Blackmailing Hiruzen Sarutobi

Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger stemmed from the absurd claims in the interrogation report.

Assaulting a fellow villager, peeping during baths, kicking down a widow's door, desecrating graves.

It was as if every petty crime imaginable had been pinned on Shin'nosuke Sarutobi.

It was clearly a frame-up, a setup from any angle.

However, this was precisely what Byakuya intended.

In the past, Byakuya wouldn't have dared to provoke Hiruzen Sarutobi so easily.

But now, things were different. Byakuya had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, and his strength had increased.

His newfound power also gave Byakuya confidence.

Byakuya's goal was to enrage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Only by doing so could he gain Negative Energy and enhance his own strength.

"Why wouldn't he!? Hiruzen Sarutobi himself admitted it..."

"Everyone in the Security Force can testify..."

As Byakuya's voice faded, En Uchiha and other ninjas from the Uchiha Clan began to speak up one after another.

"Lord Byakuya is right... Shin'nosuke Sarutobi admitted it himself..."

"I never thought the Hokage's son would do such a thing!..."

"Indeed! How did Lord Hokage raise his son?..."

"I also heard that the Hokage himself likes to peep..."

"It's over, did the Hokage see me when I was bathing before?..."

"..."

The ninjas of the Uchiha Clan began to whisper amongst themselves.

Hearing these voices, Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger intensified.

[Ding, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, +600 Negative Energy, Genjutsu +10...]

[Ding, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, +700 Negative Energy, Ninjutsu +7...]

[...]

"Well done..."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's face contorted with rage, Byakuya didn't flinch and nodded towards En Uchiha from afar.

"Enough... What exactly does your Uchiha Clan want!..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, interrupting the Uchiha Clan's discussion.

He feared that if the Uchiha Clan continued to talk, even more shameless accusations would be leveled against him.

"What do we want!? Our Uchiha Clan is the Security Force of Konohagakure..."

"Our duty is to protect the safety of Konohagakure, to protect the Will of Fire..."

"Shin'nosuke Sarutobi betrayed Konohagakure and must be brought to justice..."

"I should be the one asking Lord Hokage, what are you doing bringing your men to our Uchiha Clan!..."

"Are you planning to betray Konohagakure!?..."

Byakuya, looking down from above, shouted at Hiruzen Sarutobi, simultaneously drawing the Ninja Sword from his back and pointing it at him.

En Uchiha and the others followed Byakuya, drawing their Ninja Swords in unison, activating their Sharingan one by one.

Pairs of scarlet Sharingan stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Anbu behind him.

"Lord Hokage, be careful..."

Facing the Uchiha ninjas, each with their Sharingan activated, the Anbu also became vigilant, gripping their weapons tightly.

Facing so many Sharingan simultaneously, the Anbu felt immense pressure.

At this moment, both sides were at each other's throats, and a single misstep could lead to a major battle.

"Hmph... Put down your weapons, all of you..."

"What are you doing!? Don't forget, this is Konohagakure..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.

He reprimanded the Anbu, ordering them to lay down their weapons.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely angry at the moment, he also knew very well that this was not the time for a major battle.

Konohagakure still needed the Uchiha Clan.

Losing the Uchiha Clan now would be a significant blow to the entire Konohagakure.

"Uchiha Byakuya! Your Uchiha Clan has done very well..."

"The guard should protect the safety of Konohagakure..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with praise as he looked at Byakuya.

To feign compliance and appear peaceful and unharmed, this was Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest skill.

"This is all for Konohagakure, for the Will of Fire..."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Byakuya replied with a humble expression.

Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched involuntarily.

For the village, for the Will of Fire.

Aren't those my usual lines!? If you steal my words, what am I supposed to say?

"Um... Shin'nosuke Sarutobi does indeed have suspicion of betraying the village..."

"If possible, I hope Captain Byakuya can hand him over to our Anbu..."

"Our Anbu has the most professional interrogation methods, capable of extracting more useful information..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said as he looked at Byakuya.

After all, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi was his son.

He had to save his own son.

As long as his son was in the hands of the Anbu, everything would be manageable.

The Anbu were all his people.

"Lord Hokage is right..."

"Handing over the traitor Shin'nosuke Sarutobi to the Anbu is indeed the best choice..."

"However, our Uchiha Clan is short on funds..."

"Lord Hokage, what should we do!..."

Byakuya said as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After being beaten up during this period, all the Negative Energy on Shin'nosuke Sarutobi had been squeezed out.

Now, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi was useless to Byakuya.

However, Byakuya planned to make use of him one last time.

He would use Shin'nosuke Sarutobi to extort Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage.

"Ugh..."

Hearing Byakuya's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed inwardly.

What does handing Shin'nosuke Sarutobi over to the Anbu have to do with the Uchiha Clan being short on money?

Isn't this clearly an attempt to extort me!?

Hiruzen Sarutobi truly wanted to lash out and attack Byakuya right now.

However, he also knew very well that he couldn't do that.

He could endure what others could not, and tolerate what others could not.

There would be plenty of opportunities to deal with the Uchiha Clan later.

He had to save his son first.

"The Uchiha Clan is all for Konohagakure..."

"If the Uchiha are in trouble, Konohagakure absolutely cannot stand idly by..."

"I wonder how much funding the Uchiha Clan needs..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm... Let's start with one hundred million!..."

Byakuya said after thinking for a moment.

"How much!? One hundred million!?..."

Hearing Byakuya's exorbitant demand, Hiruzen Sarutobi was greatly shocked.

He had expected Byakuya to ask for a high price, but he hadn't anticipated such a huge appetite.

One hundred million was no small sum.

After all, an S-rank mission would at most yield a few million, unless it was an extremely dangerous mission where the reward would increase.

And now, Byakuya was asking for one hundred million, wasn't this a blatant attempt to extort him?

"What's wrong!? You're not willing!?..."

"This is all for Konohagakure, for the Will of Fire..."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's unwilling expression, Byakuya brought up the Will of Fire again.

"You..."

Hearing Bai Ye actually bring up the Will of Fire again, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart instantly filled with anger.

Is the Will of Fire meant to be used like this?!

This was simply an insult to the Will of Fire he had created.

Trampling on his Will of Fire.

[Ding, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, +100 Negative Energy, Taijutsu +9...]

[Ding, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, +200 Negative Energy, Chakra +8...]

[Ding, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, +300 Negative Energy, Genjutsu +10...]