Naruto's caged bird

Chapter 205: The disappeared armband

The fire armband cut from the Hokage's robe left over from the first generation has a special meaning. Just like the red scarf around the neck, it is a symbol of spirit and honor during this war period. It exists like a flame in everyone's heart...

Moreover, it is unique

I took it with me, but my inexplicable eyes were always fixed on this place's left arm, left shoulder, and that fiery red mass along the way.

Hatake Sakumo endured the strange gazes along the way and walked at the speed of an ordinary person to the destination of his trip, the "Hokage Building". That's the place where a ninja should go. After the mission is completed, it's the place where it's handed in, where it's picked up, and even where it's initially released.

It can be said that it is precisely because of the mission that ninjas and ninja villages came into existence. It is also because of the continuous completion of tasks that there are excellent ninjas and strong villages. And an excellent ninja and a mission that must be completed once it fails

"White Fang-sama needs to be inspected before entering the Hokage Building."

The greeting of the ninja guards on duty in front of the Hokage Building awakened Hatake Sakumo who was trapped in nostalgic memories. After the ninja on duty saw Konoha White Fang coming back to his senses and looking at him, he quickly explained:

"The Third Generation has recently strengthened the security of the Hokage Building, so..."

Facing the former Konoha hero Konoha White Fang in front of them, the ninjas on duty continued their routine inspections. At this moment, it seems that he dare not relax at all. After all, using Hatake Sakumo's identity to sneak into the Hokage Building happened just a month ago.

This is a treatment that was never available before

Hatake Sakumo looked at the unfamiliar guard in front of him and nodded affirmatively. He quietly stood in front of the door and carefully let the Konoha ninja in front of him inspect him, but a question came to his mind inexplicably:

"How long has it been since I came to this place?" He asked back: "It seems that it has been a while since something went wrong in the last Chuunin exam..." Hatake Sakumo asked himself in his mind, even if he just saw this Every place I have passed by countless times seems strange at this moment, as if I was leaving with a sense of emotion. Just like a major turning point in life, it leaves people with many special thoughts.

"Okay, please come in."

The gatekeeper ninja's answer was a bit unfamiliar, but it made Hatake Sakumo nod in affirmation. Perhaps, that's what a guard should be like. If it hadn't been for the laxity, it wouldn't have resulted in the pain of the Fire Nation. At this time, after the last incident in the Hokage Building, the number of guards on duty had also increased significantly. But it seems that everyone who sees Sakumo Hatake, whom he hasn't seen for many days, has a trace of suspicion and strangeness in his eyes. The reason why the tree attracts the wind seems to be because the mist ninja Sui Kabuto who sneaked in used his identity to act.

"Perhaps, I should have killed him in the first place." At a certain moment, this thought always appeared in Hatake Sakumo's mind for no reason. But a moment later, he was expelled by White Fang's will. Because no matter how many times he chooses, he will always choose to save his disciple first. Even though he knew that Senju Nezuki would eventually die because of this incident, he could not give up what he cared about.

Then, Hatake Sakumo, who walked step by step to the door of the conference room, said to the ninja under martial law in front of him:

"I want to meet the Third Hokage"

After the Konoha ninja in front of him saw that the person coming was Hatake Sakumo, he still said crisply: "Please wait a moment, the Third Generation is in a meeting."

"I can wait." After saying that, he stood still without hesitation.

At this time, Hatake Sakumo's reaction seemed to be familiar. The Kiri ninja Mizuchi Kabuto who was able to sneak into the Hokage building seemed to do exactly this. As if he had seen through it, Hatake Sakumo, who was acting like this when facing the guards, seemed to be learning to imitate.

Rejected from the door, Konoha White Fang's sharp perception could still allow him to vaguely hear the voices arguing inside. At this moment, the conference room in the Hokage Building is not particularly harmonious.

"I heard... our country's losses this time were due to the failure of a certain... mission last time..."

Certain things seem to be brought up again on today's conference table. The voice of the empress was also the same. Even though there was a door several meters away, Hatake Sakumo could still tell who the other party was...

"There are always loopholes in defense. Even if there is no intelligence, the enemy will still look for opportunities."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's explanation voice came out loudly immediately, and only the daimyo of the Fire Country needed him, the Hokage, to explain himself. But what was immediately heard was the sharp voices of the other faction arguing through the door: "If the intelligence is recovered, the enemy will not be able to easily enter the territory of the Fire Country, am I right?"

After finishing speaking, Danzo Shimura looked outside the door without hesitation and at the protagonist of the dispute.

