After hearing Setsuna's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened several shades.
Because the truth was simple—
Setsuna's order truly had been given faster than his own.
For a brief mont, even Hiruzen found himself unable to refute anything.
"What exactly are you trying to do here?!"
A's furious roar echoed throughout the plaza.
"Start a war between our villages?!"
His eyes were wide with rage as he glared directly at Hiruzen. Violent killing intent radiated from his body, making it seem as though he might attack at any mont if he failed to receive a satisfactory answer.
"This matter… was indeed our fault."
Hiruzen forced out a stiff smile and apologized toward A.
But the instant he turned around—
The warmth vanished from his face entirely.
His expression beca icy cold as he barked toward the Uchiha hawks who had attacked earlier.
"n! Arrest every one of those attackers imdiately and throw them into prison!!"
!!!
Hiruzen's sudden reversal stunned everyone present.
Not only were the Uchiha hawks caught completely off guard—
Even A himself looked slightly dumbfounded.
Originally, he rely intended to pressure Hiruzen and shift everyone's attention away from Kumogakure.
He had not expected this old fox to endure things to such an extent.
"How can that possibly be enough?!"
A imdiately pressed forward aggressively after recovering from his surprise.
"Several of our village's ninja died here!"
His domineering voice thundered through the plaza.
"Human lives are at stake. Shouldn't it be life for a life?!"
Hearing those words, Hiruzen's expression darkened even further.
Because the Uchiha mbers who attacked were not ordinary clan ninja.
Most of them were elite Uchiha.
If he truly handed over the lives of elite clan mbers as compensation, then the already unstable relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage faction would completely collapse.
The entire clan would likely turn against him openly.
As if sensing Hiruzen's hesitation, A sneered coldly.
"Hmph. If you refuse…"
His gaze sharpened violently.
"…then prepare yourselves to receive a declaration of war from Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning."
Unlike Konoha's internal politics, Kumogakure had always upheld one principle without compromise:
Protect their own.
That was also one of the reasons Kumogakure produced very few rogue ninja.
Their village might be brutal and aggressive—
But they never casually abandoned their comrades.
A's words imdiately threw Hiruzen into deep conflict.
Even the previously fearless Uchiha hawks who had attacked earlier gradually beca uneasy.
anwhile, the representatives from the other villages watched the growing tension between Konoha and Kumogakure with obvious schadenfreude in their eyes.
Not a single one stepped forward to interfere.
After all—
Watching Konoha weaken itself was sothing they were more than happy to see.
At the sa ti, Hiruzen noticed the slight wavering within Setsuna's gaze.
And at that mont, a cold thought quietly surfaced in his heart.
The attackers were mostly radical Uchiha hawks anyway.
If they died, then so be it.
It would save him future trouble.
Just as Hiruzen was preparing to speak—
A calm voice suddenly echoed through the crowd.
"War?"
The sudden interruption caused everyone present to pause slightly.
"Does Kumogakure truly want war that badly?"
The voice remained calm and steady.
"Or has Kumogakure already been preparing to ignite another Shinobi World War from the very beginning?"
The instant those words spread through the plaza, A's expression subtly changed.
Everyone imdiately turned toward the source of the voice.
A young figure carrying three swords at his waist slowly stepped through the crowd and entered everyone's sight.
No explanation was needed.
Judging from the savage look that instantly appeared on A's face, everyone already knew exactly who it was.
"You little bastard…"
A's eyes filled with violent hostility.
"Spreading rumors again. You really are looking to die."
Then he turned toward Hiruzen coldly.
"Third Hokage, I truly don't understand why Konoha still keeps around a ninja who enjoys provoking conflict between villages."
As if he had already expected those accusations, Zoro rely smiled calmly.
His expression remained carefree and indifferent.
But inwardly, his killing intent toward A deepened further.
Sooner or later…
He would kill this bastard.
"Zoro, what exactly are you trying to do?!"
Hiruzen's tone carried obvious pressure.
Deep within his heart, conflict continued to grow.
Because there was still one sentence he had not yet spoken aloud.
"I'm rely stating facts."
Zoro's reply was calm.
Yet after hearing those words, the final trace of hesitation inside Hiruzen completely disappeared.
