CHAPTER 92
Inside the Hokage Office, when Guy pushed the door open and entered, the Third Hokage was staring out the window at the stone faces of the First and Second Hokage on Hokage Rock, lost in thought.
"Lord Third, you sent for me."
Guy stood still and performed a standard Ninja salute.
The Third Hokage turned around and carefully sized up the young Ninja before him.
A green jumpsuit, a forehead protector worn perfectly straight, and eyes that were bright and firm, devoid of arrogance despite his achievements and devoid of resentment despite the grievances he had suffered.
"Sit."
The Third Hokage pointed to the chair across from his desk.
Guy hesitated for a moment before sitting down properly.
His back was ramrod straight, and his hands rested neatly on his knees.
The Third Hokage gently placed his pipe onto a wooden rack and opened the file spread across his desk.
It was a detailed record of battle achievements and a postwar evaluation report.
"Guy, have you been to the Merit Exchange Office?"
"Yes, Lord Third. I went this morning."
Guy's voice was steady.
The Third Hokage nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the new pair of nunchaku strapped behind Guy's back.
"Did you receive what you exchanged for?"
"I did."
The corner of the Third Hokage's mouth twitched slightly, a complex emotion hidden within that faint smile.
"That weapon... what do you think of it?"
Guy's eyes lit up immediately, carrying the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loved martial arts and Ninja tools.
"Excellent. The material, weight, and balance all exceeded my expectations."
"At four hundred and eighty merit points, it's a bargain."
The Third Hokage gently shook his head, leaned back slightly, and his tone became serious.
"Four hundred and eighty merit points could not have bought that weapon."
Guy froze.
The Third Hokage stood up and walked toward the window, looking outside with his back facing Guy.
"The materials used for that weapon are a special alloy."
His voice was calm and clear.
"It was forged using Star Iron from the Land of Iron, a Chakra-conductive metal, mixed with mithril and refined steel."
"The craftsmanship was personally handled by Senju Fujiwara, the chief master of Konoha's Ninja Tool Development Department."
He turned around and looked directly at Guy.
"Based on material costs alone, excluding labor, it is worth more than one thousand five hundred merit points."
Guy's breathing paused slightly.
"Four hundred and eighty points was simply the value Choza reported for you."
The Third Hokage walked back to the desk but did not sit down. Instead, he leaned lightly against its edge, making him seem less like the mighty Hokage and more like a kindly elder.
"The remainder was approved by me."
Guy's expression became complicated.
A thought flashed through his mind.
Was this compensation for the injustice involving Sarutobi Sosuke?
Using a valuable weapon to make up for what had happened?
"Lord Third... why?"
Guy eventually asked directly.
His voice contained confusion rather than accusation.
The Third Hokage looked at him deeply before speaking slowly.
"Two reasons."
"First, your contribution at Mount Kikyo is worth far more than the five hundred and six merit points recorded on paper."
The Third Hokage picked up the file and flipped to a certain page.
"Guarding the Mountain Ridge alone for sixty-eight days and providing a half-hour warning before Sunagakure's large-scale night assault bought crucial preparation time."
"It reduced the estimated casualties of Konoha by more than one hundred people."
"This level of contribution cannot truly be measured with numbers."
He placed the file back onto the desk with a soft sound.
"But wartime merit evaluation follows rules."
"If I break those rules for one person, it becomes unfair to everyone else."
The Third Hokage's gaze locked onto Guy's eyes.
Both the dignity of a Hokage and the warmth of an elder could be seen there.
"So I chose another method to compensate you."
Guy remained silent for two seconds before nodding.
He neither refused nor acted overly humble.
Instead, he simply replied seriously:
"Thank you, Lord Third."
That attitude caused a flicker of appreciation to appear in the Third Hokage's eyes.
Neither arrogant nor overly modest.
Calm, composed, and mature beyond his years.
The Third Hokage nodded slightly.
His expression shifted from seriousness to something far more complicated.
"The second reason..."
He paused.
The silence seemed to make the entire office heavier.
"Sarutobi Sosuke is a member of the Sarutobi Clan."
"Strictly speaking, he is my distant nephew."
Guy's body tensed almost imperceptibly.
The Third Hokage's voice remained calm, but every word was spoken clearly.
"I know everything he has done."
"Exiling you to the Mountain Ridge."
"Humiliating you publicly."
"Neglecting defensive preparations before the battle."
