As soon as Ren finished speaking, all the Anbu of the First Squad drew their ready blades, led by the four Ninja squads, their targets set straight ahead.
"How dare you draw your blade against the Elder Advisor, you…"
Utatane Koharu was instantly furious. She was cut off halfway through her sentence by Homura Mitokado, who pulled her back and gently shook his head at her. Only then did Utatane Koharu regain a bit of her composure and once again begin to pay attention to the situation.
Shikaku and Hiruzen were still the same, standing by with Sakumo and the others, clearly not intending to get involved.
As for Minato, although he hadn't made any moves yet, his continued silence indicated that he wouldn't stand with them against Ren; he might even help Ren instead.
Returning to their two sides, Ren's strength was clearly superior to theirs. The Anbu's most elite First Squad, plus the four Ninja squads, meant that even with their two squads, if a fight broke out, they would all be defeated in less than five minutes.
Thinking of this, Utatane Koharu couldn't help but feel some regret, but at this point, if she backed down again, she would lose face. So, she could only turn her attention to the First Squad and loudly declare,
"Anbu First Squad, are you going to rebel with Hoshimi Ren?!"
"We wouldn't dare."
The Hiramekarei in Tiger Mask's hand began to glow blue. He pointed it forward and said in a deep voice,
"Although it may be presumptuous, we cannot stand by and watch our comrade be wrongly accused."
"You!"
Utatane Koharu raised a trembling finger to point at the other party, but for a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Unlike other squads, the Anbu First Squad members were all carefully selected from various major clans. Not only were they powerful, but they also held a certain status within their respective clans. Although she and Homura were not afraid, punishing them for this and causing dissatisfaction among the major clans would only bring trouble upon themselves.
"Enough."
Just as the Hokage Office was on the verge of conflict, a low voice rang out. Everyone turned their heads and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoking his pipe, step out of the Anbu's protective circle and move between the two sides, saying,
"Everyone, put away your weapons."
With the strict voice and the Hokage's identity, the Anbu on both sides dared not delay and quickly put away their blades. The atmosphere in the room immediately eased a bit.
Seeing both sides calm down, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then turned his gaze to Ren.
"Ren."
"Yes, yes."
Ren pouted, then put the Thunder God Sword he had just taken out back into his bag and calmed the Chakra fluctuation in his body.
Seeing that Ren had complied obediently, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression softened a bit. He turned to Sakumo Hatake and nodded,
"Sakumo, take them away. It's alright here now."
"Yes."
Sakumo Hatake didn't say much. He simply put on the mask in his hand, then made a gesture. The First Squad behind Ren turned and returned to their formation, following Sakumo out of the room.
Minato and Hiruzen's Anbu guards also disappeared from their spots at their respective signals.
The previously crowded Hokage Office instantly became spacious.
"What is it?"
Looking at the Anbu still surrounding Utatane Koharu and Homura, Ren said with a hint of sarcasm,
"Are the two Advisors planning to make a move in the Hokage Office?"
The two looked at Ren with gloomy faces. After a moment of silence, they slowly said,
"Stand down."
"Yes!"
The surrounding Anbu finally seemed relieved and retreated. After all, within the Anbu, the strength of their two squads was not considered powerful. No matter which side's Anbu they were just now, they couldn't win.
"Hiruzen…"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi speak, Utatane Koharu opened her mouth, about to say something, but was interrupted by him.
"Hoshimi Ren, for damaging the Hokage Office and disrespecting the Elder Advisors, you are fined and given five days of confinement."
"Yes."
Ren happily agreed, then raised his hand to take out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch, placed it on the nearby table, and chuckled,
"This is the five hundred thousand ryo fine. Please check it, Hokage-sama. As for the confinement, I will go back and receive my punishment later, and I can even proactively write a self-reflection essay."
"Sarutobi, you…"
Hearing this punishment, Utatane Koharu's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
She hadn't expected that after so many years of friendship with him, he would now side with the other party on such a matter.
"Alright."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took down his pipe and said to the two in a deep voice,
"Homura, Koharu, you two go back first. I will handle the matter concerning that Uzumaki mother and daughter."
"What?!"
Utatane Koharu was instantly astonished. Just as she was about to say something more, Homura Mitokado secretly tugged at her sleeve, shook his head slightly, and then turned to walk out.
"…"
Although unwilling, seeing that even Homura Mitokado, who stood with her, had chosen to back down, she was left alone and couldn't do anything to that brat Ren.
"Sigh!"
After watching the two leave in anger, Hiruzen Sarutobi first let out a long sigh, then turned to the others and said softly,
"I no longer wish to interfere with the matter of that Uzumaki mother and daughter, but Minato, you must conduct a thorough investigation and ensure they are properly settled."
"Yes!"
Minato quickly nodded, a rare serious expression appearing on his usually smiling face.
"Mm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and turned, about to leave. Seeing Ren standing there, he paused his raised foot and scolded him somewhat angrily,
"You brat, don't be so impulsive in the future. Brawling in the Hokage Office, if it were anyone else, they would have been thrown into jail long ago."
"Tsk."
Ren rubbed his nose, then took out two more scrolls from his ninja tool pouch and placed them on the table, saying lazily,
"I'll pay another one million ryo fine."
"Huh?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned. Then, his tone softened, and he continued,
"This isn't about money, Ren, you need to know…"
"Another two million."
"...Sigh."
Looking at the nine scrolls on the table, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched twice. He then turned back to Ren, remained silent for a moment, then sighed, covering his forehead as he said helplessly,
"Forget it, I'm not dealing with this anymore."
After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Minato.
"Minato, keep an eye on this brat. Don't let him cause any more trouble."
After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out the door, holding his pipe. Just as he was about to pass the corner, a loud shout came from behind him.
"Old man, leave the door open this afternoon and add an extra bowl and chopsticks!"
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi stumbled, and his pace instinctively quickened. Soon, the Hokage Office returned to its previous state.
Of course, except for a hole.