"I have to admit, Asuma was right. This was my oversight, and it led me to disappoint him..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "As both Hokage and father, I made mistakes. I need to reflect on them."
"Fortunately, with you here, Seisui, I learned of these problems in time. I will give both of you and the village an explanation that satisfies everyone."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled happily to himself.
He had thought Asuma was simply going through a rebellious phase, but it turned out that he was sulking because he idolized his father too much?
Was that reasonable?
To Hiruzen Sarutobi, it was perfectly reasonable! More importantly, it sounded rather pleasant and gratifying...
Seisui's performance satisfied Hiruzen Sarutobi even more.
As Hokage, what he needed were people willing to tell him the truth, whether they were from the Uchiha Clan or Ino-Shika-Cho...
So-called loyalty that was not absolute was absolute disloyalty!
From the looks of it, Seisui's loyalty was exceptionally rare within the Uchiha Clan and even Konoha as a whole.
Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Seisui's exam paper and became increasingly convinced that the boy before him was a shinobi whose words and actions were one.
The Will of Fire must have been blazing fiercely within Seisui's chest...
"Seisui, rest assured. As Hokage, Uncle Hiruzen will certainly give Asuma, you, and the entire village an explanation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked solemn as he spoke gravely. "In Konoha, everyone is held to the same standard. Even the Hokage Assistant must face the village's harsh punishment if he makes a mistake!"
"The Will of Fire is something every Konoha shinobi must uphold, and Shimura Danzō is no exception!"
Seisui nodded in agreement.
But Tobirama Senju, known as Little Seisui, narrowed his eyes, clearly disapproving of this Hokage.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi could not hear him, he still