I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 256 Don't believe so-called inside information obtained easily through inquiries.

"That person, isn't that Sakumo Hatake?"

"Yes, that's him."

"Hmph! After causing such a big incident, he can still teach his son ninjutsu with such ease. I think what that kid from the Shimura family said is not untrue."

"If Tatsuma really gets into trouble, I'll make sure that Sakumo Hatake's son experiences what it's like to lose his father!"

"Count me in! I have another technique that I developed back then for those evil Uchiha clans, but before I could even use it, Lord Hashirama allied with the Uchiha!"

"What can you old bones do? You'll probably die in front of others before you even fight. I think you should go find Monkey. He's been taken care of by Thousand Hands for so long, it's time for him to do something in return."

"Indeed, such evil deeds should be exposed to the public. To scheme against one's own village is truly despicable! Since the founding of this village, I have never laid a hand on the evil Uchiha."

"Tch! The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Why did Lord Hashirama reconcile with the Uchiha so early on? Otherwise, I could have killed a few more of them!"

"Those evil Uchiha are truly shameless. Even with someone like Madara around, they still have the nerve to stay in the village."

In a training ground in the village, a group of elderly people suddenly appeared. Some of them were using canes, some were walking slowly with their backs bent, and some were even sitting in wheelchairs, but they were full of vigor, just like young people who were full of ambition.

Their conversation attracted the attention of several ninjas training in the training ground, but they quickly stopped listening as the old men shifted their focus.

These old men might dare to say things that are detrimental to unity, but the others wouldn't dare to listen.

In the distance, Sakumo Hatake, who was instructing his son, stopped. Kakashi looked up at his father in confusion, not understanding why his father had stopped talking.

Kakashi's hearing is now inferior to Sakumo Hatake's; he can't hear the voices of those old men in the distance, but how could Sakumo Hatake not hear them?

He also recognized those people as the earliest villagers. There might still be some houses and roads in Konoha that they repaired themselves.

Although these people have been away from ninja life for many years and have even stopped using their surnames, every year, the village's high-ranking officials, represented by the Hokage, would take the time to visit them.

They don't have a voice in the open, but everyone who loves the village respects them immensely, like Sakumo Hatake himself.

Although the conversation among these elderly people had long since veered off course, Sakumo Hatake knew why they had come after just a few words.

As Sakamoto Tatsuma thought of that boy, Hatake Sakumo felt waves of guilt rising in his heart again. He had been reflecting on himself for the past few days, and the more he reflected, the more he felt like a bastard.

He was not the one who caused Tatsuma's serious injury, but he was involved in everything.

Hearing these people he once respected misunderstand and criticize him, an unprecedented sense of exhaustion overwhelmed Hatake Sakumo.

Over the years, he had felt physical exhaustion, but never before had he felt so mentally exhausted as he did today.

Because he always felt that what he did was beneficial to the village, he never lacked inner strength.

But this time, from the inside out, from himself to others, everyone was blaming him. Hatake Sakumo really didn't know how to comfort himself, because even he himself felt that he was wrong.

"Father, are you alright?"

Kakashi asked with his head held high, while Sakumo Hatake looked down at his son, thinking about what would happen if such rumors reached Kakashi's ears one day.

Even your own son would despise you.

As the team leader, I failed to protect my team members. The mission was completed at the expense of their safety. How ridiculous I am.

"Kakashi, Dad has some things to take care of. Why don't you go back first, okay?"

Sakumo Hatake told Kakashi that he didn't want Kakashi to stay by his side because it would increase the chances of his son hearing these rumors.

Kakashi was puzzled, but he nodded and said, "I understand, Father. I'll head back now."

With that, Kakashi retrieved the ninja tools from the training ground, his short legs swaying as he left. Watching his son depart, Sakumo Hatake's already strained smile finally crumbled.

He walked with a stern face toward the old men of the Thousand Hands. Seeing that Sakumo Hatake dared to give them such a sour look, one of the old men spoke up:

"Oh, still daring to wear a dark face? Are you trying to silence us old folks?"

"Hahaha~ Anyway, I've wanted to die for a long time. Every time I open my eyes, it's another day of suffering."

None of these people felt fear; even though they were so old that they could barely stand, they still had a brave and strong heart.

Despite their mockery, Hatake Sakumo continued walking, approaching them and bowing deeply. He said:

"Gentlemen, I bear an inescapable responsibility for the Tatsuma incident, and I will never shirk my responsibility. I promise that if Tatsuma truly meets with misfortune, I will use the rest of my life to make all the murderers pay the price, including myself."

"What, are you going to Kumogakure to kill the Raikage?"

"It's not impossible."

Sakumo Hatake answered decisively, prompting an old man to roll his eyes and say, "Hmph, he's probably just looking for an excuse to leave the village and go directly to join us."

"Shut up."

