"Why?""Then let me ask the Hokage first."
Uchiha Ryu completely ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen's angry questioning.
With a faint smile, he asked calmly,
"What exactly did your precious son do on the battlefield this time?"
"You—!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
He knew very well what Sarutobi Asuma had been doing during the war.
In order to give Asuma a shining record and ensure a high position for him in Konoha's future, Hiruzen had made careful arrangements.
This time, Asuma had been assigned to the logistics division.
Not only Asuma—Most members of the Sarutobi clan were placed there as well.
The reason was simple.
The logistics division was the safest place on the battlefield.
Aside from occasional enemy sneak attacks, they rarely faced direct combat.
Moreover, the Sarutobi clan members stationed there were either strong or exceptionally talented.
Even if an ambush occurred, they could easily handle it.
To avoid suspicion, Hiruzen did not assign all Sarutobi clan members to logistics.
Some weaker or less talented members were deliberately placed on frontline battlefields.
That way, Sarutobi shinobi appeared on every front.
Naturally, no one would suspect the Hokage.
Hiruzen was extremely cautious.
He also avoided filling a single logistics unit entirely with Sarutobi clan members.
If anyone with ill intentions noticed such a thing, it would raise questions.
So alongside his clansmen, Hiruzen placed many shinobi who were personally close to him and possessed solid talent.
There were plenty ofAnimated connections like that in Konoha.
From the outside, the logistics division looked like a completely mixed group—
People who seemed unrelated to one another.
Even the members of the logistics division themselves were unaware.
But in reality, they were all quietly connected by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Asuma, in particular, had been assigned to the strongest logistics unit, the one closest to Konoha.
He never had to worry about danger.
All he needed to do was follow the main force every day and earn the title of a "war participant" in the Third Great Ninja War.
This kind of gilding—
Hiruzen had done it before.
Back then, Asuma had been stationed in the Land of Fire as a guard, purely to polish his resume.
After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen came up with a response.
With a serious expression, he said,
"Although Asuma did not directly engage the enemy, he was responsible for transporting supplies in the logistics division."
"He was still contributing to the entire battlefield."
"Why are you asking this?"
Hiruzen did not fabricate an obvious lie about Asuma fighting on the front lines.
That kind of deception would be exposed instantly.
"Hm."
The people around nodded subconsciously.
No one objected to the Hokage's explanation.
They all turned to look at Uchiha Ryu, curious why he would ask such a question.
"So," Ryu continued calmly,"Asuma Sarutobi was assigned by you to the safest logistics division on the battlefield?"
"Ryu, what you're saying is incorrect."
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately corrected him.
"Although Asuma was in logistics, I did not personally arrange it."
If the villagers believed he had deliberately sheltered his son, his authority as Hokage would be damaged.
"Alright," Ryu nodded lightly."Then let me ask you this, Lord Hokage."
"During this war, did Sarutobi Asuma ever fight an enemy—and get injured even once?"
Hiruzen hesitated.
"I… don't know about that."
Although he knew perfectly well that Asuma had never fought or been injured even once, he could not say it out loud.
"Well then," Ryu said evenly,"Since the Hokage doesn't know, I'll explain."
"The logistics unit where Asuma Sarutobi was stationed was the closest to Konoha."
"It also had the strongest overall combat strength in the army."
"Although they encountered small enemy groups,Asuma was always at the core of the formation."
"The enemy never even got close to him."
"Therefore—"
"Throughout the entire Third Great Ninja War,Sarutobi Asuma never fought a single enemy."
"And naturally…he was never injured once."
Ryu's voice rang clearly across the square.
He explained Asuma's entire war record step by step.
"What?!"
"The Third Ninja War lasted that long, and Asuma Sarutobi never fought anyone?"
"That's impossible! More than half of Konoha's shinobi were killed or injured!"
"And the Hokage's son—wasn't Asuma always called a genius?"
"He should be extremely strong by now!"
"How could he have never fought even once?!"
"Yes! I remember Asuma Sarutobi being very powerful!"
"When we were in the academy, we were always beaten by him!"
"How could he not have fought anyone at all?"
A man wearing a forehead protector, with bandages wrapped around half his body, stepped forward excitedly.
He had graduated from the Ninja Academy in the same generation as Asuma.
His talent had been mediocre.
It took him eight years to barely meet graduation standards.
Asuma had originally been his junior.
But because of his lack of talent, his graduation had been delayed by two years—
Putting them in the same class.
He had paid close attention to Asuma ever since.
He watched every ninjutsu practice Asuma participated in.
Back then, Asuma's strength far surpassed his peers.
Even now, he was certain—
He himself had only just reached Asuma's past level: a special genin.
There was no doubt that Asuma's current strength should be far higher.
Yet—
Ryu was saying that such a powerful shinobihad never fought even once.
After surviving the war covered in wounds himself—
How could he possibly accept that?
"Brother," someone muttered nervously,"you actually believe the words of the Uchiha clan…?"