The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 180 Father-in-law... No!

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In the camp of the Fire Country's Guardian Ninja Army, Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting at his desk.

Three years ago, the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mito families were exposed for corruption and subsequently expelled from Konoha, eventually seeking refuge with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Afterwards, he obtained the empty title of "Chief Instructor of the National Guard Ninja Army," barely managing to preserve the last shred of dignity for the Sarutobi clan.

However, reality is not so glamorous.

"Cough...cough..."

Now he has a full head of white hair, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes hide an inexplicable weariness. He also coughs occasionally.

"Chief Instructor, an urgent report from the Land of Water!"

A guard lifted the curtain and entered, his voice filled with barely concealed panic. He handed over a crumpled secret report with both hands: "Second Young Master Asuma... a few days ago, he caused trouble at the wedding banquet of the Uchiha Three Peaks and died on the spot."

"Died in battle?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers suddenly paused, and his hand holding the pen began to tremble.

He grabbed the secret report and stared intently at the words "Asma killed in battle," as if trying to pierce through the pages.

Once, twice, three times... until the words on the secret report were blurred by tears, he slumped into a chair.

A cough, like a broken bellows, escaped his throat: "Cough...cough...my...Asuma...he's only nineteen..."

The secret report slipped through his trembling fingers and fell to his feet.

Hiruzen Sarutobi hung his head, his gray hair obscuring his face, only his shoulders trembling incessantly.

The humiliation of being expelled from Konoha three years ago, the frustration of having to be subservient to the daimyo while serving in the National Guardian Ninja Army all these years, the pain of losing more than half of his clan's members in the war... all these emotions burst forth at this moment.

"Uchiha Mitsunori... It's you again! Three years ago, you ruined my reputation and forced us out of Konoha; three years later, you killed my beloved son... How cruel you are..."

But this overwhelming hatred could not withstand the coldness of reality.

The current Uchiha Sanfeng is the daimyo of the Land of Water, with powerful figures under his command such as Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

And what about his Sarutobi clan? From the original 1587 people, after the war, only 594 people remained. They were struggling to even protect their clan, so how could they be qualified to contend with the Uchiha Three Peaks?

"Retribution...is this...my retribution?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped in his chair, muttering to himself.

He remembered...the things he had done in Konoha...

Now they've fallen so low as to outlive their children, and all they can do is scream for revenge in their hearts. How pathetic!

"Father."

A deep voice came from outside the curtain, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke walked in.

He is now 29 years old, wearing the dark green uniform of the National Protection Ninja Army, with a somber expression.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at his eldest son, the hatred in his eyes gradually fading, leaving only deep weariness: "Shinnosuke, you've come... Asuma... is gone. From now on, the Sarutobi family will truly depend on you."

"Father, please accept my condolences..."

Sarutobi Shinnosuke lowered his eyes, his voice so calm that no emotion could be discerned, but the fingers hanging at his sides clenched tightly.

He had been waiting for this day for more than a decade.

From a young age, her father's gaze was always focused on Asma.

Asuma wanted a chakra blade, so his father spent a lot of money to have one made for him; when trouble came to the family, his father told Asuma to run away first and stay behind to protect the family.

Now that Asma is dead, his father can finally face his eldest son squarely.

A fleeting glint of pleasure flashed in Sarutobi Shinnosuke's eyes.

He feigned respect and said, "Father, Asuma's situation is painful, but the clan cannot fall. Rest assured, I will train the ninja army well and protect the Sarutobi clan. I will never let you down."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his eldest son's tall and upright figure, a complex emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

There was belated guilt, and also an urgent need for the family to continue.

He sighed and patted Shinnosuke on the shoulder. "It's because your father didn't care enough about you before... You've been married for nine years, and I've never even asked about you and your wife. Now that Asuma is gone, the Sarutobi family line depends entirely on you. When are you and your wife planning to have children?"

These words caused Sarutobi Shinnosuke's body to stiffen almost imperceptibly.

He lowered his eyes to avoid his father's gaze, and said in a slightly lower voice, "Father, my wife and I have been trying, but... there's still no progress."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, a sense of unease crossing his mind.

He became Hokage at the age of 23, had many women, but only had two sons, Shinnosuke and Asuma.

Could it be that Shinnosuke has a problem with his fertility?

He gripped Shinnosuke's hand tightly, his voice urgent: "Asuma is gone, but the Sarutobi family can't end with you. You must work hard from now on!"

"Yes, Father, I will."

After Shinnosuke left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his tent, his unease growing stronger.

He recalled Shinnosuke's evasive gaze earlier, and how Shinnosuke had never mentioned having children in the past nine years. A chill suddenly crept up his spine.

He abruptly stood up and whispered to the guards outside the tent, "Go quietly and invite the most senior physician of the Protectorate Ninja Army. Have him conduct a comprehensive examination on Shinnosuke under the guise of a routine physical checkup, with a focus on... his fertility. Shinnosuke must not know about this. Report the results directly to me."

Although the guard had some doubts, he still respectfully accepted the order and left.

For the next two days, Hiruzen Sarutobi was restless and couldn't even focus on his training reports, his mind preoccupied with matters concerning the continuation of his clan's lineage.

On the morning of the third day, the medical officer walked into the tent with a serious expression, holding the examination report.

"Chief Instructor, we've found out."

The physician lowered his voice and handed over the report: "Young Master... his body was damaged in his early years when he was practicing ninjutsu, which prevented him from producing normal essence... He cannot have children."

"impossible!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi snatched the report, his eyes scanning the diagnosis results, his hands trembling violently.

Every word in the report felt like a sharp knife piercing his heart.

He recalled his neglect of Shinnosuke, Asuma's death, and the remaining 594 members of the Sarutobi family... A wave of despair instantly overwhelmed him.

The physician carefully took his leave, and Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped into his chair, the report in his hand falling to the ground.

Just then, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's wife, Hatano Yui, walked in and bent down to pick up the report from the floor.

"Daughter-in-law, Shinnosuke, are you aware that you are infertile?"

"I only told him that the chances of survival were very low!"

"Yui Hatano, the Sarutobi family must have an heir. You must make a sacrifice!"

"Father-in-law...you..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hung his head, his gray hair obscuring his face, looking like a mad beast.

The following year... Sarutobi Konohamaru was born...