The pressure on top of his head made Hiruzen Sarutobi freeze.
Uchiha Genya!
Ever since reclaiming the Hokage position, Hiruzen Sarutobi had felt that he had long since mastered his composure, able to face any storm without a change of expression.
Yet now, killing intent still surfaced uncontrollably in his eyes.
As the Third Hokage, he had always regarded himself as Konoha's supreme ruler.
And yet, first thing in the morning, an Uchiha junior was patting the head that represented Konoha's highest authority!
Because of their height difference, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only roll his eyes upward to look at him.
He clenched his back teeth and drew a deep breath, preparing to suppress the fury in his chest.
But he had only drawn that breath halfway.
Pffft-!
A deafening fart suddenly blasted out of the pants of the Police Force member beside him!
It was loud and long, and even changed pitch at the end!
The culprit was Uchiha Cong. Without blushing or missing a beat, the lad reached down and hitched up his belt as though nothing had happened.
Xuanye rolled his eyes in disgust, immediately pulled his hand off Hiruzen Sarutobi's head, and slid straight back more than five meters.
As he retreated, Xuanye moved his fingers slightly, silently unleashing a Gentle Wind Release.
A soft current of air precisely swept up the toxic gas around Uchiha Cong, turned into a fierce gust, and slammed squarely into Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face!
What the hell did this bastard eat for breakfast?!
The stench turned Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face crimson. His eyes bulged as he stared fixedly at Uchiha Cong, nearly passing out on the spot.
Most people in the shinobi world had high offense but low defense. Apart from monsters like Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage, who specifically trained their bodies into steel, even a village's Kage would die if a kunai pierced a vital spot.
Not to mention that Hiruzen Sarutobi was getting on in years, and his pipe never left his hand, so his lung capacity was poor to begin with.
That huge breath of toxic gas had nearly sent the Third Hokage straight to the Pure Land to meet the Second!
If the mighty Shinobi Hero collapsed outside the Konoha Military Police Force's entrance, foaming at the mouth after being overcome by a fart, the reputation he had built over his entire life would be ruined.
"Lord Hokage, why are you glaring at me like that?"
Uchiha Cong spread his hands and said with complete innocence, "If you've got gas in your belly, you naturally have to let it out. Konoha's public security regulations don't say you can't fart on duty."
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's livid face, then at his captain's approving gaze a short distance away, Uchiha Cong felt utterly assured.
His name contained the character for "clever," and his mind worked faster than anyone's.
When the captain had been stroking the Hokage's head just now, he had given him a subtle look.
Uchiha Cong had understood instantly: the captain had made his show of force and was ready to quit while he was ahead. He needed someone to interrupt and provide a way out!
The captain couldn't just keep his hand on the Hokage's head forever, could he? What if the old man really lost his temper, went berserk in the street, and started fighting the captain?
Taking some heat off the captain was exactly what an underling ought to do!
Uchiha Cong puffed out his chest and fearlessly met the Third Hokage's murderous gaze.
So what if I embarrass myself by letting out a stinking fart in public?
Compared to my future in the Konoha Military Police Force, what the hell does dignity matter?
Besides, when it comes to shamelessness, who in all of Konoha could beat this Third Hokage standing in front of me?
He trained three freaks obsessed with sex, gambling, and drugs, and back then, to suppress White Fang, he used rumors to drive Hatake Sakumo to suicide.
Compared to this old fox, my fart is as innocent as a blank sheet of paper!
It took a long while before the stench at the entrance finally dispersed completely.
Hiruzen Sarutobi panted heavily, shot Uchiha Cong a vicious glare, and shifted his gaze back to Xuanye.
He had come within a hair's breadth of losing all reason and attacking on the spot.
First the captain had humiliated him by stroking his head, and then a subordinate had blasted a fart into his face. Any other ruler would have flipped the table and turned hostile by now.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi forced himself to swallow the insult.
Whatever else qualified him to be called the Shinobi Hero, his ability to bend and yield was unquestionably among the best in the shinobi world!
