Haruto Saito said something he shouldn't have in public!
The fact that the Hyuga clan had once sent assassins after him was well known, but no one dared to expose this openly in front of the Hyuga clan and Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Hyuga clan held immense power, which was one reason for this silence. More importantly, revealing this truth would put pressure on Hiruzen Sarutobi, essentially forcing him to take a stand for justice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi always prioritized the bigger picture. The Hyuga clan was a core part of Konoha, and moving against them was not a simple matter. When he decided to recruit Haruto Saito into Konoha, it was already a controversial decision that lacked widespread support. Furthermore, before joining Konoha, Haruto had killed a Hyuga clan ninja. So when the Hyuga clan later attempted to assassinate Haruto, Hiruzen had chosen to turn a blind eye.
This matter had long since passed, and now that he intended to take Haruto Saito as his direct disciple, the Hyuga clan would no longer take action against him.
But now, Haruto had spoken about it in public!
This put Hiruzen Sarutobi in an incredibly awkward position.
"I destroyed them on purpose! I did it deliberately!" Haruto declared. He knew that saying such things publicly was inappropriate, but he had a temper and couldn't hold back. "So what? I won't give them to you! You say they've been lost forever? Good! Let them stay lost! You can glare at me all you want, but it won't change a thing. I already destroyed those scrolls! What are you going to do about it?"
Haruto was not afraid of offending the Hyuga clan. They had tried to assassinate him multiple times. The fact that he hadn't actively sought revenge against them was already showing remarkable restraint!
Hyuga Reita's face had turned a deep shade of purple from anger, his whole body trembling. The two elite Hyuga jonin who had accompanied him were also glaring at Haruto, their fury barely contained.
If not for Hiruzen Sarutobi's presence, Hyuga Reita might have attacked Haruto in a fit of rage.
And it was precisely because Hiruzen Sarutobi was present that Haruto dared to say whatever he wanted.
"Haruto Saito, that's enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi barked, his voice cold as he shot Haruto a warning glance.
"Oh." Haruto responded obediently but then turned to Hyuga Reita with a smirk, shrugging with an expression that said, "What can you do about it?"
Hyuga Reita was on the verge of losing his mind! His fists clenched tightly, but he knew he couldn't do anything. Even if he had a hundred times more courage, he wouldn't dare to attack Haruto in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi—Hiruzen could kill him with one hand!
Hiruzen took a deep breath.
What a headache!
Now that Haruto had spoken so openly, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to remain silent.
The confrontation between Hyuga Reita and Haruto had drawn the attention of everyone present. All eyes were on them.
"Haruto Saito, it's true that Hyuga ninjas once attempted to assassinate you," Danzo suddenly spoke, his voice low yet calm. "But that was because you had killed a Hyuga ninja before joining Konoha. Someone sought revenge—it was their personal act. There is no concrete evidence that it was ordered by the Hyuga clan. To place the blame directly on them is improper."
Haruto was too aggressive, and Danzo had no desire to argue with him, which was why his tone remained measured. Though his words appeared to defend the Hyuga clan, in reality, he was providing Hiruzen Sarutobi with a way out of the situation.
It was the duty of a subordinate to ensure that their leader was not placed in a difficult position.
"Oh, is that so?" Haruto responded indifferently. He wasn't interested in debating with Danzo—he had already given Hiruzen Sarutobi an excuse to let the matter slide.
"Haruto, I have a question for you," Danzo continued, his gaze suddenly sharp.
"Go ahead, Lord Danzo," Haruto replied.
"What's in the package you're carrying?" Danzo asked.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the animal-skin bundle on Haruto's back. Previously, no one had paid much attention to it. Not because it was particularly inconspicuous, but because Haruto had just returned from treasure hunting. Carrying a bag with him was completely normal, and normal things tended to be overlooked.
Another key reason was that no one would have believed Haruto capable of blatantly lying.
The bundle was wrapped in animal hide, and from its shape, it was clear that it contained scrolls. The sharp edges of the scrolls pressed against the fabric, creating noticeable impressions. A careful observer could easily deduce that cylindrical objects were inside.
"This?" Haruto blinked, feigning ignorance as he pointed at the bundle.
"Yes!" Danzo nodded, his eyes fixed on Haruto. "What's inside?"
Tsunade tensed up immediately, her expression practically spelling out "I'm worried." Jiraiya, standing beside her, noticed her reaction and tilted his head in confusion. He didn't understand why she was so concerned.
"Scrolls! Secret technique scrolls!" Haruto stated openly. "They contain forbidden and secret techniques from the Meiji clan. What's the problem?"
Danzo said nothing further and simply turned his head toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Open them," Hiruzen said flatly, his expression unreadable.
"Alright!" Haruto casually pulled the bundle from his shoulder, quickly unwrapping it to reveal over a dozen scrolls. Each one bore the intricate patterns associated with the Meiji clan.
Tsunade's eyes widened for a moment before she quickly regained her composure.
The five Gentle Fist scrolls were gone!
She had no idea when Haruto had removed them or where he had hidden them. She didn't believe he had destroyed them—if he was going to, he would have done so long ago and wouldn't have refused her request earlier.
Haruto held out the bundle, and Hiruzen Sarutobi casually picked up a scroll. He unrolled it and his eyes immediately lit up.
An S-rank forbidden technique!
Without lingering on it, he closed the scroll and placed it back before picking up another one. Upon reading it, his eyes gleamed again—it was an A-rank instant movement technique!
Hyuga Reita, staring at the scrolls, suddenly reached out to grab one.
"Hey! How rude!" Haruto immediately stepped back, glaring. "Who said you could look? If anyone's checking them, it should be Lord Hokage. Keep your hands to yourself!"
The sound of teeth grinding filled the air.
Hyuga Reita slowly withdrew his hand, then clenched his fists. His gaze toward Haruto was filled with pure, murderous intent.
At that moment, Haruto noticed something change in Hyuga Reita's data display. Previously, it showed "hostility" toward him. Now, it had shifted to "extreme malice."
Hiruzen Sarutobi checked all thirteen scrolls. More than just inspecting them, he was curious to see what techniques they contained. The Meiji clan had once been a powerful force, and every technique in these scrolls was extraordinary.
"There are no Hyuga techniques here," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, glancing at Hyuga Reita. He then returned the scrolls to Haruto and added, "If there's nothing else, you may go."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly protecting Haruto. Despite Haruto allegedly destroying the Hyuga clan's lost scrolls, Hiruzen made no comment on his actions.
Hyuga Reita clenched his teeth in frustration. But as the leader of the Hyuga branch family, he had no real authority over the main clan. If the Hyuga clan wanted to escalate the matter, it would require the intervention of their head.
"I take my leave." Hyuga Reita had no choice but to bow and depart, seething with resentment.
The three Hyuga clan members disappeared.
"Hmph!" Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a heavy sigh, then turned to Haruto with a sharp glare.
"Lord Hokage, I wasn't trying to cause trouble…" Haruto felt the need to explain.
"Come with me," Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered, his tone displeased, before walking toward a secluded grove.
Haruto quickly followed.
Soon, they were away from the others, standing in a narrow forest path.
"Did you really destroy the scrolls?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, narrowing his eyes under the shade of the trees.