Reactions from All Sides

The blocked-off street was still undergoing cleanup. In truth, this was no major event for Konoha, so not many people had gathered to watch the spectacle. As for the big shots in Konoha, they would merely listen to a report; it was impossible for them to come and see it for themselves.

The only reason Tsunade and her two companions had come was simply because they had nothing better to do.

"Bastard! Dead ghost! Bastard!" Mikoto Uchiha was on the verge of exploding with rage, clenching her fists and pacing back and forth on the street.

The surrounding Uchiha Clan ninjas also wore unsightly expressions.

To think that someone could drive the gentle, kind, and virtuous Sister Mikoto to such a state—that brat was truly courting death.

Whoosh!

Fugaku Uchiha maintained his hand seals, appearing out of thin air beside Mikoto Uchiha amidst a puff of white smoke.

"Young Master!"

"What is the situation?"

"That bastard..." Mikoto Uchiha felt a surge of fury the moment she mentioned Li Tong. Seeing that she was clearly speaking with strong emotions, Fugaku Uchiha didn't let her continue and instead looked toward an elite Jonin standing to the side. "You!"

"Yes, Young Clan Leader. Just now..."

The elite Jonin briefly explained the situation: no innocent lives were lost, the fugitive had been killed by Li Tong, and Li Tong had even produced a large sum of money to pay for damages. In terms of stopping and killing the fugitive, Li Tong had performed a meritorious deed. As for the destruction caused to the street and the injuries sustained by some, these were all problems that could be solved with money.

Therefore, letting Li Tong go home directly would not have been an issue.

However, if the Konoha Military Police Force insisted on taking Li Tong back to assist with the investigation, that wouldn't be wrong either.

Whether to arrest him or not was entirely a matter of discretion.

After hearing the elite Jonin's report, Fugaku Uchiha saw Li Tong running down the wall from a nearby five-story building. Li Tong saw Fugaku Uchiha but ignored him, instead giving Mikoto Uchiha an inscrutable look before walking away.

Mikoto Uchiha stomped her feet in anger.

Fugaku Uchiha watched Li Tong's retreating back, pondered for a moment, and waved his hand. "Bring him back!"

Several surrounding Uchiha Jonin sprang into action simultaneously, flickering to appear in front, behind, and to the sides of Li Tong. They drew their blades halfway and surrounded him.

Li Tong stopped, shook his head, turned around to look at Fugaku Uchiha, and asked, "What is the meaning of this?"

"We are skeptical regarding some details of how you killed that fugitive, as well as your potential motives for unleashing ninjutsu on the street. Please come back with us to assist in the investigation!" Fugaku Uchiha said very formally, offering a high-sounding excuse.

"Hmm... I'll cooperate," Li Tong curled his lip.

"Brat, you're dead! You're finished!" Mikoto Uchiha immediately approached Li Tong fiercely, waving a pair of shackles in her hand, intending to lock him up.

"Mikoto, don't be ridiculous," Fugaku Uchiha scolded.

Mikoto Uchiha reluctantly desisted, though she remained very unwilling. She reached Li Tong's side, shoved his shoulder hard, and said aggressively, "Hurry up and move, don't dawdle."

Li Tong mentally greeted every female member of Mikoto Uchiha's family, maintained a smile, and departed under the "escort" of a large group of Military Police ninjas.

Hokage Building, Hokage Office.

"Lord Hokage, it is absolutely true! Li Tong did indeed use the Mystical Palm Technique to save the life of a critically injured patient. There is just one thing that is very strange: the Mystical Palm Technique he used was extremely stable and could be sustained for several minutes. It seems that he has not only learned the Mystical Palm Technique but has also mastered it to a high level!"

Chen He stood respectfully before the desk, providing a detailed report on the events concerning Li Tong today. Stopping the fugitive was unimportant, and unleashing ninjutsu on the street causing loss of life and property was also unimportant; compared to him learning the Mystical Palm Technique, those were not worth mentioning!

