"What happened here?"
Such a massive disturbance naturally caught the attention of the Third Hokage and the elders who were about to leave.
When everyone saw the newcomers arrive, they instinctively made way.
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly took in the situation.
At first glance, his eyes landed on Uchiha Ryu.
Hiruzen remembered him very clearly.
Ryu had awakened the Sharingan at the age of nine, a feat considered extraordinary even in Uchiha history.
Back then, Hiruzen had wanted to bring Ryu under his control.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Fugaku had protected him too well.
Hiruzen never found an opportunity to instill his ideology.
That failure had long remained a thorn in his heart.
Still, two things had given him comfort.
One was Uchiha Shisui, a genius even more talented than Ryu, who had successfully come under his influence.
The other was Uchiha Itachi, another once-in-a-generation prodigy who had appeared in recent years.
The seeds had already been planted.
All that remained was to wait for them to sprout.
Because of this, when Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Ryu again, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"What happened here?"
Hiruzen glanced at the swollen, pig-faced man standing in front of Ryu and asked someone nearby.
"L-Lord Hokage, this… this…"
The man froze when addressed and didn't dare answer.
Seeing the Third Hokage arrive, Uchiha Ryu finally stopped slapping Sarutobi Asuma.
He turned calmly to face Hiruzen and the people beside him.
At the same time, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Namikaze Minato, who had already left, noticed the disturbance and rushed back.
Members from various clans also gathered to watch.
Asuma, who had finally been spared further blows, looked at Ryu in terror.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he stumbled toward the Third Hokage.
"Young man, don't be nervous. Take your time and tell me—what happened here?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked gently.
He had not yet realized that the pig-headed individual in front of him was his own son.
"..."
Sarutobi Asuma smacked his lips repeatedly, but no sound came out.
Realizing he couldn't speak, he pointed at himself, then at Uchiha Ryu, and finally spread his fingers across his swollen face in an exaggerated gesture.
"Hm?"
Seeing Asuma's strange movements, Hiruzen frowned.
"Child, are you unable to speak? Does anyone here understand sign language? Help him!"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Tsunade, do you know sign language?" Hiruzen asked.
"Who would bother learning something that complicated?" Tsunade replied impatiently.
"Tsunade? You don't?" Jiraiya suddenly jumped forward confidently."Sensei, I can!"
"You?" Hiruzen asked doubtfully.
After all, he had never seen Jiraiya seriously study anything like that.
If Orochimaru had claimed to know sign language, Hiruzen would have believed it instantly.
"Leave it to me!" Jiraiya patted his chest."I've been practicing sign language for eighteen years!"
"…Then try," Hiruzen said helplessly.
Jiraiya stepped up to Sarutobi Asuma.
"Go on, explain."
Asuma nodded vigorously.
He stretched out his palm, spread his fingers, then dragged them quickly across his swollen face.
After that, he pointed forward—
But due to the swelling and his unfocused vision, he accidentally pointed straight at Jiraiya.
"Me?"
Jiraiya stared at the finger aimed at him, fell silent for a moment, then sank into deep thought.
Suddenly—
His eyes lit up.
"Palm… face… point at me…"
"I get it! I get it!"
Jiraiya jumped up excitedly.
"What did you figure out?" Tsunade asked impatiently.
Everyone leaned in.
Jiraiya suddenly raised his hand—
Pah!
A loud slap echoed once more.
Sarutobi Asuma was sent flying to the ground again.
"Jiraiya! What are you doing?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen roared.
"Don't blame me, Sensei," Jiraiya said innocently."He told me to hit him."
"He made a slapping gesture, touched his face, then pointed at me. That clearly means I should slap him."
Jiraiya spread his hands helplessly.
"..."
After hearing his flawless logic, the crowd nodded subconsciously.
"Jiraiya!" Hiruzen snapped angrily, then turned to Tsunade."Tsunade, treat him immediately!"
"Alright."
Tsunade walked over to Asuma, who was crying pitifully.
"Poor child…"
"Ryu," Hiruzen said, forcing a stern expression,"Come here and tell me exactly what happened."
"He was too irritating," Uchiha Ryu replied calmly."So I slapped him a few times."
He pointed at Asuma lying on the ground.
"You're saying you beat him into that state… with just a few slaps?"
Hiruzen was shocked.
He glanced at Asuma's swollen face, then at Ryu's uninjured, spotless palm.
A trace of fear crept into his heart.
How terrifying…
To do this with bare hands…
The onlookers, unaware of the full story, silently labeled Uchiha Ryu as ruthless.
"Who is he?" Hiruzen asked gravely."And why did you beat him like this?"
Relying on decades of experience, the Third Hokage put away his inner emotions and stared at Ryu seriously.
Now that he already knew—