Chapter 171 The Third Kage's Decision! The Utatane Clan Arrives!
"Tetsuya, you brat!"
"What are you doing here?!"
"And what's with you carrying Kobayashi Ikeno?!"
The news of Fujiwara Tetsuya's appearance at the Hokage Building had already been secretly conveyed to Hiruzen Sarutobi by the Anbu.
Therefore, even though Fujiwara Tetsuya's current actions were somewhat overstepping, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't show much surprise.
"Hokage-sama! I have something to report to you!"
Meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, Fujiwara Tetsuya bowed slightly.
However, his right hand was still holding Kobayashi Ikeno, who had been knocked out again.
"Is that so?"
"Then come in with me!"
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's back, Fujiwara Tetsuya didn't hesitate at all.
He carried Kobayashi Ikeno and walked forward.
Perhaps due to his reverence for Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fujiwara Tetsuya barely saw anyone before arriving at the Hokage Office.
"Tetsuya, you brat!"
"First, put down Chunin Kobayashi Ikeno."
"There are no outsiders here."
"Just tell me what happened!"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he skillfully picked up the pipe on the table.
"Yes... Hokage-sama!"
Fujiwara Tetsuya's narration lasted only a few minutes.
He objectively recounted the entire Uesugi Yusuke incident, as well as how he and Uchiha Mikoto used genjutsu to control Kobayashi Ikeno.
He didn't conceal anything.
As the Shadow of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind was far more profound than anyone else's.
Deliberately hiding things would only arouse his suspicions.
"Is that so?"
"I understand. However... before making a decision, I need to confirm it again."
"During this time, you will stay here."
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi beckoned, two Anbu members appeared in the Hokage Office.
After bowing to Hiruzen Sarutobi, they quickly left, carrying Kobayashi Ikeno between them.
The waiting period was extremely tedious.
Especially since, within his line of sight, Hiruzen Sarutobi was constantly frowning, dealing with stacks of documents on his desk.
He looked very busy.
However, this action seemed somewhat ridiculous in Fujiwara Tetsuya's eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, in this heavy atmosphere, the two Anbu who had left earlier returned with Kobayashi Ikeno.
However, there was a difference.
Kobayashi Ikeno was now awake, and the moment he entered the Hokage Office, his legs gave way, and he knelt directly before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Is that so? I understand."
"You've worked hard!"
After hearing the Anbu's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately darkened.
Perhaps it was Fujiwara Tetsuya's imagination, but for a brief moment, he felt an astonishing killing intent emanating from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Kobayashi Ikeno!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama! I'm here!"
"Do you remember what I said when I appointed you as an instructor?"
"You've disappointed me greatly!"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, an invisible pressure enveloped Kobayashi Ikeno, causing this Ninja, whose strength had reached the Elite Chunin level, to prostrate himself on the ground in fear.
"Ho... Hokage-sama! I know I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong!"
"It was me! I was afraid of death!"
"I shouldn't have sent Yusuke and the others to their deaths..."
"Please, for the sake of my past contributions to the Village, spare me this one time!"
"Kobayashi Ikeno! For the sake of your contributions to the Village, I will spare your life!"
"But you and Tanechika Sumita, having abandoned your comrades, have lost the right to continue as Konoha Ninja!"
"Now, in the name of the Shadow of Konoha, I strip you and Tanechika Sumita of your Ninja status!"
Was Hiruzen Sarutobi's punishment severe?
From Fujiwara Tetsuya's perspective, it was far from enough.
As long as Kobayashi Ikeno and Tanechika Sumita were alive, his anger would not be extinguished.
But from the perspective of Kobayashi Ikeno and the two Anbu beside him, Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision was undoubtedly extremely severe.
Stripping a Ninja of their status meant that Kobayashi Ikeno would not only lose all the benefits he currently enjoyed, but he would also be sealed by the Sealing Corps or have his Chakra pathways destroyed.
From then on, he would no longer be able to refine Chakra, becoming an ordinary person who had lost his Ninja abilities.
In other words, the future of Kobayashi Ikeno and Tanechika Sumita was destroyed.
Completely buried at this moment.
"Take him away!"
"Also, don't let what happened today spread!"
What Kobayashi Ikeno and Tanechika Sumita did, from Hiruzen Sarutobi's position, was not a big deal, strictly speaking.
However, the negative impact of their actions was extremely serious.
Once it spread throughout Konoha, the trust and bonds between Konoha's new generation of Ninja and their instructors would completely cease to exist.
He didn't know what he was thinking at the time when he promoted Kobayashi Ikeno to an instructor.
"Tetsuya!"
Suppressing his anger and helplessness, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally turned his gaze back to Fujiwara Tetsuya.
"Hokage-sama!"
"This matter... was due to my poor judgment of character."
"Which led to this result."
"I will provide appropriate compensation to the Uesugi Clan."
"It's just that Kobayashi Ikeno and Tanechika Sumita... need to stay alive."
"I understand!"
"I won't actively seek trouble with them!"
Fujiwara Tetsuya knew that this was the limit of what Hiruzen Sarutobi could do at the moment.
Because his importance in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind was still very limited.
However, the development of some things always exceeds everyone's expectations.
Two days later, when Hiruzen Sarutobi sent someone to deliver the corresponding compensation, and Fujiwara Tetsuya thought the matter was over, a group of uninvited guests forcefully broke open the gates of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi Clan compounds.
"It's Torifu Clan Ninja!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Tanaka Jiro, who was the first to come out, immediately identified the newcomers the moment he stepped out of the door.
Nearly twenty Torifu Clan Ninja were striding towards them, full of menacing aura.
"Where's Fujiwara Tetsuya?!"
"Tell that bastard to come out!"
"Tanechika Sumita! What do you want?!"
"Why are you trespassing on our clan grounds?!"
Fujiwara Tetsuya had not informed Tanaka Jiro and the others about what happened in the Hokage Office.
Otherwise, Tanaka Jiro's tone would not have been as angry yet restrained as it was now.
"What do I want?"
"You'll know once you call out Fujiwara Tetsuya!"
"I don't want to harm the innocent! Quickly, tell that bastard Fujiwara Tetsuya to come out!"
"Sumita! Move aside!"
"Your methods are still too gentle!"
"Although our Torifu Clan is not as great as the Three Great Clans, we are not someone that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can provoke!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
As a Jonin from the Torifu Clan made his move, the leftmost house, unable to withstand the onslaught of the fierce wind, collapsed with a loud crash.
Pubfuture Ads