Chen He appeared very unsettled because such a thing was too difficult to comprehend.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, was very calm. He remained expressionless, his eyes beneath the shadow of his conical hat showing no ripples. He did not seem surprised, a calmness that exceeded Chen He's expectations.

After a long period of contemplation.

"I understand. Go and report this matter to the White Fang, then have him come to see me," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking up.

"Yes!" Chen He respectfully acknowledged the order and hurried away.

After Chen He left the office and closed the door, the space in the corner to the right of the desk suddenly wrinkled. Danzo, wearing a mask, revealed his form and walked slowly toward the desk.

"You heard it all," Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the desktop.

"It is impossible for him to have just learned the Mystical Palm Technique; such a genius does not exist!" Danzo said hoarsely, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes beneath the holes of his mask. "Even the First Hokage back in his day did not possess such talent!"

"But it is also impossible for him to have mastered the Mystical Palm Technique beforehand," Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "If he had the talent to master the Mystical Palm Technique at twelve, Hanzo would certainly have valued him, and he would not be an ordinary ninja from Amegakure."

"There are two possibilities!" Danzo walked to the window and looked out, his back to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "First, this is a plan by Hanzo, and this brat is an important chess piece. In that case, all his anomalies can be sufficiently explained. Second, he is a test subject, and the Mystical Palm Technique he can use... may not necessarily have been obtained through training!"

"Hmm..." Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered once more.

"But regardless of which situation it is, or if there is a third or fourth situation we are unaware of, it all indicates that there is something wrong with him. I do not believe he is truly such a monster!" Danzo paused, his voice dropping. "However, it does not matter. I have already arranged for personnel to test him. It won't be long before we have results!"

Whoosh!

A phantom image suddenly appeared before the desk. After the mysteriously dressed ninja appeared, he knelt on one knee and said quickly, "Report to Lord Hokage, Li Tong has been taken away by the Military Police Force under the pretext of assisting in an investigation!"

Hyuga Clan residential area, deep within the main estate.

In the vast and empty indoor training hall, a young figure flashed and shifted across the polished floor. Every movement, whether still or in motion, contained profound mysteries; his punches were like thunder, and his kicks were like blades.

"Big Brother!" A respectful voice sounded from outside the door.

The young ninja training suddenly stopped, took the towel handed to him by a servant to wipe away his sweat, and said with authority, "Enter!"

Creak!

The ninja who pushed the door open was just as young, sharing the same height, build, and face; the only difference was that the ninja who had been training earlier wore no headband, while the one who entered later did.

These two!

The young head of the Hyuga Clan main house, Hyuga Hiashi!

The young head of the Hyuga Clan branch house, Hizashi Hyuga!

They were twin brothers! Yet, simply because Hyuga Hiashi had been born a few seconds earlier, he became the young head of the main house, while Hizashi Hyuga was relegated to the branch house. Despite being brothers, Hizashi Hyuga had to remain respectful, even subservient, to Hyuga Hiashi at all times.

"What is it? To have you come find me in person," Hyuga Hiashi asked with authority.

"Brother!" Hizashi Hyuga hurried closer, his expression looking quite wrong. "Just now on the street, in the central district, that Li Tong, he..." Hizashi Hyuga quickly explained the situation. He briefly touched upon Li Tong killing the fugitive, but focused heavily on the matter of the Mystical Palm Technique!

The bet between Li Tong and Tsunade was known to everyone in Konoha.

Learning the Mystical Palm Technique—this was the stuff of fairy tales!

In truth, this matter had nothing to do with the Hyuga Clan, but Li Tong was a thorn in the side of the Hyuga Clan. Many eyes were watching the Hyuga Clan, such as their mortal enemies, the Uchiha Clan, who were waiting to see when the Hyuga would kill Li Tong. If Li Tong continued to live, it would be detrimental to the prestige of the Hyuga Clan.

And now, Li Tong had actually learned the Mystical Palm Technique!

The impact of this would be immense, the most significant being the attitude of the Konoha high command toward Li Tong!

Once the high command began to value Li Tong, it would become very difficult for the Hyuga Clan to make a move.