Naruto: Starting With Three Tomoe Sharingan, Girlfriend Kushina

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe, his face showing a helpless expression.

"I want to know, how did you get to know Orochimaru?"

Hearing the old bastard's words, Ryun couldn't help but feel that Orochimaru was reliable. Orochimaru clearly hadn't told his Hokage teacher about Ryun's information.

Of course, the Chidori matter was something Ryun had actively asked Orochimaru to keep secret.

"How did I meet Orochimaru-sensei? The first time was through Kushina..." Ryun thought for a while before answering.

"Explain more clearly..." Sarutobi Hiruzen blew out a puff of smoke and spoke calmly.

"One afternoon after school, I was with Kushina when a few bad guys blocked us. Then Kushina and I teamed up to beat them up. Orochimaru-sensei saw this and said he was very impressed with me..."

Ryun roughly explained what happened that afternoon.

He couldn't hide everything, since the Hokage wasn't a fool.

Of course, he wouldn't reveal everything either. Some things only needed to be partially stated, and smart people would connect the dots themselves.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, not asking for details or follow-up. He just needed to know the general reason.

"So you really don't want to graduate early? With Orochimaru guiding you, I can give you the Konoha forehead protector in advance..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but ask again.

The main reason he wanted Ryun to graduate early was to prevent his beloved student Orochimaru from acting recklessly.

After all, taking an elementary school kid on high-rank missions... if this got out, the backlash would be huge. If Ryun became a ninja, this wouldn't be a problem.

At most, people would say his student's disciple was taking on missions above his rank. With Orochimaru's strength, no one would call it irresponsible, nor blame him as Hokage...

Ryun was seeing firsthand how shameless Sarutobi Hiruzen was... He had already said he didn't want to graduate early, yet this old bastard kept asking...

This was clearly not letting him off easy!

The Second War had already started. If he graduated now, he'd definitely be sent to the Land of Rain as cannon fodder.

He had heard of students begging the Hokage to let them graduate early, but never the Hokage begging a student to graduate early...

"I don't want to yet... When I feel like graduating early, I'll come find you, Hokage-sama..."

Ryun politely refused.

"..."

"Fine... But you can't go on any missions above C-rank with Orochimaru anymore..."

"Since you're not a ninja yet, if something happens, not only will Orochimaru be held responsible, but even I as Hokage won't be able to avoid blame."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patiently explained the stakes.

"I see... Then alright..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought the kid would say: 'Then fine, I'll graduate early and become a ninja...'

But instead, Ryun said: "Then I'll wait until next year to go on missions with Orochimaru-sensei..."

"..."

"Fine... Another year of school is good too..." Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a stiff smile.

If Ryun didn't want to graduate early, he as Hokage really had no reason to force him.

Unless war with other nations escalated desperately... then the academy might consider shortening the six-year program and send elementary students as cannon fodder.

"About mission confidentiality, Orochimaru must have told you, right..." Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the ashes from his pipe and asked casually.

"Yeah, Orochimaru-sensei said even after completing a mission, I can't reveal details..."

"Good, that's right. Missions above C-rank are high-level and Konoha secrets. Not even family or close friends can know..." Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly turned serious.

"Got it, I haven't told anyone..." Ryun stood straight, his small face full of solemn seriousness.

This expression made Sarutobi Hiruzen laugh. The old bastard waved his hand:

"Go home and sleep. Otherwise, your mom will worry if she can't find you..."

"Yes!"

After leaving the Hokage Building, Ryun subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Going on missions with Orochimaru had pros and cons.

The pro was being able to use Orochimaru's reputation as a shield. The con was entering the Konoha higher-ups' radar early, which was unavoidable.

Ryun felt that with Orochimaru's current prestige, he might not be able to suppress people like Danzo. But if full-scale war broke out between Konoha and Rain, and the Sannin title emerged...

Then as Orochimaru's nominal disciple, he wouldn't need to fear the Konoha higher-ups. As long as he didn't make major mistakes, no one would mess with him...

Inside the Uchiha Clan grounds.

"Fugaku-sama, the patrolling clansmen reported that Uchiha Ryun has returned to the village!"

A clan chunin entered the police force office to deliver the news to Uchiha Fugaku.

"Finally decided to come back, huh!"

Uchiha Fugaku muttered with a dark expression.

Previously, Uchiha Ryun had humiliated him in front of many clansmen. Later, he even framed the chunin pursuers Fugaku sent, causing him to be punished...

This debt, Uchiha Fugaku had not forgotten!

Originally, he planned to teach the brat a lesson, to show him the consequences of offending him. But the little bastard ran out of the village, ruining his revenge plan.

Since the mid-year clan meeting, he had been thinking of revenge nonstop. But the damn brat disappeared for a whole month...

He suspected the bastard was scared of his revenge, so he left the village to hide.

This wasn't just his thought. Many clansmen who witnessed their feud thought the same.

Some praised the brat's cleverness, but more saw it as cowardice. After all, he couldn't stay outside the village forever. Sooner or later, he'd have to face Fugaku.

"Go call Uchiha Seimaru for me."

"Yes!"

The clan chunin bowed. Though both were chunin, their statuses were worlds apart. Being ordered by Fugaku was an honor.

Ryun's home.

"Mom, where did the letter on my desk come from?"

Ryun held a letter and asked Asuka.

"I don't know... The letter appeared at the door... It's been almost a month now..."

Asuka had found the letter by the entrance.

"Also, what's this about being careful of Fugaku-sama? Did you have a conflict with the Great Elder's grandson?"

The letter warned Ryun to be careful of Fugaku-sama and avoid leaving home, especially at night...

Ryun scratched his head. He had read the letter and recognized it was written by a girl from the handwriting and content.

The paper even had a faint orchid fragrance...

Ryun didn't know which fragrant girl wrote it.

First, Kushina was ruled out...