The villagers seemed to be talking about Sakumo Hatake, and a bad premonition rose in Kai's heart.
He swiftly moved to the side, grabbing a villager by the collar, and asked sternly:
"What happened to Sakumo-sensei? Tell me!"
The overwhelming killing intent honed on the battlefield emanated from Kai, causing the villager to tremble and stutter:
"Sakumo Hatake abandoned his mission on the battlefield, leading to unfavorable conditions for the village against Kumogakure - Hidden Cloud Village. He's a failure."
Failure!?
Hearing such judgment about Sakumo Hatake, a cold glint flashed in Kai's eyes. He threw the villager heavily to the ground and said coldly:
"If I hear you insult Sakumo-sensei again, I'll kill you. Understand?"
Under Kai's aura, the villager felt as if his entire body was stiff and nodded tremblingly.
"What happened to Sakumo-sensei now?" Kai pursued.
"I heard that Sakumo Hatake... has committed suicide to atone." The villager said cautiously, fearing that his words would provoke Kai's anger.
Suicide!?
Kai's body stiffened, his pupils contracted, and he didn't bother with the villager anymore.
Divine Descent!
Kai's figure vanished instantly, appearing at the entrance of the Hatake household.
Facing the main hall of the Hatake house, it had already turned into a mourning hall. Kai rushed in directly.
"Sakumo-sensei!"
Kai didn't understand. He had clearly warned Sakumo Hatake, and at that time, he hadn't seen any hesitation or confusion in his eyes. Why did he choose suicide in the end?
At this moment, a cold voice came from behind Kai:
"Mitarashi Kai, this is a letter that person asked me to give you." With that, a neatly folded envelope was tossed to Kai.
Hearing Kakashi refer to Sakumo Hatake as "that person," Kai was somewhat angry: "That person!? He's your father! Kakashi Hatake!"
"A failure who abandons his mission to save his comrades? I don't have such a father."
Before Kakashi finished speaking, Kai kicked him in the abdomen. Kakashi, who was only at Chūnin level, didn't even have time to react before being kicked away, landing in the courtyard.
"Someone like you, who is even worse than a failure, if you weren't Sakumo-sensei's only son, I would have killed you directly." Kai said coldly, looking at Kakashi.
However, seeing Kakashi's unchanged expression, Kai didn't bother anymore and directly opened the envelope left by Sakumo Hatake:
Kai, by the time you see this letter, I should already be dead.
Although I don't know why you seem to have foreseen everything, I want to tell you that I chose death not because I regret my choice, nor because of the village's gossip. It's a persistence in my choice; even in death, I stand by it.
Additionally, Kai, I believe you will become the greatest ninja in the world. Please take care of Kakashi for me.
Sincerely, Sakumo Hatake.
Kai tightly gripped the paper in his hand, trembling, and after a long time, murmured:
"Don't worry, Sakumo-sensei, I will seek justice for you."
Glancing at Kakashi Hatake standing in the courtyard, Kai had no mood to deal with him and directly walked out of the Hatake house, heading towards the Hokage building in the village center.
Before opening the door to the Hokage's office, Kai could hear the chaotic arguments inside.
"Abandoning the mission was Sakumo Hatake's own choice. As a Kage-level powerhouse, he couldn't even withstand the rumors. Dying is a disgrace, a failure. Moreover, since Sakumo Hatake committed suicide, he doesn't qualify to have his name engraved on Konoha's Memorial Stone!"
The voice was very cold; without looking, Kai could guess who it was.
Bang! Kai kicked open the door to the Hokage's office.
The Hokage office was full of people: the Third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, Shishio Mitarashi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado, along with the clan heads of various families.
Ignoring everyone, Kai directly faced Danzo, his killing intent coldly saying: "Danzo, if you want to die, I can fulfill that wish!"
"Mitarashi Kai, what kind of attitude is this?"
Before Danzo could speak, Homura Mitokado was already annoyed. He and Danzo were both Hokage advisors, and Kai's attitude towards Danzo was disrespectful to him as well.
"What? Old man, do you want to die too?"
Kai didn't care about Homura Mitokado, who was merely an elite Jōnin, only knowing how to scheme and fight for power every day, relying on old age. What use was he?
"You!" Homura Mitokado's face turned pale.
Shishio Mitarashi didn't intervene, allowing Kai to wreak havoc. As Sakumo Hatake's close friend, Shishio was also very angry about Sakumo's death, but as the head of the ANBU, it wasn't appropriate for him to intervene.
Ignoring Homura Mitokado, Kai turned to the Third Hokage:
"Hokage-sama, 176 S-rank missions! 428 A-rank missions! 324 B-rank missions! Not a single failure. Such a ninja, you tell me he doesn't qualify to have his name engraved on the Memorial Stone?"
Kai raised his voice further, continuing: "One mission failure, and he faces such gossip. Who among those present hasn't failed a mission?"
"And, Danzo, isn't there your shadow in this? Just one mission failure, and it's known throughout the village. Ridiculous, I didn't know Sakumo-sensei's missions were announced to the whole village?"
"Mitarashi Kai, shut your mouth. You have no place to speak here. Get out." Koharu Utatane scolded Kai.
"Old hag, what qualifications do you have to order me?"
A cold glint flickered in Kai's eyes, and his anger, already at the breaking point, exploded.
Steel Fist: Sky Shatter!
No one expected Kai to act directly in the Hokage office, and Koharu Utatane certainly didn't.
After the Second Shinobi World War, Koharu Utatane hadn't fought personally. Her combat awareness had long deteriorated, and before she could react, she was hit hard by Kai'sSky Shatter.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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