Half an hour after Chinya awoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival was completely unexpected.
More surprisingly, Chinya could actually see a flicker of warmth and affection in Hiruzen's eyes.
Quickly running through possible reasons in his head, Chinya immediately guessed at several explanations.
But for now, pretending was most important.
Chinya clearly understood—this was an opportunity.
If this talk with Hiruzen went well, maybe things in Konoha could finally get better for him.
Excitedly trying to rise from bed, Chinya said, "Hokage-sama, why have you come?"
Immediately, Hiruzen stepped forward and gently pressed down on Chinya's shoulder. "Your wounds haven't healed yet. Rest well and don't push yourself," he said kindly.
Touched, Chinya's eyes welled up. His voice cracked as he said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen pulled up a chair by the bed and let out a sigh. "Chinya, these years have been hard on you."
At those words, Chinya clenched his jaw, silent tears slipping down his cheeks.
Looking at the tears on Chinya's face, Hiruzen asked, "Chinya, do you hate Konoha?"
Instantly shaking his head, Chinya replied, "How could I ever hate Konoha? Back then, my parents were classified as rogue ninja, but Konoha still took me in—I'll always be grateful for that. Before dying, my mother also told me to make up for their past wrongs within Konoha. That's why I could never hate Konoha!"
After listening to Chinya's answer, Hiruzen remained silent, showing no change in expression.
After watching Chinya for a moment, he asked again, "Then do you hate the Uchiha?"
Chinya's expression darkened instantly. He spat out one word, nearly growling it through clenched teeth: "Yes! It was the Uchiha Clan's unilateral decisions and actions that forced my parents to turn their backs on Konoha and be separated!
When I returned to Konoha, they refused to acknowledge me. They insulted and mistreated me openly, calling me a bastard.
And it's all because of the Uchiha that the villagers have come to hate me.
I never wanted to be part of the Uchiha. If they refuse to accept me, I won't even bother pretending I belong to them. But they treated me so cruelly—it's all because of the Uchiha that I've been isolated by all of Konoha!"
This time, when Chinya answered, Hiruzen finally showed emotion.
Sighing heavily, Hiruzen said, "For your situation, Chinya, I've always felt guilty. Although I am Hokage, this matter involved internal affairs of the Uchiha Clan, so I, as Hokage, couldn't easily interfere. I hope you can understand.
Here," he continued, locking eyes with Chinya steadily, "I offer you this chance—an opportunity to return to the Uchiha Clan and become a true Uchiha. Would you accept?"
His gaze burning with intensity, Hiruzen watched Chinya closely.
Without hesitation, Chinya rejected it outright. "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but I refuse!"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Why?"
Chinya answered firmly, "I don't want to join the Uchiha Clan in a humiliating way. Even if I joined with your support now, my current situation wouldn't really change."
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in confusion, "But if you join the Uchiha Clan, at least villagers won't discriminate against you anymore. It would significantly improve your living conditions. Don't you want to change your current situation?"
Chinya retorted, "Hokage-sama, I know why villagers discriminate against me—it's simply because I carry half the blood of the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan takes advantage of their position as Konoha's military police and behaves arrogantly, causing nearly all villagers to dislike them.
Even if I rejoined the Uchiha Clan, villagers might not discriminate against me openly, but they'd still look down on me in their hearts..."
Hiruzen suddenly interrupted Chinya and sternly said, "Watch your words! Konoha's Military Police Force was established by the Second Hokage. The Uchiha Clan has contributed to Konoha. As a member of Konoha, Chinya, you cannot slander a ninja clan that has contributed to our village!"
Chinya secretly thought to himself,
This old fox... If I didn't already know he was currently troubled by the Uchiha situation, I might actually believe he was protecting them.
Chinya clearly understood Hiruzen's intentions—he was just putting on an act for him.
Otherwise, Hiruzen wouldn't have specifically mentioned that Konoha's Military Police Force was established by the Second Hokage or used the phrase "as a member of Konoha."
With firm determination, Chinya said, "Hokage-sama, I don't want to join the Uchiha Clan. What I desire is to become a ninja and contribute to Konoha—to make up for my parents' mistakes and prove myself through my own efforts so all villagers will acknowledge me.
I want them to understand—Chinya isn't part of the Uchiha Clan nor some double-crosser or traitor. I am simply a loyal ninja of Konoha. That's all!"
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "Earning recognition from every single villager—that's no easy task. Are you ready to face this challenge, Chinya?"
Chinya's expression became resolute: "Yes, Hokage-sama! I've already made up my mind!"
The way Hiruzen now looked at Chinya was like watching a promising young protégé: "Good! I believe you, Chinya!
Since you prefer not joining the Uchiha Clan, I won't push you any further. Your previous house was too far away. Once you're discharged from hospital, I'll arrange new housing for you—a place closer to the Ninja Academy will be more convenient for your studies."
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama," Chinya said gratefully.
Inside his heart, Chinya exhaled deeply.
Dealing with this sly old fox really wore him out.
Had he asked outright whether he hated Konoha, could he really have said yes? Just one word—'hatred'—and Chinya knew his days might be numbered.
The Hiruzen before him wasn't the elderly version he'd heard about.
In his later years, Hiruzen might have mellowed—but now, in his prime, there was nothing soft about his methods.
Then came questions about whether he hated the Uchiha Clan. Chinya guessed that if he answered 'no hate,' Hiruzen likely wouldn't trust him either.
With the whole village isolating and insulting him—all because of the Uchiha—how could anyone not hate them?
When it came to expressing hatred for the Uchiha Clan, Chinya could seize the opportunity to show his loyalty by telling Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to be a ninja of Konoha, not one loyal to the Uchiha.
This kind of answer was foolproof.
As for Hiruzen's suggestion that Chinya should join the Uchiha Clan, Chinya knew it was nothing more than a test.
Hiruzen was simply trying to gauge his true intentions.
Now asking Chinya to move closer to the Ninja Academy meant that Sarutobi had mostly believed him.
Unless something unforeseen happened, once Chinya became a ninja, he'd officially align with the Hokage's faction.
Though Hiruzen wouldn't do anything about the villagers' or the Uchiha's discrimination against him, at least as a ninja, Chinya wouldn't be completely sidelined anymore.
After all, even among ninjas, personal loyalties still carried weight.
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