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In an instant, the entire Hokage Office fell into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
Both Namikaze Minato and Hatake Sakumo cast sidelong glances at the protagonist of this storm, and even though they knew it was unlikely, they were still ready to act at any moment.
Shimura Danzo sat to the side, eyes closed, resting.
Orochimaru crossed his arms, looking at the young man who had suddenly appeared with keen interest.
Only Uchiha Megumi involuntarily clenched her fists; although she tried to maintain her expression, a noticeable hint of unease radiated from her.
Sawara Kiri's expression remained unchanged.
As soon as he encountered Kira in the Hokage Building, he had already prepared himself for the current scene.
"Hoo."
Sawara Kiri exhaled a long breath, his expression suddenly becoming very calm, and he met Sarutobi Hiruzen's authoritative gaze without fear:
"That's also because of your dereliction of duty, Lord Third."
Almost the moment this sentence was heard, everyone present's expression changed.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself hadn't expected this answer.
"Kiri?!"
Uchiha Megumi, standing beside him, immediately tugged at his sleeve, trying to stop his next words.
However, Sawara Kiri was like a completely uninhibited accuser, giving no quarter:
"As the documents on your desk state, the Sawara clan, from my grandfather's generation, followed the ideals of the First Hokage and joined Konoha Village as Ninja. My grandfather was a Ninja, my parents were Ninja, and my sister and I are also Ninja!"
"During the First Ninja World War, my elders fearlessly followed the commands of the Second Hokage and you, went to the front lines of the battlefield, and returned to the Village as martyrs, sacrificing their lives for Konoha."
"But what did we, as the children of those who sacrificed, receive?"
His heartbeat accelerated under control, and his eyes seemed to gradually redden, filled with emotion.
Like a true rebellious fifteen-year-old, he was completely controlled by his emotions, even unable to stop himself from stepping towards the simple desk in front of him.
The Anbu guards beside him immediately appeared, attempting to block him, but Sarutobi Hiruzen waved them off.
Sawara Kiri's voice continued:
"From the year my parents sacrificed themselves when I was five, the temporary account only received one-third of the stipulated standard for survivor benefits. The limited meat supply in the Village meant that children our age couldn't even get a share, while Ninja clan orphans in the same situation received full guarantees and even training equipment due to their family's protection."
"Only after passing the Ninja Academy selection did we get basic food security, but apart from the survivor benefits, it was only 10 ounces per day. Until she was three, my sister, who was still in swaddling clothes, survived on this rice paste."
"Children in similar situations to mine would even abandon younger siblings on the streets for adoption or to starve."
"Even the Village-run orphanages wouldn't take infants who couldn't care for themselves—because of limited slots and a complete lack of staff."
"It wasn't until I graduated from the Ninja Academy at ten years old that I received my deceased parents' inherited assets."
"However, due to the damage to our house from the war, over ninety percent of the funds in that passbook were spent just on repairs."
"Only children like Minato, who are naturally intelligent, self-managing, and showed extraordinary talent at a young age, or Uzumaki Kushina, who was likely from some noble family, could receive full living support and training conditions."
Namikaze Minato was stunned by his words.
Sawara Kiri's slow steps finally brought him directly in front of the desk, where he looked down at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat in the wide chair, his voice becoming even calmer:
"Even so."
"Konoha ultimately fed my family and me, and I still truly love this Village and am willing to give my life for it."
"But…"
"I don't want my last family member, while still young, to experience the same difficult times I did, struggling to maintain a household."
"Now, Yuki has finally become a mature Ninja."
"I think she should be able to live on her own."
"So, it's also time for me to give everything for Konoha."
With his words finished, Sawara Kiri lowered his head slightly as if resigned, awaiting judgment.
Shimura Danzo's brow instantly twitched.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
The entire Hokage Office fell into another kind of silence.
However, the terrifying, oppressive aura from before had already vanished imperceptibly.
"Bang!"
"How could such a thing happen!"
Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the table, and his angry roar immediately echoed throughout the room.
"Investigate thoroughly! It must be thoroughly investigated!"
Then, he sighed as if deeply regretful: "A martyr's orphan actually experienced such unfair treatment. This is a major issue affecting the entire Village."
"Kiri-kun, you should have told me sooner!"
His tone even became much more intimate.
Heh.
Sawara Kiri, however, said nothing, merely maintaining his bowed posture.
Everything he had just said contained not a single trace of fabrication; it was all fact.
What was worse was that many of these orphans were even pulled into Root to become expendable soldiers.
It's just that...
People who could stand before the Hokage naturally wouldn't experience these things.
People who couldn't stand before the Hokage certainly couldn't say these words.
Don't look at how Naruto in the original story always wandered around the Hokage Office as if it were a restaurant; that was a privilege enjoyed only by the Konoha 12, by Jinchuriki, by children of prestigious families, by genius problem-solvers.
