I'm taking the senior sister (Please follow)

If the Uchiha were truly that impressive, they would have become Hokage long ago!

Just as the Anbu were feeling puzzled, a white figure flashed into view.

He wore the Hokage hat and the ceremonial haori; it was none other than the current Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared on the rooftop, accompanied by even more Anbu operatives.

Dozens of Anbu surrounded the scene, while in the distance, more Jonin were arriving with squads of Chunin in tow.

Seeing the tragic state of the battlefield, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and spoke with a stern expression.

"Which village did the invaders come from? How many were there, and where have they gone?"

The Anbu captain replied awkwardly.

"These children claim that a conflict broke out between them, and that no enemy ninjas were involved."

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"You call this a battle between children?"

Aburame Ryoma spoke up again, enduring his pain.

"It was that Uchiha brat! He burned all of my Kikaichū to death and stabbed both of my kidneys! Catch him!"

Stabbing kidneys again...

Upon seeing Uchiha Kurohane, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately recalled that the boy had previously stabbed the kidneys of three Genin, preventing them from heading to the Land of Rain.

He couldn't fathom it; after causing such trouble last time, had the Uchiha clan not punished him? Why was he doing this again?

Furthermore, he had actually defeated Ryoma this time?

He was a genius of the Aburame clan!

And besides, was such a powerful Fire Release really unleashed by him?

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Kurohane with a bewildered expression.

"Kurohane, explain yourself. Why did you attack your comrades in Konoha?"

"And why did you have to be so ruthless?"

"Ryoma is also scheduled to head to the front lines in the Land of Rain; he is a vital combat asset for our Konoha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was filled with distress and anger.

Because everyone knew of the terror of Hanzo's Ibuse poison gas in the Land of Rain, most ninjas would rather head to the northern front to face the Third Raikage head-on than go to the Land of Rain.

After all, when facing the Third Raikage, one could hide in a cave, but the poison gas of Ibuse spread over a wide area; even if one hid in a cave, they would still be poisoned to death.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had been searching for ninjas brave enough to head to the Land of Rain battlefield for some time, and the stress had been enough to make him go bald.

He had finally found some courageous, excellent ninjas, only for Uchiha Kurohane to injure them one by one—and he had even stabbed their kidneys, ensuring they wouldn't recover for a long time.

Was this not working against him?

Facing Sarutobi Hiruzen's stern interrogation, Uchiha Kurohane replied righteously.

"I saw them attacking my classmate and seemingly attempting to do something untoward to her, so I stepped in to save her."

"May I ask, Lord Hokage, is there anything wrong with my righteous act of protecting a classmate?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback, asking with a confused look.

"What do you mean, protecting a classmate?"

Uchiha Kurohane reached out and pointed toward Yakushi Nonō, who was standing in the corner with a dazed expression.

Yakushi Nonō had been terrified by the shocking battle, and the subsequent arrival of the army of ninjas had scared her out of her wits.

However, Yakushi Nonō was no ordinary young girl; she quickly calmed down and spoke up.

"Yes, I was just held hostage by them from behind. I don't know what they intended to do to me, but they threatened to knock me unconscious."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the group of Anbu immediately turned their gaze toward Aburame Ryoma.

Feeling the stern stares of everyone present, Aburame Ryoma froze.

Although he had ordered Pumpkin Head to attack Yakushi Nonō to bait Uchiha Kurohane into revealing a weakness, in reality, they had indeed held Yakushi Nonō hostage.

Uchiha Kurohane's attack on them was justifiable.

If this were investigated further, he would be the one facing punishment!

Aburame Ryoma pondered for a moment and said with an innocent expression.

"I don't know what Pumpkin Head did to her! When I arrived, I saw him stabbing Pumpkin Head. I simply wanted to help a comrade; it seems there has been a misunderstanding."

Everyone immediately turned their gaze toward Pumpkin Head, who was lying on the ground.

Pumpkin Head broke out in a cold sweat, anxious.

What is going on? Is he trying to shift the blame onto me?

This was his idea! Why should I be the one to take the fall?

Pumpkin Head immediately retorted.

"No, that's not right! It was Ryoma who instructed me to do this. He told me to grab this girl and use her to threaten Kurohane!"

Seeing him spill the truth, Aburame Ryoma grew anxious.

He cursed inwardly.

You idiot. I have no grudge against that Uchiha brat; I only fought him to stand up for you. Now my mutated Kikaichū are gone, and I've lost both my kidneys. I suffered such grievous injuries just to help you. It's only fair that you take the fall for this. Do you expect me to share the punishment with you? Besides, the Aburame clan's rules are incredibly strict. If the clan head finds out I kidnapped a girl, he won't let me off! That little girl didn't see me attack him, so he has no evidence. I should just hold my ground to the end!

"That's not true! He's spouting nonsense; he's trying to frame me!"

Pumpkin Head clutched his bleeding waist and demanded angrily, "It was clearly you who told me to do it! Are you going to deny it? Are you going to lie right in front of the Hokage?"

Aburame Ryoma's waist was bleeding profusely from both sides, but for the sake of his reputation, he couldn't afford to worry about such minor injuries.

"You idiot, you're the one lying in front of the Hokage! Why on earth would I kidnap this woman for no reason?"

"It's because you were worried you couldn't beat Kurohane, so you needed someone to threaten him!"

"Nonsense! I have always believed the Aburame clan is the strongest. With my mutated, enhanced Kikaichū, why would I ever think I couldn't beat him..."

Aburame Ryoma and Pumpkin Head turned on each other in public, erupting into a heated argument.

Uchiha Kurohane watched these two dogs tear each other apart and chuckled to himself.

However, his goal was Yakushi Nonō, and he didn't want to waste time listening to them bicker.

"Lord Hokage, the facts are clear now. My actions were justified, and the responsibility for this incident does not lie with me."

"Senior Nonō has been frightened, so I would like to take her home first."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, an old man full of political wisdom, guessed that Pumpkin Head had sought Aburame Ryoma's help to get revenge on Uchiha Kurohane.

Although Uchiha Kurohane's methods were ruthless, it was a self-defense counterattack.

Moreover, the other party was in the wrong for attacking a girl first; his behavior was indeed beyond reproach.

Conversely, if he had seen a female classmate being attacked and failed to act, that would have been the real problem.

What Konoha needed was exactly this kind of brave and righteous next generation.

"Very well, you may leave. I will handle the rest."

After receiving Sarutobi Hiruzen's consent, Uchiha Kurohane hurried over to Yakushi Nonō.

"It's over for us here. Let's go."

Keep arguing, you two. I'm taking the senior with me!

After saying this, Uchiha Kurohane saw that Yakushi Nonō was still dazed, seemingly unable to process what had happened.

He reached out, took her soft hand, and led her away.