Inoichi's face flushed with anger, his hand trembling as he pointed at Danzo. "You—" he began, his voice thick with fury. But before he could utter another word, Inoiki gently grabbed his father's hand, stopping him.
"Dad, there's no need," Inoiki said calmly, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. He released Inoichi's hand, then stepped forward with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned to Danzo, locking eyes with him, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them.
"You know the truth as well as I do," Inoiki said, his tone laced with a quiet defiance. "And if I'm not mistaken, Hokage-sama knows it too." He glanced at Hiruzen, whose expression remained unreadable. "But honestly, I'm not surprised by how this is playing out. I expected it. After all, in politics, those with power and position can bend the rules as they see fit."
Inoiki paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "I remember when I was just three years old. I accidentally overheard my father talking with Uncle Choza and Shikaku. They were discussing how Hyuga Hizashi was forced to sacrifice himself for the sake of a so-called 'peace'—a peace that never really existed. I found the logic amusing, even then. If someone can trade one life for peace today, what's to stop them from trading a hundred lives tomorrow?"
His voice grew colder, more resolute. "That was the day I lost faith in this village's leadership. I realized then, and I realize now, that those in charge are willing to make whatever sacrifices they deem necessary, regardless of the cost. And today, you've proven me right again."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even Danzo, normally unshakable, narrowed his eyes slightly at the weight of Inoiki's words. Inoichi, Choza, and Shikaku stood quietly, watching the young man who had grown up before their eyes, now speaking with a conviction beyond his years. Hiruzen, his face still unreadable, seemed to carry the unspoken burden of those words.
Inoiki's playful smile faded, his expression hardening as he fixed his gaze on Danzo. "Fine," he said, his voice growing sharp. "Forget everything I just said. Treat it as nonsense. But hear me clearly, Danzo—I'm not a killer, but don't mistake me for someone weak. I won't stand by and let myself be framed or silenced."
He took a step closer, his eyes burning with intensity. "If you ever try something again, don't expect the ninja you send after me to come back alive. Even today, you can ask Fu yourself—if I'd wanted him dead, he wouldn't be breathing right now. This is my first and last warning to you."
A heavy silence filled the room, tension crackling in the air. Inoiki didn't bother to glance at Hiruzen as he turned to his father. "Father, I'm tired. I've fought enough today, and talking to hypocrites drains me even more. I'm leaving. You should go home too—there's no point wasting any more time here."
Without waiting for a response, Inoiki moved toward the door. As he walked, a faint, sky-blue aura began to shimmer around his body—a visible sign of his Kekkei Genkai, Psychokinesis. With a mere thought, he used telekinesis to swing open the large doors of the Hokage's office.
He didn't look back. The doors closed behind him with a quiet finality, his telekinetic power sealing the room in a heavy, unresolved silence.
Inoichi took a deep breath, calming himself. Any trace of anger faded from his face and body. He stood before Hiruzen, showing neither respect nor disrespect, and said, "Hokage-sama, thank you for your time. I also apologize for the way Inoiki spoke. He's just a kid, and after everything that happened today, he's exhausted. His words crossed a line, and for that, I humbly apologize. Now, I will take my leave."
With a brief bow, Inoichi turned and left the Hokage's office without waiting for Hiruzen's permission. Choza and Shikaku followed suit, bowing silently before exiting as well.
Hiruzen sighed, his gaze lingering on the closed door through which Inoiki, Inoichi, and their companions had just departed. Now, only Danzo remained in the office.
Looking at Danzo, Hiruzen sighed again. "You've really caused me trouble, Danzo."
Danzo met Hiruzen's eyes with a look of disdain. "That boy wasn't wrong about you—a hypocrite. Don't pretend you didn't know Fu was going to fight Inoiki. I even suspect you watched the entire battle. And the scroll I handed you," Danzo gestured toward the document, "it doesn't contain Fu's mission details. It's filled with all the information Fu gathered about Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai."
If Inoichi and his group had been there to hear Danzo's words, they would have been utterly shocked. The scroll Danzo had handed to Hiruzen, supposedly containing Fu's mission details, was actually filled with intelligence on Inoiki's unique abilities.
Danzo didn't bother awaiting a response from Hiruzen. With a swift turn, he exited the Hokage's office, the heavy wooden door creaking shut behind him. The sound of the gate slamming closed echoed through the hallway, a resounding declaration of his departure.
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