Who the hell told Miya that nonsense?

After more than a month, Miya finally saw Konoha's gates again, with Tashiro Masato slung over his shoulder.

"Finally, I'm back!"

At the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was notified as soon as Miya returned to the village. After Miya submitted his mission report and handed over Tashiro Masato, who was barely recognizable as human and clinging to his last breath, Hiruzen had someone bring Miya to him.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

Hearing the voice from inside the office, Miya, who had knocked heavily twice, felt no nervousness whatsoever. His indignation had not diminished in the slightest; if anything, it kept rising.

Creeeak.

"Yo, old man Third, keeping busy?"

As soon as he entered, Miya spoke irritably to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat there working.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his paperwork and gave Miya a kindly smile.

"Miya, you're back!"

"Any thoughts on your experience with this mission?"

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, then...

Then the expression on his face froze.

"Miya, you little brat, what are you doing?!"

Miya, who had his head down counting money, glanced up, then went back to counting his freshly collected mission reward, one bill at a time.

"Counting money! Can't you see?"

His lack of respect made Hiruzen Sarutobi furious, but he quickly suppressed his anger.

"You little brat..."

Seeing Miya like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help rubbing his brow with a headache. He felt a little guilty...

He admitted that sending Miya out of the village on missions before had been a pretty underhanded thing to do.

He had originally wanted to give Miya a kindly smile and put the matter behind them, but one look at Miya told him it wouldn't be that simple.

"I can see that, but do you need to count your own money?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did his best to calm himself, offering himself some reassurance.

Miya is just a child. Don't make too much of it. Don't make too much of it, don't make too much of it...

Miya had received exactly one million ryo for three missions in total: one B-rank and two A-rank. After counting the last bill, he carefully put the money away, then looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said:

"Yeah, I do!"

"I just got this reward. What if they didn't give me the full amount?"

"Oh, right, what did you want me for, old man?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eye twitched. Did Miya really think he couldn't hear the insinuation?

Deep breaths. Don't get angry, don't get angry...

Like hell I won't get angry! If I don't rein him in, he'll be climbing into the heavens next.

"Miya, I called you here to ask whether you had any trouble adjusting while you were out of the village on your missions."

Hiruzen Sarutobi still didn't get angry. His tone was especially kind and benevolent, like a breath of spring.

"That's it?"

"I did fine. Everything I ate tasted great, and the surroundings were nice too. Perfect for a vacation."

"Anything else?"

"If not, I'm leaving."

With that, Miya started to turn and leave, but Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly called him back and spoke earnestly:

"Miya, do you know what the Will of Fire is?"

Miya nodded, then recited:

"Wherever leaves dance, the fire will burn on. The light of the fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

"That's it, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been preparing to launch into a long-winded attempt to brainwash Miya, but Miya's smooth recitation left him dumbfounded.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go!

"Very good. It seems you understand the meaning of the Will of Fire and are an excellent inheritor."

"Old man, what do you actually want? Hurry up and say it. I'm in a rush to go see Rin and Kurenai!"

Still disgruntled, Miya looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and demanded an answer.

Forget it, forget it!

At my age, I shouldn't bicker with a child.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Miya helplessly. His plan couldn't do without Miya, after all!

At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was angry at the village's disappointing new generation. The greatest genius among them was a kid with a personality like Miya's.

Alas!

If only Miya had a more stable personality!

After calming himself down a little, Hiruzen Sarutobi said patiently:

"I'm planning to promote you to Chunin. What do you think?"

"Happy? Surprised?"

Miya waved his hand dismissively and replied:

"Not interested, not happy, not surprised."

Miya was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi had an ulterior scheme behind this and wanted him to take the bait.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected Miya to be overjoyed, but his eloquent speech died before it could be born.

And Miya's next remark nearly made him die of anger.

"Instead of thinking about promoting me, you might as well spend that time peeping into the women's bathhouse."

"What a waste of time."

Hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly bit his tongue and sprayed out a mouthful of salty soda.

Pfft!!!

Who the hell told Miya that nonsense?

Hiruzen Sarutobi roared inwardly, feeling awful all over.

How did Miya know about something so private?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched, and he asked in a low voice:

"Mi... Miya!"

"Who told you about that?"

"You mustn't believe it, and you absolutely mustn't go around saying it, understand?"

Miya made an OK sign, then said with an indifferent look:

"I think... Teacher Orochimaru mentioned it by accident, or maybe I heard it somewhere else."

"I forgot!"

Miya tilted his head and spoke with some uncertainty.

But inwardly, he was thinking:

Teacher Orochimaru, you "dumped" me outside the village all by myself. I'd be letting myself down if I didn't screw you over this time.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Orochimaru had said it, he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

Orochimaru...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was now certain Orochimaru had said it. No amount of explaining from Orochimaru would change his mind.

"Ahem, ahem!!"

"Miya, don't listen to Orochimaru's nonsense."

"As the Third Hokage, how could I do such a thing?"

After coughing twice, Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a feeble defense.

"Enough about that. I have a few questions for you, and you must answer honestly!"

Having nearly let Miya lead him astray, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly changed the subject and brought up the real reason he had called Miya over.

He was afraid that if he let Miya keep talking, his heart would give out first.

"All right, ask away!"

Miya's expression said, "I'm giving you face, so hurry up and ask. I'm leaving as soon as you're done." It left Hiruzen Sarutobi feeling somewhat helpless and powerless.

"What do you think of Konoha? Do you like this village?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was calm as still water, but deep in his eyes lay great anticipation.

"Of course it's great!"

"I really love our village."

Miya's confident expression gave Hiruzen Sarutobi great comfort, making him think Miya could still be salvaged.

But Miya's next words left him completely dumbfounded.