Detention

"Bastard! You've gone and caused another huge mess!"

At that moment, Tsunade's furious roar rang out, startling Orochimaru awake and snapping Katsuo out of his extreme focus!

Orochimaru really is dangerous!

For no reason, Katsuo had that thought. The sense of danger was crystal clear. Though he did not know why he felt that way, he trusted the feeling!

"Hm? I'm talking to you!"

Tsunade stepped forward and fiercely smacked Katsuo on the head, making his eyes water from the pain!

"Ah! What did you say?"

Katsuo clutched his head and hurriedly asked. His attention had been fixed on Orochimaru just now, and he had not heard what Tsunade said, provoking the violent cow into a rage!

"I said you're in huge trouble this time!"

"Ah? Oh!"

Seeing Katsuo respond so carelessly, Tsunade's fury surged once again!

"Hm??? What kind of reaction is that? Hm???"

Tsunade's fingers cracked as she clenched them, and she leaned close to Katsuo as she asked.

Cold sweat instantly streamed down Katsuo's back. He subconsciously retreated several steps. He truly did not dare provoke this kind of violent maniac who struck at the slightest disagreement and hit hard without even realizing it!

"Big Sis! I'm here!"

Nawaki came running over eagerly to bail Katsuo out.

"You brat, you cause trouble all day long. Are you trying to anger me to death?"

Tsunade affectionately ruffled Nawaki's hair, pretending to scold him fiercely.

"Big Sis, you don't know it, your little brother was almost beaten to death just now... Look, my handsome face got beaten up like this. My Boss stood up for me and taught them a lesson!"

Nawaki accused them first, pointing at Hiashi, who lay unconscious on the ground.

"Boss???"

Tsunade stared wide-eyed at Katsuo.

The latter gave an awkward laugh and did not dare answer.

"I don't care about the reason. I can't handle this matter. Come with me; let the teacher worry about this mess."

Tsunade looked seriously at Katsuo. Although she wanted to protect the little fellow, this matter involved the Hyuga Clan's main family. It was already beyond her ability to resolve.

Though she was the princess of the Senju Clan, and many people gave her face and respectfully called her Lady Tsunade, she had no authority to interfere too much. Leaving this matter to the Third Hokage was the most appropriate choice.

And so, Katsuo was arrested once again, and the teachers had to come clean up the mess once more...

Inside the Hokage Office, Katsuo was made to stand as punishment for half the day. The Third Hokage kept his head lowered as he handled official documents, occasionally glancing sideways at him without saying a word. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy and oppressive.

Suddenly, Orochimaru appeared in a Body Flicker, holding a report that he handed to the Third Hokage. After carefully reading it, the Third Hokage lowered his head and returned to work.

After quite a while, as Katsuo waited with growing impatience, Jiraiya and Tsunade entered the office together.

"Was that child Hiashi sent home? What did the Hyuga Clan say?"

Without stopping his work or raising his head, the Third Hokage asked directly.

"Yes, he was sent home. The Hyuga Patriarch was very angry. He sent people to reprimand the school teachers for poor supervision and asked for the name and whereabouts of the person who assaulted him."

Jiraiya reported.

"Hm?"

The Third Hokage stopped working and raised his head with a grunt.

"I answered his questions. He merely nodded, had someone see us out, and said nothing else."

Tsunade spoke.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage frowned deeply, his expression turning unpleasant.

The Hyuga Patriarch truly deserved to be the Patriarch of a great clan. His way of handling matters was exceptionally shrewd and skillful.

Unlike when Uchiha Fugaku had been beaten, when the Uchiha Great Elder had immediately come demanding punishment, the Hyuga Patriarch's approach gave the Third Hokage an even bigger headache.

He could not even treat Katsuo's "naughtiness" lightly anymore!

Damn it, I shouldn't have taken the initiative to intervene in this incident. Whoever takes the initiative is the one in trouble. I should have let the school teachers notify the Hyuga Patriarch first, then merely expressed my concern. I was certain he would not dare act recklessly, and he would have been the one to handle it lightly...

The Third Hokage tapped his fingers against the desk as he silently cursed his own foolishness. His expression shifted unpredictably.

