"Lord Hokage wishes to see you, Uchiha Kin."
Kin, who had been training with Namikaze Minato, was interrupted by the sudden appearance of an ANBU agent.
He turned to look at the man clad in ANBU attire—animal mask, silver-gray uniform, the tall frame of an adult shinobi, but lacking the usual killing intent. Instead, there was an inexplicable air of... foolishness.
Was it just his imagination?
Moreover, this scene felt eerily familiar.
"How do I know you were really sent by the Hokage?" Kin asked bluntly.
Last time, three people had approached him with the same claim, only to end up severely injured and dumped back at Shimura Danzo's doorstep.
The ANBU agent faltered, stammering incoherently before frantically pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket.
The three observers were baffled.
So the foolishness was real.
How did someone like this even become ANBU?
"This is the Hokage's summons."
The paper bore only the Hokage's seal. Though Kin had never seen it before, he could at least confirm this wasn't a Root operative.
Someone this dim-witted would've been weeded out in Root's first recruitment test.
Even Root had standards.
If Might Dai—despite his strength—tried to join, Danzo might still reject him.
"Let's go, then." Kin patted the man's chest.
This guy was way too tall.
"Next time you're summoning someone shorter, remember to crouch down to their level."
"Huh?" The ANBU member looked utterly confused.
"I'm coming with you," Kushina volunteered, while Minato smiled, signaling his intent to follow.
"Uh, sorry," the ANBU agent said awkwardly. "Lord Hokage only requested Uchiha Kin."
"Fine, go do whatever you were doing," Kin said, waving them off dismissively.
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen likely couldn't do much to him anyway.
Strength was his greatest confidence.
Minato and Kushina had no choice but to stay behind as Kin followed the ANBU toward the Hokage Tower.
Hokage's Office.
Kin scanned the room. Mitokado Homura, with his glasses and unassuming demeanor, and Utatane Koharu, resembling a middle-aged housewife, stood like bodyguards behind Hiruzen. Shimura Danzo sat nearby, eyes closed as if meditating.
The ANBU agents usually hidden in the shadows were conspicuously absent.
Kin grinned. This was clearly a setup.
"Uchiha Kin," Hiruzen began, fingers steepled under his chin.
"Recently, the village's frontlines have suffered heavy losses."
"Oh? Are you sending me there?" Kin feigned panic, pointing at himself. "I'm just a lowly chūnin, not even a Special Jōnin!"
His exaggerated tone dripped with undisguised mockery.
Hiruzen's expression remained stern.
"This is all because of your Basic Internal Energy."
Hiruzen's feelings toward Kin were complicated.
The boy was far from the "mere chūnin" he claimed to be. He had the strength to confront the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki and survive—an undeniable testament to at least jōnin-level power.
A shinobi of that caliber was a boon to the village. Jōnin weren't common; they were the decisive force in battles, while chūnin formed the backbone and genin were cannon fodder.
Coupled with Kin's unparalleled talent for jutsu development, Hiruzen would've nurtured such a prodigy with everything he had—if only he weren't an Uchiha.
He sighed inwardly.
"Basic Internal Energy?" Kin echoed.
Of course.
This old man was looking for an excuse to pin blame on him.
"So, Lord Hokage, are you saying I shouldn't have developed the Basic Internal Energy?" Kin countered. "I shouldn't have strengthened Konoha's forces?"
"By that logic, enhancing the entire village's combat power is a crime. In that case, please confiscate and destroy all records of the technique immediately. I'll gladly accept punishment."
As he'd said before—as long as his life wasn't at risk, he'd call out any of these old fools, be they Uchiha elders or the Hokage himself.
Hiruzen stiffened. Their accusations against Kin were flimsy at best.
Rubbing his temples, he'd anticipated resistance—but not like this.
Kin wasn't done.
"I'll go announce it to the whole village right now: 'I'm being reprimanded because I invented a technique that made Konoha stronger.'"
He turned to leave.
"Outrageous!" Koharu snapped. "How dare you disrespect the Hokage?! A few days in confinement would be a light punishment!"
Kin side-eyed her. "So you're just ignoring the actual issue with the Basic Internal Energy, huh?"
"You—!" Koharu pointed at him, speechless.
No shinobi had ever dared to speak to her like this.
"Am I wrong?" Kin retorted, his gaze flicking to Danzo.
The man was still pretending to meditate, refusing to engage.
Probably plotting something sinister.
"Uchiha Kin, we only have your best interests at heart," Homura interjected, but Kin cut him off.
"Always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. 'For my own good'? My advice? Retire. You're useless—no strength, no brains, just empty boasts."
"I heard you claim to rival the Second Hokage? Don't make me laugh. I'll fight you one-handed. Let's see how long you last."
Homura's face turned ashen.
"You... you...!"
He couldn't even form a complete sentence.
"Kin," Hiruzen sighed, ending the farce. Uchiha Kin was like a porcupine—anyone who touched him got pricked.
"Everything we do is for Konoha. Wherever a leaf dances, fire will burn, illuminating the village so new leaves may sprout. Any sacrifice is worth it for the village."
"You really think I'm as dumb as the idiots who buy that crap?" Kin sneered.
With his current strength, none of them could stop him if he chose to leave.
Why should he tolerate this nonsense?
If not for the chaos outside and his familiarity with Konoha, he'd have left long ago. He was already preparing to disappear whenever he pleased.
He wasn't afraid of these people. He had no interest in becoming Hokage.
"Save your speeches for the gullible. A washed-up failure like you—no achievements besides raising a few decent students—thinks you can manipulate me?"
"Try again in a few years."
"Pfft—" Danzo couldn't hold back a laugh. When everyone glared at him, he turned away.
"Don't mind me. Continue."
Watching Hiruzen get verbally dismantled was pure joy.
Hiruzen pulled his hat low, hiding his livid expression.
No one had ever dared to speak to him like this.
Those words negated decades of his efforts and sacrifices.
A verbal kill shot.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter)