Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 61: The Ninja Way of Konoha's White Fang

Konoha was located in the central region of the Land of Fire, a place with an advantageous geographic position. The distance to Akiyahara, formerly part of the Land of Wind, was over a thousand kilometers. Due to the urgency of the mission, the group did not stop to rest, running at full speed until they finally reached the border camp, where they planned a brief recovery.

The long-distance run was physically taxing—sustaining high-speed movement while continuously channeling chakra into one's legs and feet to maintain momentum was a brutal test of both chakra control and endurance. Even Hayama, despite his enhanced training, felt his muscles tremble from exhaustion.

Yet, at the front of the group, Sakumo Hatake walked forward as if nothing had happened. His silver-white hair was slightly disheveled from the wind, but his face showed no trace of fatigue.

The highest-ranking officer in the border camp was a Hyuga clan jōnin, around forty years old, with an austere yet capable appearance. Having received a scouting report about Hatake's arrival, he led a group of senior jōnin to await them at the entrance.

Regardless of what Konoha's leadership thought of Sakumo, to the village's frontline ninjas, the name "Konoha's White Fang" commanded deep respect.

As Hatake Sakumo approached the entrance, the Hyuga jōnin took a deep bow, his voice solemn and filled with admiration.

"Former First Combat Unit, Fourth Division Captain—Hyuga Tetsujiro greets you, sir!"

Snow that had accumulated on his shoulders and back fell off as he bowed, revealing how long he had been waiting in place.

Hatake Sakumo approached him, grasping his forearms, and pulled him upright.

"Tetsujiro, it's been a long time since Grass Country."

Hyuga Tetsujiro's face lit up with nostalgia. "Two whole years, sir."

"Two years... time flies. But I sense your strength has stagnated. Was it because of your past injuries?" Sakumo asked, his voice filled with concern.

Hyuga Tetsujiro smiled wryly, "Your memory is impressive, sir. I'm already in my forties—remaining at the same level is only natural."

Then, raising his voice deliberately, he declared:

"Why has the village sent you, a legend, on such a meaningless mission? Does the Hokage not fear alienating the very heroes that built this village?"

Tetsujiro's words were not just for Sakumo—they were for all the jōnin standing behind him.

And sure enough, his righteous indignation stirred a wave of dissatisfaction among the gathered warriors.

"If White Fang-sama is going, I will go too!"

"The Hokage needs to give us an explanation!"

However, not all of them spoke. A significant number of jōnin remained silent, their hands tightening into fists as they subtly stepped back, clearly unwilling to get involved in the political struggle.

Sakumo's expression remained unreadable as he stared into Tetsujiro's white eyes.

After a few moments, his voice hardened.

"As shinobi of Konoha, it is our duty to serve the village. You're overthinking things, Tetsujiro."

Hyuga Tetsujiro's white eyes narrowed in frustration.

"Sir, I believe the village is targeting you on purpose."

"Enough."

Sakumo's grip loosened, and his voice carried a rare hint of anger.

Tetsujiro clenched his jaw and exhaled deeply, his frustration palpable.

Then, suddenly, he reached for his left arm, unfastened the red armband—a symbol of great military achievement—and threw it behind him.

The gathered jōnin watched in stunned silence.

Behind him, another Hyuga jōnin caught the discarded honorary sleeve in mid-air.

Tetsujiro then declared in a firm voice:

"Aizawa Toshihiro will replace me as division commander. I, Hyuga Tetsujiro, have spent my entire life as a coward. Today, for once—I want to live for myself."

Sakumo's normally cold and distant demeanor softened.

Without a word, he extended his hand.

Tetsujiro took it.

And together, they walked side by side into the camp.

At the back, Aizawa Toshihiro hesitated for a moment, before grinning.

He turned to a fellow jōnin and handed him the armband as well.

Then, with a light-hearted chuckle, he hurried after Sakumo, clapping a familiar face on the shoulder as he did.

"You bastard, always a step ahead of me. Promotions, missions, even getting married—you've always been first."

The man he spoke to—Kosuke Jirou—coughed lightly, rolling his eyes.

"Stop acting like some wise elder—you're only three days older than me."

"Three days is older," Aizawa smirked. "That means you should listen to me."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Shut up. Tonight, we drink until we pass out."

With that, they walked off laughing, leaving behind hundreds of confused shinobi.

Hayama chuckled softly, shaking his head.

He turned to Yamashiro Jin, his teammate.

"C'mon, let's go."

That evening, a grand feast was held in the camp—featuring reserved rations of high-quality meat as a show of respect for Sakumo Hatake and his followers.

Despite the falling snow, no one cared about the cold.

The aroma of roasted meat and fine sake filled the air, drowning out the political tensions that had shadowed the journey.

Hayama sat with Uchiha Fugaku, the two engaged in a drunken debate about who was the real "ladies' man".

For once, the normally stoic Fugaku let loose. He had already downed quite a bit of alcohol and was now rambling nonsense.

"Haha… You act all serious, Hayama, but I know—you've had your eye on an Uchiha girl for a long time."

Hayama burst into unrestrained laughter.

"Oh, please. Uchiha girls never mature properly. I like them… bigger."

Then, he made a very inappropriate hand gesture, causing Yamashiro Jin to choke on his drink.

Even Fugaku was momentarily stunned, before snickering.

"Hey, Jin," Fugaku said, nudging him. "Isn't that Yamanaka Yura from your squad kinda curvy?"

Jin nearly spat out his drink.

Hayama rolled his eyes.

"She's nothing. If I wanted curves, I'd go for Tsunade."

Silence.

Then, the surrounding Uchiha shinobi erupted into laughter.

One even raised his sake cup in salute.

"Damn, Hayama. You really aim high."

Even Fugaku was shaking with laughter, loudly repeating Hayama's words for the entire camp to hear.

At this rate, if he survived the mission, his ridiculous claim would be published in the Fire Nation Daily.

A young shinobi dreaming of wooing Princess Tsunade?

Hayama had officially become a camp legend.

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You can read advance chapters ahead on patreon.com/fishkiss69, I will upload 1 extra chapter every day there.

THANK YOU

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