Uchiha Zheng's Wicked Hair!

"Aoki, I'll stay here. You go and inform the clan head immediately!"

"Got it!"

Uchiha Aoki sprinted away with all his might.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's steps were slow and heavy as he walked through the crowd, entering the circle that had been tightly packed around.

He took a deep drag from his pipe.

Then, slowly exhaled a ring of smoke.

"Lord Qianyu, what is the meaning of this?"

His tone was not fierce, and even trembled slightly with age and anger.

Yet everyone present felt an oppressive pressure so terrifying it was beyond measure.

Qianyu, however, replied calmly, "Lord Hokage, you should be asking them."

He pointed at the victimized girl's father and grandmother.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the two, took a breath, and steadied his emotions.

He stepped forward and supported the tottering old woman.

"Elder, what exactly happened?"

The old woman was still caught in a surge of overwhelming emotion, and it took her a while to stammer out the truth.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression instantly turned grim.

"Hiogo, is this true?"

Sarutobi Hiogo's body trembled as he clenched his fists, but his head involuntarily drooped.

"It is..."

"But Jiro didn't mean it! It, it was just an accident!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly, "That's not what I'm talking about!"

"I'm asking whether you truly intended to shield your own son?"

Sarutobi Hiogo was greatly alarmed.

"L-Lord Hokage... I..."

"You fool!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off, his voice heavy. "You knew full well that Jiro killed an innocent villager. As a father and clan head, you should have dealt with it even more strictly, yet you openly protected him like this!"

"How do you expect the shinobi and villagers of this village to view our Sarutobi clan?!"

"How do you expect them to view me, the Hokage's own kin and clansmen?!"

Sarutobi Hiogo broke out in a cold sweat.

"Lord Hokage, I..."

"Silence!"

Watching the Hokage berate Sarutobi Hiogo, admiration welled up in the hearts of everyone present.

As expected of the Lord Hokage...

Truly as impartial as ever!

Compared to Sarutobi Hiogo, this was a leader who truly won the people's hearts...

Qianyu, however, remained silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi paid no further attention to Sarutobi Hiogo. Instead, he turned to the victimized girl's father and grandmother, letting out a sigh as he spoke.

"As for the murderer, Qianyu has already struck him down on the spot and executed justice. That should count as settling the score for you."

"As for Sarutobi Hiogo, for shielding a criminal, protecting his kin, and bending the law for personal gain..."

"From this day forward, he is no longer the head of the Sarutobi clan!"

"As for further punishment, I will certainly give everyone an explanation!"

Sarutobi Hiogo's face turned as pale as paper.

But the victimized girl's relatives were instantly moved to tears of gratitude, falling to their knees with a thud.

"Th-thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with a long sigh. "Don't thank me. As the Hokage, a member of the Sarutobi clan, and Jiro's uncle, I failed to teach him to be a good person. That is my sin..."

"If you must thank someone, thank Qianyu."

The relatives then turned and began kowtowing to Qianyu without pause.

"Thank you, Lord Qianyu, for upholding justice!"

Qianyu merely gave a slight nod.

He cast a glance at Hiruzen Sarutobi—on that aged face, the expression was one of such profound grief and remorse...

Compared to Sarutobi Hiogo, his level was far too high...

Sarutobi Hiruzen also stepped forward and heavily patted Qianyu on the shoulder.

"Qianyu..."

"You did well..."

"Well done."

Qianyu remained expressionless: "Thank you for the praise, Lord Hokage."

"I will continue to strive and live up to expectations."

A flicker of cold light flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

Then his pipe lit up faintly, and instead he revealed a hint of an encouraging smile.

"Good, good..."

He shot a fierce glare at Sarutobi Hiogo: "You, come with me!"

Sarutobi Hiogo glanced at his son's corpse on the ground, let out a bitter laugh through tears, and followed Sarutobi Hiruzen away like a walking corpse.

Many ninja villagers, especially the relatives of the victims, respectfully called out.

"We see you off, Lord Hokage!"

Amid the crowd, murmurs arose.

"Lord Hokage really is as fair as ever..."

"As expected of Lord Hokage, this is what a true great leader looks like..."

"Lord Hokage has always treated all villagers like his own family, without favoritism..."

Listening to the chatter around him, a trace of sorrow flickered across Qianyu's face.

But he quickly shook his head and dismissed it.

Just as he was about to leave, the relatives of the victims suddenly surrounded him.

"Lord Qianyu, thank... thank you for seeking justice for Daizi!"

"If it weren't for Lord Qianyu, that murderer would probably still be free, never facing a fair trial. Even Lord Hokage..."

The old woman suddenly let out a cold snort.

"Lord Hokage? He wouldn't have killed that little beast either..."

"This act of his might fool you, but it can't fool these eyes of mine..."

"Mother, wh-what are you saying?"

The old woman looked at Qianyu, tears streaming down her wrinkled face: "I know this Konoha has already rotted through, but..."

"Only you, Lord Qianyu, your heart is like the blade in your hand..."

"Sharp and exposed, never rusting or corroding!"

Qianyu's heart stirred slightly.

He never expected understanding for anything he did, nor did he count on anyone's gratitude.

Even seeing everyone praise Sarutobi Hiruzen's benevolence stirred no emotion in him.

But now, hearing these two sentences from the old woman was still good after all...

He grasped the old woman's hand, nodded, then pushed through the crowd and strode away, soon disappearing from sight.

The old woman still waved her hand, tears flowing down her aged, wrinkled cheeks, overcome with gratitude.

Then, she spat in disgust at Sarutobi Jiro's headless corpse.

Chapter 11: No One Can Cover the Sky Forever

Qianyu casually added the thirty Merit Points he had just obtained to his Eye Power.

Attributes: Fire, Lightning, Yin, Yang

Chakra: 650

Abilities: Three Tomoe Sharingan (373/1000)

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique Mastered (100/100)

Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique Mastered (100/100)

Uchiha Style Swordsmanship Mastery (88/100)

Merit Points: 0

At the same time, Qianyu heard another notification sound.