The news of Sakumo Hatake’s resurgence was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge uproar in Konoha.
In just a single day, the direction of the rumors in the streets and alleys shifted completely.
“Did you hear?
Lord Sakumo went to the Hokage Building this morning.
He looked completely revitalized!”
“That speech he gave at the entrance of the Hokage’s office—a friend of mine was in the hallway at the time and heard it with his own ears!
‘Protecting comrades is a shinobi’s bottom line’—he’s absolutely right!”
“Where are those people who were making sarcastic remarks earlier?
Why have they gone quiet now?”
“Sigh, we were just being used by someone with hidden motives…
Come to think of it, was Lord Sakumo really wrong to save his comrade?”
“Exactly!
You can always take on another mission, but once a comrade is dead, they’re gone forever!”
Public opinion began to turn.
The hero was still a hero; he had simply made a difficult but logical choice.
And after Sakumo reinterpreted this choice with such a powerful stance, it instead earned him the understanding and admiration of even more people.
Of course, there were still dissenting voices among the high-ranking officials, and discussions about his punishment continued.
But at the very least, Sakumo Hatake would no longer be shrouded in the shadow of “suicide.”
Ryuha Uchiha saw all of this unfold.
He sat on the training ground on the mountain behind the Uchiha clan compound, playing with a Shuriken in his hand as he calmly looked down at the bustling village below.
A system panel floated before him.
[Special Bond “Oath of White Fang” activated: Sakumo Hatake’s current favorability: Trust (75/100)]
Ryuha Uchiha’s lips curled up slightly.
A favorability score of 75 was already at the “Trust” level.
In the Ninja World, this was practically equivalent to being life-and-death friends.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the entrance of the training ground.
Ryuha did not turn around; his Spiritual Pressure perception already told him who was coming.
The footsteps were steady, carrying a firm strength.
Sakumo Hatake walked up and stopped three paces behind him.
“Ryuha-kun.”
Ryuha Uchiha turned around and nodded slightly.
“Lord Sakumo.”
Today, Sakumo Hatake was no longer wearing his depressing loungewear.
Instead, he had changed into a set of dark gray casual ninja attire, with the White Fang short sword tucked behind his waist.
His hair was neatly combed, his stubble cleanly shaved.
Though tiredness still lingered in his eyes, his entire spirit and energy were completely transformed.
Like a blade that had been forged and sharpened anew.
“This is for you.” Sakumo Hatake pulled out a short sword from his robes and handed it over.
The blade was about one foot two inches long, housed in a deep black shagreen scabbard engraved with the Hatake clan crest—a pattern of lightning striking through a fang.
The hilt was wrapped in black cord, offering a solid grip.
Ryuha did not decline.
He accepted the short sword and drew it from its scabbard.
Clang—
A clear, resonant ring echoed from the blade.
The blade was snow-white and bright, gleaming with a cold, icy light.
The hamon pattern on the blade flowed like running water, and the tip curved slightly upward, forming a graceful yet lethal arc.
Near the handguard, a tiny character was engraved: “Saku.”
“This is a spare weapon I used in my youth,” Sakumo Hatake said.
“Although it isn’t the White Fang, it was forged by a master craftsman and can slice through iron like paper.
You saved me, and you saved Kakashi’s future.
I don’t know how to repay such a debt of gratitude.
Please take this first as a small token of my appreciation.”
Ryuha sheathed the blade and held it in his hand.
The sword was not heavy, but it fit perfectly in his hand.
He could feel the chilling killing intent lingering within the blade—this sword had tasted a lot of blood.
“Thanks,” he said, not standing on ceremony.
“I happened to be lacking a handy short sword.”
A flash of admiration crossed Sakumo Hatake’s eyes.
No pretense, no affectation, accepting the gift with poise—this personality suited his tastes.
“Furthermore,” Sakumo paused, lowering his voice.
“I heard that Shimura Danzo’s ‘Root’ once made a move on you…
is that true?”
Ryuha Uchiha pushed up his glasses.
“Yes.
They even tried to recruit me a couple of days ago, but I refused.”
“That damn old man.” Sakumo tightened his grip on his own short sword.
“I’ll go warn them.”
“It’s fine.” Ryuha truly didn’t care.
With his current strength, unless Danzo himself acted…
…relying on “Root” alone could not affect him in the slightest.
“There is one more thing,” Sakumo said.
“Lord Sandaime just announced that in half a month, Konoha will hold a joint Chunin Selection Exam with the Sand Village and the Cloud Village.
On the surface, it’s to ‘promote exchange and test the new generation,’ but…”
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
“The Cloud Village has also sent an envoy delegation to ‘observe.’
Those guys have always been bellicose.
For them to actively come over this time, they definitely have malicious intentions.
During the exams, Konoha will step up security, but oversights are inevitable.
If you plan to participate, you must be careful.”
Ryuha nodded.
“I’m planning to sign up.”
Sakumo was not surprised.
Given the strength and temperament Ryuha Uchiha had shown, participating in the Chunin Exams was inevitable.
The status of a Genin had already become a shackle to him.
“The registration office opens this afternoon,” Sakumo said.
“If you need to, you can use my name.
Although the Hatake clan isn’t a large family, because of me, it still carries some weight in Konoha.”
This was a clear, open display of backing.
Ryuha smiled.
“Alright.”