At this moment, another old man interrupted him. This old man looked at Hatake Sakumo, his messy and long eyebrows trembling slightly, and said, "Hatake Sakumo, I have a question for you, and you must answer it truthfully."

"it is good."

"I ask you, do you even have the slightest thought of harming Tatsuma?"

"Absolutely not."

Sakumo Hatake looked at the elderly man in the wheelchair and said very seriously. The old man nodded and said, "In that case, you don't need to apologize to us. It's normal to have casualties on a mission."

"Old man in the shed, you..."

Another old man frowned, and before he could continue, the old man in the shed said, "The monkey came to see me yesterday. He said he trusts you and that Chenma has always regarded you as a mentor. He said you would not do anything to harm them."

As he spoke, he looked at his former comrades and said, "Don't forget what Madam told us before she left. We'll decide on this matter when Tsunade and Tatsuma return."

"And don't you find it strange? We live far from the village center, so why do some people insist on telling us these things when no one else knows about them?"

Reminded by the shed, the other old men's expressions changed several times. One of them looked at Hatake Sakumo and said, "Let's leave it at that for today."

If it's just an accident, we can accept it. But if Tsunade and Tatsuma return and I find out you deceived us, I will despise you even in the Pure Land! Cough cough~"

After saying this, he coughed violently, but Hatake Sakumo's face was no longer so gloomy. He straightened up and said, "If I have lied in the slightest, I will commit seppuku to atone for my sins. I trouble you all to supervise me."

"Hmph, though I am old, I still have the strength to act as a middleman. It's best if that day never comes."

The elderly man in the best condition among the crowd, who could stand upright without any external assistance, also stared intently at Hatake Sakumo, who nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Tanima, sitting in his wheelchair, said again: "Sakumo Hatake, if you are devoted to the village, then don't let yourself be defeated. You know yourself what kind of person you are most useful to the village."

The subtle hints and suggestions from the shed made Hatake Sakumo realize what was going on. He nodded again and said, "Thank you."

At this point, the others also realized what was happening, and someone asked, "Temporary, you mean, we were..."

"They were used as pawns."

Another person picked up the conversation, but there was no reply from the tent. However, everyone's faces turned gloomy, just like Hatake Sakumo just now. Anger appeared on each of their aged faces.

Just as someone was about to speak out in anger, Tanima spoke first: "I said, this matter will be decided by Tsunade and Tatsuma when they return. We left the ninja circle decades ago, so this is not our business."

The others were somewhat dissatisfied at being interrupted, but after thinking about the matter, they knew that no matter how they handled it, it would be inappropriate, and they could only leave it to the person who could truly represent the Senju to resolve.

Seeing the grim expressions on everyone's faces, Hatake Sakumo knew he shouldn't stay and get in the way. He bowed again and said, "Gentlemen, I'll be leaving now."

"Okay, go ahead."

Peng Jian waved his hand, then turned his wheelchair around and said, "We should go back now. Someone wanted us to say something we shouldn't have. Now that we've said it, this matter is no longer our concern."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Upon hearing the emphasis in the last sentence from the tent, the others nodded and helped each other leave.

Two figures appeared on the sea, far overseas from the Land of Fire and in the center of the Land of Water.

Chenma brushed the few water droplets off his head and looked at the vast sea. The sea and sky blending into one was the easiest place to lose one's sense of direction.

However, based on the time and the direction of the sunlight, one can make some judgments. After observing for a while, Tatsuma pointed in a direction and said, "Teacher, that's the direction of the Land of Whirlpools."

Tsunade nodded, then asked, "Hmm, didn't you learn the Flying Thunder God Technique? Can't you just take me back in a flash? Like the time you saved Dan?"

Tatsuma was a little embarrassed and said, "Master, my perception range isn't that far. I'll have to wait until I return to the Land of Fire before I can quickly return to the village using the Flying Thunder God Technique I left behind."

Tatsuma somewhat missed his Sage Mode state from yesterday. If he were in Sage Mode, he might have been able to travel that far and sense the Flying Thunder God Technique left in Awa.

Using that place as the first stop, it wouldn't be difficult to quickly return to the village, but now that he's in the middle of the ocean, he can't perceive that far.

Tsunade curled her lip and said, "Looks like your training still isn't enough."

"Teacher, if you had left the psychic incantation back then, we wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."

"Are you blaming me?!"

"No! You didn't spend more time leaving behind the psychic spell because you were so eager to save me."

"That's more like it."

Tsunade raised her fist, then lowered it, and said, "Let's get going."

"it is good."

Tatsuma nodded and began to lead the way. Tsunade, who was following Tatsuma, was somewhat surprised because Tatsuma's speed was getting faster and faster, which was not his usual level.

After running for a long time, Tatsuma suddenly stopped, crouched down, and dipped his right hand into the sea. Tsunade asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"There are quite a few ninjas ahead, but they don't seem to be Konoha ninjas."

(End of this chapter)