The only reason he could endure so much was that circumstances left him no choice.
Late last night, after learning that his own son Asuma had been locked in the Police Force's jail, he had intended to go straight over and demand his release.
But no sooner had he stepped outside than word arrived that Hokage Advisor Mitokado Homura had also been arrested and his home raided!
Hiruzen Sarutobi had nearly exploded with rage. He had wanted to mobilize the Anbu immediately to encircle and crush the Konoha Military Police Force, teaching the arrogant Uchiha Genya a bloody lesson.
But just as he was about to give the order, an urgent intelligence report from the front had landed on his desk:
Kumogakure's Peace Negotiation Delegation had already departed and would arrive in Konoha in a few days to formally begin ceasefire negotiations!
Something this major could not possibly be concealed. Word would soon spread throughout the village.
In the villagers' eyes, Konoha had won the war, and Kumogakure was coming of its own accord to bow its head and sue for peace.
Everyone was counting on the Third Hokage to display his might at the negotiating table and secure a hefty sum in reparations for Konoha.
As long as he handled these negotiations brilliantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige could reach its peak once again!
At this critical juncture, absolutely nothing could be allowed to go wrong!
If Uchiha Genya went mad now and plastered the streets and alleys with accusations that Mitokado Homura and son had betrayed their own side and sold confidential information to Kumogakure, Konoha High Command would lose all face, and the coming negotiations would leave them utterly on the back foot!
After weighing the pros and cons all night, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finally decided to swallow his pride and come back down.
Isn't it just money and power you want? Fine! Take it all!
As long as this scandal can be kept firmly under wraps for now, what does bowing my head for a while matter?
To destroy someone, first let them run wild!
Once the negotiations with Kumogakure are over and I have my hands free to stabilize the situation completely, I'll have plenty of ways to deal with the entire Uchiha Clan at my leisure!
As for the sharp blade to use against the Uchiha, I've long since chosen the man for the job!
"Well done."
Standing on the steps, Xuanye openly gave Uchiha Cong a thumbs-up.
Who said the Uchiha Clan was full of brainless brutes? Look at Uchiha Cong. His ability to read the room is incredible. With a little cultivation, he'll definitely make a capable lieutenant.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Captain!"
Uchiha Cong immediately seized the opening and offered some modest flattery.
The smile on Xuanye's face froze instantly.
Does this brat know how to talk? What does you farting on someone have to do with me? Have I ever taught you how to fart?
The corner of Xuanye's mouth twitched, and he immediately withdrew his high opinion of the lad.
"Phew..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi automatically filtered out the ridiculous exchange between superior and subordinate, drew a deep breath of fresh air, and forced an amiable smile as he looked at Xuanye.
"Captain Xuanye, I have heard all about what happened last night. Thank you for all your hard work maintaining the village's public order lately."
When it came to saying one thing to someone's face and doing another behind their back, if Hiruzen Sarutobi ranked second, no one in the shinobi world would dare claim first place.
"You're too kind, Lord Hokage. It's all for the village. As captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, arresting a few parasites who betray their own people is simply my duty. It's no trouble at all."
Xuanye smiled as he delivered his official platitudes.
For the village?
Hearing those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eye twitched hard twice.
That was clearly the catchphrase he normally used to fool young shinobi. Coming from Xuanye's mouth now, it sounded utterly mocking!
If you really cared about the village, would you have demanded money from Kakashi last night? Have you no shame?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's stomach churned. Forcing down his revulsion, he maintained his kindly smile and continued:
"Captain Xuanye, I have seen your devotion to the public good. It pains me to see the Konoha Military Police Force so short-staffed and working so hard. That is why I signed and approved the expansion application you submitted first thing this morning."
Xuanye did not so much as blink at those words.
He had expected the expansion application to be approved.
But he had arrested three major figures last night, and the old man wanted to sweep it all aside with a single expansion approval?
He wasn't getting off that easily!
Before you continue