CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 416 : REVENGE??

"What should we do then?"

Sarutobi Asuma asked helplessly, watching as Hiruzen Sarutobi’s brows furrowed even deeper. "Are we really going to pay 300,000 ryo?"

As he said this, his fists clenched tightly.

He no longer had a shred of goodwill toward the Uchiha clan. In fact, all that remained was burning hatred.

One day, he swore, he would make the Uchiha pay the price.

Annihilation!

Especially that brat, Uchiha Genya. How dare he scheme against him! Unforgivable!

And Yūhi Kurenai!

She was definitely involved in this incident. She was standing right beside him, yet when she knew Genya was setting him up, she said nothing!

Hmph, Kurenai would have to pay the price too!

"Of course we have to pay."

Hiruzen’s tone was heavy as his frown deepened. "And the sooner the better. If we delay, knowing Uchiha Kinya’s personality, he’ll spread this incident all over the village!"

If outsiders discovered that the mission hall staff neglected or dismissed a task posted by a civilian, it could spark public outrage.

Right now, the hearts of the people were already starting to lean toward the Uchiha.

Even if most of the Konoha ninja clans still stood with their side, civilians also held a portion of the political voice.

If this matter truly blew up, at the very least, those two people would never be able to work in the mission hall again.

In fact, there were many others eyeing that job.

Having a position in the mission hall meant being able to assign easier missions to their own clansmen, and even win favor from other powerful clans.

Back when he suppressed the Uchiha, those two had played a crucial role.

That was why the mission hall must remain in the hands of the Sarutobi clan!

"We’ll pay it if we have to," Asuma muttered through gritted teeth, his brows drawn into a hard line as he stared at the two disgraced men kneeling before him.

"How much do you have on you right now? Speak. Now."

"Brother Asuma... we don’t have much. Please... help us!"

The two men clung to his leg in desperation, their voices thick with panic. Their eyes were red from crying, their pride already trampled underfoot.

They weren’t lying. Though they had been quietly pocketing money from their work in the mission hall, the clan had siphoned most of it away. After all these years, they’d barely saved a thing.

"Hmph. Useless fools."

Asuma’s voice was cold, his disgust clear. He gave them a sharp glare that made both men flinch.

"Enough. Leave," came another voice—calmer, yet infinitely more chilling.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression was unreadable. His voice cut like steel. "If there’s any news, someone will inform you."

His gaze lingered on the two shinobi. It was not just disappointment that flickered in his eyes—it was contempt.

The two men stood slowly, their shoulders sagging under invisible weight. Silently, they turned and walked out of the room, defeated.

Asuma remained still for a moment, then turned to his father. "Do we really have to give it to them?" he asked bitterly.

His voice was low, but the frustration behind it was loud.

Three hundred thousand ryo.

That number burned in his mind like a brand. He didn’t want to hand it over—not when part of this whole situation had been his fault to begin with.

"We have to," Hiruzen replied, his voice calm but strained.

Even he winced inwardly at the thought. It wasn’t a small amount. But it had to be done.

Still... he would not forget this.

In his mind, the Uchiha clan had earned themselves a new mark in his little black book. One that would not fade.

The Uchiha would be erased eventually.

It was only a matter of time.

They were growing too powerful—too bold. Already, they were starting to shake the foundations of his authority. If this trend continued, it would threaten everything he had built.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not a man who tolerated uncertainty. His plans did not allow for accidents.

"Asuma," he said, straightening in his chair. "Go investigate that farmer again—the one who reported the missing pig. Confirm everything yourself this time."

He paused.

"And don’t delegate. Use our people."

"Yes," Asuma replied quietly.

He turned to leave, but then stopped at the door. His fists clenched.

"I still can’t accept this," he muttered, turning his head just enough for Hiruzen to see the hatred burning in his eyes.

Uchiha Genya. That bastard had made a fool of him.

When had he ever been humiliated like this? He’d always been the center of attention, the one others looked up to. But this time, he’d been outplayed—and it stung.

"If you can’t accept it," Hiruzen said, rising to his feet, "then find a way to make them pay for it."

His voice held no warmth. Only the edge of a blade.

Asuma frowned. "How?"

"In a few days," Hiruzen said, "I’ll have an S-rank mission reclassified as a regular assignment and send it through the mission hall. Make sure it lands in Genya’s hands."

A small smile touched the corners of the old Hokage’s lips—but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Let the boy choke on his own ambition.

Uchiha Genya should have died a long time ago.

He was never meant to live this long.

Back then, when he went to Sunagakure, he should have died there.

But somehow, he survived.

And not just survived—he lived far longer than he should have.

He should be dead.

——

"What about Kurenai Yuhi?"

Asuma hesitated.

If things were really like this... then Kurenai might not make it out alive either.

"A woman... there are plenty of them."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Asuma and sneered.

"If she’s not on our side, then she deserves to die."

"...I understand."

Asuma nodded slightly.

——

Night had fallen.

Several black-clad figures silently infiltrated the livestock grounds on the outskirts of Konoha, approaching the direction of the old man’s house.

Their movements were swift and precise, trained for stealth.

"Sector 5, someone is approaching your area."

The moment the team stepped into the outer management zone, the alert was triggered.

Crystal balls connected to the village’s surveillance techniques began to shimmer.

In one of them, the scene near the old man’s residence appeared.

It was quiet.

The old man had gone to bed long ago.

The intruders searched carefully, inspecting every pen, every corner.

Eventually, they regrouped.

"There’s no trace of cattle. Looks like he’s really just raising pigs."

"I checked the large pen in the back. It’s completely different from this one. The layout, the feeders, the waste system—all of it. It’s clearly Uchiha-designed, but it’s under the old man’s name."

"This still isn’t enough evidence. We were already told the Uchiha were helping him raise pigs."

"There’s nothing more we can do."

"Then we retreat."

Silently, they disappeared into the night.

But—

Moments after they left, a few more shadows emerged from the trees, watching them leave.

No words were spoken.

Just cold eyes reflecting the moonlight.

"Why doesn’t Lord Genya want us to kill those people?" One of them stared coldly at the departing figures.

They were all from the Sarutobi clan. Sneaking into their territory late at night was the perfect chance to take them out.

"Stay calm. Lord Genya said it’s not time to openly clash with the Sarutobi clan yet. We have to hold back for now," another man soothed.

"Hold back? Then how long do we have to wait?" The first man’s voice was still impatient.

"Soon."

Though the night was calm, an undercurrent of tension flowed beneath it.

It felt like the calm before a storm.

At dawn, Genya took Hikari with him and went out to train. This time, Genya activated eight times gravity.

If he trained alongside Shou Kui, Genya would apply the eight times gravity only to himself.

This was why Genya’s physical strength kept growing stronger.

With the Black Flame constantly devouring blood energy, his body could grow more powerful without lacking energy.

No one could compare to such a talent.

But this time, as soon as he stepped out, Shou Kui came to join him for training.

When they passed by the Hyūga clan’s place, Hinata was already waiting excitedly.

"Genya-kun!" she called out happily.

****

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