For ninjas in the village, an audience with the Hokage wasn't particularly difficult.
Especially for someone like Hyuga Yuto, who had just returned from a mission, reporting to the leader was a perfectly normal thing.
Led into the Hokage's office by a dog-faced ANBU, Hyuga Yuto knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Hokage-sama!"
Inside the room, the fifty-year-old Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly turned around. He wore the Hokage robe, puffed on a pipe, and his hair was already graying. He looked less like the leader of a village and more like a short, thin neighborly uncle.
But Hyuga Yuto knew that at this age, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as a shinobi, was at the tail end of his peak. He was powerful and undoubtedly the most formidable force in Konoha.
Sixteen years later, when Orochimaru attacked the village, Hiruzen's body would be failing. Even if he didn't use the Reaper Death Seal, he would be at the end of his rope, with only a few days left to live after the great battle.
As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not only powerful but also possessed wisdom and political skill far beyond ordinary people. During his reign, the powerful shinobi clans had successively restrained themselves, submitting to the will of the "Kage." Konoha's talents also continued to emerge, creating a scene of prosperity.
Praising him as a "hero" wouldn't be flattery.
"Yuto, get up, don't kneel." Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a smoke ring and looked at the young man who had stood up.
"The Barrier Team reported detecting only your chakra."
"My deepest apologies, Hokage-sama." Hyuga Yuto stood up, his handsome face showing obvious pain.
"Sugisaki Tetsujiro-senpai, Sato Masahito, Yamagata Reiro, Hirahara Eiji... all of them perished. I am the only one left from the Special Surprise Attack Reconnaissance Squad."
"Even Sugisaki Tetsujiro..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly.
"Tetsujiro-senpai was besieged by Kumogakure shinobi and couldn't escape... Hokage-sama, this is the scroll."
Hyuga Yuto handed over the cylindrical container.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it and lightly tapped it a few times in front of Hyuga Yuto, using a special secret seal to release the seal, then carefully read it.
Throughout the process, Hyuga Yuto kept his head down, not even moving his fingers, let alone peeking.
Estimating that Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished reading, Hyuga Yuto spoke, reciting the "mission summary" that he had rehearsed dozens of times in his heart.
"The first half of the mission went smoothly."
"We arrived in the Land of Hot Water and retrieved the intelligence from the agreed-upon cave. However, we encountered problems on the way back."
"We were intercepted by Kumogakure shinobi within the Land of Hot Water. The pursuers kept coming, so we could only try to reach the border of the Land of Fire while resisting the attacks. But unexpectedly, they even sent a Jonin..."
Ninety-nine percent of what Hyuga Yuto said was true. Except for the crucial part of "suddenly attacking Sugisaki Tetsujiro," he hid nothing and even detailed the locations where the Konoha shinobi had fallen.
After this, Konoha's ANBU would clean up the aftermath. Following Hyuga Yuto's statement, they would go to that location to retrieve the bodies of the fallen shinobi, carefully examine them after dissection, and use their experience to recreate the scene of the day.
This was the rule, the procedural justice. Every shinobi village had similar retrospective systems; they couldn't simply believe everything their subordinates said.
Hyuga Yuto finished speaking and, seeing no response from Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood obediently in place.
From beginning to end, his gaze remained fixed on his toes.
"After leaving here, go to the ANBU for further investigation." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said.
"Sugisaki Tetsujiro was a Jonin. The death of such a person must have an independent record in the Shinobi Scroll. Even a slight discrepancy is unacceptable."
"Yes, Hokage-sama, I understand. I will cooperate with the ANBU."
"Good... As expected of Hyuga's Jewel, Yuto. Although you are young, you can already handle problems like an adult." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly smiled and handed the scroll to Hyuga Yuto.
"Take a look. The elders of the Hyuga clan are knowledgeable, you should be able to understand it."
The handsome young man nodded, and with just a few glances, he understood the value of this intelligence.
"The price of grain in the Land of Lightning continues to rise... Are they going to war?"
"Yes, the war-mongering bunch from Kumogakure are trying to stir up trouble again."
"Victory will surely belong to Konoha." Hyuga Yuto said respectfully, his slogan resounding loud and clear.
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. He certainly wouldn't discuss such matters of war between nations with a twelve-year-old Hyuga branch member. He merely used this intelligence as a starting point for conversation.
"This scroll is of great value. Not only does it expose Kumogakure's intention to launch a war, but it also reveals several lines – supply lines. Kumogakure will have a headache now. With us knowing their location, they will have to spend effort and time to reopen new supply routes."
"Not only that, but during the escort of the intelligence, you also killed several enemy shinobi, including a Jonin."
"Including Sugisaki Tetsujiro, all members of the squad except you are dead. Konoha will deliver the pensions of these heroes to their families, but the battle merits will all fall on you."
"Since you became a Genin, you have completed ninety-two missions, large and small, including five high-risk A-rank missions. All missions were completed perfectly."
"Adding this one... well, in total, you have accumulated a considerable amount of merit."
"Go to the ANBU, Hyuga Yuto. I will grant you special permission to enter. One of the ANBU captains under me is getting old. Calculating the time, you still have time to grow."
If it were an ordinary Konoha shinobi here, they would definitely be so excited that they wouldn't know what to do. The ANBU was the Hokage's personal guard, and the several ANBU captains were all Hiruzen Sarutobi's trusted aides. If one had the opportunity to climb to the position of captain, it would be a leap to become a middle or high-ranking member of Konoha!
However, Hyuga Yuto simply lowered his head and said without any hesitation, "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, I haven't thought clearly about the reward... May I take a few days to think about it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't reply, just exhaled a smoke ring. The white smoke with its spicy and strange fragrance drifted to every corner of the room.
The fifty-year-old Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of displeasure in his heart.
– Are the Hyuga clan's rules even greater than the village's?
He was the ruler of Konoha, so he naturally knew that Hyuga Yuto had gone to the Hyuga clan compound immediately after returning to the village. Although it was done secretly, such small movements couldn't escape his notice.
Was it Hiashi who told you to answer like this? Delay first, then find a reward that is most beneficial to the Hyuga clan. Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in his heart.
The interests and authority of the village must take precedence over all shinobi clans, Hyuga, Uchiha... It seems there is still a long way to go...
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the "Professor," didn't lose his composure after all. His magnanimity wouldn't let him take his anger out on a twelve-year-old Hyuga branch member.
"Alright, that's fine. Take your time to consider." Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly.
"But, Yuto, you still have to give me a range. What kind of reward are you looking for... roughly?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Hyuga Yuto's heart instantly tensed.
Here it comes! He finally waited for this sentence!
There was no need to give a righteous answer, nor was there any need to show any resentment towards the Hyuga clan or the Caged Bird Seal.
In his answer, he just needed to reveal a small "trait." Based on his identity, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely make a big deal out of it, and he could use this opportunity to proceed with his next plan.
Emotions... Actions... Words... Must be adjusted properly.
In the quiet Hokage office, Hyuga Yuto remained silent for a moment.
Then, he raised his head for the first time, revealing his snow-white eyes.
His voice was gentle, firm, with a hint of shyness and timidity characteristic of a young boy.
"Hokage-sama... I'm thinking, if the reward you give me could satisfy everyone in the village, that would be great."