The creaking door was pushed open

"You are right. Since this meeting is about me, how can I not be present?" Konoha White Fang instantly dodged the two Konoha ninjas who were blocking him and entered, appearing in front of Konoha who was present at this time. In front of the top floor. His actions seemed to prove to everyone here that even if the ninja's vigilance had been strengthened at this time, there would still be loopholes there.

"As a ninja, you should face the consequences of mission failure calmly." In front of everyone present, he took off the restraints on his left shoulder and arm without hesitation, and then neatly put down the things in his hands. In front of everyone.

Don’t hesitate when you pick it up, and be free and easy when you return it.

"Armband of Fire", Proof of Heroes

With red flames on a white background, the third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't bear to say when he saw the opponent taking off his clothes:

"This is the honor you should carry."

"He does not belong to me. The people of this country do not need a hero who made a mistake, and the ninjas in the village should not have an example of a mission failure. I carry it with me. Every one of them will think of what this country has gone through with every glance. "Pain" Hatake Sakumo said calmly and relieved. Only then did everyone present realize that it seemed that Konoha White Fang always felt like something was missing during this period. But at this moment, that aloof and unruly temperament seemed to come back again

The third generation was suddenly surprised. He looked at the corner of the Hokage's robe that was placed respectfully on the table.

After many years of experience as a Hokage, he knew that it was too heavy. It must be perfect without making mistakes, and he was cautious because he could not make mistakes. He had to think twice because of caution and was indecisive. Because every choice ultimately determines the outcome of thousands of people below...

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen still had no regrets. Even if he had to do it all over again, he would still put on this Hokage robe. And the Hatake Sakumo in front of him seemed to have no regrets either. Even if it happened again, it seemed that he would still choose that way, and he would still choose to save his disciples without hesitation. The only difference may be whether or not the culprit of all this, the Kiri ninja Sui Kabuto, will be killed as soon as possible.

At present, he should not be a role model or hero who has been advertised as one who has completed his mission 100 times. He should be a warrior, a soldier...

"Is that so?"

Everyone was silent for a long time, and then the empress' voice sighed with a serious voice. The folding fan in the opponent's hand was placed against his chin and he thought indecisively for a while before saying: "Then take it back. After all, the evaluation standard of ninjas is based on the success rate of recent missions. At this time, it seems that it is indeed not possible." It’s a perfect fit.”

At that moment, the matter of withdrawing the Fire Armband was settled with the confirmation of Hatake Sakuma, the Fire Country Daimyo. Some of the people present expressed regret while others lamented that the life of a ninja seemed to be closely connected with the mission. The red flames on the Fire Armband were like the ninjas who died in the war and the civilians of the Land of Fire who were massacred by the sand ninjas on the burning battlefield.

It was time to end this protracted war, and it was time to end the pain. Hatake Sakumo, who had let go of everything, was the first to break the silence. He said firmly:

"I hope to be able to fight on the front line again and end this war as soon as possible."

Red flames and blood. At this moment, Hatake Sakumo, who had given up everything, seemed to want to end it all as soon as possible. Going to the front line could be said to be an effort to change the views of the people of the Land of Fire, and it was also the fastest way to end the killing.

The war has gone on long enough

And expectations are always somewhat different from ideals and reality.

"The personnel who will go to the Kingdom of Wind to recover this loss from the enemy have been decided before you came." Danzo Shimura interrupted again, and after finishing speaking, he faced the wooden figure sitting across the long table. Ye Sannin. His eyes seemed to glance at Orochimaru, the leader of this operation, for a moment, full of information and plans...

Gently fanning the folding fan, the Fire Country Daimyo, who had a great influence on the war, also said: "Yes, it has been determined that the leader is the Hokage's disciple Sannin, but you can't change the commander at will."

As Hatake Sakumo who shined brilliantly in the last battle, it was naturally impossible for him to be forced to submit and endure this time. And Orochimaru, one of the three ninjas, has been fighting on the front lines alone against the Third Kazekage for many years, which seems to be indeed remarkable at this time.

"Yeah"

Hatake Sakumo looked at Danzo Shimura who had some purpose in front of him, the gloomy Orochimaru, Jiraiya who also wanted to end the war as soon as possible, and Tsunade who frowned and turned away... Once upon a time, as long as it was something important, You will be notified of your missions and military actions. This time, there was no news that he would go to the Kingdom of Wind again.

At that moment, it seemed as if the old man had become lonely.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was wearing the Hokage robe, still looked at Hatake Sakumo in front of him impartially and rigorously. At this moment, he seemed to be able to understand the other person's mood. The mission failed, and the Fire Nation suffered unprecedented losses because of this mission. His own choices may not be important to him. What he values ​​most is probably the death of his disciple Senju Nōshu.

I took one last look at everyone present, put down my armbands, and said goodbye to this building...