He did not believe it, anyway.
Hyuga Akira was truly at a loss now. "You won't even believe me when I tell the truth."
Sunagakure had immediately suppressed the news, so Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally had not received any definite intelligence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Enough, Hyuga Akira. I am hereby suspending you from all duties. Stay home and reflect. Once you've thought things through and told us what happened, you can have your position back."
Whatever Hyuga Akira had done, it had benefited Konoha, so naturally, he could not punish him too severely.
A token punishment would do.
"Fine, fine. Whatever makes you happy." Hyuga Akira looked at him speechlessly.
He had told the truth, yet Hiruzen still refused to believe him. All he could do was head outside.
"Wait." Hiruzen Sarutobi called him back.
"What now?" Hyuga Akira spread his hands to indicate his innocence.
"Your forehead protector!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly.
Helplessly, Hyuga Akira reached into his breast pocket and took his forehead protector out of his equipment slot.
He placed the forehead protector on the desk.
"Happy now?"
"That will do. Until you're reinstated, you are forbidden from engaging in any shinobi operations."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Hyuga Akira replied lazily.
It seemed getting Wind Release from Hiruzen Sarutobi was out of the question.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was not his only source of Wind Release.
Once Hyuga Akira had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi bristled and glared.
"Would telling the truth kill that brat?"
If he knew exactly what Akira had done, Konoha could have seized the chance to extort a few things.
The boy really would not respond to either the carrot or the stick.
Hyuga Akira returned home helplessly and saw that Machi had reclaimed her throne.
The sofa.
She had started snacking and watching television.
Wasn't she