Naruto: The Scarlet Ronin

Chapter 23: The Weight of Failure

Hokage's Office

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was suffocating, heavy with unspoken tension. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, his hands steepled before him, his eyes boring into the assembled shinobi. Among them stood some of Konoha's most skilled and promising ninja. Yet, the mission they had returned from was a glaring failure.

Sakumo Hatake, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki stood at the forefront, their expressions solemn. Behind them, Shikaku Nara leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his sharp mind already replaying the events and searching for missteps. His teammates, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi, stood nearby, equally subdued. To the right were several unnamed ninjas, alongside Hizashi Hyuga, his Byakugan deactivated but his face a mask of frustration.

Hiruzen finally broke the silence, his voice deceptively calm but laced with anger.

"So, let me get this straight. A squad full of elite jonin—a force comprised of future clan heads, a Hyuga, an Inuzuka tracker, and a top-class Fuinjutsu expert—failed to capture a single shinobi. A shinobi who isn't even at kage-level, who was clearly outnumbered and outmatched, managed to escape. Is that correct?"

The room tensed. Sakumo stepped forward, his voice steady but tinged with regret.

"Lord Hokage, he used a reverse summoning jutsu to—"

"Silence!" Hiruzen's voice cracked like a whip, cutting Sakumo off. His usually kind eyes were fierce with frustration. "You mean to tell me that, despite having a sealing expert among you, none of you anticipated such a maneuver? You had the tools and the talent, yet he still escaped under your noses?"

The group collectively bowed their heads.

Minato hesitated but decided to speak. "Lord Hokage, Shinji's speed caught us off-guard. By the time we realized what he was doing, he had already—"

"Enough!" Hiruzen's tone was sharp, his glare making Minato stop mid-sentence. "I warned you all not to underestimate him. A single shinobi, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can always be dangerous if you let your guard down. I thought sending a team of this caliber was overkill, but clearly, I overestimated your abilities."

The weight of his words pressed down on everyone in the room. No one dared to respond.

Hiruzen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sought to calm his temper. Taking a sip from a cup of sake on his desk, he finally spoke again, his tone quieter but no less stern.

"Fortunately, Minato placed a teleportation seal on him. The moment he leaves the summoning realm, we'll be able to locate him and intercept immediately. For now, it's a waiting game. But let this mission be a lesson to all of you. Skill and power mean nothing if you allow overconfidence and carelessness to blind you. Reflect on your failure. Train harder. And make sure this doesn't happen again. Dismissed."

The group began to leave, their faces etched with disappointment and shame. Kushina hesitated, wanting to apologize, but the Hokage's averted gaze made it clear he wasn't ready to hear it. Her heart sank as she followed the others out, her fiery confidence dimmed by the weight of failure.

"Sakumo," Hiruzen called as the others exited. "You stay. I have a mission for you."

Once the room was empty save for the two of them, Hiruzen activated a privacy seal. The room fell silent, the usual hum of village activity outside muffled into nothingness. Even the hidden ANBU were dismissed by a pulse of the Hokage's formidable killing intent.

Hiruzen leaned back, his expression softening slightly as he looked at Sakumo. "I received a request from your son, Kakashi. He wishes to take the special exam to advance to chunin. What do you think? Is he ready?"

Sakumo's stoic face broke into a small, proud smile. "I didn't know he'd applied. But if he feels ready, then I won't stop him. He's prepared."

Hiruzen chuckled lightly. "Your son truly is a prodigy, Sakumo. At this rate, he'll surpass all expectations. My own son, Asuma, could learn a thing or two from him. If Kakashi succeeds, he'll be the youngest shinobi to become both a genin and a chunin. Remarkable."

Sakumo nodded but remained humble. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. But while Kakashi is skilled, he still has much to learn. His technical ability is exceptional, but he struggles with teamwork. Until he masters that, he won't reach his full potential."

Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Wise words, as always. Now, to the matter at hand."

His demeanor shifted, becoming grave. "The situation in the other hidden villages grows increasingly unstable. War is brewing. Kumo and Iwa are both preparing their armies, and we've received intelligence about an Iwagakure diplomat attempting to secure alliances with neutral nations. If successful, it could isolate the Land of Fire."

Hiruzen slid a document across the desk. "Your mission is to travel to a border village in the Land of Grass—a contested territory between us and Iwagakure—and eliminate this diplomat. Sabotage the negotiations if possible. It's crucial that this mission succeeds, Sakumo. Do you accept?"

Sakumo's expression hardened as he picked up the document. "I accept. I'll prepare immediately."

"Good." Hiruzen leaned forward. "But heed my words, Sakumo. Prepare thoroughly. This mission carries immense weight. The fate of Konoha could very well depend on its outcome. Dismissed."

As Sakumo left the office, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, exhaustion etched into his features. He reached into a drawer and pulled out an old photograph—a cherished memory from a bygone era.

The photo showed a younger Hiruzen with his teammates, Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, and Mito Uzumaki. They stood before the grand gates of the Senju Compound, their smiles radiant and full of hope.

A single tear slid down Hiruzen's cheek. "If only I hadn't listened to Danzo that day… If I had sent aid to Uzushiogakure, perhaps we wouldn't be so alone now."

The weight of past failures pressed heavily on him, as he sat in the quiet of his office, haunted by what might have been.

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To Be Continued...

(A/N): So, another reason to hate Danzo. Anyways, give more power stones for more chapters.