Heading to Sand Hidden

Uchiha Gen stared at Minato in front of him with a look of utter bewilderment!

"The situation was critical at the time, and I couldn't have continued the conversation without being honest. My apologies, Gen-kun!" Minato bowed with an apologetic expression.

"Forget it. Since things have come to this, Gen, you should just go with Minato," Hiruzen Sarutobi, that old dog, chimed in from the side. It would also be a good way to find out how this Uchiha knew so many secrets.

Heh! Go with you? You want to get a free ride off me too? Sorry, my crops haven't been harvested yet. Goodbye!

"Third Hokage, Fourth Hokage, the matter you're speaking of is clearly beyond the capabilities of a mere Special Jonin like me. My job is just to patrol with the Police Force!" Uchiha Gen refused outright.

Logically, a Konoha ninja could not refuse a request from the Hokage, but there were no absolutes in this world. First, the Uchiha Police Force had always been managed by the Uchiha—an agreement between the Second Hokage and the clan. Second, after his savior-like performance last night, his reputation was at its peak. And third, his personal strength was terrifying; that hundred-meter-tall Susanoo from the night before was still fresh in everyone's memory.

It was this combination of strength, position, and a reasonable excuse that allowed Uchiha Gen to maintain his current attitude. As for whether this would offend the Konoha higher-ups? Heh, does it even matter? Look at Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi—they were such bootlickers, and what happened? The clan was wiped out anyway! Gentle words can't save the Uchiha. I have to protect my own crops!

"As a member of Konoha, do you not even have this much awareness?" The old dog Hiruzen began his practiced moral high-ground attack.

But Uchiha Gen had seen too much of this in his past life. As long as I have no morals, you can't kidnap me with them!

"I do not!"

"Hm?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was caught off guard for a moment.

"I said I don't have that kind of awareness! I'm just an ordinary person with warped values, low awareness, and a very low moral bottom line! Talking to me about this is less effective than just paying me more!" Uchiha Gen looked at him with disdain.

"You!" Hiruzen Sarutobi was stuck. As a highly respected Hokage, he held great power, but he had no authority to openly target a citizen who chose to lie flat and had no moral bottom line—even if that citizen was an Uchiha! After all, the man hadn't committed any crimes, and his official duty was just patrolling with the Police Force.

Doing it in the shadows wouldn't necessarily work either. Relying on the kind of rumors used against White Fang wasn't appropriate right now; you couldn't just smear someone the moment after they played the hero. Even a fool wouldn't follow that lead!

"State your demands, whatever they may be!" Minato, standing to the side, saw how things were going. It was obvious Uchiha Gen intended to hold out for a better price. Although Hiruzen understood this, he still wanted to get a free ride using the "Will of Fire."

But as the husband of the person involved, Uzumaki Kushina, Minato couldn't afford to bicker as nonchalantly as Hiruzen.

"Well, doesn't Konoha have a Scroll of Sealing? I'd like to borrow it for a read," Uchiha Gen said casually.

"Impossible! The Scroll of Sealing is top secret. How could I let you see it so easily?" Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted.

"Then there's nothing to talk about. Don't think I don't know—your three disciples have all seen it, and the Fourth has likely seen it too! They can see it, but I can't?" Uchiha Gen looked at him with contempt.

"Is that the same? They shed blood and performed meritorious service for Konoha! You..." Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering something.

"What? Not going to finish? Their service counts as service, but mine doesn't? This trashy tactic of yours has no technical skill at all. Any person with eyes can see how you're targeting the Uchiha. You still have the nerve to go around preaching the 'Will of Fire' every day? It's embarrassing—it's only good for fooling those elementary students at the Ninja Academy. I never discuss morals with people who have none. Third, if you want me to act, fine—but other than the Scroll of Sealing, there's nothing to discuss!" Uchiha Gen laid it out bluntly, refusing to leave the Third Hokage any shred of dignity. His words made Hiruzen's eyelids twitch violently. How could this young man dare to say anything? Did he have no experience in handling affairs at all?

(Uchiha Gen: If I had experience, would you have let the Uchiha off?)

"You may borrow the Scroll of Sealing, but you can only choose one technique from it!" Minato broke the deadlock.

Hearing this, Hiruzen wanted to say more, but a look from Minato stopped him. Nominally, Minato was the Hokage. Although Minato was usually very respectful, considering Kushina's situation, Minato would definitely fight him to the end on this. Forget it, it's not worth it. Better to trade a favor.

"Hm? Fine, one is one!" Uchiha Gen accepted reluctantly.

The three then arrived at the heavily guarded room where the Scroll of Sealing was kept. Looking at the layers upon layers of security, Naruto, a piece of trash who hadn't even graduated from the academy, managed to steal this? I have to laugh! Hiruzen, just how much water did you let into this? Poor Comrade Mizuki!

After a series of operations to undo the multiple seals, the Scroll of Sealing finally revealed its true form.

"You can only choose one. Hurry up!" Hiruzen urged, looking rather unwilling.

"Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands"

"Wood Style: Top Transformed Buddha"

"Wood Style: Wood Human Technique"

"Darkness Technique"

"Spirit Transformation Technique"

"Living Corpse Reincarnation"

"Flying Raijin Technique"

"I'll take the Spirit Transformation Technique!" Uchiha Gen looked around and realized there wasn't anything else he wanted. He couldn't learn Wood Style, and he had no intention of installing someone else's cells into his body—just the thought made him uncomfortable. Besides, it's just Wood Style; it depends on who is using it! The difference between Senju Hashirama's Wood Style and Yamato's was like the difference between a human and a dog.

I refuse to believe that with my future infinite ocular power output, I can't stack up a ten-thousand-meter Ultimate Invincible Spiral Flash Susanoo Dance of Thirty-Two Styles that surpasses a mere Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands!

As for the other forbidden techniques, they were all optional to Uchiha Gen. The Spirit Transformation Technique was decent, but the barrier to entry was too high, and the scroll explicitly stated that learning it carried a risk to one's life—if the soul left the body, it was easy to get lost and hard to return. This technique was extremely dangerous, making it perfect for someone like him who wasn't afraid of death!

"Hm? You chose the Spirit Transformation Technique?" Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Uchiha Gen's choice, his eyes flashing with a hidden meaning as the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"Gen, why don't you choose something else? This technique is extremely dangerous. In the history of our Konoha, only the late Jonin Kato Dan ever mastered it," Minato advised kindly.

"No, this is it. Difficulty is what makes it a challenge!" Uchiha Gen feigned arrogance.

"Minato, to each their own. Since Gen insists, let him try," Hiruzen Sarutobi urged from the side.

Hm? Is this old dog trying to get me killed? It seems he couldn't handle me with force, and the 'Will of Fire' was ineffective, so he's resorted to malice! Whatever. If you push me too far, I'll just drive my Ultimate Storm Super Dance of Thirty-Six Styles Susanoo to the Sarutobi clan grounds and throw a rave!