Fine, I Won't Pretend Anymore. This Trash Konoha Can Go to Hell!

"What did you say?!"

Senju Tobirama's pupils contracted to their limit in an instant!

He could hardly believe his ears.

What had this Uchiha brat just said?

Bullshit?!

He actually dared say that the warning of the dignified Second Hokage was bullshit?!

An unprecedented fury, enough to burn everything to ashes, surged from Tobirama's heart and shot straight to his head!

The veins on the hand resting on the hilt at his waist bulged. In the next second, he nearly drew his blade and erased this reckless brat, along with the evil clan behind him, from the world entirely!

However, just as he was about to draw his sword, the expression on Uchiha Xuan's face suddenly changed.

That unruly mockery, that lofty pity, that chilling killing intent...

All of it vanished without a trace in an instant.

In its place was a nearly fawning smile, brilliant enough to seem somewhat fake.

His body also trembled slightly, at precisely the right moment.

Those eyes that had burned with golden flames returned to their deep black color, and even revealed just the right amount of "panic" and "reverence."

The speed of that change was worthy of an award-winning actor.

"Ah... Hokage-sama, please calm down! Please calm down!"

Xuan's tone also made a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn, becoming incomparably respectful, even carrying the faintest tremor.

"Your... your killing intent just now was too strong. I... I was so frightened that I started spouting nonsense. Please, don't take it to heart!"

As he spoke, he took two steps back and gave Senju Tobirama a deep, ninety-degree bow.

"The Hokage-sama is absolutely right! I understand! I, Uchiha Xuan, am Konoha's man in life and Konoha's ghost in death! From now on, I'll turn over a new leaf and serve the village wholeheartedly. I'll never cause you any more trouble!"

His words sounded utterly sincere, overflowing with emotion and tears.

If they had not seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed that the arrogant youth who had pointed at the Hokage's nose and called him an "old bastard" one second ago had become a terrified, tail-wagging "loyal dog" the next.

This sudden shift did not merely stun Senju Tobirama, who stood on the verge of exploding in rage.

Every other high-ranking official in the meeting room, including Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi, was dumbfounded as well.

What... what was going on?

Had this brat been intimidated by the Hokage-sama's overwhelming presence?

Or had his arrogance just now all been a bluff, and had he finally failed to keep it up and surrendered?

Senju Tobirama stared fixedly at Uchiha Xuan, trying to find even the slightest flaw on that "panicked" face.

But he could see nothing.

There was only perfectly measured fear and heartfelt "remorse" on that face.

His act was too convincing!

The rage that had been about to erupt from Senju Tobirama was like a fire extinguished from head to toe by a basin of cold water.

He felt like a strong man who had gathered all his strength to punch a tiger to death, only for that tiger to suddenly lie down, roll over, and meow at him twice.

How was he supposed to strike now?

Execute a young hero who had already "seen the error of his ways" and "submitted himself," in front of so many high-ranking officials?

Did Senju Tobirama still care about his reputation or not?

"Hmph!"

In the end, Tobirama could only let out a cold snort through his nose, filled with pent-up frustration and unwillingness.

He withdrew his overwhelming killing intent and slowly sat back down.

He knew that killing this brat today was impossible.

Not only could he not kill him, he would have to feed and house him well.

Because the entire village now regarded this brat as a "prophet" and a "great hero."

If he dared touch him again, he would truly never be able to shake off the labels of "persecuting a hero" and "suppressing a genius."

"It's good that you understand."

Tobirama spoke coldly, his tone full of warning.

"Remember what you said today. Konoha does not raise idlers, much less ungrateful wretches."

"Yes, yes, yes! The Hokage-sama is right!"

Xuan remained in his ninety-degree bow, his tone humble to the extreme.

"Then... if there's nothing else, this subordinate... will take his leave first?"

"Get out." Tobirama waved his hand impatiently.

"Yes!"

As though granted a pardon, Xuan straightened up, his face still bearing that terrified expression of someone who had narrowly escaped death.

Cautiously, step by step, he backed away and slowly left the Hokage's office.

Just as the heavy wooden door was about to close.

His gaze swept over the lofty "important figures" in the meeting room one last time.

He saw Senju Tobirama's grim old face, Shimura Danzō's venomous single eye, Hiruzen Sarutobi's worried and helpless expression, and the ugly faces of the other high-ranking officials, who were either gloating or watching coldly from the sidelines.

Listening to Tobirama's undisguised threats and feeling the gloating gazes of Konoha's upper ranks, the last shred of illusion Uchiha Xuan had held toward this village was completely shattered.

He had originally believed that, with his understanding beyond the era and his immense strength, he might be able to try changing this rotten village from within, changing the tragic fate of the Uchiha clan.

But now it seemed.

He had been too naive.

Prejudice was a mountain.

The rot of power ran even deeper, into the marrow.

In a village that knew only infighting and suspicion, one that could not even tolerate heroes, what future was there to speak of? What Will of Fire?

It was simply a joke.

"Bang."

The meeting room's wooden door slowly closed.

It completely shut those ugly faces and that nauseating air behind it.

The instant the wooden door closed.

The panicked expression on Uchiha Xuan's face vanished at once.

In its place was bone-deep coldness and an abyss-like indifference.

He slowly turned around.

Sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, stretching his shadow long, very long.

In his heart, he issued the final command to the existence bound to his soul.

"System."

His voice was calm, without a single ripple.

"I've had enough."

"This rotten, dark, hopeless village..."

"I'm done serving it."

"Release the final mission."

"Hokage-sama." Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Xuan's departing back and spoke worriedly. "Are... are we really just letting him go? I have a feeling there's something wrong with him."

"Something wrong?" Danzo sneered. "I think he was scared out of his wits! The Uchiha really are nothing but a pack of cowardly trash who bully the weak and fear the strong!"

Senju Tobirama said nothing. He merely looked at the tightly shut wooden door. For some reason, the ominous feeling in his heart only grew stronger.

"How much of what he said just now do you think was true?" Tobirama suddenly asked Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.