Looking at the students of Class 2 wailing all over the ground, his expression was cold.
Although the students whose bodies had been set on fire were extinguished by Hiashi and Nawaki, most of them had serious burns.
If they were not treated in time, these scars might remain for the rest of their lives.
"Look what you've done? You damned little brat!"
Shimada Chūnin roared angrily, striding toward the silent Renjiro.
Renjiro reached to his waist, where he found the kunai left by his father!
Shimada was very fast, but someone else moved as well — Renjiro's homeroom teacher, Aoki, Class 1, Grade 1's instructor. He stepped forward, raising a hand to block Shimada.
"Shimada, calm down!"
"How can I stay calm? Look at what he's done! Such a vicious incident…" Shimada barked furiously.
But Aoki interrupted him directly:
"Shut up. He's just a child, and you still call yourself a teacher?"
"Hmph! Nice words, but these injured children are all from my class…"
"Look carefully whose class this is. If I were you, what I should be doing now is taking the injured to get treatment," Aoki replied calmly.
Shimada snorted coldly. "Hmph! I will report this matter to the Hokage."
"Yeah." Aoki nodded. This matter had already caused too much trouble. Both Class 1, Grade 1 and Class 1, Grade 2 might have to suspend lessons. The Hokage had to be informed.
Even if Uchiha Renjiro was supported, the final decision would still be made by the Hokage.
Aoki glanced at Renjiro's calm expression, as if he wanted to ask something, but in the end he said nothing. He decided to leave the matter to the Hokage.
He walked past Renjiro and went to Mikoto.
At this time, Mikoto's eyes were dull. She stood motionless, clearly frightened.
Aoki sighed, took her hand, and led her out of the classroom.
Not long after, three figures appeared. Receiving orders, they rushed straight to the scene.
The Hokage took the affairs of the Ninja Academy very seriously. In his heart, the Academy could not be allowed to fall into chaos.
Uchiha Renjiro was arrested!
The Sannin themselves came, and Renjiro had no power to resist. Tsunade grabbed him roughly and carried him before the Third Hokage — Sarutobi Hiruzen.
For once, Sarutobi Hiruzen set aside his pipe and looked at Renjiro seriously.
After a long silence, he shook his head and asked softly:
"Kid, who taught you ninjutsu?"
"Ninjutsu? You mean the Phoenix Fire Technique? I taught myself, just from looking at my father's scrolls!" Renjiro said proudly, smiling.
"You little brat, still laughing? Do you know how serious this is? Huh?" The hot-tempered Tsunade stepped forward and smacked him across the head.
Renjiro rubbed his hair and muttered:
"What's the big deal? A bunch of people came to beat me up — can't I fight back? You're the stupid one, not me!"
"What did you say, brat!!!" Tsunade roared, lifting him by the collar. She shouted at him, but strangely, she did not strike again. Deep down, she felt he hadn't really done wrong.
As for not using ninjutsu against classmates — that was meaningless talk.
They were shinobi. Unity and friendship had their place, but shinobi were bloodthirsty wolves, not docile sheep.
A group of second-years had been beaten by a first-year — and they still had the gall to complain?
Though none of them believed Renjiro was blameless, neither would they condone hypocrisy.
"According to the second-year homeroom teacher, Shimada, Uchiha Fugaku had already lost the will to fight back. He told you to stop, so why did you keep going?"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice cut through, a twisted smile curling his lips.
Renjiro blinked. "What are you talking about? I just glared at him. He fainted from fright — and you blame me?"
"Glared at him? More than that. From the reports, he suffered severe mental trauma. Clearly caused by an illusion, wasn't it?" Orochimaru pressed, savoring the moment.
The Hokage's office fell silent.
After a long pause, Tsunade exploded again.
"You liar! You little brat — why don't you tell the truth? If you resist, I'll punish you harshly. If you confess, I'll punish you leniently!"
"Ah… haha! I just learned a C-rank genjutsu recently, so I wanted to try it on someone…"
Renjiro touched his nose awkwardly, looking almost shy.
"Hiss…"
Several people in the office gasped. Silence fell again.
No one thought he was lying.
His words matched a child's nature perfectly.
That was exactly the reason the Ninja Academy didn't teach anything beyond the Three Basic Techniques — because of situations like this.
A child mastering ninjutsu early, itching to use it, showing off, or testing it on others…
At that moment, a masked Anbu appeared, handing Sarutobi Hiruzen a report. It contained Renjiro's personal file — and his parents' details.
The Hokage read it, then casually handed it to Orochimaru before lighting his pipe.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. He knew his teacher well. The Hokage's softened posture meant he likely wouldn't punish Renjiro severely.
After the Sannin had finished, the report was passed to Konoha's two advisors and the shadowy figure behind them.
Just as Orochimaru predicted, Sarutobi spoke sternly at first, criticizing Renjiro. Then he shifted to the Will of Fire.
He recalled Renjiro's father, Uchiha Haji, praising him as a great shinobi who embodied the Will of Fire — selfless and unafraid of sacrifice.
He claimed Osamu had named his son Renjiro hoping he would surpass him, inherit his unfinished will, and become a splendid shinobi.
The Third Hokage further stated that since Renjiro's parents were no longer alive, he himself would pay out of pocket to cover the medical costs of the injured students, in honor of Uchiha Osamu's sacrifice.
He even declared he would apologize personally to the injured and their families on Renjiro's behalf.
To this display of "benevolence," Renjiro naturally reacted with gratitude, even bursting into tears as he hugged Tsunade's white, delicate thighs.
Jiraiya, watching, was overcome with jealousy and resentment.
Seeing Renjiro crying so pitifully, Tsunade's heart softened. She didn't push him away. After all, he was just a five-year-old boy — a poor child without parents, who blamed himself for everything.
At that moment, another Anbu appeared, whispered something to the Hokage, and vanished again after receiving his orders.
End of the chapter.