Chapter 153: Double pleasure of spirit and body? The dust has settled!
"Tetsuya! Do you have anything you want to say?!"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out, the gazes seemed to grow heavier.
There was indifference, disdain, and also dissatisfaction.
Perhaps, in the eyes of these powerful figures, in a sacred place like the Hokage Office, Fujiwara Tetsuya, a mere Special Jonin, had no right to interrupt.
"Yes!"
Scanning the faces on both sides, Fujiwara Tetsuya's gaze showed no sign of wavering.
"Hokage-sama! There might be something I didn't mention in the mission report!"
"Before we broke through, Lord Ashina summoned Senior Aoki and me."
"That night, besides arranging our breakout, Lord Ashina also entrusted Meihua and Kyoji to me."
"If I may be so bold, neither Lord Danzo, nor the Senju Clan, nor Advisor Torifu, have the right to interfere."
"Because Meihua and Kyoji, to some extent, are already people of my Fujiwara Clan!"
"I will take good care of them and provide them with a stable life."
"So, the matter of Meihua and Kyoji is not something for you esteemed adults to worry about!"
Gradually, as Fujiwara Tetsuya's voice grew deeper, a powerful aura began to rise from him.
Though far from matching those present, it was enough to make Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and others unable to ignore it.
Has this kid already touched the edge of Jonin?
Looking at Fujiwara Tetsuya's calm, somewhat indifferent face, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes twitched slightly, showing a hint of surprise and joy.
As for Danzo, his face was now drawn, his expression shifting between light and dark, lost in thought.
However, no matter what thoughts the people in the room held, one thing could not be changed.
Fujiwara Tetsuya, who could touch the edge of Jonin at ten years old, was indeed a true genius.
He possessed the capital for anyone to bet on and invest in.
Of course, this was from the perspective of a normal person.
"Hmph!"
"Kid! Lord Ashina entrusted them to you?"
"Can you provide evidence?"
"Who knows, you kid, if you have some special motive, wanting to control the Uzumaki Clan's survivors?"
"Hiruzen! I think it's better to temporarily bring Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji back to the Torifu Clan."
"Let's decide after we come up with a concrete and reasonable placement plan!"
Looking at Fujiwara Tetsuya's profile, Utatane Koharu's expression was tinged with displeasure.
This wasn't the first time.
This kid, from a small Shinobi Clan and without any upbringing, had ignored and contradicted her in front of outsiders more than once.
No matter what, she was a Hokage Advisor.
One of the most respected people in Konoha, besides the Hokage.
To provoke her repeatedly, did he really think she had no temper?
"Kid?"
"Heh~ Advisor Torifu! If I recall correctly, my relationship with you hasn't reached that point."
"Also, I need to remind you, I am a Special Jonin personally appointed by Hokage-sama!"
"Although your status in the Village is high, I hope you can give us, these lower-status Ninja, the appropriate respect!"
After glancing at Utatane Koharu, Fujiwara Tetsuya sneered, choosing to retort without hesitation.
This middle-aged woman truly wanted to meddle in everything.
Standing high and ridiculing those of lower status, did it bring her double pleasure, both mental and physical, to fill her lonely heart?
"However, one thing you said is correct."
"Whether Lord Ashina entrusted Meihua and Kyoji to me is indeed dead without proof."
"I truly cannot provide evidence."
"But, can you provide evidence to prove that Lord Ashina did not say he entrusted Meihua and Kyoji to me?"
Seeing Utatane Koharu's ashen face, Fujiwara Tetsuya sneered inwardly, then turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Instead of endless arguments and delayed decisions,"
"Why not let Meihua and Kyoji decide for themselves where to go?"
"Whether to Lord Danzo's place, the Senju Clan's place, or to return to the Fujiwara Clan with me."
"They are Uzumaki Clan bloodline; they have the basic ability to discern right from wrong."
Meeting Fujiwara Tetsuya's clear, trustworthy gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi inexplicably felt a headache.
Of the four options for placing Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji, he had mentioned three in one breath.
Only the Torifu Clan option was missing.
It was imaginable how bad Fujiwara Tetsuya's impression of the Torifu Clan was.
To ease the relationship between Fujiwara Tetsuya and the Torifu Clan, he had put in a lot of effort over the past two years.
Not only did he force the Torifu Clan to apologize, but he also transferred Torune Ryoui into the Thirteenth Squad.
Originally, he had heard that Torune Ryoui quickly integrated into the Thirteenth Squad and formed a deep bond with Fujiwara Tetsuya, far exceeding that of ordinary friends or comrades.
He had thought at the time that the matter was over.
Unexpectedly, that thorn from his youth was still stuck in Fujiwara Tetsuya's heart.
He could accept Torune Ryoui, but he couldn't accept the Torifu Clan.
It seemed that only time could smooth everything over.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but look at Utatane Koharu.
His eyes seemed to carry a hint of dissatisfaction.
As a Hokage Advisor, besides authority, she should possess a broad mind.
To quibble with a ten-year-old junior was truly beneath her.
"Tetsuya! What you said makes sense."
"In that case,"
"Meihua! Kyoji! How have you decided?"
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, he already had the answer in his heart.
If Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji were to live with the Fujiwara Clan, it would also be a viable option.
Among the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi Clans, there were many children, and quite a few were of similar age to Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji.
If they went there, they might form deep bonds with the children of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi Clans.
Only with sufficiently deep bonds would the future of Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji be firmly in Konoha's hands.
This would also avoid conflict with the Senju Clan and, incidentally, put an end to his good friend's ideas.
At this moment, Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji had completely calmed down.
Compared to Danzo and the Senju Clan, two unfamiliar environments full of uncertainty, following Fujiwara Tetsuya was undoubtedly the best choice.
"Hokage-sama! We are willing to go back to the Fujiwara Clan with Tetsuya!"
...Ultimately, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's final decision, the matter of Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji's whereabouts concluded with a relatively perfect ending.
However, at the very end, Hiruzen Sarutobi still reminded Fujiwara Tetsuya that if Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji went down the wrong path, as Hokage, he would still intervene in time.