nucmednet Chapter 694 Trouble?
Chapter 694 Trouble?
"Trouble?" Zhang Hai sneered. "Just because I'm afraid of trouble, am I supposed to stand by and watch my teacher be swallowed up by the gossip in the village?!"
Tsunade shook her head, her tone becoming serious: "Zhang Hai, you don't understand. There are many things in the village that are not as simple as they seem on the surface. Sometimes, even the Hokage cannot completely control the situation."
She paused, a meaningful glint in her eyes, "The matter of White Fang has already involved some complicated relationships within the Konoha leadership. If you get involved now, you'll only put yourself in danger. Moreover, with your current status and strength, you can't change anything at all."
"Am I just supposed to do nothing?!" Zhang Hai clenched his fists, his eyes filled with resentment.
Tsunade reached out and gently patted Zhang Hai's shoulder, her tone earnest: "Zhang Hai, your most important task right now is to improve your strength. Only with enough power can you truly protect those you want to protect and change the things you don't like. Let the White Fang matter go for now. Believe me, one day, the truth will come to light."
Looking into Tsunade's sincere eyes, Zhang Hai's anger gradually subsided. He knew Tsunade was right. With his current strength, even if he got involved, it would be futile and would only bring him danger. He had to become stronger to truly do something for White Fang-sensei.
However, the resentment in his heart could not be dispelled. He could not imagine that a righteous and powerful ninja like Master White Fang could suffer such an injustice because of this.
"Lady Tsunade, I don't understand," Zhang Hai said in a deep voice, his tone stubborn. "Sword Fang only saved his comrade and then completed the mission again. What's wrong with that? Why are the villagers treating him like this?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of pain crossed Tsunade's eyes. She shook her head, not answering Zhang Hai's question.
“This is the dark side of the village, Zhang Hai.” Tsunade’s voice was low and hoarse. “Many times, right and wrong don’t matter. What matters is how people see you. Especially in these special times, the village needs heroes, but it needs stable order even more.”
"So, we're just going to let Teacher Baiya bear this injustice?" Zhang Hai asked rhetorically.
Looking into Zhang Hai's eyes, filled with anger and resentment, Tsunade knew she couldn't stop him. She sighed, her voice tinged with helplessness, "Zhang Hai, I advise you not to go. Trust the Hokage to handle this properly."
Zhang Hai didn't speak, but simply looked at Tsunade quietly. His eyes were filled with determination and resolve.
"Lady Tsunade, if your teacher were in trouble, would you remain indifferent?" Zhang Hai suddenly asked.
Tsunade was startled. She looked at Zhang Hai, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She thought of her teacher, the Third Hokage, and of her own past obsessions.
She didn't say anything more, but silently stepped aside.
Zhang Hai knew that Tsunade had tacitly approved of his actions. He bowed slightly to Tsunade, then rushed out of the laboratory without looking back.
He ran as fast as he could, heading towards White Fang's house. His heart was filled with worry and anxiety. He couldn't imagine the pain that someone as proud as White Fang would endure in the face of such gossip.
Soon, Zhang Hai arrived at White Fang's house. White Fang of Konoha was a hero of the village, and his house should have been respected and protected. However, at this moment, White Fang's house appeared unusually deserted and quiet.
Zhang Hai knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. His heart sank, and he knocked again, still without a reply. Feeling uneasy, he pushed open the slightly ajar door.
The living room was empty. Zhang Hai walked into the room and shouted, "White Fang Teacher! Kakashi!"
"Who?"
A childish voice came from the second floor. Zhang Hai looked up and saw Kakashi standing at the top of the stairs, his eyes filled with a hint of wariness and doubt.
When Kakashi saw Zhang Hai wearing a mask, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Teacher Zhang Hai?" Kakashi asked uncertainly.
Zhang Hai nodded and removed his mask. "Kakashi, where is your father?"
A flicker of sadness crossed Kakashi's eyes as he lowered his head. "Father... he's in his room." He paused, his voice tinged with pain. "Teacher Zhang Hai, rumors are circulating in the village about Father... people are accusing him, saying he abandoned the mission to save his comrades..."
Zhang Hai felt a pang of pain in his heart. He knew that Kakashi was also under immense pressure.
“Take me to see your father,” Zhang Hai said in a deep voice.
Kakashi nodded and led Zhang Hai to White Fang's room. He knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. He pushed the door open and found the room dimly lit, with the curtains tightly drawn and only a faint sliver of light filtering in through the cracks.
White Fang sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, looking dejected and with bloodshot eyes. His hair was disheveled, his beard unkempt, and he appeared completely lost and disoriented, a far cry from the spirited "White Fang of Konoha" of the past. His eyes were filled with pain and self-reproach, as if bound by invisible shackles.
“Teacher Baiya…” Zhang Hai felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw Baiya’s appearance.
Bai Ya heard Zhang Hai's voice and slowly raised his head. When he saw Zhang Hai, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but then he regained his deathly calm.
"Zhang Hai... why are you here?" Bai Ya's voice was hoarse and tired.
Zhang Hai walked over to Bai Ya and squatted down. "Teacher Bai Ya, I've heard the rumors in the village. Those people are talking nonsense! You did nothing wrong by abandoning the mission to save your comrades! You are a hero of the village!"
However, Zhang Hai's words of comfort had no effect; instead, they only made Bai Ya's expression more pained.
“Saving my comrades…abandoning the mission…” White Fang muttered to himself, his eyes filled with regret and self-reproach. “I…I did abandon the mission…I betrayed the village’s trust, I betrayed the Hokage’s expectations…”
He clutched his head in his hands, curling up in agony. "I'm not a hero... I'm just a coward..."
Seeing Bai Ya's pained expression, Zhang Hai felt a pang of regret. He knew he had made a mistake; he shouldn't have brought up the mission at this time.
"Teacher White Fang, please don't say that!" Zhang Hai hurriedly said, "You're not a coward! You abandoned the mission to save your comrades! Your choice was right! Those who criticize you don't understand what a true ninja is!"