Testing the Waters

The contempt in that glance was undisguised, as though it seeped from his bones. His mouth turned down slightly, his chin tilted, and his whole bearing said the same thing: You're not worthy!

If Fugaku had shown a little more backbone earlier, Yongye wouldn't have minded giving him the push he needed to soar.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Fugaku was beyond help.

Yongye still wanted to make that turtle who hid in his shell miserable. How could he let him become Hokage?

Uchiha Yongye slipped his hands back into his pockets and raised his chin slightly. His gaze moved off Uchiha Fugaku's face and swept over the clan leaders still staring at him.

"I'm just a lowly Genin. Who am I to have a say in something as important as choosing the Hokage? Do whatever you want. It's got nothing to do with me."

His voice was lazy, every word drawn out with careless ease.

The square fell silent for a moment.

Then, all at once, countless gazes turned complicated.

Mitokado Homura's mouth twitched violently, and he ground his cane against the ground. Utatane Koharu's aged face flushed crimson. Her lips trembled several times, but in the end she said nothing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head. With his hat removed, his deeply wrinkled face lay fully exposed to the sunlight.

His gaze locked on Yongye's face. A murderous glare churned in those old eyes, so intense it seemed almost solid!

Only now do you remember you're just a lowly Genin?

Yongye ignored them.

He activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished in a flash.

Uchiha Kuteng, the Uchiha Great Elder, stamped his feet repeatedly, leaning on his cane in fury!

His aged face turned liver-red, veins bulged across his forehead, and his lips quivered violently, setting the white beard on his chin