"The Hokage wants to see you, Uchiha Gin."
Gin, who was training with Minato, was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of an Anbu.
He turned his head to look at the man in the Anbu uniform.
An animal mask, silver-gray clothes, a tall adult ninja—lacking a bit of killing intent.
Instead, there was an inexplicable sense of foolishness.
An illusion?
Moreover...
This situation seemed familiar.
"How can I be sure you were sent by the Hokage?" Gin asked directly.
The last time three people approached him like this, they ended up severely injured and thrown back to Shimura Danzō.
The Anbu was speechless for a moment, stammering and then hurriedly taking out a piece of paper from his body.
All three of them watching were bewildered.
The foolishness was real.
Can someone like this really be in the Anbu?
"This is a Hokage summoning order."
There was only a Hokage seal on it.
Though Gin had never seen it before, he was sure this person wasn't from Root.
Generally, someone this foolish would probably be weeded out in the first step of joining Root.
Root had its standards.
Even someone as powerful as Might Duy might not be accepted by Danzō.
"Alright, let's go." Gin patted the person's chest.
This guy was too tall.
"Next time you invite someone shorter than you, remember to squat down when you talk."
"Huh!?" The Anbu member looked bewildered.
"I'll go with you," Kushina volunteered, and Minato also smiled, indicating he'd follow along.
"Uh, sorry." The Anbu member looked embarrassed. "The Hokage only permitted Uchiha Gin to come."
"Alright, go do what you need to do." Gin waved dismissively, not caring at all.
After all, Hiruzen couldn't do much to him now.
His strength was his confidence.
Minato and Kushina could only reluctantly stay behind.
Gin followed the Anbu to the Hokage Tower.
...
Hokage's office.
Gin glanced around, seeing Homura, who looked like an honest man with glasses, and Koharu, who looked like a middle-aged woman, standing like guards behind Hiruzen.
Nearby, Danzō was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, resting.
The Anbu members hidden in the corners were all gone.
Gin grinned—this was probably not a friendly visit.
"Gin."
Hiruzen rested his crossed hands on his chin.
"The village's frontline losses have been heavy lately."
"Hmm, I know. Do you want me to go?" Gin pointed at himself with a startled expression. "I'm just a small chūnin, not even a special jōnin."
His exaggerated performance was an obvious mockery.
Hiruzen's expression remained unchanged, keeping a serious face.
"This is all because of your Basic Inner Technique."
Sarutobi's feelings toward Gin were complicated.
Gin's strength wasn't that of an ordinary chūnin as he claimed—he had the power to stop the Nibi Jinchūriki.
Although it was just by chance, the fact that he survived the Nibi Jinchūriki meant he was definitely at jōnin level.
A ninja with jōnin-level strength was a significant boost to the village's power.
Jōnin weren't common—those were the ones who decided the outcome of battles. Chūnin were the backbone, and genin were just fodder.
Given Gin's strong ability to develop jutsus, if he were anyone else, Sarutobi would do his utmost to help him grow.
As for the future threat of overpowering the master, that would be a separate issue.
But why did it have to be an Uchiha?
He sighed inwardly.
"Basic Inner Technique?" Gin repeated Sarutobi's words.
He knew it.
This old man would definitely make a fuss over it.
"Is the Hokage implying that I shouldn't have developed Basic Inner Technique?" Gin asked back. "Should I not have boosted Konoha's power?"
"So making all the Konoha ninjas stronger was wrong then?"
"If that's the case, Hokage-sama, please destroy all Basic Inner Technique documents immediately. I am willing to take any punishment."
As he said, as long as there wasn't a life-threatening situation.
No matter if it was this old Uchiha or the Hokage.
He would argue with anyone.
Sarutobi was momentarily stunned; they really had no grounds to blame Gin.
Rubbing his temples, Sarutobi had expected some intense resistance from Gin.
But Gin wasn't done talking.
"I'll go out now and tell everyone that I need to be held accountable for enhancing Konoha's strength with my Basic Inner Technique."
Gin spoke as if he was about to walk out.
"How dare you!!" Koharu shouted angrily on the spot. "Do you know where you are? Disrespecting the Hokage—getting locked up for two days would be lenient."
Gin gave her a sidelong glance. "So you're not addressing the Basic Inner Technique issue at all, huh?"
"You!" Koharu pointed at Gin, unable to speak for a moment.
She'd never seen a ninja dare to talk back to her like this.
"What? Am I wrong?" Gin countered, turning his gaze to Danzō.
Danzō was still sitting with his eyes closed, showing no intention of intervening.
Who knows what kind of underhanded scheme he's plotting.
"Uchiha Gin, we're only doing this for your own good," Homura spoke up, seemingly wanting to continue.
Gin interrupted him, "Why are you always there, 'for my own good'? I suggest you stop being a Hokage advisor and retire at home. No strength, no brains—all you do is boast."
"I heard your strength is comparable to the Second Hokage? Do you even qualify? I'll let you use one hand, and let's see."
A few words made Homura's face darken.
He pointed at Gin.
"You, you..."
He couldn't get another word out.
"Gin." Hiruzen sighed, interrupting the farce. Gin was like a hedgehog—anyone who touched him would get pricked.
"We all do this for Konoha. As long as the leaves are dancing, there is fire burning. That fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout. Any sacrifice for the village is worthwhile."
"Do you really think I'm as stupid as those fools outside?" Gin mocked outright.
With his current strength, even if everyone here attacked at once, they couldn't hold him down.
With this power, why should he put up with this nonsense?
If the outside world weren't in chaos and if he wasn't familiar with Konoha, he would have left long ago.
Even now, he was ready to leave at any moment.
He really wasn't afraid of these people; it wasn't like he wanted to be Hokage.
"Your words might fool those who can't tell east from west, but give it a rest. You, with no real abilities, haven't contributed anything to Konoha other than training a few talented students, yet you want to deceive me?"
"Try again in a few more years."
"Pfft." Danzō couldn't help but laugh, and when everyone turned to look at him, he turned away.
"Carry on."
It was genuinely satisfying to see Hiruzen get scolded.
Hiruzen pulled down his Hokage hat to cover his face, hiding his expression.
No one had ever dared to talk to him like this.
These few words dismissed all his years of effort and dedication.
It was like a dagger to the heart.
(End of Chapter)