In the Hokage's office, Kushina was animatedly describing the fight between Uchiha Hayato and the other boys. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as though she wished she could have been part of it herself.
However, as the realization hit her, Kushina's enthusiasm waned. The fight had started because of her, and feeling this happy about it in front of the Third Hokage was like a sheep provoking a wolf.
"Lord Third, what punishment will Uchiha Hayato and the other boys receive?" Kushina asked hesitantly. She was worried for Hayato, who had stepped up to defend her. Despite her bold demeanor, she was just as sensitive as any other girl her age and didn't want Hayato to be punished for helping her.
Making up her mind, she decided she would thank him privately later.
Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned on his hands, his gaze thoughtful. This incident not only involved Kushina but also touched on the Uchiha Clan. Back in his teacher's time, the Uchiha Clan had remained stable. However, after Uchiha Setsuna's release from prison, the faction advocating for power within the clan had grown stronger, pushing for an Uchiha to become Hokage.
He sighed inwardly. The situation required a careful approach, and he decided he would speak to Hayato directly.
"Yamashita, bring—no, never mind, I'll go myself."
At the ninja academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived to see several boys sprawled across the ground. Among the few still standing was Namikaze Minato, though his face was bruised. He stood to the side, watching with a mix of concern and reluctance as two others continued fighting.
Monferno, like Minato, had stepped back and was watching the fight. Its fists were clenched, its feet drummed excitedly on the ground, as if cheering for Hayato.
"Chii chii! ٩(*Ӧ)و"
Hayato, too, was surprised by the resilience of his opponent, Dekai, a boy with dark skin and white hair who resembled someone from the Land of Lightning. Hayato had knocked him down multiple times, yet Dekai kept rising, charging at him with unwavering determination.
"Why? Why? Why can't I beat you?" Dekai roared in frustration after being floored yet again by a punch to the stomach.
"You lost from the start," Hayato said calmly. "I have my bond with Monferno, my friendship with Minato, and all you have is a childish habit of bullying others. We're not on the same level."
[Mission Complete: The Arrival of the Red-Hot Habanero]
Rewards: Move Tutor—Cut ×1, Exp. Candy XS ×5
Clapping broke the silence. Hayato turned to see Sarutobi Hiruzen, clad in his Hokage robes, applauding him.
"Lord Third," Hayato said, immediately recognizing him. His sharp instincts warned him that the Hokage's stealth skills were formidable—he hadn't noticed Hiruzen approach at all.
The students quickly greeted the Third Hokage. Even Dekai, still on his knees, managed to show respect despite his injuries.
"I've heard everything that happened," Hiruzen began, his tone serious. "The village is a home for everyone, and you, its students, are Konoha's future. No matter the reason, never use your strength against your comrades."
Dekai lowered his head, chastened, while Hayato secretly celebrated the completion of his mission and his new rewards.
"But," Hiruzen continued, "using violence to protect a classmate is also not the right approach. This village belongs to everyone, and as students, it's your teacher's responsibility to guide you when conflicts arise." He cast a pointed glance at Yamashita Youhei, who winced at the implied criticism.
"Lord Third, Monferno didn't hurt anyone," Hayato said with a slight edge to his voice. "We just wanted to teach them a lesson."
Hiruzen's smile was subtle but firm. "Hayato, I admire your courage in standing up for Kushina. But you should have reported your summoning animal to the village. Monferno is unfamiliar to us, and if something unexpected happened, it could have caused unnecessary harm."
Despite Monferno's apparent immaturity, Hiruzen could sense a latent, immense potential in it. With proper growth, it could become an extraordinary summoning animal.
"Today, everyone will take a day to rest," Hiruzen announced. "Hayato, go with Yamashita to register Monferno as your summoning partner. And remember, if conflicts arise, you can always challenge each other formally rather than disrupting the class."
As Hayato surveyed the room, he noticed mixed reactions. Some girls averted their gaze shyly, while others looked at him with admiration. Minato leaned against a wall, smiling brightly when their eyes met.
Hiruzen observed Hayato's interactions carefully before adding, "If any of you face issues beyond your teacher's ability to resolve, come to me directly. Dekai, walk with me."
Ignoring the defeated boys, Hayato flashed Minato a thumbs-up before following the embarrassed Yamashita to register Monferno.
"Hayato, thank you," Yamashita said awkwardly. "If it weren't for you, I don't know how long Dekai and the others would have kept going. But like Lord Third said, you should handle future disputes more formally. Dekai… his parents passed away too, and he was bullied when he was younger. Maybe that's why he…" Yamashita trailed off, sighing.
"Is that so?" Hayato raised an eyebrow but rolled his eyes shortly after. Whatever Dekai's past, it didn't excuse his behavior now. If he changed for the better, that was fine, but it didn't erase the harm he'd already caused.
Just as Hayato finished registering Monferno, a group of ninja from the Konoha Police Force appeared, dressed in dark uniforms.
"Are you Uchiha Hayato?" one asked. "Elder Setsuna requests your presence."