"Such a major incident happened, yet you chose to conceal it. Do you still see me as the Hokage?"
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's repeated questioning, Uchiha Ryun widened his eyes in shock, clearly unable to react immediately. He didn't understand how the other party had learned about these events so quickly.
'Could it be that Mito-sama was so angry that she confronted him, which is why he's storming over to question me in the middle of the night…'
Ryun quickly considered this possibility.
"Hokage-sama, you're exaggerating. I just thought the fewer people who knew about this, the better. After all, Kushina was safely rescued, and the criminals were already dealt with…"
Even if Ryun had reported this to Hiruzen, the Third Hokage wouldn't have dared to openly confront the Kumo-nin delegation.
Based on Ryun's understanding of him, this Hokage would have immediately ordered the news to be suppressed and pretended as if nothing had happened. So, whether Ryun told him or not made little difference.
By not telling him, Ryun would avoid unnecessary trouble, which was why he chose to keep it hidden.
"Fool! You killed them, fine, but you actually left a survivor? That person has already returned to the delegation and exposed everything about you!
Is this what you call 'the fewer people who know, the better'? Utter stupidity!"
Shimura Danzō couldn't help but coldly berate him.
"What?! That's impossible!!!"
Ryun was stunned for a moment before exclaiming in disbelief.
He had witnessed Kushina's kidnapping firsthand and was certain there were only three kidnappers. All of them were dead beyond any doubt—how could there possibly be a so-called survivor?
"Impossible? Your actions have already been spread far and wide through that person's testimony, and yet you still dare to say it's impossible? You're truly beyond hopeless!"
Hearing Danzō's insults again, Ryun's eyebrows furrowed sharply, and his gaze turned icy as he glared at him.
At this moment, his aura suddenly erupted, and his chakra caused the air in the office to tremble with a terrifying hum!
"Danzō, be quiet!"
Facing the visibly agitated young man, Hiruzen coldly shot Danzō a glance, signaling him to shut up.
Then, he turned his attention back to Ryun.
"You did leave a survivor. That person claims to have witnessed the entire killing process from the shadows and even led the Kumo-nin delegation to the crime scene. He even heard your name… How do you explain this?"
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Ryun forced himself to calm down and carefully recalled every detail of the incident.
However, after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't find any clues.
"I truly didn't expect someone to be hiding in the shadows. That person must possess some powerful concealment ability that allowed them to evade my perception. This was my negligence…"
Since Hiruzen and Danzō were speaking with such certainty, it meant someone really had witnessed his actions. At this point, there was no point in denying it—he had no choice but to admit his oversight.
"Do you have any idea how much damage today's incident has caused to Konoha? Do you think this can just be brushed aside with an apology and an admission of negligence? Kumo is now threatening war—what do you propose we do?"
Danzō spoke up again, his voice dripping with disdain. He wasn't the type to stay quiet just because someone told him to.
"Ridiculous. Why should I admit I was wrong? What did I do wrong?"
At this point, Ryun no longer cared about hierarchy and directly turned hostile:
"What's wrong with saving my comrade? What's wrong with killing those damn Kumo-nin kidnappers? Who the hell are you to tell me I was wrong?"
If someone criticized him for being careless, he could accept that. But if they said he was wrong—no matter who they were, he wouldn't hold back.
Moreover, this old man had done nothing but insult and berate him. Ryun had long since had enough.
His earlier restraint when entering the Root headquarters was just to avoid an early, full-blown confrontation with Danzō. But that didn't mean Ryun was actually afraid of him.
He had survived the brutal battlefield of the Land of Rain—how could he possibly fear a mere Danzō?
"You insolent brat!!!"
Danzō abruptly stood up, his aged face dark with fury. His cold gaze locked onto Ryun like a venomous snake.
In Konoha, who would dare to disrespect him like this? Even the Hokage had to show him some courtesy and wouldn't outright challenge him like this.
Yet this brat had the audacity to defy him so blatantly. Danzō felt it was necessary to teach him a lesson about respecting his superiors.
"Guards!!!"
As soon as Danzō spoke, two elite Root operatives instantly appeared in the Hokage's office, weapons drawn.
"Stop!"
Hiruzen slammed his desk and roared, his expression extremely grim.
"Do you still see me as the Hokage?"
Faced with the Hokage's rebuke, Danzō retorted without backing down: "You should be asking if he still understands respect and fear!"
"I just told you to be quiet. Who gave you permission to speak?" Hiruzen's tone made it seem like he was deliberately protecting his student's disciple.
"Such a major incident happens, and I'm not allowed to speak? Is Konoha your personal dictatorship, Hiruzen?" Danzō snarled furiously.
"Konoha isn't my dictatorship, but I have the authority to silence anyone—including you. Don't forget, this is the Hokage's office. I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen directly invoked his authority as Hokage, leaving Danzō red-faced and unable to refute.
"This isn't over. You can't protect him forever. I won't let you do whatever you want!"
Finally, Danzō spat out these words before storming out, slamming the door so hard that cracks appeared on it—proof of just how furious he was.
With Danzō gone, the tense atmosphere in the office eased slightly. Hiruzen dismissed his guards, preparing to speak with Ryun alone.
"I know you acted out of anger because Kushina was kidnapped. But you shouldn't have killed them. Now Kumo is turning the tables, accusing you of saboturing peace between our nations and even threatening war…"
To be honest, Hiruzen understood Ryun's actions.
What was the relationship between Kushina and Ryun? Hiruzen knew full well. For a hot-blooded young man, acting impulsively and killing in rage was completely normal.
However, understanding didn't mean approval. Now that things had escalated to this point, even Hiruzen didn't know how to handle the aftermath—or how to deal with Ryun.
"If you already know how shameless and despicable they are, what more is there to say?"
The next moment, Ryun coldly recited a classic phrase:
"Friends who come in goodwill… receive fine wine. Jackals who come with malice… meet the sword!"
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