Sarutobi Hiruzen… Ran Away?
Ignoring the remaining civilians, Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, carried his injured son, Kakashi, and rushed toward the Hokage Building.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, get out here!!"
Standing before the closed doors of the Hokage office, Sakumo's brows furrowed. His voice echoed through the silent building.
The nearby Anbu watched the scene unfold, unfazed. First, the Fourth Hokage had stormed in, and now Konoha's White Fang was demanding an audience.
Some of the Anbu exchanged glances, but none stepped forward to interfere. There was no point in stopping him. This was Hatake Sakumo, the legendary former Anbu Commander. His strength was something they knew all too well.
Even if he was no longer their superior, his reputation remained etched into the hearts of every Anbu operative.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, do you think hiding will save you?" Sakumo's voice grew colder. "If you refuse to face me, I'll drag your entire Sarutobi Clan into this!!"
Yet, there was no response.
Meanwhile, far from the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen fled through the village streets, accompanied by his wife, Biwako, and their son, Asuma.
"Hurry up! If White Fang catches up, we won't survive!" Hiruzen urged, his face grim with fear.
Biwako exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Now you're afraid? Why did you conspire against White Fang in the first place?"
Hiruzen's expression remained indifferent as he scoffed. "You wouldn't understand. Do you think this village runs on goodwill? Power, wealth—these are what keep our family comfortable. If I lost my position as Hokage, who would support us?"
Biwako opened her mouth to argue but fell silent. As much as she hated to admit it, their livelihood depended entirely on Hiruzen.
Asuma, however, was less willing to accept the situation. "Father, why are we running from White Fang? Even if we fought him, we wouldn't necessarily lose! You're the Third Hokage—how can you abandon your pride like this?"
Hiruzen shot his son a sharp glare. "Pride? You think that matters more than survival? Even if I win, what then? The political fallout would ruin me. It's better to take the money and disappear."
A bitter silence followed as the Sarutobi family continued their escape, their legacy tarnished by the very man who once held the title of Hokage.
"The money I brought this time is enough for us to live on for a lifetime. As long as we stay low-key, no one will come looking for us!"
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Asuma lowered his head. He knew his father was right, but he didn't want to leave. He couldn't bear to leave Kurenai Yuhi behind.
Earlier, Asuma had approached Kurenai, asking her to leave with him. But she had rejected him outright, leaving him feeling dejected.
Seeing his son's downcast expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately understood the reason. As a father, how could he not know his own son?
"This foolish boy has always been rebellious," Hiruzen thought. "Even now, when we're planning to leave, his first thought is about Kurenai. He's completely infatuated!"
Hiruzen couldn't understand what was so special about Kurenai that had Asuma so captivated. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Seeing Asuma sulking, he couldn't help but scold:
"You're pathetic! Of all the women in the world, you just had to fixate on Kurenai?"
"She doesn't even see you that way! Do you think she'd still care if you weren't the Hokage's son?"
"And now you're thinking of running away with her? Use your brain for once! I'm no longer Hokage—why would she give you the time of day now?"
Asuma remained silent under his father's reprimand, unwilling to argue. But that didn't mean his mother, Biwako Sarutobi, would stay quiet.
"What did you just say? If he's pathetic, then what does that make you? An old fool?" she snapped.
"If you weren't so concerned about politics and power, would we really have to abandon our home and flee like this?"
Hiruzen's eyes darkened as Biwako pointed a finger at his face, her fury spilling out.
"Shut up! If it weren't for you constantly meddling, I wouldn't have had to make so many calculations in the first place!"
His sudden outburst made Biwako falter, though she was still fuming. While she ruled the household in everyday matters, when it came to major decisions, Hiruzen was always in control.
And he wasn't wrong—everything he had done was for the Sarutobi clan's survival. In the end, she and their sons were the ones who benefited the most.
She couldn't truly blame him. Her harsh words had come from frustration, nothing more.