You Can't Win Against Me in Being Passive-Aggressive

The First Hokage went without saying; he was a true legend.

The Second Hokage, while relentlessly targeting the Uchiha clan, had at least devoted his entire life to the well-being of Konoha.

He would never have stooped to sacrificing his own people just to beg for peace from an enemy.

Even in his final moments, he had resolutely chosen to stay behind to cover the retreat, leaving the path to survival for the others.

Yet, the Third Hokage could sacrifice others without a moment's hesitation, never even bothering to ask if they were willing.

He was entirely generous with other people's lives, all while maintaining a hypocritical mask of kindness day in and day out.

It was the height of shamelessness—acting like a whore while demanding a monument to her chastity; his posturing was simply nauseating.

[Ding! Temporary missions released!]

[Mission 1: Thwart the Cloud Village's conspiracy. Reward: 1000 EXP]

[Mission 2: Strike a blow to the Third Hokage's prestige. Reward: 500 EXP]

Uchiha Ryosuke rolled his eyes; the rewards were surprisingly meager.

This meant the mission would be quite easy.

In other words, the Third Hokage's own prestige was likely not very high to begin with.

"Don't change the subject!"

The Fourth Raikage's face darkened as he said stiffly, "We are currently discussing the matter of our missing envoys..."

"Grandpa Hokage, it hurts."

Uchiha Ryosuke pointed to the kunai embedded in his shoulder, tears of pain streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"There, there, good child, don't cry."

The Third Hokage looked helpless, yet he had to maintain his benevolent image, reaching out to wipe the tear tracks from Uchiha Ryosuke's face.

"It doesn't hurt? Why don't I try stabbing a kunai into your shoulder and see?"

Uchiha Fugaku sneered repeatedly, scoffing, "Ryosuke is so severely injured, yet you forced me to bring him here immediately, threatening me if I didn't, and now you won't even call for a medical ninja."

"..."

The Third Hokage's benevolent expression froze on his face.

He wanted to curse out loud—when did he ever tell him to bring Uchiha Ryosuke here?

Was he doing this just to embarrass him on purpose?

NICE!

Uchiha Ryosuke nodded in satisfaction; the clan head was actually quite effective at twisting the knife when it mattered.

"Go call a medical ninja over here."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and said in a low voice.

"Enough talk!"

Uchiha Fugaku said coldly, "Lord Hokage, are you still the Hokage of Konoha or not? A member of our Uchiha clan is about to have his eyes gouged out—are you going to do something about it or not?"

"I..."

The Third Hokage wanted to say they would discuss it later, but Hyuga Hiashi suddenly chimed in, "And my Hyuga clan as well. Just now, a spy kidnapped my daughter, intending to gouge out her eyes. Lord Hokage, you will see justice done for us, won't you?"

"..."

The Third Hokage was left completely speechless, looking at the two of them in disbelief.

He had nothing to say to the Uchiha clan, but how had the Hyuga clan joined forces with them?

Weren't you two always at each other's throats?

"Grandpa Hokage, I'm in so much pain."

Uchiha Ryosuke turned into a broken record, giving the Hokage no chance to think.

"Grandpa Hokage."

Seeing this, little Hinata also trotted over to the Hokage's side, looking up at him pitifully.

"Are you two trying to gloss over this with your back-and-forth act?"

The Fourth Raikage was exceptionally irritated by the sight and roared, "Third, you must give us an explanation for this!"

"Lord Raikage, this matter..."

The Third, seeing the situation, could only try to explain helplessly.

He truly did not want to go to war with the Cloud Village again; the cost was simply too high.

"Grandpa Hokage."

Uchiha Ryosuke suddenly widened his eyes, his blood-red, two-tomoe Sharingan shining brilliantly, "Could it be that the people who wanted to gouge out my eyes and Hinata's eyes were actually the envoys sent by you and the Raikage?"

"..."

The Third Hokage's expression went completely rigid. He forced a smile and patted Uchiha Ryosuke's head with a kindly air. "How could that be? I am the Hokage, after all; how could I ever do such a thing?"

"Heh."

Uchiha Fugaku let out a cold sneer, though he felt refreshed deep down.

This old man targeted their Uchiha clan every single day, and now, he had been rendered speechless by Ryosuke.

Uchiha Fugaku could only describe his current mood with one word—

Satisfying. It was, in a word, extremely satisfying.

"Since when did the Hyuga and the Uchiha start colluding?"

The Third Hokage's heart sank. The Uchiha clan was already an unstable element in Konoha.

Yet, they were also the number one clan in the village since the Senju.

And the Hyuga were, without a doubt, the second.

What did it mean for these two great clans to join forces and pressure him, the Hokage?

"It seems it is time to give the Hyuga clan a warning."

The Third Hokage cast a cold glance at Hyuga Hiashi. The two brothers of the Hyuga clan's current generation...

They seemed excessively strong. Such figures.

Wasn't having one enough?

After all, if they were too strong, he, as the Hokage, would find it quite troublesome.

"Where are the medical ninja?"

The Third Hokage asked impatiently. He only wanted to get rid of this annoying Uchiha brat, Uchiha Ryosuke, as quickly as possible.

"So, in other words."

Uchiha Ryosuke wailed, "Grandpa Hokage, you aren't denying that you sent the Raikage's envoys over to gouge out our eyes, are you?"

"Waaah~ Hinata doesn't want her eyes gouged out."

The little girl's delicate body trembled slightly, her small face filled with terror as tears streamed down uncontrollably.

"I didn't, you little..."

The Third Hokage nearly flew into a rage, wanting to strike someone.

What kind of nonsense was this brat spouting?

What the hell was he talking about?

"Grandpa Hokage."

Uchiha Ryosuke said pitifully, "You are the Hokage of Konoha. You wouldn't favor outsiders, right? You will definitely stand up for the people of the village, right? Since Kumogakure treated us this way, you must teach them a lesson. Grandpa Hokage, why aren't you saying anything? Don't tell me, don't tell me... Grandpa Hokage, you wouldn't actually want to help outsiders bully Konoha, would you?"

"Enough!"

The Third Hokage suddenly slammed his palm onto the desk, his previously kindly expression turning slightly ferocious.

But soon, his expression softened again, his attitude turning cold.

"Raikage, you heard it all, didn't you? Regarding this matter, you must give us an explanation."

The Third Hokage said stiffly.

[Ding! Task 1 completed, obtained 1000 EXP.]

[Ding! Task 2 completed, obtained 500 EXP.]

"An explanation? What kind of explanation?"

The Raikage laughed in anger. "Our people have gone missing, and you want an explanation from us?"

"Heh."

Uchiha Ryosuke sneered inwardly. One looked burly and honest, the other looked kind and benevolent.

In the end, they were both just guys full of malice.

They were only capable of bullying honest people.