Uchiha Bai Ye!
Since reclaiming his position as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had always held himself in high regard.
He exuded an air of authority, one that made it clear—he was the pinnacle of Konoha's power.
But now, an invisible force loomed over him, overshadowing his position.
He looked up, as if trying to grasp the height of this looming presence, taking a deep breath to suppress his rising anger.
Yet before he could fully compose himself, a loud, unexpected, and utterly disgraceful sound shattered the tense atmosphere—
"Bu~"
Uchiha Satoshi, ever the cunning one, remained composed. Without changing his expression, he casually adjusted his attire, as if nothing had happened.
Bai Ye rolled his eyes but chose not to press Sarutobi further. Instead, he swiftly turned away, releasing a subtle Wind Release technique.
The breeze, invisible but deliberate, carried the stench straight toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
What is this…?!
Sarutobi's face instantly flushed red as he inhaled involuntarily, his eyes narrowing into a deadly glare at Uchiha Satoshi.
It was common knowledge that the shinobi world was a realm of high offense and low defense. Even a Kage, unless specifically trained like the Raikage, could be felled by a well-placed kunai.
And Sarutobi, an aged man who smoked his pipe daily, had fragile lungs at best.
But today—
Today, he sensed a genuine threat.
He could not allow himself, the Third Hokage, to collapse from something as absurd as a fart.
"No, Lord Hokage," Uchiha Satoshi said, shrugging with a casual smirk. "A mere fart is not against Konoha's regulations."
His confidence was unshaken. Just by glancing at Sarutobi's darkened expression and the faint look of amusement on some of the surrounding shinobi, he knew—
He had struck a nerve.
A well-placed attack.
Before he had even acted, he had received an unspoken signal from Bai Ye.
A calculated move.
The message was clear: Disrupt Hokage, but do not overstep.
Sarutobi and Bai Ye needed a negotiation platform, a chance to maneuver.
And a smart subordinate knew when to draw fire onto himself, allowing his superior to move freely.
If Bai Ye continued pushing Hokage too far, the risk of immediate conflict would rise.
And should that happen?
Uchiha Satoshi would not allow it.
For the sake of his Captain's safety, he willingly took the lead in antagonizing Hokage.
His gaze met Sarutobi's, filled with pride—
Yes, that fart was intentional.
And perfectly justified.
There was no rule against it, no offense that could be punished.
At most, it was an embarrassment.
But was a bruised ego more important than the future of Konoha?
Of course not.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had always upheld himself as an example to the village.
A leader who spoke of morality and the "Will of Fire."
Yet, had he not been responsible for Hatake Sakumo's demise?
Had he not allowed the village to be ruled by hidden corruption?
Compared to Hokage's true shamelessness, Uchiha Satoshi's act was nothing.
A long silence.
The foul air dissipated.
Sarutobi exhaled, shifting his attention away from Uchiha Satoshi, locking eyes with Bai Ye instead.
Just a little more.
Just a little more and he would have snapped.
He had already endured humiliation at the hands of the Uchiha Guard Captain—and now, even a mere subordinate mocked him.
As Hokage, as the hidden force behind Konoha's affairs, he was inches away from breaking.
Yet, he swallowed his rage.
He endured.
Because patience was a weapon.
And every sacrifice had its purpose.
Last Night…
When Sarutobi had first learned of his son's arrest, his immediate reaction had been rage.
He had been ready to storm into the Uchiha compound that very night.
But then—another report arrived.
The Hokage's Advisors had been arrested too.
At that moment, he had nearly lost all restraint. He wanted to crush Bai Ye, to remind the Uchiha who truly ruled Konoha.
Yet, just as he was about to act, another urgent message reached him—
The Cloud Shinobi delegation had departed.
They would arrive in Konoha soon.
Negotiations for the war's resolution were imminent.
This was something that could not be hidden.
The entire village would soon be watching.
At a time like this, when the people looked to their Hokage for leadership, what would happen if a scandal broke out?
Konoha was the official victor.
Kumo was the one who had requested negotiations.
Handled correctly, this could be a defining moment for his political career.
A chance to reaffirm his control over Konoha.
He could not afford to let personal grudges cloud his judgment now.
Thus, he endured.
He spent the entire night in contemplation.
And by dawn, he made his decision—
He would go to the Uchiha Guard personally.
With one purpose in mind—
To negotiate.
If Bai Ye was eliminated now, and the truth about Konoha's traitorous officials was revealed before the Cloud delegation arrived…
The fallout would be catastrophic.
Even he could not contain the potential political disaster.
Thus, a temporary compromise was necessary.
For now, he needed to reassure Bai Ye.
To let him believe that he had won.
Because when the time was right…
When Konoha was stable once more…
Sarutobi would strike with precision.
A single, decisive blow.
He already had his pawns in place.
The Uchiha would be dealt with.
Soon.
Present
"Good work."
Bai Ye's voice was calm, nodding toward Uchiha Satoshi.
There was no pretense.
The Uchiha were not fools.
Look at Satoshi—quick-witted, adaptable. A valuable asset with sharp instincts.
With proper guidance, he would become a true force within the clan.
"All thanks to your leadership, Captain," Uchiha Satoshi replied humbly.
…Wait.
Bai Ye frowned.
Leadership?
Did I teach you that?
His expression shifted.
Instantly, his previous praise for Satoshi vanished.
"Hmph."
Sarutobi, watching their exchange, took a deep breath.
Then, in a measured tone—
"I am aware of everything that has transpired recently."
His voice was smooth, devoid of hostility.
"Captain Bai Ye, you have worked hard."
Though filled with anger, he masked it well. Years of political maneuvering made him a master of deception.
"It's all for the village. As Captain of the Konoha Guard, it is my duty to maintain peace," Bai Ye responded with a humble smile.
For the village.
Sarutobi's lip twitched.
Wasn't that his line?
Did Bai Ye just throw his own rhetoric back at him?
And if he truly cared for the village, why did he just demand more funding?
Shameless.
"Yes… for the village."
Sarutobi forced a smile.
And with that, the game continued.