Moreover, if Sarutobi Hiruzen said he didn't know, did he really not know?
Sawara Kiri couldn't say.
Of course, he didn't care either.
The image he had just created was already enough for him to transform from an 'insignificant' person into the next focus of Village propaganda.
A Ninja for the Third Hokage, a good child of Konoha.
Pure lineage!
Suffered injustice and hardships from a young age, yet still desired to give everything for the Will of Fire.
Utterly loyal!
Such a clear stance, such a difficult experience.
Forget passing Sarutobi Hiruzen's test; he'd pass a hundred tests.
This was a demand of public opinion during wartime, and also a political demand!
As a seasoned politician, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly processed this, immediately realizing a way to turn the tide in his favor and severely curb Shimura Danzo's arrogance.
If he didn't put his little brother in his place every now and then, he'd soon get out of hand.
The key was Sawara Kiri, right in front of him!
"Kiri-kun."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone softened a few more degrees, speaking kindly: "Regarding what you and your sister, and all the martyrs' orphans in Konoha, have endured, the Village will definitely give you an explanation."
"For the next few days, you should stay home and rest well."
"The Village will first conduct a commendation review for your merits this time, and also a special ability assessment to determine an appropriate rank for you."
He stood up and, in the manner of an elder, patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly:
"I saw that your dream on the Ninja Academy graduation exam was 'to become Hokage,' wasn't it?"
"Young people like you are Konoha's true future."
Sawara Kiri finally couldn't maintain his composure, struggling to pull the upward curve of his lips down, his voice subtly trembling, as if the long-suppressed emotions of grievance finally erupted:
"Yes!"
"Lord Third!"
What a scene, so in line with the Will of Fire.
Your kindness, my filial piety.
How heartwarming.
Hatake Sakumo watched this scene quietly, his heart equally stirred, his eyes seemingly sparkling with a gentle light.
Uchiha Megumi let out a long sigh of relief.
Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru's expressions were placid, as if untouched by it all.
Only Namikaze Minato.
He looked at Sawara Kiri, whose expression was now stirred, suppressing strong emotions, his body even trembling slightly.
Yet, his mind subconsciously recalled the scene he had witnessed firsthand when he arrived earlier, and that chilling sense of crisis that seemed to penetrate to the depths of one's soul.
A subtle sense of incongruity inexplicably arose in his heart.
He knew very well how outstanding his own talent was.
In terms of both intellect and aptitude, Namikaze Minato considered himself far superior to his peers.
However, Sawara Kiri had hidden himself for so long right under his nose, without him feeling even a hint of abnormality.
Was this man truly the person everyone now saw?
A hint of inquiry unwittingly rose in Namikaze Minato's heart.
After the group departed.
The Hokage Office door closed, and Orochimaru also left with them.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just been full of benevolent and gratified expressions, immediately changed his face, looking coldly and sternly at Shimura Danzo, who stood to the side.
"Danzo, do you have anything to say?"
Shimura Danzo's expression was calm: "Those funds weren't spent on me; they were merely necessary costs paid for Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately flew into a rage, scolding:
"Idiot!"
"I allocated the orphanage funds not for you to divert them to Root!"
Shimura Danzo, however, did not back down an inch, showing no intention of relinquishing this financial authority, and likewise raised his voice:
"What do you know? Even if orphans without self-control received money, how much of it would they spend on meaningful things? It would have no positive benefit for Konoha! Isn't providing food and drink enough?!"
"Only by selecting the qualified ones among them into Root can they bring intelligence, espionage, and foreign bases to Konoha!"
"Do you think all those achievements Root acquires from abroad every year just come for free?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen grew even more furious: "No meaning? Namikaze Minato, Sawara Kiri, what do two geniuses of the same generation truly mean? How many such geniuses in all of Konoha have been buried in orphanages and in your hands?!"
Shimura Danzo scoffed: "They are merely a lucky few."
"Since Konoha's founding, how many Orochimaru and Jiraiya have there been in the entire Village?"
"Root is the guarantee that maintains Konoha's safety in the shadows."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression suddenly became placid, and his tone even lowered: "In any case, the Sawara Kiri incident must be resolved immediately."
"As a consequence, the Konoha orphanage and its related financial system will be brought under Anbu control."
"From now on, if you want to select people, report it to Anbu first."
"Additionally, remove the head of Root's financial management department; he will be responsible for this matter."
Shimura Danzo was stunned by these words, staring fixedly at him, seemingly not having anticipated that Hiruzen would make such a big deal out of it.
Wasn't it just an orphan who suffered a bit of grievance?
Noticing his silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly:
"Didn't you understand?"
Shimura Danzo said nothing, turning and walking towards the door.
It wasn't until he was near the exit that he paused slightly, and said in a harsh voice:
"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored him, calmly replying:
"Danzo, I am the Hokage."
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