In the early morning, sunlight streamed down, reflecting off the glass and illuminating the young man.
"Chirp, chirp!" Crisp bird calls echoed in the courtyard, where dozens of birds perched on the trees, chirping in unison like a grand chorus.
"Hoo!" Letting out a long breath, Ren opened his eyes and stretched his stiff body.
Unconsciously, he had refined his Chakra all night, but due to his strong mental energy, he didn't feel much fatigue; instead, he felt refreshed.
After stretching his limbs and checking the time, Ren quickly washed up and then left with Slinky.
Ren walked aimlessly through the bustling crowd when a sharp shout suddenly caught his attention.
"What's the commotion up ahead? Why are there so many people?"
"I saw it! It's the son of the Uchiha Clan Elder and Hokage-sama's son clashing! Let's go, let's hurry and watch!"
Ren heard every word of the passersby's whispers.
Ren's expression changed.
The son of the Uchiha Clan Elder was Uchiha Ryufeng, wasn't he? Why was he clashing with Asuma Sarutobi?
Although the two had often disliked each other at school, they usually didn't provoke each other.
Why did they suddenly fall out today?
If it were just ordinary children fighting, it would be one thing, but with their identities, it could be seen as a childish squabble on a small scale, or a covert confrontation between the Hokage faction and the Uchiha Clan on a larger scale.
Never mind, I'll go take a look first.
Ren collected his scattered thoughts and pushed his way through the crowd.
Effortlessly, Ren squeezed into the front row and finally saw the two groups of people inside.
On the left were three Uchiha youths led by Uchiha Ryufeng, and on the right were Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, led by Asuma Sarutobi.
Both sides glared at each other angrily, but neither made the first move.
Listening to the conversations of those around him, Ren finally learned the whole story.
It turned out that the two groups had run into each other while shopping.
Asuma Sarutobi had made a sarcastic remark about "these arrogant Uchiha" behind their backs.
Unexpectedly, a few Uchiha heard him.
Uchiha Ryufeng, who usually didn't get along with Asuma Sarutobi at school, couldn't possibly tolerate such disrespect and immediately retorted.
At this time, Asuma Sarutobi was also a spoiled young master, and the two exchanged words until they completely fell out.
The two groups stood in confrontation in the middle.
Uchiha Ryufeng spoke first: "Let's not waste words here.
If you have the guts, let's speak with strength.
It just so happens that there are three of us; how about we go to the duelling ground and practice?"
"Go then, as if I'm afraid of you."
Asuma Sarutobi said without hesitation.
How could he, the son of the Hokage, lose to these arrogant Uchiha?
Uchiha Ryufeng wasted no more words and led his people, turning to walk towards the training ground.
Asuma Sarutobi was not to be outdone and followed closely with the two Konoha gatekeepers.
The onlookers exchanged glances, then unanimously decided to rush to the duelling ground to secure seats.
No way, the son of the Uchiha Clan Elder and the son of the Hokage clashing—this gossip must be witnessed!
What we say, even the Six Paths Sage can't stop.
Ren leisurely followed the crowd towards the duelling ground.
Observe and wait, that was Ren's current thought.
By the time Ren arrived at the duelling ground with the flow of people, the seats on both sides were already packed.
There was nothing he could do but squeeze to the front row, where he would be in the direct line of fire, to watch.
"How do you want to fight? Lay out the rules."
Uchiha Ryufeng stretched his limbs and said, looking at Asuma Sarutobi opposite him.
"One-on-one is boring.
Let's do a three-on-three team battle."
Asuma Sarutobi looked at the three people opposite him, a plan forming in his mind.
"Alright, we'll start in ten minutes."
Uchiha Ryufeng, suspecting nothing, began warming up with the other two youths.
Ren frowned, his peripheral vision sweeping around.
Under his perception, several Chakras no weaker than his own were faintly spread in all directions, surrounding the duelling ground.
Anbu, huh…
It seems the Village higher-ups have also noticed this farce.
Hopefully, this won't exacerbate the conflict between the two factions again.
Hokage Office.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who inherited his teachings from Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, was revered as the strongest Third Hokage in history.
During the Chunin Exams, he sacrificed himself to defeat his former disciple Orochimaru by using the forbidden Jutsu, Reaper Death Seal.
At this time, he was not yet the frail old man of the "Prince" era; he was in his prime.
The title "Professor" was well-deserved.
At this moment, his brow was furrowed as he looked at the crystal ball on the Hokage's desk, which projected the current situation of the duelling ground.
The Telescope Jutsu, known as the "thousand-mile eye that can see through all things," clearly indicates that this Jutsu is an auxiliary Ninjutsu.
Furthermore, the crystal ball capable of monitoring Naruto was not inherently special; it was merely a medium for casting the Telescope Jutsu.
In other words, even if the Third Hokage were to use a different crystal ball, he could still observe every move of Konoha Village residents through the Telescope Jutsu.
"The Uchiha Clan, huh? What a troublesome Clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two factions in the crystal ball, then waved his hand, and the image on the ball changed to a view of the Uchiha Clan's compound.
The Anbu had already been dispatched.
Hopefully, this incident wouldn't provoke the Uchiha's displeasure.
It truly was a turbulent time.
These past few years, after the Second Ninja World War, other Ninja Villages had mostly recovered their military strength and were once again coveting the Land of Fire's territory.
Every Ninja World War had been a situation where Konoha Village fought against four other Villages.
If it weren't for their internal conflicts and mutual animosity, it would be uncertain whether Konoha could have held out until the Third Shinobi World War.
"Hiruzen, what are you thinking about?"
Just then, a figure pushed open the door and entered, arms crossed, his right eye bandaged, his gaze sombre, and two scars on his chin.
He spoke to the pensive Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Oh, Danzo, it's nothing.
I was thinking about the Uchiha Clan."
Looking at his old companion who had fought alongside him for decades, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows relaxed, and he said with a wry smile to Danzo.
The person who arrived was Konoha's "Pot King," the 5.5th Hokage, Danzo Shimura!
Although many people viewed Danzo Shimura as having done many reprehensible things, it is undeniable that the prosperity of Konoha owed much to the "Root of Darkness."
It was precisely because Danzo Shimura bore the darkness that Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen could remain the eternally righteous Hokage in the sunlight.
It was the synergy between the two that led to Konoha Village's renewed prosperity.
Perhaps it was for this reason that no matter what wrongdoings Danzo Shimura committed, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen would always forgive him.
After all, throughout the entire Naruto series, Danzo Shimura might have wronged everyone else, but he was always loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi.