Sakumo raised the telephone, he shook his head. "It's nothing, Hokage-sama, just sharing your burdens. It's what the Anbu should do."
Ryun nodded, then said, "Next, please keep a close watch, Sakumo. That girl of mine is a bit headstrong."
"Rest assured, Hokage-sama, as long as I am here, I will definitely guarantee Ju's personal safety." After saying this, Hatake Sakumo hung up the phone. On the other side, Ryun also put down the telephone.
His eyes were full of melancholy. He had a feeling of being robbed from his own home. Even the joy of unifying the ninja world was diluted considerably. He looked at Uchiha Fugaku, and anger immediately surged within him.
At this moment, Namikaze Minato came to report. During the time Ryun was away campaigning, he had been handling the village's internal affairs.
He always had to report the specific consumption of supplies. When he walked in, he noticed the situation in the office was off, and he wisely kept his mouth shut.
Seeing him appear, Ryun forcibly suppressed his anger. "Minato, what is it."
"Ah, sensei, I'm here to report the resource consumption for this campaign," Namikaze Minato said with a smile.
Ryun rubbed his temples and said, "Alright, go ahead." He really did need some other good news to cheer himself up now.
Namikaze Minato smiled and recounted the supplies for the front lines and the village's internal supplies. Hearing it, Ryun couldn't help but nod, impressed. Truly, it was Minato, meticulous down to which minute how much grain was dispatched.
If it were anyone else, facing such a massive grain reserve, not embezzling would be good enough, let alone remembering it in such detail. After listening to the report, Ryun's expression softened.
First, he affirmed the report's accuracy. Then, he lavished praise on Minato's diligence and effort. After that, he pointedly mentioned Uchiha Fugaku, telling him to learn well from this example.
This left Uchiha Fugaku looking utterly wretched. But there was no way around it. His son's actions meant the father naturally had to clean up the mess.
Akimichi BBQ Restaurant
At the moment, Akimichi Chōza was watching the new television equipment made by Orochimaru with great interest.
During this great war, Akimichi Chōza had not gone to the front lines. Instead, he stayed in Konoha's rear, cooperating with his senior brother Namikaze Minato to collect and transport provisions.
At the same time, the Akimichi clan's business couldn't be neglected. So, he handled business while gathering provisions.
Now that the war had ended, half the heavy burden on his shoulders was lifted, and he went back to managing the family's BBQ business.
The television was showing the scene where Ryun used Ice Release: Frozen Universe. Surging cold air instantly froze a thousand miles, even freezing the ocean.
This segment was edited into a clip playing in the restaurant. Following that was Danzo's Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere and Hiruzen Sarutobi's Five Release: Great Combo Technique working in tandem.
It got today's customers in the restaurant very excited. They ordered a lot of meat, eating while watching TV. Someone sighed in admiration, "Truly worthy of being the Hokage-sama. His chakra volume and ninjutsu intensity are simply unmatched."
The TV then played the Stone Will of Iwagakure and the speech Ōnoki gave. Although the villagers of Konoha and Iwagakure were not on the same side.
Seeing the Tsuchikage Ōnoki fighting for his village and hearing his speech made the Konoha villagers feel deep respect. However, the very next moment was the scene where Ōnoki, despite exhausting all his strength, still couldn't defeat Madara Uchiha.
This made everyone gasp. This Shinobi of the Withering, Madara Uchiha, truly lived up to his name. Facing Ōnoki's Dust Release, he was actually so composed and unruffled.
All sorts of high-energy clips in the restaurant got the customers' emotions soaring. They ate over a pound more BBQ.
When Uchiha Itachi led Uchiha Ju inside, Akimichi Chōza instinctively stood up to greet customers. But seeing it was Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Ju...
His mouth twitched. The incident at the village entrance had already been relayed to him by the ninjas on outside duty.
He was quite impressed by Uchiha Itachi. The moment he returned to the village, he had wooed the teacher's only daughter, angering the teacher enough and landing his father in deep trouble.
Reportedly, his father Uchiha Fugaku was still being made to stand at attention in the Hokage's office. Tsk tsk, truly a case of filial piety. But this didn't conflict with him.
He smiled cheerfully. "Private room or main hall?" His two small eyes squinted as he looked at Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Ju.
Uchiha Ju was somewhat rooted to the spot, because she also saw the television, saw her father's heroic posture, different from the father she understood at home.
At this moment, her father seemed more like a hero. A hero possessing supreme power, like those in epic tales.
Uchiha Itachi was about to say the main hall, but the next moment Akimichi Chōza smiled and said, "The private rooms also have TVs, and they're much bigger than this one."
Uchiha Itachi decisively chose a private room. Then, he led Uchiha Ju into a room for two.
The private room was as spacious as ever. Even a room for two could squeeze in six people if needed.
Their table's food came very quickly. All sorts of fresh, freshly sliced ingredients were placed on the table one after another.
Akimichi Chōza then turned on the large liquid crystal flat-screen TV for them, starting the playback from the beginning.
