"Lord Hokage."
On the cliff behind Hokage Rock, the Third Hokage saw Hyuga Wuye and Kushina.
He nodded slightly and said to Kushina, "Kushina, I want to have a chat with Wuye. Go home first."
"Huh?"
Kushina froze for a moment, then looked up at Wuye with some concern.
"Go home without worry. Lord Hokage already agreed to us; he wouldn't go back on his word now," Hyuga Wuye said, gently stroking her fiery red hair.
"Oh, then I'll head back first." Kushina nodded to him, then said to the Third Hokage, "Goodbye, Lord Hokage."
Watching her leap down and quickly leave Hokage Rock, the Third Hokage took out his large pipe, packed it, lit it, and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. "Kushina is very dependent on you."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Hyuga Wuye watched Kushina's departing figure, his expression gentle.
"I misjudged you at first," the Third Hokage suddenly said, glancing at him.
Wuye looked baffled. "Huh? What did you say?"
"Enough pretending!"
The Third Hokage tapped Hyuga Wuye on the head with his pipe. "You little brat aren't stupid at all. That nonsense about devoting yourself wholeheartedly to serving the Hokage was all an act, wasn't it?"
Hyuga Wuye scratched his head. "I didn't..."
"Wuye..."
The Third Hokage looked at him through the smoke he had exhaled. "I can't quite see through you... I've met children your age who knew much and thought much, but I have no idea what you're thinking."
At that moment, none of his usual warmth remained. His eyes behind the smoke seemed like X-rays, sweeping back and forth over Wuye.
"You deliberately exposed your Sharingan because you didn't want me to restrain you?"
"You plotted revenge against the two great elders of the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan because you didn't want to