Chapter 98: The Fall of Konoha's F4

Chapter 98: The Fall of Konoha's F4

"Ashamed to the point of suicide? Preposterous! How could a genius ninja like Kakashi Hatake possibly feel such shame from a mere failed mission and take his own life?"

Empire Senki scoffed.

"Then... why?" someone asked, their voice trembling.

"Because... he discovered Konoha's darkness and realized he was surplus to requirements!"

Empire Senki's voice was icy cold, causing the Konoha crowd to shudder.

Konoha's darkness? Surplus? What did that mean?

"Elder Senki, what is the meaning of this? Why do you say Father was surplus?" Kakashi Hatake asked, his eyes red-rimmed and his voice shaking.

At that moment, Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes, glancing at his two disciples and bodyguards. He noticed that each of them averted their gazes, a sign that troubled him.

"Elder Senki, please explain yourself clearly!" Tsunade Senju demanded.

"After the Second Ninja World War, Kakashi Hatake's reputation soared. He was even more renowned than the Sannin at that time. Kakashi's existence became somewhat redundant, as he stood in the way of someone else's path to becoming Hokage!" Empire Senki stated.

The people of Konoha were shocked once more.

"He stood in the way of someone else becoming Hokage? Who was it? Why? Tell us!" Tsunade Senju couldn't bear Empire Senki's slow revelation any longer and shouted.

"Of course, it was Danzo Shimura! Who else could it be?" Empire Senki replied with a cold laugh.

"Danzo Shimura? The Hokage?"

The crowd turned their gazes towards Danzo, who was frozen in place. His face turned bright red, and he was unable to open his mouth to explain himself.

"Before becoming an advisor, Danzo Shimura was a pillar of Konoha who could compete with the Third Hokage..."

"Why are you saying this? Advisor Danzo shouldn't be such a person..." Some people expressed their doubts.

However, a portion of the crowd who knew Danzo well fell into deep thought.

"Danzo Shimura competed with Hiruzen Sarutobi for the position of Hokage and never accepted his loss. Every day, he fantasized about reclaiming the title," Empire Senki continued. "To become the Fourth Hokage, it was only natural that he would want to eliminate Kakashi Hatake, who stood in his way."

"But even if Danzo Shimura wanted to get rid of Kakashi, what does that have to do with the teacher?" Tsunade asked.

"Because at that time, Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted his most beloved disciple, Orochimaru, to succeed him! Kakashi Hatake's reputation overshadowed the Sannin, greatly threatening Orochimaru's position."

"What? Orochimaru?"

"No... that's impossible. The Third Hokage would never do such a thing."

Many ninjas turned their gazes towards the Third Hokage.

"Monkey, what's going on?" Tobirama Senju asked.

"Teacher... I... I don't know anything about this," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, lowering his eyes and speaking softly.

"Don't you dare try to wriggle out of this! Hiruzen Sarutobi, how can you, as a Hokage, claim ignorance? It's laughable! Everyone should remember that after Kakashi Hatake failed in his mission, causing great losses to Konoha, everyone in the village knew about it. Does that make sense? How could everyone, even in the streets and alleys, know about a mission carried out by an expert like Kakashi? How could it be a topic of discussion everywhere? The answer is obvious. Someone was fueling the fire! Someone wanted to blow this incident out of proportion! Someone wanted to ruin Kakashi Hatake's reputation!" Empire Senki raised his voice.

The people of Konoha shifted their gazes between the Third Hokage and Danzo, their expressions changing.

"While everyone was discussing this, did you ever wonder why he failed in his mission? He chose his comrades over the mission! Such a man, who values friendship and righteousness and carries the Will of Fire, why should he be blamed? Is this what you call the Will of Fire, Konoha? To abandon your comrades and leave them to die? Have you ever thought that one day, you might be the one left behind, sacrificed?" A portion of the crowd showed shame on their faces.

"The most ridiculous part is that those ninjas he saved not only didn't show any gratitude but also turned around and blamed Kakashi Hatake afterward! It's despicable! Tell me, is this the Will of Fire? Is this what Konoha stands for?" Empire Senki shouted.

"Father!" Kakashi clenched his teeth.

"Damn it! Who are those guys? We don't need such scumbags in Konoha!" The First Hokage was also furious.

"Obito."

Empire Senki shouted again, and the air distorted.

Two older men appeared before everyone, tied up.

Seeing the crowd, the two men's faces lit up, and they shouted, "Everyone! Save us! This Empire person is crazy! They kidnapped us!"

"And after saving you, you would turn around and bite me, becoming objects of Konoha's disdain?" Empire Senki suddenly interjected.

The faces of the two men changed dramatically. "What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean that saving us would make us objects of disdain?"

"Everyone, save us!" The two men pleaded again, looking at the Konoha crowd with hopeful eyes. However, when they saw the contempt on everyone's faces, their hearts lurched.

