Breaking the Genjutsu? Sorry, I Can't

It was like a chain reaction. Hatake Sakumo's loud laughter set the other jonin laughing as well.

Even Uchiha Feng, who was in an extremely foul mood, could barely keep his stern expression in place.

The burst of laughter greatly eased the oppressive atmosphere in the Hokage's Office.

But the Third Hokage did not particularly like this lively atmosphere.

Once word got out, not only Shimura Shūitsu but even the Shimura Clan would become a laughingstock.

"Pfft~~"

Minato and Uchiha Mikoto laughed along as well.

Only Chiyue and the Third Hokage did not laugh.

Chiyue had been prepared for this, while the Third Hokage wanted to laugh but did not dare to.

"Cough, cough!!"

To keep himself from actually laughing out loud, the Third Hokage coughed and said, "Chiyue, undo the Genjutsu first. No matter what, he is your senior. You have already proven that you possess the strength to contend with and kill jonin."

"Tsunade was right about you."

"Sorry, I can't undo it."

Chiyue shrugged and spread his hands, indicating that he did not know how.

He could only use Genjutsu; he could not undo it.

"Uh..."

The Third Hokage had not expected Chiyue to refuse his conciliatory gesture so bluntly with a simple: I can't. I can't undo it.

This brat did it on purpose, didn't he?

Just because he had been questioned, because the Third Hokage had deliberately wanted to test and verify him?

"Undo his Genjutsu."

Watching Shimura Shūitsu dance with increasing enthusiasm, the muscles on the Third Hokage's face twitched several times.

As soon as he finished speaking, an Anbu ninja appeared in the Hokage's Office and raised a hand to undo Shimura Shūitsu's Genjutsu.

"Huh?"

He used the usual method for dispelling Genjutsu, only to find that it did not work!

What was going on?

Even the Anbu ninja was a little stunned, and he instinctively looked toward the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Now, none of the jonin in the Hokage's Office were laughing anymore, because they could no longer laugh.

If even the Anbu could not undo the Genjutsu, then if Chiyue used it on them and they fell for it, they would not be able to dispel it like ordinary Genjutsu.

Being unable to undo the Genjutsu meant that once they were caught in it, they would suffer Chiyue's fierce attacks.

Th-this brat's Genjutsu was a little too monstrous.

The way the jonin looked at Chiyue changed completely.

"Don't look at me. I can't undo it. This Genjutsu is called Sakura Falling. Anyone caught in it will involuntarily start dancing. I don't know much beyond that, since I only developed this Genjutsu recently."

Chiyue pushed all responsibility away.

Anyway, he simply could not undo it. So what?

Go ahead and bite me. Question me, and you'll suffer for it!

If I don't make you lie in the hospital for half a month, then I'm not Yagami Chiyue.

"Chiyue, you really can't undo it?"

The Third Hokage's expression turned serious.

Chiyue answered frankly, "Lord Hokage, every word I said is true."

This was troublesome.

He had only intended to test Chiyue, yet he had ended up stirring up a huge mess.

The Third Hokage somewhat regretted not stopping Shimura Shūitsu. Otherwise, things would not have escalated to this point.

Chiyue insisted that the Genjutsu had only recently been developed and that he could not undo it.

Even if he was lying, the Third Hokage had no way to force him to say that he could.

"How long can the Genjutsu last?"

"The stronger a person's mental strength, the shorter the Genjutsu lasts and the harder they are to control."

Chiyue began making things up.

Believe it or not, Sakura Falling is a guaranteed-hit skill.

Even if Uchiha Madara came, he'd still get hit.

The only difference was that someone like Uchiha Madara could easily undo the Genjutsu.

Even if Sakura Falling's weakness was exposed, Chiyue was not afraid.

The power of an exclusive skill increased along with his own strength.

The current Third Kazekage could undo Sakura Falling's control by himself, but once Chiyue obtained the Mangekyo, or even the Eternal Mangekyo,

even if he were given twice as much time, he might not be able to undo it.

Want someone else to help you?

I don't care. Even if it's undone, your mind will still suffer a powerful shock.

Aside from Uchiha Clan members who had awakened the Sharingan, powerful ninjas with great strength and mental power, any other ninja who encountered this Genjutsu would suffer a hidden loss.

