"Don't say those self-pitying things to me."
"You're not a sinner. You're just a pawn sacrificed on Danzo's power chessboard."
"He deliberately paired you with two useless teammates and deliberately leaked critical information. From the very beginning, he never intended for this mission to succeed."
"Did you really not notice any of that?"
Sakumo's whole body shook, and his mind became a little clearer.
The doubts that had been buried under public opinion suddenly became clear, but the huge guilt still gripped his heart tightly.
Arisu looked at him, frowned slightly, and continued calmly, "I know you value your reputation more than anything and feel like you can't go on living after bringing shame to Konoha."
"But reputation is something earned by the living, not something buried with the dead."
"If you kill yourself now, you'll be forever nailed to the pillar of a 'traitor.' No one will remember how many blows you took for Konoha or how many people you saved. They'll only throw all the blame onto you."
Hatake Sakumo could not speak.
"Think about your wife. Think about your son. If you die, their lives probably won't be easy.", Arisu spoke softly.
A bitter expression immediately appeared on Sakumo's face.
"But the whole village is cursing me now..."
Arisu waved his hand directly.
"It's all thunder and little rain. Those are just paid supporters. Most of Konoha is silent. They haven't spoken yet."
"Let public opinion ferment for a while. Things will definitely turn around."
Arisu's words made Sakumo hesitate.
"You're lacking one thing... patience."
"Endure it. Just wait for the wind to rise and wait for change. Also, your skin needs to be a little thicker.", Arisu said.
At this point, all thoughts of suicide had completely disappeared from Hatake Sakumo's mind.
"Arisu, can you help me get a basin of ice water?", Kneeling on the tatami, Sakumo asked.
Arisu somehow produced a basin of ice water.
"I prepared it for you long ago."
The next second, Arisu splashed the entire basin of ice water directly onto Sakumo's face.
"Pff!"
In an instant, Hatake Sakumo was soaked from head to toe.
Just as Arisu was about to prepare a second basin...
Sakumo looked at him with a confused expression.
"Um, I actually just wanted to wash my face...", Sakumo said.
Arisu froze, "Then why didn't you say so earlier?"
"But this cold water really did wake me up a lot. Come on, I'll change clothes and then we'll go out to eat!"
Hatake Sakumo stood up, looking much more energetic.
After changing clothes, the two went straight out onto the street.
When the residents on the street saw Sakumo, surprise appeared on their faces.
At first, Sakumo did not quite dare face them.
But remembering Arisu's words about having thicker skin, he stopped caring.
Soon, someone ran up to Sakumo.
Sakumo thought the person had come to curse him.
Instead, the man gave him a deep bow.
"Senior Sakumo! I support your decision!", The man spoke with a face full of respect.
Sakumo was stunned. After one person started, more and more people came forward to express their support and approval.
"I support it too! Senior Sakumo gave up the mission to save his comrades!"
"Senior Sakumo is innocent!"
They believed Sakumo had done the right thing for his comrades.
Sakumo stared blankly at these people, feeling a level of excitement he had never experienced before.
Because Konoha's media was controlled.
Ordinary civilians had no way to make their voices heard. The silent majority simply had no channel to speak.
That made Sakumo believe that whatever the media published represented Konoha's public opinion.
"Make way! Everybody move aside!"
A boy with black spiky hair and goggles pushed through the crowded people, stumbling as he squeezed to the front.
It was Uchiha Obito.
After taking two breaths, he looked up at Sakumo. His eyes burned like flames. Clenching his small fists before his chest, he shouted word by word, "Senior Sakumo! I, Uchiha Obito, have something to say!"
"Although in the ninja world, people who break the rules are called trash, but those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash!"
"I believe the White Fang of Konoha is the true hero!"
Standing nearby, Arisu raised an eyebrow slightly. A trace of surprise and approval flashed through his eyes.
Those words were like a wake-up call, instantly splitting apart the last bit of darkness in Sakumo's heart.
He stared blankly at the passionate young boy before him. All the self-doubt and self-denial that had troubled him for countless days and nights vanished at that moment.
Hatake Sakumo slowly crouched down until he was eye level with Obito. Light once again appeared in his previously hollow and dim eyes.
Sakumo reached out and gently rubbed Obito's spiky hair.
"Thank you, Obito. I'll remember what you said."
After that, surrounded by the crowd, Hatake Sakumo enjoyed a meal at a Konoha street food stall.
———
[Hokage Office]
Shimura Danzo was still waiting for news that Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide under the pressure.
Based on Danzo's judgment of Sakumo, Sakumo was thin-skinned and valued dignity and a ninja's reputation.
He would definitely be unable to bear the pressure and would kill himself.
"Someone, how is Sakumo doing?"
Shimura Danzo asked a trusted subordinate beside him.
However, after the subordinate reported the latest intelligence, Danzo could no longer keep his composure.
"What!? He's eating at a street stall again!?"
Danzo's eyes widened.
"Yes. It's not far below the building. You should be able to see it.", The Anbu ninja replied respectfully.
"What?"
Danzo suddenly stood up and looked out the window.
Not far away, a street food stall was packed with people.
Hatake Sakumo was happily drinking beer, eating grilled meat skewers, and getting grease all over his mouth.
He looked nothing like Konoha's sinner.
"How can someone's skin be this thick?!"
"The thickness of this kid's skin is probably no less than mine..."
Danzo could not hold it together anymore.
What else could he even say?
Shimura Danzo felt irritated and immediately ordered, "Someone! How can there be a street food stall under the Hokage Building? Send people to clear it out immediately!"
However, the Anbu ninja looked troubled.
"Reporting to Lord Hokage, that area belongs to Ichiraku Ramen's street stall. The First Hokage personally approved that shop, and the Second Hokage, Lord Hashirama, once awarded Ichiraku Ramen the title of Model Charity Shop. We...", The Anbu ninja spoke awkwardly.
"Good, good, good!"
Shimura Danzo was so angry that he was speechless.
To this day, he still could not understand why the First Hokage had approved a ramen shop right in front of the Hokage Building.
Everything around it was either government office buildings or commercial towers. There was only that one ramen shop. Didn't the First Hokage think it looked out of place?
But there was nothing he could do. Back then, the First Hokage had granted the ramen shop a hundred-year permit, meaning Konoha could not forcibly demolish it for a hundred years.
"Sigh! Forget it, forget it!"
Seeing the situation, Shimura Danzo could only give up.