Uchiha Ju was deeply captivated by the TV content. Whether it was Madara Uchiha, Izuna Uchiha, Ryun, or Uchiha Fugaku, they all showed her the might of Konoha.
And her great-grandfathers, Hashirama Senju's Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, Tobirama Senju's Water Release, Flying Thunder God, her uncle's Wood Dragon, Wood Human techniques, all sorts of methods made her watch without blinking.
Uchiha Itachi, meanwhile, smiled and picked up the serving chopsticks to start grilling meat for Uchiha Ju. Just moments ago, she was complaining that Ryun didn't trust her, didn't tell her his true identity.
Now, she was captivated by the Will of Fire Ryun spoke of and that peerless Ice Release technique. She wondered, could she one day have power like her father's?
And the Susano'o. It seemed every Uchiha clansman she met knew this technique.
(Uchiha clansmen: …)
Just as she was thinking, a fragrant piece of grilled meat wrapped in dipping sauce was brought to her lips by Uchiha Itachi.
The aroma attracted her. Subconsciously, she opened her mouth and ate the meat in one bite.
"Mmm! Delicious." Her eyes lit up as she looked at Uchiha Itachi. On Uchiha Itachi's originally calm face, a smile unconsciously appeared.
Then he continued silently grilling meat, feeding the Uchiha Ju beside him. Uchiha Ju, meanwhile, watched the videos while enjoying the meat Itachi brought to her mouth. Her mood was joyful. This heavenly life made the corners of her eyes curve into a smile.
Akimichi Chōza, meanwhile, smiled, secretly taking a photo of Uchiha Ju looking happy, and another photo of Uchiha Itachi holding meat to Uchiha Ju's mouth, which she bit into without even looking.
Then he sent both photos to his teacher, Ryun. Ryun was currently praising Minato, sharing his thoughts on how to govern the village.
Ding dong.
A sound came from the phone, interrupting his train of thought. Ryun began to frown. Who on earth was sending him a message at this time?
When he opened his phone, he suddenly slammed the table. This action startled Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Fugaku, and Nara Luming.
They couldn't help but look at Ryun. Ryun placed both hands on the wooden chair, gripping hard, and crushed the armrests.
Ryun looked at Uchiha Fugaku with a grim expression. Uchiha Fugaku gasped. What earth-shattering feat had his son performed now, causing Ryun, who was about to forget him, to focus on him again.
Uchiha Fugaku thought it over carefully. He looked at Namikaze Minato, wanting him to help draw fire. However, Namikaze Minato spoke up, "Sensei, the specific content of my report is complete. For the rest, I can consult Lord Luming. You two go ahead and deal with your matters."
Saying this, Namikaze Minato prepared to leave, dragging Nara Luming away with him. Ryun didn't say anything, but tacitly allowed it.
Nara Luming looked at Namikaze Minato with excitement, thinking, 'This guy is all right.' Then, with an approving look, he followed Namikaze Minato out.
Only Ryun and Uchiha Fugaku remained in the Hokage's office. Uchiha Fugaku widened his eyes. He hadn't expected Namikaze Minato to be so disloyal. He took Lord Luming away but not him.
Namikaze Minato would say, brother, I can't do it. The teacher's glare earlier was almost killing you. How could I possibly rescue you.
But, don't worry, a brother in spirit, a call won't get through when there's trouble. Just enjoy the teacher's affection to the fullest.
Uchiha Fugaku felt like crying. He looked at his teacher Ryun with a pleading expression, making one sigh. How could the current head of the Uchiha clan be so cowardly?
If Uchiha Fugaku knew who said that about him, he might retort, "You're so great, so noble. You try facing Ryun."
Ryun slowly stood up and walked over to Uchiha Fugaku. Uchiha Fugaku's Adam's apple bobbed, clearly frightened out of his wits.
Ryun understood this matter had little to do with Uchiha Fugaku himself. But thinking that Uchiha Fugaku was Uchiha Itachi's father made him angry.
He smiled and said, "Fugaku, come. It's been a long time since we trained. I permit you to use your full power." Saying this, he placed a hand on Uchiha Fugaku's shoulder.
In an instant, he and Uchiha Fugaku left the Hokage building, arriving at the Uchiha clan training grounds. Uchiha Fugaku looked pained.
He hadn't said anything and was dragged here by Ryun for training. Was there no justice? No law?
Uchiha Fugaku was just about to speak when Ryun said, "Watch out." Then he threw a punch.
Uchiha Fugaku hurriedly activated Susano'o. A silver Susano'o skeleton appeared, enveloping him. Ryun's fist did not stop, striking the Susano'o.
The next moment, cracks appeared where the Susano'o and Ryun's fist made contact, followed by shattering.
The force of this punch made Uchiha Fugaku's pupils shrink, exclaiming inwardly, 'Monster.' Pure physical strength shattered his Susano'o.
If he hadn't activated Susano'o earlier, he might have been sent flying by this punch. This was no damn training. This was aimed at his life.