only be because he wants to sacrifice, and it should never be sacrificed [for something]."

Ye Shan clenched his fists and roared in a rare moment of anger: "The ninjas of Konohagakure may not be willing to sacrifice themselves for this mission, but everyone present is willing to die for you! I think the best option is to abandon the mission and retreat. Next time, I will personally lead the team to put his head on your desk!"

Ye Shan pointed a trembling finger at the leading Sand Ninja, trying his best to suppress the murderous intent in his heart.

Hatake Sakumo glanced at him, and a trace of warmth flowed through his heart, but he would not change his mind. The implementation of the Ninja Way has never been a simple matter. If you want to get something, you must give up something. His Ninja Way and will of Konoha White Fang do not allow his companions to be used as tools, even if such tools will bring him praise from the country and fame from the village.

Only a ninja with a strong heart can harness power beyond human limits.

Hatake Sakumo was a ninja with a strong will and a firm belief in the way of ninja, which is why he was called the White Fang of Konoha.

"Ye Shan, you are an excellent ninja, but you don't seem to have found the ninja way that suits you, which is very dangerous. The reason why I choose to draw a line between us is not because of the boring reason that you have joined the Uchiha clan, but because you and I have different beliefs."

"No matter what the ninjas in the village think of me, I will still give the order to annihilate all the Sand Ninjas for the sake of my subordinates' reputation. I am who I am, the one and only Konoha White Fang in the ninja world!"

The sword intent on Hatake Sakumo's body soared into the sky, and it actually caused the small area of ​​Heavy Rain to stagnate near it. His entire momentum reached its peak.

Ye Shan's fists creaked, and he wanted to punch the stubborn Hatake Sakumo to wake him up. The fate of a ninja is to die for a mission, and no one can change it. Why can't he temporarily give up the so-called ninja way and choose to compromise with reality?

For Yeshan, a time traveler, nothing is more important than his own life, but the favor given by Hatake Sakumo allows him to give up the safety of his life and risk his life to serve as a pawn to continue fighting with the Sand Ninja.

"Hatake Sakumo, you will regret this!"

Seeing that he could not change Konoha White Fang's will, Ye Shan said this and slowly walked away.

Konishi Kakuei, who was standing next to Hatake Sakumo, opened his mouth but failed to call out to Hayama. As the person caught in the middle, he was really in a dilemma, but Hatake Sakumo's orders were the law, and he had to carry them out meticulously even if they were not correct.

In the heavy rain, Kakuei Konishi slowly raised his right hand, and all the Konoha ninjas took out their ninja tools and waited for the order to come.

"Follow Lord Sakumo's order: annihilate all the Sand Ninjas!"

Ye Shan, who had not walked far, heard the sound of fighting behind him, raised his foot and kicked the corpse of a Sand Ninja who was still dead in the air, and then clenched his right fist and smashed it hard. Like a Explosive Release Bloodline, the flames that burst out engulfed the corpse of the Sand Ninja.

The burnt smell was detected by Ye Shan's nose, which made his frantic thoughts clear again. He began to think about how to minimize the impact of the matter.

"Fugaku, I may have to trouble you to make another trip."

Uchiha Fugaku didn't say anything. He patted his friend on the shoulder and ran towards Konoha Village with Uchiha Seiji.

Uchiha Fugaku is going to have a long-distance marathon with the ninja who delivers the information. He has to return to Konoha Village first, and then use the newspaper resources controlled by the Uchiha clan to once again build momentum for Hatake Sakumo, so as to reduce the public opinion brought about by the mission.

At the end of the 42nd year of the Konoha calendar, the hundreds of civilians who died in Akihabara shocked the entire ninja world. Various ninja villages and daimyo demanded severe punishment for the culprit, Hatake Sakumo, without even thinking that it was the Amegakure Village and the Sand Village that killed the civilians.

Under overwhelming pressure from public opinion, the Third Hokage personally went to the capital of the Land of Fire to meet the daimyo and explain the mission to him. As the person involved, Hatake Sakumo was removed from all his positions and stayed at home, awaiting the subsequent trial.