Sakumo patted him on the shoulder, said no more, and turned to leave.
As he walked out of the training ground, he deliberately slowed his pace, letting several Uchiha clan members along the way witness him talking to Ryuha and gifting him the sword.
Very soon, the news of “Sakumo Hatake visiting Ryuha Uchiha and gifting him a sword” would spread throughout the Uchiha clan territory, and subsequently, all of Konoha.
This was a silent declaration:
*I, Sakumo Hatake, am shielding Ryuha Uchiha.*
…
In the afternoon, at the Ninja Academy.
The registration office for the Chunin Exams was set up in the largest training hall.
Behind a long table sat several Chunin examiners, responsible for registration and verification.
A lot of people had already gathered inside the hall.
Recent graduates, veteran Genin from previous years, and even some veteran Genin who looked to be in their twenties were all lining up to register.
The atmosphere was lively, but it also carried a hint of tension.
“Did you hear?
This exam is a joint effort between three villages.
Sunagakure and Kumogakure are both sending people!”
“Kumogakure?
Those battle maniacs?
They’re coming to ‘observe’?
Who would believe that?!”
“Be careful.
I heard that Kumogakure is sending ruthless characters this time.
They might play dirty during the exams…”
When Ryuha Uchiha walked into the training hall, it caused a minor stir.
“It’s Ryuha Uchiha!”
“That genius who awakened an unknown Kekkei Genkai?”
“I heard that during a mission a few days ago, he instant-killed a Genin-level rogue ninja in a single move…”
“Even Lord Sakumo Hatake made a special trip to visit him this morning!”
Whispers buzzed throughout the room.
Ryuha Uchiha remained completely deaf to it all, walking straight toward the registration desk.
Behind him followed Kazuya Haruno and Itsuki Fujiwara of Team 7, as well as their Jonin instructor, Ryuichi Matsumoto.
“Lord Ryuha, have you really decided to participate?” Kazuya Haruno asked in a low voice, his tone filled with admiration.
“Yes,” Ryuha nodded.
“Then we…” Itsuki Fujiwara scratched his head.
“We should sign up too!
Although we aren’t strong enough, it’ll be good to tag along with Lord Ryuha to gain some experience!”
Ryuichi Matsumoto also spoke up: “Ryuha, with your strength, passing the Chunin Exams shouldn’t be an issue.
But this time the circumstances are special.
With three villages joining, the content of the exams might be very…
brutal.
You must be mentally prepared.”
“I know,” Ryuha said.
The three of them walked up to the registration counter and were about to fill out the forms when—
“Ryuha!”
A crisp, lively female voice called out from the side.
Ryuha turned.
A girl with vibrant red hair, emerald-green eyes, and a brilliant smile on her face—Kushina Uzumaki.
She was dragging along a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed youth with a gentle smile.
Minato Namikaze.
The future Fourth Hokage and his wife.
“Senior Kushina, Senior Minato,” Ryuha greeted them with a slight nod.
“You’re signing up for the Chunin Exams too?” Kushina approached and patted Ryuha on the shoulder in an easygoing manner.
“Not bad!
I knew you weren’t simple, kid!
Minato, see?
I told you he would participate!”
Minato Namikaze smiled warmly and looked at Ryuha.
“Ryuha-kun, I really look forward to seeing your performance in the exams.”
His smile was highly infectious, and his blue eyes were filled with sincere appreciation.
This was Minato Namikaze.
Sunny, powerful, a genius shinobi who naturally commanded likeability.
In the future Third Shinobi World War, he would shine brilliantly, becoming the illustrious “Yellow Flash.”
Ryuha Uchiha pushed up his glasses.
“Senior Minato, you flatter me.
I’m just here to gain experience.”
“Don’t be so modest!” Kushina said with a grin.
“By the way, are all three of you from Team 7 registering?
That gives you an advantage in the team phase!
Minato and I also registered as a team.
We have another teammate…
well, he had some business to attend to, so he’ll be a bit late.”
As she spoke, a sudden commotion erupted at the entrance of the hall.
The crowd automatically parted.
A group of tall, dark-skinned shinobi dressed in dark-colored ninja gear entered.
They surrounded an elderly man wearing a white robe and a Raikage hat.
The symbol on their headbands was a streak of lightning amidst clouds.
The Cloud Village!
The whispers in the training hall died down instantly.
Everyone stared at the Kumogakure shinobi, their gazes filled with vigilance and wariness.
The Kumogakure shinobi did not care in the slightest.
They strutted over to the vicinity of the registration counter, their eyes scanning the lining-up crowd.
The gaze of their leader, a youth with a mohawk, lingered on Kushina Uzumaki for a couple of seconds.
Red hair was highly rare in the Ninja World, especially in Konoha.
Then, his eyes shifted to Ryuha.
To be precise, they shifted to the newly acquired short sword at Ryuha’s waist.
The Hatake clan crest was faintly visible under the lights of the training hall.
The mohawk-haired youth raised an eyebrow, his lips pulling back into a provocative smirk.
He swept his gaze up and down Ryuha, looking at him like a piece of prey without any attempt at concealment.
Finally, he let out a sneer:
“A Konoha Genin…
and yet, someone actually gets to wear the short sword of the White Fang?”
As his voice fell, a dead silence descended upon the training hall.
The faces of all the Konoha shinobi darkened.