"Hmph! Have you all forgotten about Kakashi Hatake?"

"Kakashi Hatake!" Their faces paled, and their bodies trembled.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You despicable beasts! Kakashi Hatake saved your worthless lives, and instead of being grateful, you turned on him afterward. Are you even human? You beasts!"

"Who asked him to save us? It was his fault that the village suffered such heavy losses!"

"That's right! As ninjas, we should always consider the village first."

"Someone who brings such huge losses to the village deserves to die!"

The two men stubbornly defended themselves.

"Damn you!"

Naruto World Kakashi was filled with rage, wishing he could kill the two men instantly. Fortunately, Empire Kakashi held him back.

"Look at them? Is this the kind of behavior the Will of Fire breeds? No morals or gratitude whatsoever."

Empire Senki sneered.

"You two bastards, how dare you speak like that! The village is important, but our comrades are also part of the village! The village itself was established to protect our comrades! Kakashi Hatake saving you was the right thing to do, and yet you're ungrateful? You even wished for his death!

You two wicked beasts! You don't deserve to be called members of Konoha!

Right now, I, as the First Hokage, strip you of your identities as Konoha villagers!"

Beside them, Tobirama Senju roared in anger.

Hearing this rebuke, the two men turned to look at Tobirama Senju, their faces paling in fear.

"Hmph! It seems the First Hokage still has some sense of justice." Empire Senki remarked, then continued, "However, does the First know that without someone pulling the strings, these two beasts wouldn't dare to turn on Sakumo?"

"Are you referring to Monkey and Danzo, Senki?" Tobirama Senju asked.

"First Hokage, I..." Hiruzen tried to explain.

"Silence, Monkey!" Tobirama snapped.

"Tell us everything that happened back then," Tobirama demanded.

Empire Senki glared at the two men, his Rinnegan spinning.

The two men soon fell into a daze:

"After we were rescued by Sakumo and returned to the village, we originally wanted to express our gratitude.

But then Danzo found us and gave us a lot of money, asking us to humiliate..."

"What? It was really Danzo? This guy actually wanted to harm Sakumo, a powerful Konoha ninja, just because he coveted the position of Hokage?"

"Damn him! It's too despicable. Is this something a human can do?"

The villagers glared at Danzo, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Danzo!"

Naruto World Kakashi's eyes turned bloodshot with fury.

"But even so, Sakumo's death could only be considered an accident, right?"

Some ninjas still didn't understand.

"You fools, if you made the right choice but were wronged and slandered by the entire village, and when you wanted to reach out to your two partners for proof, they instead humiliated you, and you discovered that there was the involvement of Danzo, the advisor, and even the Hokage, what would you think?"

Empire Senki berated them.

"I... I don't know."

"When the lord desires his subject's death, the subject must die! Sakumo discovered the Hokage's involvement and knew he was surplus to requirements. For the sake of his son and the honor of the Hatake clan, he could only choose to end his life! Now do you idiots understand?"

Empire Senki sighed and explained the reason for Sakumo's suicide.

The people of Konoha had mixed expressions on their faces.

"Monkey! Did you really do that?" Tobirama glared at Hiruzen.

"First Hokage, Danzo told me that he just wanted to lower Sakumo's reputation a little... I never expected Sakumo to go that far," Hiruzen explained shamefully.

"It's true! All of this is true! Third Hokage, how could you do this!"

Many people looked distressed.

"Monkey... you've disappointed me greatly," Tobirama said.

"Monkey, choosing you as the Hokage seems to have been my mistake," Hiruzen's brother, Hiruzen, added.

"First Hokage... Teacher..."

"Don't call me your teacher. I never taught a disciple like you," Hiruzen said coldly.

"... "

Hiruzen lowered his head:

"It's all my fault..."

"Your mistakes aren't limited to that! You're a spineless, indecisive old fool! But at least you have some sense of responsibility, admitting your faults so readily.

For now, I'll let you off.

Later, I will continue to pronounce your crimes, but for now..."

Empire Senki rebuked him and then threw the two men who had harmed Sakumo in the past towards Naruto World Kakashi:

"They're yours now."

Naruto World Kakashi's face was cold as he drew out the Hatake short sword he had regained.

Empire Senki retracted his eye power.

The two men snapped out of their daze, seeing Naruto World Kakashi's face and the sword in his hand up close, and they were terrified:

"Wait! Kakashi, what are you doing?"

"You can't do this to us!"

"You two beasts! My father saved you, and now, as his son, I will take back your lives!"

Naruto World Kakashi spoke as he thrust his sword directly into the heart of one of the men!

"Ahh! It hurts! It hurts so much! No! Don't... you can't do this..."

One of them cried out in pain, but Kakashi twisted the blade in his heart.

His heart was shredded, and the intense pain caused him to let out a heart-wrenching scream.

The other man was so scared that he wet himself.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end