In Konoha, ordinary people could also get the chance to meet the Hokage.
It was just that because the Hokage was busy with official duties, ordinary people had to fill out a long series of forms first, then wait for the review and notification from the Hokage's office.
In the vast majority of cases, the result of such applications was like a stone sinking into the sea, but Ryun was fully confident about meeting the Hokage.
The reason was simple. In the simulation, the Third Hokage had shown great interest in Nojuro Ryun's 'The Uchiha Family' series.
Ryun repeatedly reviewed the details of that simulation segment, combined with his understanding of the original story's plot, and was confident he had grasped the Third Hokage's state of mind.
The facts proved that Ryun was correct.
He only waited for one morning in the reception area of the Hokage's office before receiving a notification from a ninja.
"Nojuro Ryun, right? Please come with me. The Hokage is waiting for you."
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was looking through the information in his hand with great interest. It recorded everything about Nojuro Ryun.
It included not only the life stories of Ryun's parents and Ryun's own 13-year life experiences, but also the incident from over ten days ago where Ryun was injured by Miyoshi Ikku and then rescued by Team Guy.
Looking at this very ordinary civilian resume, Sarutobi Hiruzen was genuinely a bit puzzled about how Nojuro Ryun could write 'The Biography of Uchiha Madara'.
Most importantly, most of the storylines in Ryun's 'The Biography of Uchiha Madara' were fabricated, yet the Third Hokage still found it quite enjoyable to read. This made him realize Ryun's talent.
He decided he must meet this child.
When seeing Nojuro Ryun, Sarutobi Hiruzen's increasingly cloudy eyes lit up slightly.
He could see that Ryun was not wealthy, but this spirit and energy seemed no weaker than that of an average clan child.
Could it be that his near-death experience awakened some kind of talent?
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed his smoking pipe on the desk, showed a kind smile, and said, "Ryun, right? Did you write this book? It's very well written, just with many errors and omissions."
"Can you tell me why you wrote this book?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen went straight to the point. He was confident he could see through all of Ryun's thoughts, so naturally there was no need for beating around the bush.
Ryun lowered his head slightly, pretending not to dare look into Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, but his mouth spoke treasonous words.
"I miss the days when the Uchiha clan was still here. If they were managing Konoha's public security, I probably wouldn't have been attacked, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile stiffened slightly.
He could tell this was a child's complaint about the injustice he suffered, but he still felt a surge of anger rising from deep within.
Since when could a mere child comment on Konoha like this?
If Danzo were here, Ryun would have already found a path to his death.
However, on the surface, Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile became even more amiable. "Come, have a seat. Let me hear your thoughts."
"Can you tell me where you learned about the Uchiha clan's stories, and why you think it would be better if they were still here?"
After sitting down, as if encouraged by Sarutobi Hiruzen, Ryun's expression relaxed a lot. He said, "I heard from the grandpas and grandmas in the neighborhood that when the Uchiha clan was still here, these ninjas, who didn't understand human relations, would only act according to the rules."
"Those people with bad conduct only dared to complain about the Konoha Military Police Force in private, but didn't dare to violate Konoha's laws again."
"But now. some people have lost their sense of awe towards the Konoha Police Department."
Ryun's words quickly answered all of Sarutobi Hiruzen's questions.
He immediately adopted the attitude a Hokage should have, comforting Ryun, saying, "I have already received the report about your incident. The two who attacked you will receive the punishment they deserve."
Upon hearing this, Ryun put on an expression of pleasant surprise and gratitude, quickly thanking him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled with satisfaction, then shifted the topic back to the book itself.
"So, how do you understand Uchiha Madara now?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to be just making casual conversation, but he posed a question sharp enough to kill and condemn.
In Konoha's official historical records, Uchiha Madara defected from Konoha after its founding, fought a great battle with the First Hokage a few years later, and was finally killed by the First Hokage.
The First Hokage was also seriously injured as a result and died young.
Therefore, even though Uchiha Madara's strength rivaled Hashirama's and his achievements were well documented, as a person of Konoha, one still could not show admiration for Uchiha Madara.
This was also Sarutobi Hiruzen's test for Nojuro Ryun.
The story details Ryun wrote could have errors, but the thoughts and feelings he wanted to express must align with Konoha's current needs.
This was also the prerequisite for Sarutobi Hiruzen's support of Ryun. Otherwise, not taking Ryun into custody on the spot would already be considered lenient.
What Sarutobi Hiruzen never expected was that the key insight Ryun gained from the simulation details lay precisely in this.
To demonstrate his ideological awareness, Ryun even intentionally made the manuscript of this volume of 'The Biography of Uchiha Madara' full of errors and omissions, just to highlight the correctness of his ideological awareness.
Now that the opportunity had finally arrived, Ryun naturally wouldn't miss it.
He uttered the prepared answer without hesitation. "In my eyes, Uchiha Madara is an unruly and arrogant person."
"He only believed in strength, not in comrades, thinking he could solve everything by himself. He didn't know that a hero who doesn't understand people's hearts would only make people fear him."
"Actually, the people of the Uchiha clan all seem to have this problem. He was just the most severe case."
Ryun scratched his head and said, "Lord Hokage, this is just my imagination. If there's anything wrong, you can point it out directly. There's no need to spare my feelings."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes gleamed. How could he think what Ryun said was wrong?
What Ryun said was absolutely right.
In the current era where ninja villages had been established in various countries, it was no longer an age where one person's strength could decide everything.
Only someone who could be trusted and followed by more people could become a qualified Hokage.
Like him. Ahem, like the Fourth Hokage, Konoha's former hope, Namikaze Minato, whose smile was as bright as sunlight.
Unfortunately, he sacrificed himself for the village.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed softly. This principle needed to be understood by more people.
If he alone kept preaching earnestly and tirelessly, adults wouldn't listen, and children would grow weary.
But if someone with talent like Nojuro Ryun wrote it into stories, then everything seemed different.
Sarutobi Hiruzen grew more and more intrigued, but on the surface he remained calm as usual.
"It's fine. These are just settings in a novel. I understand. Even if there are discrepancies with reality, it doesn't matter."
"Ryun, if I support you to keep writing, how do you plan to write the Uchiha clan's story later on?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen presented another life-or-death question.