Clan Head, This Is Just a Minor Misunderstanding

"I will not let that day come!"

Youhu's reply dispelled the last of the Third Hokage's doubts.

The Third Hokage had seemingly been asking whether Youhu would stand with the village or the clan should a conflict break out between them.

But in reality, the Third Hokage was testing Youhu.

If Youhu had answered that he would stand with his clan, the Third Hokage would have found it reasonable. Although Youhu had been educated at the Ninja School since childhood, the blood of the Uchiha flowed through his veins; it was perfectly normal for him to stand with his bloodline clan when a conflict erupted between the village and his family.

After all, what ninja born into a ninja clan in the village wouldn't look after their own family?

However, reason aside, he certainly would not recruit an Uchiha who yearned for his clan as a subordinate, lest his Anbu fall into chaos on the day a real conflict broke out.

If Youhu had answered that he would stand with the village, the Third Hokage would only have viewed him as hypocritical and cold-blooded.

A ninja who could abandon his own clan would eventually abandon the village as well. Such a person was an unstable bomb for both the Uchiha and Konoha, one that could explode at any moment.

In contrast, Youhu's actual answer left the Third Hokage extremely satisfied.

He would neither abandon the village nor forsake his clan; instead, he would strive to prevent a conflict from breaking out between them, allowing the Uchiha clan to integrate into the great family of Konoha.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage reached out toward Youhu and extended an invitation:

"Youhu, are you willing to resign from the Guard Division and make a contribution toward repairing the rift between the Uchiha and the village?"

Is he inviting me to join the Anbu?

Is it really that easy to join the Anbu? Though, the process for Shisui joining the Anbu seems to have been about the same.

Youhu was slightly startled, then nodded, a light of yearning appearing in his eyes: "If it can help repair the rift between the clan and the village, I am willing to join the Anbu and make my own contribution to this cause."

"I didn't say you could join the Anbu directly..."

"I can't join the Anbu directly?" Youhu's expression dimmed, but he immediately thought of something and quickly added: "In other words, I have a chance to join the Anbu? Lord Hokage, what must I do to join?"

"Rest assured, it is only a trivial matter..."

"The rumors circulating in the village these past few years originated from you. You shall be responsible for debunking them. Once the rumors are cleared up, you may join the Anbu."

The Third Hokage smiled, thinking to himself that he still possessed some charm, being able to make a young Uchiha submit so easily. However, he didn't intend for Youhu to do anything significant; simply debunking the rumors would suffice.

After all, the strength of a Chunin was still a bit too weak.

"So it was just to debunk rumors..."

Youhu pretended to heave a sigh of relief and walked toward the office door. "Lord Hokage, I'll head to the entrance of the Hokage Building right now and admit my mistake in front of everyone."

"As long as I explain things clearly to everyone passing by, I'll surely be able to clear Lord Hokage's name."

"Then go ahead and do it..."

"Wait, what are you planning to do?"

The Third Hokage watched Youhu leave, prepared to wait for good news, when he suddenly realized something. He hurriedly used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Youhu, blocking his path.

"Lord Hokage, I'm going to debunk the rumors."

Youhu looked puzzled, asking with a confused expression, "Lord Hokage, do you feel there is something inappropriate about that?"

"You..."

The Third Hokage was left speechless. He couldn't tell if Youhu was playing dumb or if he was truly just that naive.

If you stand at the entrance of the Hokage Building and tell everyone that the Third Hokage has no relationship with Uchiha Fugaku, and that you are also innocent regarding Shimura Danzō...

Isn't that just intentionally making people's imaginations run wild?

If this hadn't happened, why would you need to debunk it? And to have an Uchiha youth be the one to debunk it—who knows if you threatened the Uchiha in private?

But if he didn't debunk it and let the matter continue to spread...

It would seem as if he, the Third Hokage, was tacitly approving of it, and there was no telling where it might spread in the future.

Just thinking about the Daimyo of the Land of Fire or the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure hearing about this and coming over to question him made the Third Hokage feel as though his lifelong reputation had been completely ruined.

He was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

Youhu was currently shocked by the Third Hokage's speed. A second ago, the Third was still sitting in his chair, and now he was blocking his path. Was this the power of the Body Flicker Technique possessed by the older generation?

Or was it because his own reputation and dark history were at stake that he had erupted with such unprecedented speed?

However, things like rumors couldn't be solved by debunking them. Playing dead or creating a bigger incident to distract people's attention was the best course of action.

He was certain he would secure the Deception Points from this lie.

Looking at the bewildered Youhu before him, the Third Hokage sighed softly:

"You don't need to debunk the rumors anymore. Just join the Anbu through the normal assessment like everyone else. Come to the Hokage Building tomorrow morning, and I will have someone conduct your assessment."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Youhu said loudly.

Just then, a guard from the Hokage Building pushed open the office door, his face full of anxiety:

"It's bad, Lord Hokage! Captain Fugaku of the Military Police has arrived downstairs with a group of officers. They are demanding that we hand over the detained Uchiha, otherwise..."

Mid-sentence, the Guard Ninja noticed Uchiha Youhu inside the room, and his expression turned peculiar.

The Hokage wouldn't actually detain an Uchiha, would he? Is a civil war about to break out in the village today? Will I die in a civil war? He was still young and didn't want to die so soon.

Youhu noticed the Guard Ninja's expression, reached out to wave, and said, "This is a misunderstanding. I don't believe I've been detained."

Upon hearing that Fugaku had led men to assault the Hokage Building to demand his release, the Third Hokage's face instantly turned ugly.

As the Hokage, he had merely summoned a ninja from the village, yet the Uchiha dared to come to the Hokage Building to demand a person. Was their next step to prepare for an armed seizure of power and a coup?

With a cold snort, the Third Hokage looked at Youhu and said with visible dissatisfaction:

"Youhu, you caused this. You will come down with me and explain. If you don't explain this clearly, don't even think about joining the Anbu, and don't think about becoming a Jonin in the future."

"Understood, Lord Hokage."

Youhu also felt a bit strange in his heart. He had only been summoned by the Third Hokage; was it really necessary for the Uchiha clan to make such a scene?

He remembered that he was considered quite inconspicuous within the Uchiha clan.

Aside from offering some bold suggestions last night, he had no presence to speak of.

A dozen seconds later, Youhu and the Third Hokage walked out of the Hokage Building together, facing the aggressive Security Force head-on.

When he saw Tiehuo behind Fugaku, and the look of grim determination on Tiehuo's face, Youhu instantly understood everything.

So, you're the one who pulled this stunt on me, kid.

The Third Hokage looked at Fugaku with a solemn expression, and Fugaku also appeared highly vigilant; the atmosphere between the two sides was extremely tense.

Soon, as time passed, ninjas working near the Hokage Building flocked to the scene, gathering to watch the standoff between the Third Hokage and the Uchiha Security Force.

The Anbu, who had arrived quietly, went even further and surrounded the area.

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, it had reached the point of swords being drawn and bows bent.

Youhu knew he could no longer remain silent. He stepped away from the Third Hokage, jogged in front of Fugaku, and shouted, "Clan Head Fugaku, this is just a minor misunderstanding."

"Lord Hokage summoned me to clarify the relationship between you all."