11

After dealing with Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a great weight lift from his heart.

But the Hokage's work never ends.

That afternoon, after finishing his official duties, he didn't go straight home but went alone to the Memorial Stone in Konoha Village.

The black stone tablet stood silently in the setting sun, covered with densely carved names.

Every name was once a vibrant life, one that had burned itself out to protect this Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over the names, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

His father, Sarutobi Sasuke's name was also there.

And his teacher, Senju Tobirama. Although his teacher's body had already been buried, his name would, as per custom, also be carved here, to be revered by future generations.

"Teacher..." Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured in his heart, "Do you see? Konoha is still here. I will protect it."

He reached out and gently brushed away a fallen leaf from the stone tablet.

Just then, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a figure.

On the other side of the Memorial Stone, a boy who looked to be only about ten years old was holding a wet cloth and very seriously wiping a name on the stone tablet.

The boy had striking silver-white short hair, wore a fitted Ninja uniform, and had a poker face, his movements meticulous.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze froze.

Sakumo Hatake.

The future "white fang of konoha."

Why was he here?

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's memory, there wasn't much record of Sakumo's father. He only knew that he was also an excellent Ninja who died in battle.

It seemed that the name Sakumo was wiping was his father's.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.

He remembered very clearly the tragic future of Sakumo Hatake that he had seen in the simulator.

This hero, whose prestige once surpassed that of the Sannin, was ultimately driven to suicide by public opinion in the Village for "abandoning a mission to save his comrades."

And this tragedy profoundly twisted his son Kakashi's values, turning that genius boy into a cold, "mission-first" machine for a long time.

"Comrades" versus "missions."

This ultimate question that permeated the Hokage world, its tragic origin began with this still somewhat naive boy before him.

Since he encountered him today, he couldn't pretend not to see him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi collected his thoughts and slowly walked towards the boy.

Hearing footsteps, Sakumo Hatake stopped what he was doing and turned around.

When he saw that the newcomer was the Third Hokage, his small body immediately stood ramrod straight, and he bowed respectfully.

"Hokage-sama."

His voice was clear, with the unique texture of a youth, but his tone, like the expression on his face, was so calm it didn't sound like a child's.

"Did I disturb you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked gently.

"No, Hokage-sama." Sakumo shook his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze fell on the name he had just wiped—Hatake Kenjin.

"Is this your father?"

"Yes." Sakumo nodded, a flicker of imperceptible pride in his eyes, "My father was a great Ninja."

"Indeed, I've heard of his deeds." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, "In an S-rank mission, to ensure that intelligence could be sent back to the Village, he single-handedly held off three Iwagakure Jonin and died fighting. He was a true hero."

Hearing Hokage-sama personally acknowledge his father's accomplishments, Sakumo's face finally showed a hint of emotion.

"Hokage-sama, what kind of Ninja do you think... my father was?" he suddenly asked, seemingly eager to get a more precise evaluation from the Village's highest leader.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his expectant eyes, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived.

He didn't answer immediately but shook his head.

Sakumo was stunned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and pointed to the massive Memorial Stone covered with names.

"Sakumo, look at these names."

"Every single one of them is a hero who sacrificed for the Village. Some to complete missions, some to protect comrades, some to guard civilians."

"The strength of the Village is not because we completed how many S-rank missions, nor because we killed how many enemies."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice became deep and powerful.

"It is because when comrades are in danger, someone is willing to reach out without hesitation. It is because when the Village faces threats, someone is willing to step forward and stand at the very front."

"Completing missions is important. But protecting comrades is even more important."

Sakumo was a bit bewildered.

The education he received since childhood, and the impression his father left on him, were all about "missions are absolute."

For the sake of a mission, one could sacrifice everything, including oneself.

But now, Hokage-sama was telling him that comrades were more important than missions.

This created a fierce conflict with his long-held beliefs.

"Hokage-sama, I... don't quite understand," Sakumo said honestly.

"It's okay not to understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, "It's indeed hard to understand just by talking. How about this, Sakumo, I challenge you."

"A challenge?" Sakumo's eyes lit up.

To spar with Hokage-sama, this was a great honor.

"Exactly." Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up a leaf from the ground, turned his back to him, and gently placed the leaf on his back.

"The rules are simple."

"Without harming me, take this leaf from my back. If you succeed, you win."

"As long as you get the leaf, or it falls to the ground, you win."

Sakumo's brows furrowed.

Without harming Hokage-sama?

What kind of rule was that? Wasn't a Ninja duel about defeating the opponent?

"What? No confidence?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice came.

"No!" Sakumo's eyes instantly sharpened.

He drew the short sword from his back. It was a small katana, its blade glinting coldly in the setting sun.

"Please guide me, Hokage-sama!"

As soon as his voice fell, Sakumo's figure instantly vanished from his spot.

So fast!

Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him in his heart.

As expected of the future white fang of konoha, at this age, he possessed such astonishing speed and explosive power.

A cold light struck from his left, aiming directly for the leaf on his back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's body shifted slightly, avoiding the blade.

Sakumo, failing to hit, did not linger, his foot tapped, and his body made an incredible twist in the air, the blade striking again from another tricky angle.

His swordsmanship was sharp and precise, every strike aimed only at that small leaf, without any superfluous movements.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

No matter how swift or unexpected Sakumo's attacks were, he could always dodge them perfectly with the smallest movements.

His body seemed weightless, sometimes like willow catkins in a breeze, sometimes like fish swimming in water, causing all of Sakumo's attacks to miss.

The more Sakumo fought, the more his heart was alarmed.

He felt as if he wasn't facing a person, but an insurmountable mountain, a bottomless sea.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't touch the opponent at all.

"No... if this continues, I'll run out of stamina!"

A flash of determination appeared in Sakumo's eyes.

He took a deep breath, concentrating all his Chakra in his feet.

"I'll risk it all!"

He pushed his speed to the limit, his figure transforming into a white lightning bolt, instantly appearing behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This time, he didn't use his sword but reached out his hand, directly grabbing for the leaf.

A chance!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was waiting for this moment.

He deliberately slowed down by half a beat, exposing a huge flaw.

A look of joy flashed in Sakumo's eyes; his fingertips were almost touching the leaf.

However, just then, his pupils sharply contracted.

He realized that if he fully committed to this grab, his hand would inevitably, due to inertia, firmly grasp Hokage-sama's back.

With his strength, he would definitely injure Hokage-sama.

This violated the rules!

What to do?

Take the leaf and win? Or obey the rules and give up this excellent opportunity?

In a flash of lightning, Sakumo's mind went blank.

His body's instinct made him choose.

He abruptly pulled his hand back.

Because he forcibly stopped his movement, his body lost balance, and he fell to the ground clumsily.

The leaf remained safely stuck to Hiruzen Sarutobi's back.

"Hoo... hoo..." Sakumo lay on the ground, gasping for breath.

He lost.

A gentle hand landed on his head, lightly ruffling his hair.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and turned around, taking the leaf off.

"You lost, Sakumo."

Sakumo lowered his head, his face full of remorse.

"But." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out again, "You made the right choice."

Sakumo sharply looked up.

Hiruzen Sarutobi squatted down, handed him the leaf, his gaze incredibly serious.

"Remember this feeling today, Sakumo."

"No mission is more important than a comrade's life."

"This is the Will of Fire."

These words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Sakumo's mind.

He looked at the leaf in his hand, then at the smile of the young Hokage before him.

He seemed... to understand something.

He tightly clutched the leaf in his palm and nodded heavily at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Yes! Hokage-sama!"

Looking at the seed planted in the boy's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with satisfaction.