Black Naruto: Shadow Moon

If any of the three ninjas became Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen would not completely lose control of Konoha even if he retired.

This kind of friendship and trust is something that Hatake Sakumo cannot compare to.

Moreover, the three ninjas also have a very high reputation in the ninja world, especially Orochimaru, whose strength and wisdom are unquestionable.

Tsunade possesses powerful medical ninjutsu and the bloodline of the Senju clan, while Jiraiya is a man of great righteousness and has deep feelings for the village.

Sarutobi Hiruzen believes that whether it is Jiraiya, Orochimaru or Tsunade, they are more suitable candidates for the fourth generation than Hatake Sakumo.

Therefore, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already made a decision in his heart.

Although he didn't want to see Sakumo's reputation completely ruined, Sarutobi Hiruzen was willing to acquiesce to suppressing Sakumo's reputation appropriately and making his path as the fourth generation more difficult.

In particular, he knew very well that Danzo Shimura of the Root had always been eyeing the position of Hokage and was particularly dissatisfied with Hatake Sakumo.

Danzo's style of doing things has always been decisive and unscrupulous. It is very likely that Danzo secretly contributed a lot to this public opinion storm against Sakumo.

"Perhaps temporarily suppressing Sakumo's limelight would be an appropriate choice." Sarutobi Hiruzen made a decision in his heart.

He did not intend to stop the spread of rumors, but instead planned to wait and see what happened.

He knew that although Danzo's methods were radical, they would not easily lead to trouble. After all, Sakumo was a hero of Konoha, and Danzo would not go too far.

"Sometimes, indulgence is not a bad thing." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and acquiesced to Danzo's manipulation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to sit on the sidelines and watch this public opinion, and even secretly hoped that Sakumo's reputation would be weakened, so that the three ninjas of Konoha could naturally become candidates for the Fourth Hokage.

He did not intend to destroy Sakumo completely, but in this way, he could ensure that the future succession to the Hokage fell into hands he trusted - a Hokage candidate who could both continue his Sarutobi line and continue to protect Konoha.

As time went by, public opinion in Konoha Village gradually changed from an undercurrent to an overwhelming wave.

In the streets and alleys of the village, the discussions of the ninjas were getting louder and louder, and without exception, these voices were all questioning the former hero - Hatake Sakumo.

The Root's instigation made the storm of public opinion even more intense, and almost the entire Konoha Village was caught up in accusations and criticisms against Sakumo.

"Have you heard that Hatake Sakumo actually gave up such an important mission for a few companions?"

"Yeah, how can you do that! As a ninja, the mission is the most important thing."

"The former 'Konoha White Fang' actually made such a huge mistake. It's really disappointing."

"That's the interest of the village! He gave up such an important mission just for the life of his companion. Is he still a ninja?"

From civilians to ordinary Genin, and even some senior Chunin and Jonin began to publicly discuss Sakumo's "mistake", and this questioning gradually evolved into a blind criticism.

People seemed to have forgotten that he had fought bravely for the village on the battlefield, and even forgot his countless victories and sacrifices.

Only that untimely "mistake" became the focus of everyone's attention.

It seemed that Hatake Sakumo had suddenly gone from being a respected hero to a negative example that people talked about.

At the same time, this public opinion storm not only spread within Konoha Village, but also reached the ears of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The Daimyo of the Fire Nation has always trusted Hatake Sakumo, especially in the past few years, and has entrusted extremely important tasks to Sakumo many times. Every time, Sakumo has completed the task excellently and made great contributions to the interests of the Fire Nation.

However, when the Daimyo heard the news that Hatake Sakumo had abandoned his recent mission in order to save his companions, his face gradually darkened.

"Sir, public opinion in Konoha Village is discussing this matter extensively, and many people are beginning to question Hatake Sakumo's judgment." The staff around him respectfully reported the latest situation.

The daimyo listened quietly, his expression calm, but he was already weighing the options in his mind.

Although he once had great trust and affection for Sakumo, in the eyes of the daimyo, ninjas were just tools to carry out tasks.

No matter how glorious their past achievements were, a single "mistake" at a critical moment could result in huge losses.

The failure of this mission has affected the interests of the Fire Nation.

"Ninjas are tools, a means for us top decision makers to achieve our goals." The daimyo thought calmly in his heart.

In his opinion, ninjas should not be swayed by personal feelings.

No matter how dire the situation, the mission is the most important.

"Giving up the mission for your companions..." The Daimyo shook his head, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

He knew that Sakumo chose to save his companions instead of completing the mission, which might seem sentimental and righteous in the eyes of ordinary people, but for someone like the daimyo, a ninja's duty was absolute obedience.

If a ninja disobeys orders due to emotions, then the ninja becomes uncontrollable.

"No matter how outstanding you were in the past, you have betrayed my trust in this matter." Daimyo secretly made up his mind. Although he and Sakumo had a good relationship, he would not stand on Sakumo's side on this issue.

"Sir, are you planning to express your support for Hatake Sakumo?" the aide asked cautiously.

The daimyo shook his head calmly, "No, I will not support him in this matter. No matter how outstanding he was in the past, the failure of this mission is an undeniable reality. We cannot allow a ninja to affect the execution of the mission because of personal feelings."

In the eyes of the daimyo, tools are just tools. No matter how glorious Hatake Sakumo was in the past, he was just a ninja serving the Land of Fire.

Now, he made the "wrong" choice at the most critical moment, which means his value is declining.

The daimyo was not going to speak up for him, and was even unwilling to hand over important tasks to Sakumo.

At the same time, public opinion within Konoha Village continued to ferment, and more and more ninjas and villagers began to lose confidence in Hatake Sakumo.

The former heroic image gradually collapsed in the overwhelming public opinion.

Although Sakumo was still carrying out his mission, he clearly felt the coldness and alienation from the people around him.

Both his colleagues on the mission and his subordinates who respected him in the past were talking about him in private and even began to question his decision-making ability.

Although the ninjas of Konoha Village were able to survive because of Sakumo's leadership, when faced with the conflict between the interests of the village and personal emotions, too many people chose to stand on the side of mainstream public opinion.

Sakumo's heart remained unshaken, he knew he had made the right choice.

However, the isolation and exclusion around him made him feel deeply powerless.

He did not regret saving his companions, but he also began to realize that he might never be able to regain his former reputation.

"Mission and companions..." Sakumo stood on a high place in Konoha Village, looking at the prosperous village in the distance, and fell into deep thought.

He chose the lives of his companions, but was abandoned by the village and even the upper echelons of the Fire Nation because of this.

As the attitude of the Fire Country Daimyo gradually became cold, Hatake Sakumo's situation became increasingly difficult.

His name, which once represented the pride of Konoha, has now become a "mistake" that everyone talks about after dinner.

This once glorious ninja is slowly heading towards a journey of unbearable loneliness and sorrow.