Early the next morning, devastating news spread throughout Konoha—Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, had taken his own life the previous night.
Coincidentally, today was also the memorial service held by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to honor the late Konoha elder, Mitokado Homura. Two high-ranking figures lost within such a short span—it was a major blow to the village.
As the memorial was about to begin, sharp-eyed individuals noticed that the Uchiha clan was absent. Representatives from other clans, civilians, and shinobi all held white flowers, ready to pay tribute to the fallen.
A light drizzle began as Hiruzen stepped onto the stage, grief-stricken, preparing to deliver his eulogy. Just as he began recounting Homura's accomplishments, a rhythmic sound echoed through the solemn gathering. The noise grew louder, drawing all eyes toward its source.
The Uchiha had arrived.
Leading them were the clan elders, walking in perfect synchronization, their Sharingan glowing ominously in the rain. The clan head and several high-ranking Uchiha carried a coffin on their shoulders. The crowd murmured in realization—it was the coffin of Sakumo Hatake.
They placed the White Fang's coffin beneath the memorial steps. Behind it stood the remaining Hatake clan members, Kakashi at the forefront. The once-proud lineage of Konoha's greatest swordsman had been shaken to its core. Overwhelmed, they could only lean on their newfound allies for justice.
Despite their humiliation, it was better to stand together than to suffer in silence.
One of the Uchiha elders stepped forward. "Apologies for our tardiness, Lord Hokage. We were delayed while extending a proper invitation to White Fang. After all, given the great contributions of Elder Homura, it would be a disgrace if he were not sent off properly. I regret interrupting your speech—what a grave offense. Please, continue."
Danzo Shimura's face contorted with rage. "Uchiha! What do you think you're doing?! Why have you brought this sinner here?! This is a memorial for heroes! Sakumo Hatake has no place among them!"
The Uchiha elder chuckled. "A sinner, you say? I just heard Lord Hokage praising Elder Homura's lifetime achievements. Over 600 completed missions, was it? Quite the feat. But let me remind everyone about the so-called sinner you speak of."
He pulled out a scroll and began to read aloud.
"Sakumo Hatake, Konoha's White Fang. Age: 35.
D-rank missions: 256
C-rank missions: 384
B-rank missions: 266
A-rank missions: 123
S-rank missions: 27
Total missions completed: 1,056 out of 1,057.
Former ANBU Commander and War Strategist during the Second Great Ninja War.
And you call this man a sinner? A man who gave his life to this village more than any of you sitting here? A man more deserving of honor than certain others standing before us right now?"
Danzo's hands clenched into fists.
"You claim he failed his last mission, that the deaths of his comrades were his fault. But isn't it convenient that high-ranking officials, responsible for setting flawed strategies, are never to blame? That they never pay the price?"
The Uchiha elder continued, pulling out another stack of documents.
"From the moment this incident occurred, we Uchiha have been tracking the truth. Here, in my hand, are the confessions of those who spread these rumors. Would you like me to read them aloud? Or should I talk about how a so-called 'suicide' conveniently took place right in front of Hatake's residence?
Oh, and speaking of that incident—tell me, Danzo, wasn't the 'suicidal ninja' under your command? The Root organization, the same one that teaches shinobi to value mission success over their own lives. Strange, isn't it? If failure was such an unacceptable disgrace, why didn't he kill himself during the mission?
Or perhaps... was his mission actually to die at White Fang's doorstep?"
"Uchiha!" Danzo growled, his voice thick with fury. His remaining eye narrowed as ANBU operatives materialized in the crowd, ready to act.
But before he could say another word, a wave of red light washed over the front row of shinobi. A dozen Sharingan eyes gleamed, their tomoe spinning ominously.
"Stand down!" The Third Hokage's voice thundered. "Danzo! What do you think you're doing?! Disband your ANBU, now! This is a memorial for heroes, not a battlefield!"
Danzo's rage was barely contained.
Hiruzen exhaled heavily, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Sakumo... I failed you, old friend.
Turning to the gathered shinobi, the Hokage spoke firmly.
"Sakumo Hatake was no sinner. On the contrary, he was one of Konoha's greatest heroes. He deserves to be honored, and his name will be carved onto the memorial stone."
Then, lowering his head toward the coffin, he added solemnly, "The blame for his suffering rests on my shoulders. I failed to suppress the rumors that led to this. Konoha lost an irreplaceable warrior."
A masterful move. In just a few words, the Third Hokage had reassured the Hatake clan, silenced the outrage from other factions, and controlled the narrative.
But Danzo wasn't done yet.
"He still cannot be carved onto the stone," Danzo snapped. "The stone is reserved for those who fall in battle, not those who take their own lives."
A smirk formed on the Uchiha elder's lips. "Then let me ask you something, Lord Danzo. A mission failure is a punishable offense, correct? That means White Fang should have faced consequences—but instead, he was cast aside. Ostracized. Driven into despair. Tell me, is that how Konoha treats its heroes?
You speak of loyalty and discipline. But Konoha was built on the idea that we are all one family. A family that protects its own. Have the ideals of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha changed so much that we now discard shinobi like used tools?"
The words struck deep, reverberating through the gathering. A murmur spread among the attending clans. Even those who had remained silent up until now could not ignore the truth.
"Enough," Hiruzen declared. "I will not let this discussion taint the memory of the fallen. White Fang is a hero. His name will be inscribed on the memorial stone."
Danzo scowled, but before he could argue further, Hiruzen delivered a final blow.
"Elder Danzo, I understand that the loss of Homura has left you deeply shaken. However, given your emotional state, I am ordering you to take an indefinite leave from your duties. You are to remain in seclusion until further notice."
The message was clear—Stand down, or be removed.
The Uchiha elders smiled. Checkmate.
The crowd erupted into applause.
Hiruzen took a deep breath. "Let us forget the quarrels of this moment and focus on our duty—to honor the fallen. To give them the farewell they deserve."
The ceremony resumed, but the ripples of this day would not be forgotten.
As the rain continued to fall, Uchiha Yang glanced up at the Hokage Monument, expression unreadable. He had played his part. The White Fang's name would be remembered, not tarnished.
And Danzo...
Danzo's reckoning was only just beginning.