Chapter 6: The Gradually Rising Public Opinion

Speaking of which, the reason Uchiha Feiyu is called a "tail-ender" is simply because he is older, and he doesn't put in much effort during exams; in reality, the school's teachers and students all know that this guy is actually quite capable of fighting.

It is just that because of his age, the vast majority of people look down on him quite a bit.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right. I only managed to bully you because of my age... After all, you're the young master of the Hokage's household!"

"Asshole! What do you mean by young master of the Hokage's household? I am who I am, and it has nothing to do with the old man!"

Upon hearing anything about the Hokage, Asuma's composure immediately shattered. This guy had been a problem child since he was little, and what he hated most was others treating him as an appendage of the Hokage. In the original story, he even went to the Daimyo Mansion to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja for a period of time because of this.

However, there is one good thing about the Ninja World: very few people are the type to rely on their fathers (referring to background, not bloodline). They are certainly cared for, but they are absolutely never coddled.

Although Asuma is the Hokage's son, when Uchiha Feiyu beat him up back then, he just beat him up. As long as he wasn't dead or crippled, even if the Hokage or other ninja knew, they wouldn't care about such things at all.

"Alright, I know you have nothing to do with the Hokage, and your old man never gives you special treatment. Your status as the top student was earned by your own fists and feet..."

Uchiha Feiyu wore an indifferent, sarcastic expression, which made Asuma's face turn shades of blue and white. Even though everything said was the truth, why did it sound so awkward?

But before Asuma could say anything more, Rin, who had been watching them, spoke gently and changed the subject:

"By the way, Asuma, you should know the most about the movements of the Ninja Village's upper echelons. Do you know what exactly went wrong? Why is there suddenly going to be a war?"

"I heard... I only heard, mind you! It seems like because a certain powerful ninja from Konoha made a mistake while executing a major mission, which provoked the hostility of Sunagakure..."

A child's anger comes and goes quickly. Asuma is only eight or nine years old, and after Rin changed the subject, he quickly threw the previous matter to the back of his mind and began talking about the "confidential" information of the upper echelons.

Of course, whatever Asuma could find out certainly couldn't count as any real secret. At the very least, within the circle of official ninja in the Ninja Village right now, the news they know is definitely much more detailed than what Asuma has.

For example, the name of that core ninja who executed the mission... Uchiha Feiyu believes that by now, most of Konoha's Chunin and all of its Jonin should know it, and that is Hatake Sakumo. But even though Asuma is the Hokage's son, he still doesn't know this intelligence.

In fact, the confidentiality of such S-rank missions is extremely high. Theoretically, apart from the ninja executing the mission and a few members of Konoha High Command, it is impossible for anyone else to be told, let alone for it to leak to the ninja students.

Even if what leaked was only a rough outline, it was definitely pushed by someone with an agenda behind the scenes. And looking at the current situation, it might really end up becoming known to everyone.

Hatake Sakumo, he really was set up by someone; otherwise, the news wouldn't have spread so quickly!

Just as Uchiha Feiyu was thinking, in the Hokage Office at this moment, the Third Hokage was smoking his pipe, looking at his good friend Danzō with a serious expression.

"Danzō, rumors have been flying around the village lately, all about the White Fang's failed mission. This is your doing, isn't it?!"

"I don't even know what you're talking about!"

Danzō denied it righteously, his face full of indignation. He knew his actions couldn't be hidden from the Third, but he certainly couldn't admit it.

"It's normal for everyone to discuss it since the White Fang botched the mission this time. You have to know that because of this mission, we might be going to war with Sunagakure soon!"

"It's perfectly normal for the ninja in the village to discuss such a major blunder. Are you saying people aren't allowed to talk just because someone did something wrong?!"

The Third Hokage ignored Danzō's sophistry entirely. He knew his old friend too well and spoke coldly:

"Put away your petty schemes. Regardless of anything else, Sakumo is currently Konoha's most capable ninja, and he has already been punished. Let this matter end here!"

"Hmph! Anyway, this has nothing to do with me!"

Danzō felt a surge of annoyance and turned to leave.

Let it end here? How could that be possible? Sakumo's prestige in the village is so high that these rumors alone are not enough to shake his position, nor are they enough to completely strike down his prestige. If he doesn't take this opportunity to completely destroy Sakumo's prestige, how will he compete with him for the position of Hokage in the future?

A ninja, wouldn't it be better to just obediently be a tool? Why insist on having such great fame?

Thinking of this, Danzō secretly made up his mind.

"Not enough, far from enough. I need to increase the intensity of the attacks against him until he no longer has the capital to inherit the position of Hokage!"

For Sarutobi Hiruzen, he is the high and mighty Hokage. At this stage, although the White Fang of the Leaf's reputation is high, it doesn't pose much of a threat to him. As long as he strikes at the White Fang's reputation a little, he can better utilize this sharp blade.

But for Danzō, who is obsessed with the position of Hokage, Hatake Sakumo is simply a thorn in his side, a splinter in his eye. If he doesn't pull him out, he can't even sleep well at night!

Uchiha Feiyu was completely unaware of the confrontation in the Hokage Office. He was currently filled with the disappointment of not being able to finish the full six years at the Ninja Academy. The thought of being assigned to the official ninja ranks soon filled him with unease.

Logically speaking, Uchiha Feiyu's strength is not weak; at the very least, he has reached the level of a Chunin, and he is not considered poor among Chunin.

Don't look at how Chunin-level ninja are just cannon fodder in the original story; in reality, Chunin have already moved past the bottom of the ninja system and are basically mid-level cadres. In a normal squad, they are usually the squad leaders.

If this level of strength were in peacetime, the danger wouldn't be great. But the problem is, this is not peacetime. Once a Ninja World War breaks out, even Jonin die in droves, let alone Chunin.

For example, the most dazzling achievement of Namikaze Minato in the Third Ninja World War was wiping out 50 elite Rock Ninja in a single battle—these so-called elite ninja were at least Chunin, and none of them were less capable than Uchiha Feiyu.

Anything can happen on the battlefield. It's impossible to say that because Uchiha Feiyu is a Chunin, the enemy will only send Chunin to deal with him.

Who knows, if you're unlucky, you might look up while on a mission and see: Oh, aren't those the Kazekage, Raikage, and Tsuchikage coming at me? This run is over, young hero, try again!

Therefore, taking advantage of this final period, Uchiha Feiyu often passed by Kakashi's house, just wanting to see when Hatake Sakumo would commit suicide.

(End of chapter)