Hiruzen Sarutobi

"What? Are you planning to hang this old man up there too?"

Before anyone appeared, an aged voice carried over first.

"It's the Third Hokage! The Third Hokage is here!"

"Good! The Third Hokage is here. Let's see if Uchiha Sasuke still dares to act so arrogantly!"

"Third Hokage-sama, you must stand up for our Hyuga clan!"

The injured Hyuga clansmen all cried out excitedly.

The onlookers around them also stirred. They had never expected even the Hokage to be drawn in. This was going to be entertaining.

Under countless gazes filled with worship, awe, and reverence...

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage's hat, slowly approached, several ANBU ninja following closely at his side.

"Interesting. I didn't expect the Hokage himself to come running over for something this trivial!"

Sasuke looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had made quite the grand entrance, and spoke with obvious displeasure.

But at that moment, the electronic mechanical voice rang out in his mind again.

[Ding! Temporary mission triggered!]

[Mission objective: Make Hiruzen Sarutobi, who always looks unruffled, angry by any means necessary!]

[Reward for mission completion: Lottery draws +2]

Oh? Another mission!

Though it was still only two lottery draws, the mission itself was fairly simple.

Making Hiruzen Sarutobi angry shouldn't be difficult... Sasuke rubbed his chin as he began to ponder.

Hyuga Makino, who had fallen to the ground, paid no attention whatsoever to his swollen backside.

With a face full of grief and indignation, he immediately began pouring out his complaints to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Third Hokage-sama, I've suffered so terribly! Not only was I beaten up, but I was humiliated like this in public! If Third Hokage-sama hadn't come to save me, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have the courage to keep living!"

Then, he angrily pointed at Sasuke and roared:

"That brat is the culprit! Third Hokage-sama, you absolutely cannot let him off!"

"Rest assured! As Hokage, I will not allow anyone to attack their fellow villagers without cause. I will certainly seek justice for you!"

After Hiruzen Sarutobi's round of reassurance, Hyuga Makino was so grateful that tears filled his eyes.

He had decided. He would join the ANBU and swear his life to serving the Hokage!

Having won over the man's heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Sasuke and said sternly:

"Although this old man does not know why your strength has suddenly increased so drastically, you should not rely on your power to attack your fellow villagers!"

"As members of the great Konoha family, the power in our hands should be used to protect our companions, not hurt them."

"But Uchiha Sasuke, look at what you have done. Not only did you seriously injure a companion, you even humiliated him like this. Your actions are truly deplorable!"

"Such behavior is no different from betraying the village on the spot! You would be wanted and hunted by all of Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's weathered face was filled with regret.

"To bear the crime of betraying the village at such a young age is truly regrettable! Regrettable! Sigh..."

Sasuke folded his arms across his chest, expressionless as he quietly watched the other man perform.

Seeing that Sasuke remained unmoved, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately changed his tone.

"However, considering your young age, and the fact that your sudden acquisition of great power caused you to lose yourself, this old man can understand your actions!"

"But you have made a mistake. Though you are young, you must still pay for the mistakes you have made!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused there. After pretending to think for a moment, he continued:

"Join the ANBU! There, this old man will personally teach you and make you into a qualified Konoha ninja. Working for the ANBU means serving all of Konoha. This way, not only will you grow, but you will also be able to clear away the mistakes you have made!"

Sasuke was speechless. After all that, the old man just wanted to recruit him.

But on second thought, it seemed perfectly normal.

With that old fox Third Hokage's personality, whenever he saw a child with both strength and talent, he would definitely drag them back to thoroughly brainwash them.

Itachi Uchiha was the classic example of someone successfully brainwashed by the Third Hokage.

"Third Hokage-sama, th-this isn't right, is it?"

Hyuga Makino said dryly.

Hadn't the man said he would seek justice for him? How had it turned into recruiting that brat into the ANBU in the blink of an eye?