The Sannin had followed him for years and knew this was their teacher's physical reaction whenever he was thinking through a troublesome matter.

"Guards, immediately detain Uchiha Katsuo on charges of intentional injury and fighting. The term shall be... five days!"

The Third Hokage's voice rang out, stunning everyone present. Even Katsuo was dumbfounded!

What the hell kind of move is this?

"I refuse to accept this! Why are you detaining me? They wanted to beat me up, and I merely fought back. That was self-defense! What right do you have to detain me!"

Katsuo shouted and made a scene.

"Objection denied. Carry it out immediately!"

The Third Hokage lit his pipe and took a deep drag. Watching Katsuo still struggling and yelling after Tsunade grabbed him by the back of his collar, he smiled slightly, and his expression eased considerably.

"Because I'm the Hokage. You troublemaking little monkey should just accept your fate."

The Third Hokage's words made the Sannin suppress their laughter. They all knew that the Second Hokage had always called their teacher a monkey. Now, it was finally his turn to call someone else a monkey!

This seemed to signify how highly he regarded Katsuo, and the Sannin could not help thinking so.

"I refuse to accept this! I'm only five years old! I'm a child, a minor! You can't treat me like this!"

A white-haired Anbu Jonin suddenly appeared, grabbed Katsuo by the arm, and directly dragged him toward the office door.

Katsuo suddenly stopped struggling. After his expression changed slightly, he glared at the Third Hokage and said:

"Just you wait!"

After throwing out that threat, he obediently followed the Anbu away.

The White Fang of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo!

Seeing the Anbu's silver-white hair, the short blade on his back, and the sharply restrained aura around him, Katsuo recognized his identity. That was also why he stopped resisting and causing a scene, allowing himself to be led away.

This guy is strong—strong enough to kill me instantly!

Katsuo was secretly alarmed. It was his intuition!

Watching the two leave the office, the Third Hokage exhaled smoke and picked up a report, handing it to Jiraiya and Tsunade.

The report detailed nearly every movement Katsuo had made over a long period of time, the people he had contacted, and the Anbu's independent analysis.

It carefully listed Katsuo's daily life. The vast majority of the records showed that aside from training, he was still training!

He was a training fanatic with no childhood life. He seemed interested only in cultivation. Every day, aside from eating and sleeping, he was either tempering his body or training.

This report had been provided by the Anbu. It was well organized and meticulously observed, a file compiled from long-term surveillance.

Although the place where Katsuo lived was somewhat remote and saw very little foot traffic, how could Anbu ninja fail to notice a child permanently staying near the school and setting up camp there?

Katsuo also knew he could not escape the Anbu's watchful eyes, so he simply let them monitor him!

The report pointed out that although the boy bore the Uchiha name, he had never once been seen returning to the Uchiha Compound. He was suspected to be a child expelled from the Uchiha Clan!

The Anbu had observed a large number of animal bones piled beside the camp, most of them belonging to snakes, as well as many hunting traps set in the nearby forest. Thus, the Anbu concluded that the child most often used captured prey as food.

Seeing this, Tsunade's emotions churned intensely, and her fingers unconsciously clenched tighter.

"A pitiful child with no family, no money, and no home... How could the Uchiha Clan leave a five-year-old child wandering outside like this without caring?"

Tsunade said angrily. Of the three men, Orochimaru closed his eyes and said nothing, Jiraiya sighed without speaking, and the Third Hokage smoked as he turned his head away in silence.

The Anbu analyzed that although the child was living outside, his daily necessities were extremely complete. It was suspected that an adult had been in contact with him and supplied those necessities.

Suspected to be the disciple of Genin Might Duy. They made contact every morning and trained together.

Suspected to have mastered the Three Body Technique. Confirmed to have mastered Fire Release Ninjutsu, Shuriken throwing, taijutsu, and basic Chakra control exercises. (Tree Climbing and Water Walking)

Overall strength—above average Chunin.

Report conclusion: An abnormal child with no childhood life, a madman who knew only training, a body-tempering fanatic who never rested day or night.

The Anbu knew most of Katsuo's daily life in great detail, but they did not know that everything they knew was only what Katsuo did not mind letting them know.

Because Uchiha Izumi had long ago informed Katsuo that he was being watched!