What? The Hokage is a Rogue Ninja!

"Cough!"

After shaking off the pursuit of the Anbu, Madara Uchiha could not help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, his current body could no longer hold on.

Countless tender green branches sprouted once again from Madara Uchiha's body, growing wildly.

In almost an instant, these branches used his body as nutrients to grow into several towering trees.

At this critical moment, Madara Uchiha formed hand seals, "Izanagi!"

Only when the last Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes turned ash-gray was the crisis facing Madara Uchiha's body completely resolved.

The reason he did not immediately activate Izanagi while in the village was the fear of losing his last remaining eye; without both Sharingan, escaping from the Anbu would have become significantly more troublesome.

Even if he had successfully evaded capture, it would have inevitably exposed the intelligence that Madara Uchiha was still alive.

Only now, having completely escaped danger, did Madara Uchiha manage to cast this ninjutsu to resolve the crisis.

Although he did not retrieve the Mangekyo Sharingan he desired this time, being able to have a simple warm-up before his final slumber could be considered a decent harvest.

"Let's go, we are returning to the Mountain Graveyard."

Blind in both eyes, Madara Uchiha intended to have the White Zetsu on his body carry him back to the base.

Before his candle burned out, he needed to have his body properly preserved to facilitate the smooth progression of his subsequent plans.

"Lord Madara, are we just going to leave that guy alone?" The White Zetsu on Madara Uchiha's body asked cautiously, "Will he affect our future plans?"

"Hahaha, of course not!"

Madara Uchiha laughed contemptuously; even though he was blind, the arrogance belonging to a powerhouse had not diminished in the slightest.

Madara Uchiha spoke confidently, "Although I did not take his eyes, I already know his ocular jutsu."

"I only need to return to the base and leave behind a scroll containing intelligence and methods to counter him."

After all, for so many years, Madara Uchiha had been secretly collecting intelligence on the world and various ninjutsu.

Naturally, this included ways to deal with simple ocular jutsus like those of Yatsuhashi.

"Relying solely on brute force, he is ultimately just an ant that will never amount to anything."

A battle of such scale erupting in the village naturally drew the attention of the higher-ups.

Even though Yatsuhashi was currently lying in a hospital bed at Konoha Hospital, he could clearly perceive several Anbu colleagues closely monitoring him nearby.

Although it was only the middle of the night, several groups of people had already come to visit Yatsuhashi.

First were Uchiha Uruchi and Uchiha Tesho, followed by Gota and others from the Iburi Clan. Finally, there was Anko Mitarashi, who had received the news.

Gota and the others were all sent away by Yatsuhashi.

Uchiha Uruchi looked at the unscathed Yatsuhashi, then glanced at Anko, who was peeling an apple for him on the side. She gave Yatsuhashi a meaningful look before pulling Uchiha Tesho away from the hospital bed.

The Anbu in the shadows watched as Anko kept feeding fruit to Yatsuhashi, their eyes filled with envy.

"What exactly is this guy's background?"

The Iburi Clan is a large family that has recently risen in Konoha. It is said that they even partnered with the village to develop the mineral veins beneath the Forest of Death. Their future is naturally bright.

To think that this person could actually draw the head of the Iburi Clan, Gota, and his group to visit him—how could the Anbu not be surprised?

The injuries on Yatsuhashi, who was lying in the hospital bed, were not very serious; he had merely overdrawn his chakra. As for the two blows he took from Madara Uchiha, his body, which had already undergone preliminary strengthening from the Hashirama Cells, had mostly recovered.

Choosing to stay at Konoha Hospital was merely a stopgap measure for him, allowing him time to think about how to face the subsequent interrogations by the Anbu.

Just when Yatsuhashi thought no one else would come, the head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku, actually arrived at the ward to visit him.

"Isn't this Yatsuhashi's influence a bit too great?"

The appearance of Uchiha Fugaku shocked the Anbu responsible for monitoring Yatsuhashi once again.

Usually, when a ninja within a clan is injured, the clan head only sends someone to express condolences and concern. Those who can warrant a personal visit from the clan head are naturally few and far between; they are without exception the leaders and elites of the clan.

But now, the head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku, had come in person to visit Yatsuhashi in his hospital bed.

This is the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan has always presented themselves with arrogance. Many of the Anbu present had been coldly mocked by Uchiha Fugaku before.

Yatsuhashi looked at Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head whose eyes were still wrapped in white bandages and whose vision had not yet fully recovered, and felt a distinct headache coming on.

However, Uchiha Fugaku acted as if nothing had happened, showering Yatsuhashi with concern as if the life-and-death battle between the two of them that night had never occurred.

Uchiha Fugaku currently behaved like a kind elder. The scene before them immediately made many Anbu feel a sense of surreal unreality.

This also made Yatsuhashi feel quite uncomfortable.

It wasn't until he was about to leave that he expressed his gratitude to Yatsuhashi for recommending Uchiha Itachi to participate in the mission.

Just when Yatsuhashi thought he could have some peace for the night, the ward door was pushed open once again.

"Creak—"

The figure who entered this time caused everyone to hold their breath.

His golden, choppy hair stirred without a breeze.

It was none other than Minato Namikaze, wearing a gentle smile on his face.

Not only Anko Mitarashi, but even the Anbu observers hiding in the shadows nearly had their hearts leap out of their chests.

The Fourth Hokage?!

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had actually come in person to visit an Anbu subordinate?!

How could they not be shocked by this?

"Anko, you should go back and rest."

Minato said gently.

"But, Lord Hokage..."

Anko was clearly reluctant to give up this time alone with Yatsuhashi.

"Go."

Minato waved his hand, his tone carrying an unmistakable air of finality.

Helpless, Anko had no choice but to pack her things and prepare to leave.

Before departing, she personally peeled an apple one last time and placed it on the table beside Yatsuhashi.

Only then did she leave the ward, lingering with reluctance.

Immediately after, Minato gestured toward the Anbu members watching from the shadows.

"You all withdraw as well; I wish to speak with Yatsuhashi alone."

"Yes!"

Although the watching Anbu were surprised, they dared not show the slightest defiance toward the Hokage's order. In an instant, those Anbu hiding in the shadows vanished without a trace.

At this moment, only Yatsuhashi and Minato remained in the spacious ward.

The atmosphere in the room turned heavy.

Minato did not sit in the chair but stood by the bedside, looking down at Yatsuhashi.

The pressure belonging to the Yellow Flash, the Konoha Hokage, was released without reservation.

"Yatsuhashi."

Minato's voice was soft, yet it struck Yatsuhashi's heart like a heavy hammer.

He asked slowly, enunciating every word: "Now that it's just the two of us, I suspect you are a rogue ninja!"

Minato's gaze turned incredibly sharp, and he stared intently at the expression on Yatsuhashi's face, attempting to discover anything amiss.

However, to Minato's surprise, faced with his interrogation, Yatsuhashi blurted out without a moment's hesitation: "I think you're the one who is!"