Muttering softly to himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. A trace of coldness appeared on his face.
The Uchiha Clan might not be able to afford losing face—but did that mean his, the Hokage's, opinion could simply be ignored?!
Knock knock knock.
At that moment, a ninja at the door knocked lightly and reported respectfully,
"Hokage-sama, Yuya has arrived."
"Let him in."
Hearing Yuya's name, Hiruzen's expression eased slightly. He set his pipe aside.
Entering the Hokage's Office, Yuya merely swept his gaze around briefly. He didn't look around curiously, instead walking straight to Hiruzen's desk and giving a respectful bow.
"Hokage-sama."
"No need for formalities. Rise," Hiruzen said kindly. Then he asked,
"How have these past few years in Konoha treated you?"
"Alright," Yuya replied.
In truth, Yuya very much wanted to add 'at least I didn't die', but he restrained himself.
Instead, he added calmly,
"Though how my life has been, Hokage-sama should already know quite clearly."
"Mhm."
Hiruzen nodded lightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
He had already summoned Namikaze Minato earlier. From these few exchanges alone, it was obvious that Yuya's mindset was no less mature than Minato's.
Though only eight or nine years old, both could already think like adults.
That meant Hiruzen didn't need to speak to Yuya as if he were an ordinary child.
"I understand. After all, you came from another village, and conflicts between villages are common—especially in recent years, with war breaking out everywhere."
"Your village was destroyed during a conflict with one of the Five Great Nations—the Wind Country's Sunagakure(Hidden Sand Village), which directly wiped it out."
As he spoke, Hiruzen carefully observed Yuya's expression. Seeing that Yuya remained completely calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, Hiruzen nodded inwardly and continued.
"By chance, Konoha ninja were operating nearby. After clashing with Sunagakure(Hidden Sand Village), they rescued the sole survivor from the flames of war and brought you back to Konoha."
"An outsider child living in Konoha is bound to encounter hardship and discrimination. I am well aware of the injustices you've suffered here."
Looking at Yuya, Hiruzen's face softened.
"From now on, that will not happen again."
Yuya understood clearly—this was Hiruzen's way of extending an olive branch.
The underlying meaning was simple: forget the past; from this day forward, you are a true member of Konoha.
"Thank you for your care, Hokage-sama," Yuya replied, putting on an appropriately grateful expression.
Hiruzen chuckled, stood up from his chair, and walked over to Yuya.
"Even if you endured many grievances here, at the very least… in Konoha, you don't have to worry about war reaching you."
"Yes," Yuya nodded.
Indeed, compared to the countless small ninja villages—where people lived in constant fear, never knowing if tomorrow would come—even poor treatment in a great village was preferable. At least one wouldn't suddenly lose their home to war.
"Let the past remain in the past."
Hiruzen patted Yuya on the shoulder with a gentle smile.
"Your performance yesterday was excellent. I witnessed a truly remarkable battle."
"You possess outstanding talent, and your mental maturity is no less than that of adults. In truth, you are already an exceptional ninja."
At this point, Hiruzen paused slightly, his tone shifting.
"However…"
"No matter how great one's talent is, growth still requires time. Right now, you are still somewhat immature in many areas."
"I hope that in the coming period, you can settle down, focus on cultivation, accumulate experience, and one day you will surely shine with your own brilliance."
These words sounded oddly suggestive.
To Yuya's ears, the meaning was obvious: you're still too young—go train properly and stop stirring trouble.
But the problem was—
Where was the peaceful environment to "train properly"?
In less than three months, his life-and-death duel with Uchiha Han would begin.
After a brief moment of thought, Yuya guessed Hiruzen's intention and asked directly,
"Hokage-sama… do you mean for me to abandon the life-and-death duel with Uchiha Han?"
A flash of appreciation crossed Hiruzen's eyes. His words had been roundabout, yet Yuya had grasped the point instantly.
"Yes. That is exactly my intention," Hiruzen said frankly.
"Although you are outstanding, there is still a considerable gap between you and Uchiha Han."
"So this life-and-death duel—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, his words were abruptly interrupted.
"Sarutobi, the life-and-death duel cannot be canceled."
The voice was calm, level, and indifferent.
At the doorway stood Danzō Shimura, the Hokage's advisor. His eyes gleamed with an inscrutable light as he stepped inside, one measured step at a time.
"Danzō."
Seeing him, Hiruzen's heart sank, and his brows furrowed.
"Yuya is only a child. How can such a life-and-death duel be considered valid?!"
"Sarutobi, I only know that the rules state this clearly," Danzō replied calmly.
"Once both parties apply for a life-and-death duel, neither side may unilaterally revoke it. Even the Hokage cannot violate established rules."
Danzō stood there composed, but something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Since Hiruzen refused to release Yuya into his hands for training, Danzō would not simply watch Yuya become Hiruzen's future right-hand man.
Unless—
Hiruzen was willing to give Yuya to him.
"Rules are made by people," Hiruzen snorted. "What if I choose to abolish them?"
As Hokage—someone who in canon consistently kept Danzō suppressed—Hiruzen could see through Danzō's intentions instantly.
Danzō was trying to force his hand, to make him concede and hand Yuya over.
"Then I will oppose it," Danzō said evenly.
"To change established rules requires unanimous approval from the Elders' Council. I doubt not only I, but even Homura and Koharu, would support such a casual alteration."
"You—!"
Hiruzen's expression darkened immediately.
The life-and-death duel was a system inherited from the Warring States Era.
It had once been abolished by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, only to be reinstated later by the Second Hokage (Tobirama Senju), Senju Tobirama.
Within a village, complex power struggles were inevitable—especially among great clans.
Where there were entanglements, there would be conflicts.
And some conflicts could not be reconciled.
Such irreconcilable disputes could not be allowed to escalate into open warfare within Konoha—but neither could they simply be suppressed.
Forced suppression would eventually lead to rebellion and chaos.
Tobirama's philosophy differed entirely from Hashirama's.
He believed that human hearts must be constrained by rules, and that conflicts must be handled in an orderly manner.
Thus, after becoming the Second Hokage (Tobirama Senju), Senju Tobirama revived this ancient tradition from the Warring States Era—
Using life-and-death duels to resolve internal conflicts that could not otherwise be settled.
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