And from what the Third Hokage was saying, it seemed like he even wanted to take the boy as his disciple.

What was going on?

Hyuga Makino was completely dumbfounded!

"I have my own plans!"

After casually brushing him off, Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored him. How could the weight of an ordinary jonin compare to that of a monstrous genius?

Then, he extended a hand toward Sasuke, a chrysanthemum-like smile blooming across his aged face.

"Come, little Sasuke. Go back with Grandpa and properly study the Will of Fire. With strength like yours, you should shine for Konoha!"

In his mind, the Hokage was personally extending an invitation and showing such courtesy. Sasuke would surely agree without hesitation!

After some proper molding, he would have another useful and loyal subordinate. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt delighted inside.

"Get lost! Stop making such a disgusting expression at me! I nearly threw up last night's meal just looking at you!"

Sasuke looked utterly disgusted and showed him no courtesy at all.

"And stop calling me that disgusting name. It makes me want to smash that filthy mouth of yours!"

The warm smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face froze. Since becoming Hokage, no one had ever dared speak to him like that.

Don't get angry, don't get angry... He's just an ignorant child.

The main responsibility for a brat like this lay with his parents.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately turned toward Fugaku, who was watching the show among the crowd, and demanded:

"Fugaku, is this the fine son you taught? How exactly did you educate him? He has no respect for his elders! He actually dares to be so disrespectful even toward me, the Hokage!"

Fugaku continued watching the show without even raising his eyelids, as though he had gone deaf.

In truth, seeing the Third Hokage get cursed at felt rather satisfying—he had never expected this old fox to have a day like this.

Over there, however, the leader of Hiruzen Sarutobi's guards could no longer endure it.

When the master was humiliated, the servant would die for him. With the Hokage being publicly insulted, as the Hokage's guard, he had to step forward to uphold the Hokage's dignity.

He immediately took two steps forward and angrily rebuked Sasuke:

"Brat! Watch your attitude! It is your greatest honor that the Hokage values you! Not only do you refuse to accept with tears of gratitude, you even dare insult the Hokage! I think you—"

Smack!

Crack!!

"Since when did a dog get to interrupt?"

Sasuke appeared before the guard leader in an instant and sent him flying with a slap!

More than ten meters away, the guard leader's mask had completely shattered. His nose was crooked, most of his teeth had been knocked out, blood streamed across his face, and he had fainted dead away!

"Uchiha Sasuke! You actually dare attack a fellow village ninja right in front of this old man! Do you truly wish to become a rogue ninja of Konoha?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted angrily, fury blazing in his eyes.

The boy had actually attacked his guard right in front of him. He clearly had no regard whatsoever for him as Hokage.

He was utterly arrogant!

And what brat? This was clearly a little demon!

Sure enough, aside from a rare few, the rest of the Uchiha clan were all born evil!

Isn't he angry now...? Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

At the same time, the system prompt sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Mission completed. Lottery draws +2]

"Now! Immediately hand over the secret behind your sudden surge in strength, and this old man can forgive your crimes just now. Otherwise, I will personally throw you into the ANBU prison!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shifted his objective. This was someone who respected no one, so recruiting him under his command was basically impossible.

He might as well use the boy's reckless attack to force him to hand over the secret behind his increase in strength.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart burned with desire. He desperately wanted to know how a seven-year-old brat had suddenly gained the power to instantly kill a jonin!

"Heh! You want to know? Fine, but you'll need to trade something for it!"

Sasuke said with a cheerful smile.

"Oh? What do you want? As long as this old man has it, I will definitely trade it to you!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up, and excitement surged within him.

Sure enough, a child was still a child. With just a little coaxing, he could get the information out of him.

What an easy mark!

Whether they were Konoha villagers watching the show or observing ninja, everyone around them held their breath and pricked up their ears.

"Heh!"

Sasuke suddenly grinned. Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face, he chuckled.

"That thing is your head. Give me your head, and I'll tell you the secret immediately!"