You're Taking the Blame!

But what did any of this have to do with him?

Hikaru turned back to look at the Third Hokage. In the darkness, the silver hair atop the Third Hokage's head stood out starkly. Hikaru sighed inwardly. The Third Elder really had grown old.

Why bother? If he had not gone too far this time, Hikaru would not have wanted to fall out with him either. At the end of the day, Hikaru still felt a strong sense of belonging to Konoha. Otherwise, he would have taken a path much like Madara Uchiha's.

Of course, that only referred to his attitude toward Konoha, not that Hikaru intended to follow Madara Uchiha's old path.

A nostalgic smile appeared on the Third Hokage's face as he continued, "Konoha has come this far, and I have watched it grow all along. In truth, I am very proud, because it bears the marks left by me, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Naturally, it also bears the marks left by the Uchiha Clan and by you, Uchiha Hikaru."

Hikaru rolled his eyes. The old man had called him out here in the middle of the night just to say this?

"Third Elder, just say what you want to say. The Uchiha Clan has plenty of matters waiting for me to handle. I do not have much time to stand here with you and admire the night view while talking about nonsense. I admit that what you said makes sense, and it is moving, but you went too far this time."

Hikaru felt that the Third Hokage had gone too far, so he would strike back and say it to his face. That was what reassured the Third Hokage most. If Hikaru kept it hidden and only retaliated after finding an opportunity, that would have been truly worrying.

"Ha