Half an hour after Sora woke up, Sarutobi Hiruzen's arrival was entirely ued.

  From Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Sora actually detected a hint of kindness and warmth.

  Sora quickly brainstormed several possibilities in his mind.

  But for now, the most important thing was for Sora to disguise himself well.

  He uood this portunity.

  If this versation with Sarutobi Hiruze well, his life in Konoha could beuch easier.

  Excitedly, Sora tried to sit up from the bed. "Lord Hokage, why are you here?"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately stepped fently holding Sora down. "Your injuries haven't healed yet. Take good care of yourself, and don't push too hard," he said with a geone.

  Sora's eyes turned slightly red with 'emotion,' and he choked back sobs as he said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

  Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the chair o the bed and sighed. "Sora, you've endured so much these past years."

  Hearing this, Sora bit his lips tightly, tears spilling from the ers of his eyes as if he were g out of grievance.

  Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the tears on Sora's fad asked, "Sora, do you hate Konoha?"

  Sora immediately shook his head. "How could I hate Konoha? It was my father and mother who defected from Konoha back then. Konoha was kind enough to take me in—the son of a rogue ninja. I am already very grateful."

  He added, voice trembling, "Before she died, my mother asked me to make amends for their mistakes in Konoha. I will never hate Konoha!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen listened without showing much rea. His expression remained unged.

  After studying Sora for a moment, he asked again, "Then, do you hate the Uchiha?"

  Sora's expression darkened instantly, and the word escaped from between his teeth: "Hate! My parents betrayed Konoha because of the Uchiha 's selfishness and arrogance, which prevehem from being together.

  "After I returo Konoha, not only did they refuse to aowledge me, but they insulted me endlessly, calling me a b*****d. And because of the Uchiha, the vilgers hate me too.

  "I don't want to be part of the Uchiha . They don't reize me, and I don't care them, yet they treated me this way. All of it—the isotion I fa Konoha—is because of the Uchiha!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression finally ged upon hearing Sora's answer.

  He sighed. "I've always felt guilty about your situation, Sora. But as Hokage, it's difficult for me to interfere iernal matters of the Uchiha . I hope you uand."

  Sarutobi Hiruzen paused before tinuing, "Here, I offer you a ce, Sora, to return to the Uchiha d bee a true Uchiha. Are you willing?"

  He looked at Sora with burning iy.

  Sora refused without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, but I don't want to!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

  Sora replied firmly, "I don't want to join the Uchiha such a pitiful way. Even if I rely on you to gairy now, it won't ge my current situation!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, puzzled, "But if you join the Uchiha , at least the vilgers would stop discriminating against you, and your living ditions would greatly improve. Don't you want to ge your current situation?"

  Sora replied, unvinced, "Lord Hokage, I know why the vilgers discriminate against me. It's because I'm half-Uchiha. The Uchiha , relying on their position as the Konoha Guard, has aliehe vilgers, making them disliked by almost everyone.

  "If I join the Uchiha ow, perhaps the vilgers wouldn't openly discriminate against me anymore, but they would still look down on me in their hearts..."

  Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Sora suddenly, his tourning serious. "Be careful! The Konoha Guard was established by the Sed Hokage. The Uchiha has tributed greatly to Konoha. As a member of Konoha, Sora, you must not shose who have served this vilge."

  Sora cursed inwardly.

  This old fox… If he didn't know that I was troubled by the Uchiha , I might have believed he was genuinely proteg them.

  He quickly realized that Sarutobi Hiruzen was testing him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have emphasized that the Konoha Guard was established by the Sed Hokage or used the phrase "as a member of Konoha."

  Sora responded firmly, "Lord Hokage, I don't want to join the Uchiha . I want to bee a ninja and tribute to Konoha. First, to make up for my parents' mistakes. Sed, I want to gain reition from all the vilgers through my own efforts.

  "I want the vilgers to uand that I, Sora, am not part of the Uchiha or just a child burdened by their reputation. I am a ninja loyal to Konoha, nothing more!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfa. "It's a challenging goal to earn the reition of all the vilgers. Are you prepared for this, Sora?"

  Sora's expression was resolute. "I am ready, Lord Hokage!"

  Sarutobi Hiruzen narded Sora with the look of a senior appreciating a promising juniood. I believe in you, Sora!

  "Since you don't wish to join the Uchiha , I won't force you. The house you lived in before is too remote. After your discharge, I'll arrange for you to move into a new house closer to the Ninja Academy, making it more ve for you to attend."

  Tears welled in Sora's eyes as he said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

  Inwardly, Sora breathed a sigh of relief.

  Talking with an old fox like Sarutobi Hiruzen was exhausting.

  When he had been directly asked if he hated Konoha, there was no way he could say yes. Would he even survive if he did?

  This was Sarutobi Hiruzen in his prime—not the kinder version of his ter years. His methods now would undoubtedly be much harsher.

  , he was asked whether he hated the Uchiha . Sora realized that g he didn't hate them would have been unbelievable. After all, faced with the isotion and abuse from the entire vilge caused by the Uchiha , how could a harbour rese?

  By admitting his hatred for the Uchiha , Sora successfully demonstrated loyalty to Konoha, showing Sarutobi Hiruzen that his goal was to be a Konoha ninja, not a Uchiha ninja.

  As for Sarutobi Hiruzen's offer to let him join the Uchiha , Sora k was a ruse to gauge his true feelings.

  Now, with the promise of being relocated to a house closer to the Ninja Academy, Sora could tell that Sarutobi Hiruzen mostly believed him.

  If nothing ued happened, Sora would likely join the Hokage fa after graduating as a ninja.

  While Sarutobi Hiruzen might not address the discrimination Sora faced from the vilgers and the Uchiha , he wouldn't be marginalized once he became a ninja.

  After all, even in the world of shinobi, retionships mattered.