How could he possibly not know about Kumogakure's recent movents?
Not only him—
Every major village likely already knew.
The Third Shinobi World War was destined to erupt sooner or later.
The only thing missing was the spark to ignite it.
And the current conflict before everyone's eyes…
Could very well beco that spark.
But Hiruzen was tired.
He did not want war to begin so soon.
Or perhaps more accurately—
He still wanted to continue sitting peacefully in the Hokage's seat for several more years.
"Zoro."
Hiruzen slowly spoke, his tone becoming cold and official.
"Your statents have seriously endangered the friendship between the great ninja villages."
The atmosphere gradually beca quiet.
"Therefore, from this mont onward…"
Hiruzen's gaze locked directly onto Zoro.
"…your current and previous statents represent only your personal opinions and have absolutely nothing to do with Konoha."
His wording was tactful.
But everyone present understood the true aning imdiately.
Konoha had abandoned him.
Beside Hiruzen, A curled his lips slightly, mockery flickering in his eyes.
He said nothing further.
Because to him, this outco was perfectly normal.
For the sake of maintaining his own interests, this old man could casually discard even a genius like Zoro.
Then again—
Thinking back to how the legendary White Fang of Konoha had once been forced to death by Konoha itself…
This outco suddenly no longer seed strange at all.
"What?! Lord Hokage, please reconsider!"
Not far away, Uchiha Muneyoshi—the representative of the Uchiha doves—finally lost control of his composure.
His voice trembled with disbelief.
How had things escalated to the point where his grandson was being expelled from Konoha?!
"Lord Hokage…"
Even Fugaku looked stunned as he stared toward Hiruzen in confusion.
The entire Uchiha Clan imdiately fell into unrest.
Because Zoro was no ordinary clan mber.
He was the greatest young genius upon whom the Uchiha had placed all their hopes.
And during these Chūnin Exams, he truly had dominated every opponent.
Forget rewards—
First they revoked his chūnin promotion.
And now they intended to exile him from Konoha entirely?
Nearby, Minato, Obito, and Rin—who had witnessed everything from beginning to end—also revealed worried expressions.
Even the Uchiha hawks who attacked the Kumogakure genin earlier now looked guilty.
Because they finally understood why Zoro had stepped forward and spoken such dangerous words.
If he had not done so—
Then the people sacrificed to calm Kumogakure's anger would likely have been them.
"I am the Hokage."
Hiruzen's voice grew heavy with authority.
"For the sake of the village… I have no other choice."
Years spent holding power had long since cultivated overwhelming authority within him.
The surrounding Uchiha could only glare furiously while suppressing their anger in silence.
"So, Zoro…"
Hiruzen looked coldly at the young man standing below.
"Do you accept my decision?"
Everyone understood the hidden aning behind that question.
If Zoro refused—
Then Hiruzen would imdiately brand him a rogue ninja.
But Zoro gave no answer at all.
He simply turned around and began walking away calmly.
A faint mocking smile appeared on his face.
His eyes resembled a boundless ocean—
Deep, Calm and Unreadable.
From the very beginning, he had never possessed even the slightest sense of belonging toward Konoha.
The only reason he stepped forward now…
Was because of the Uchiha clansn who had been willing to risk their lives in anger for his sake.
When others were already prepared to throw away their lives for you—
How could Zoro possibly hide safely behind them like a coward and watch his own clansn get slaughtered?
Seeing that Zoro chose not to resist, satisfaction quietly flashed through Hiruzen's eyes.
At the very least, the boy still understood how to sacrifice personal interests for the village.
Which ant—
He still retained value.
"In that case, let this matter end here."
Hiruzen's face once again revealed a warm smile as though nothing unpleasant had happened monts earlier.
"If everyone still wishes to enjoy their stay in Konoha, you are welco at any ti."
His words effectively signaled the foreign representatives to leave.
A snorted coldly.
He also understood very clearly that even rabbits would bite when cornered too far.
Before departing, he cast one final aningful glance toward Zoro.
Then he left alongside Killer B and the other Kumogakure ninja.
***
Advance chapters available on P@trè0n (Aki_sensei). Appreciate the support!
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