Clash of Words and the Distribution of Rewards

"Cough cough!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage hat, coughed twice, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"You are all heroes of Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi first surveyed the main force and gave it full approval.

"For peace and for Konoha, you have risked your lives, disregarding your own safety."

"At this moment, the Will of Fire of the First Hokage is passed down through generations of us! With everyone's efforts, Konoha will surely usher in its best future!"

"Thank you all!"

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi bowed deeply towards the direction of the main force.

In an instant, the seriously injured patients no longer felt pain in their backs or legs, and, holding back their tears, began to express their loyalty.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi wiped a tear with satisfaction.

Uchiha Makoto's smile froze somewhat; as expected, Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed very strong in certain aspects.

Good for three generations, or bad for three generations!

At this moment, after offering condolences to the families of the deceased, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally noticed Uchiha Makoto, whom he had been leaving out.

"Look at my memory!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his head lightly as he spoke, looking as if he had just realized something.

"Everyone's had a long journey, what are you doing standing at the door? Come in!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and stepped aside, urging everyone to hurry inside.

Uchiha Makoto Uchiha Fugaku the others who had been standing next to Uchiha Makoto also turned their attention to him, waiting for his next move.

"Why are you all staring at me? Let's go!"

Uchiha Makoto glared at them lightly. Was the current situation allowing him to refuse?

After saying that, Uchiha Makoto led the group to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and walked alongside them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Makoto exchanged a glance, and seeing their identical smiles, they smiled at each other again.

The group walked towards the Hokage Building. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked ahead and casually mentioned it.

"I've heard that the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure has just taken office; he's a capable young man."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Makoto nodded in agreement.

"Anyone capable of succeeding the Third Mizukage, who is hailed as the strongest Mizukage, must be incredibly strong!"

Uchiha Makoto glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a smile, subtly making veiled insults.

"The Third Mizukage, hailed as the strongest Mizukage..."

Instead of getting angry at these blunt words, Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and repeated them.

'They're still young, too impatient!'

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding his pipe, took a satisfying puff and retorted.

"If we're talking about the strongest Mizukage, it has to be the Second Mizukage!"

"You know, the Second Mizukage only became Mizukage after defeating the Third Mizukage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke as if he were giving a presentation.

"The Second Mizukage's forbidden technique, Steaming Danger Tyranny, utilizes a mixture of water and oil to create an explosion; it's a nearly unbeatable Ninjutsu!"

"Even I have very few Ninjutsu like this!"

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi speaking, a chorus of gasps erupted in surprise.

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's relaxed and natural demeanor, and after turning his head to confirm that the blond-haired guy's target was there, Uchiha Makoto chuckled and started playing the straight man.

"The Lord Hokage truly lives up to his reputation as the Professor of Ninjutsu!"

Uchiha Makoto offered a few dry compliments, then revealed his true intentions.

"If we're talking about the most unsolvable Ninjutsu in Konoha, it has to be the forbidden technique from the Uzumaki Clan: Reaper Death Seal!"

"This is Ninjutsu that can summon the Grim Reaper!"

Uchiha Makoto spoke, he deliberately raised his voice, and the person involved indeed took action.

Kushina Uzumaki suddenly looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the front row, her brows furrowing tightly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed the gaze behind him and, feeling uneasy, quickly ended the conversation.

"Haha, speaking of which, the Uchiha Clan has made great contributions on the Mist Ninja front. I wonder if there's anything they'd like to see?"

Uchiha Makoto smiled knowingly. Since they had arrived at a part he was happy to see, he went with the flow and didn't dwell on the previous topic.

"It's all for Konoha! Didn't our Uchiha Clan establish Konoha to protect peace in the first place?"

Uchiha Makoto waved his hand dismissively, using the most nonchalant tone to poke at Hiruzen Sarutobi's most vulnerable spot.

Especially when he noticed the Uchiha Clan looking up at each other with their noses in the air, he almost couldn't hold back his smile!

"Hehe, the past is the past, we can't live in it forever!"

We remember and learn from the deeds of our predecessors, but we must not become complacent!

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he turned to look at Uchiha Makoto.

"Each generation has its own glory. Since the Uchiha has made contributions, they deserve the corresponding rewards!"

Uchiha Makoto opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to stop him.

"Please don't refuse, it's what I, as Hokage, should do!"

For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's small body seemed to be enveloped in a radiance called righteousness!

Those present looked at him with varying degrees of reverence.

Uchiha Makoto was also amazed; if he refused now, he would be being tactless!

"Hmm... I heard that someone on the Sand Ninja Front inherited the Second's title and became the fastest Shinobi World?"

"Oh! You mean Minato? That's right."

"What, you're interested in the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Speaking of Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction, after all, Minato Namikaze was his grand-disciple.

"As Uchiha, I doubt anyone wouldn't be interested in the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

"Especially the legendary Flying Thunder God Slash, that's the Second's signature move!"

"For the Uchiha, this is every single one of their childhood nightmares!"

Upon hearing Uchiha Makoto's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned solemn as he slowly drew his pipe.

"Cheng, although your strength and battle achievements are impeccable, I still have to give you some advice..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi a light puff of his pipe, exhaled a cloud of smoke with a contented air, and then spoke slowly.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique values talent above all else; those without talent cannot possibly learn it!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the still somewhat immature Uchiha in front of him, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

"There is no rule in Konoha's battle merit system that forbids the exchange of certain Ninjutsu!"

Uchiha Makoto spoke, he abruptly changed the subject.

"And I'm quite confident in my own talent!"

"No matter how powerful the Flying Thunder God is, it's still just a Ninjutsu!"

Uchiha Makoto looked at the Third Hokage and spoke calmly.

"As for whether we can successfully cultivate it, we'll have to try first and see!"

"All right!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the "stubborn" Uchiha Makoto and sighed helplessly.

Sigh, the Uchiha is so easy to fool!