"Commanding poorly during the battle."
"And attempting to claim credit after the battle."
"I know all of it."
Not "I have heard."
Not "I understand."
But "I know."
The weight of those words was completely different.
The Third Hokage straightened his posture and placed both hands on the desk.
Looking directly at Guy, he said:
"Guy, I called you here today to tell you one thing clearly."
Every word was firm and powerful.
"In the name of the Third Hokage, I guarantee that Sarutobi Sosuke will never again pose any threat to you."
Guy's fingers tightened slightly.
But he did not interrupt.
He simply listened.
The Third Hokage continued:
"His Jonin rank has been revoked."
"He has been demoted to Special Chunin and will never again be eligible for promotion."
"Furthermore, he is being transferred to the Logistics Department Archives Division."
"Except during wartime emergencies, he is prohibited from serving on the front lines."
"The claims regarding his so-called heroic sacrifice of an arm will not be recognized or promoted by Konoha."
He paused, his tone softening somewhat.
"The testimonies of more than three hundred survivors from Mount Kikyo have already reached me."
"Akimichi Choza."
"Members of the Inuzuka Clan reconnaissance units."
"Medical personnel, including Tanaka from the Medical Corps."
"And many others."
"I have reviewed all of their statements."
"The truth will be carried by their voices."
The Third Hokage looked at Guy and slowed his speech.
"In this matter..."
"Konoha owes you justice."
The room became silent.
The wind outside.
The distant shouts from the training grounds.
Everything seemed faint and far away.
Guy remained silent for a long time.
The Third Hokage did not rush him.
He simply waited.
Finally, Guy spoke.
His voice was not loud, but it was steady.
"Lord Third, I didn't guard the Mountain Ridge for the sake of justice."
The Third Hokage's eyes flickered.
Guy raised his head and met the Hokage's gaze directly.
"It was so more people could survive."
His words were calm.
There was no pride.
No grievance.
Just a simple statement of fact.
The Third Hokage looked at him deeply.
A genuine smile finally appeared on his face.
"It is good that you think that way."
His voice became much warmer.
"The next transfer order will be issued soon."
"Spend the next few days resting properly."
"Do not concern yourself with anything else."
The Third Hokage walked around the desk and stopped beside Guy.
He gently patted the boy's shoulder.
"Konoha is your support."
"It is a place that protects you."
"Not a burden that you must carry on your shoulders."
"Here, you will not be subjected to injustice."
Guy stood and bowed once more.
"Yes."
As he turned and left, gently closing the office door behind him, a figure silently emerged from the shadows in the corner.
"Lord Third, he visited the orphanage."
The ANBU's voice was low.
"He donated all of his personal savings."
"Including the three hundred thousand ryo left to him by Might Duy."
"The funds were designated for the welfare and education of war orphans."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe again, lit it, and took a deep draw.
Smoke slowly drifted through the room.
He picked up another document from his desk.
It was Might Guy's personnel record.
Failed Ninja Academy entrance examination.
Recommended for special admission by Might Duy due to exceptional Taijutsu talent.
Average academic performance, weak in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu.
Outstanding Taijutsu ability, breaking five Academy records.
Graduated early.
Assigned to Team 9 at Mount Kikyo.
Killed four Iwagakure Chunin.
Assisted in defeating the Jonin Iwami Jūzō.
Promoted to Chunin.
Guarded the Mountain Ridge alone for sixty-eight days.
Saved comrades multiple times during the Battle of Mount Kikyo.
Repelled Sunagakure Elite Jonin Pakura.
Donated all savings after the war.
"All of his savings..."
The Third Hokage murmured softly.
The ANBU remained silent.
After a long while, the Third Hokage whispered:
"He visited the orphanage."
"He donated everything he had."
"What a..."
He paused, seemingly searching for the right word.
In the end, he simply shook his head.
"What a fine child."
The Third Hokage walked to the window and looked at the smiling stone face of Hashirama Senju on Hokage Rock.
"I hope to watch him grow."
"To become a towering tree capable of supporting Konoha's future."
Outside, the setting sun was slowly descending.
And Guy, who had just walked out of the Hokage Building, stopped briefly on the stone steps.
He looked back once at the window of the Hokage Office.
Then he turned around.
And walked toward the training grounds.
His road was still very long.
But at least for now, he was simply following his heart.
Walking the path he believed was right.
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