"Ah!!"

Just as the Third Hokage was about to have the disgraced Shimura Shūitsu taken away, Shimura Shūitsu suddenly let out a miserable scream, vomited blood, and collapsed to the floor, his entire body convulsing.

Shimura Shūitsu's violent reaction startled everyone.

With everyone staring at him, Chiyue calmly explained, "Those caught in Sakura Falling will suffer relatively severe mental trauma. With his strength as a jonin, he'll recover after lying in the hospital for seven or eight days."

"Brat, you're ruthless..."

The Anbu ninja who had immediately stepped forward to examine Shimura Shūitsu subconsciously wanted to accuse Chiyue of being too vicious, of being so ruthless even toward a ninja from his own village.

But before he could finish, the Three-tomoe Sharingan in Chiyue's eyes began to spin.

"Enough!" the Third Hokage snapped.

"Shimura Shūitsu questioned Chiyue. Being caught in the Genjutsu was his own problem. Chiyue was only proving himself, so it does not count as attacking a comrade.

Let this matter end here. Send him to the hospital for treatment."

Was mental trauma so easy to treat?

Anyone could guess that Shimura Shūitsu was in for a miserable time.

His days of treatment would absolutely be torture.

"Yes."

The Anbu ninja did not dare say another word and obediently carried him away.

The others looked at Chiyue with wary eyes, afraid that he might give them the same treatment.

The awkward dancing was one thing, but it was humiliating!

Humiliation was not the scary part. The scary part was the mental trauma, which was not easy to treat.

"Chiyue, you did well. I will remember your contributions to the village. You have all worked hard, so go back and rest first."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Minato and Uchiha Mikoto hurriedly bowed, while Chiyue turned and left without a word.

Bow?

To hell with that.

You tested me and still expect me to be respectful toward you?

"Chiyue?"

Minato and Uchiha Mikoto were dumbfounded. They looked at the Third Hokage, whose expression was not very good, then hurried after him.

The Hokage's Office was silent, so silent that a pin dropping could be heard.

None of the jonin dared breathe too loudly. Anyone could see that the earlier test and questioning had caused Chiyue to develop a grievance even against the Third Hokage.

"Sigh~~~"

The Third Hokage's mouth twitched as he sighed. "That child has clearly misunderstood this old man. Forget it, he is still young. He will understand this old man's intentions in the future. Let us continue the meeting."

The Third Hokage's explanation filled many jonin with sincere admiration.

Lord Hokage was truly benevolent. Even toward a rude child, he could show consideration and restraint at every turn.

"Chiyue, you shouldn't have done that. No matter what, Lord Hokage is still Lord Hokage."

Minato was also very angry about Shimura Shūitsu's questioning and the Third Hokage's inaction.

But if word got out that Chiyue had been so disrespectful, it would greatly damage his reputation.

"He tacitly allowed it and even hinted for others to question me, yet I'm supposed to be grateful to him?"

"To hell with him."

After cursing without concealing his anger at all, Chiyue ignored Minato, grabbed Uchiha Mikoto, and left.

"Wait for me..."

Minato chased after them with a bitter smile.

The words had already been said. What else could they do now?

So be it. At worst, Chiyue would receive a reprimand.

He had still been too impulsive. It was not worth it!

Still, what Lord Hokage had done was indeed unfair.

They had risked all kinds of danger to send the intelligence back, only to be questioned upon returning. No one could accept that outcome.

Chiyue could not be blamed for cursing outright.

Could the Third Hokage not hear Chiyue cursing?

Of course he could, but having already branded himself as a good man, the Third Hokage could only endure it.

Otherwise, he would be slapping himself in the face.

After all that, Chiyue no longer had any desire to soak in a hot spring.

After saying goodbye to Uchiha Mikoto and Minato, he went straight home.

An hour later, Chiyue had just finished bathing and was eating when White alerted him that someone had arrived.

He looked up at the window expressionlessly.

Apparently realizing he had been discovered, the person who had snuck in helplessly opened the window and jumped inside.

"Brat, you were too impulsive. No matter what, you couldn't curse Lord Hokage."