Chapter 60: For the Stability of the Leaf Village, a Little Grievance is Nothing!    

"This..."  

 The Third Hokage stared blankly at the letter's contents.  

 The letter looked peculiar, but it was undoubtedly in Danzo's handwriting.  

 Moreover, the accusations against the Uchiha clan contained in the letter could only come from someone like Danzo.  

 Could it be that Danzo truly intended to conspire with Orochimaru?  

 The Third Hokage couldn’t help but speculate. Based on Sasuke’s description and the content of the letter, even if he doubted Sasuke, it was evident that Danzo was involved.  

 What exactly was Danzo trying to achieve?  

 **Leader?**  

 He had never heard of such a title before. Was Danzo attempting to shift blame onto him?  

 The Third Hokage sank into deep thought.  

 This situation was riddled with inconsistencies. Beneath the apparent illogicality lay a hidden connection, as though a veil of mist obscured the truth.  

 "So, you are indeed a victim," the Third Hokage finally said, his tone tinged with emotion.  

 He knew he was being manipulated into saying this, yet he had no choice. His usual approach had been entirely disrupted.  

 Sasuke observed the Third Hokage’s reaction and smirked inwardly. His carefully prepared letter had achieved its purpose.  

 The goal wasn’t to make the Third Hokage fully believe the letter’s contents. Like the one sent to Mizuki, this letter was meant to sow doubt—a smokescreen to divert attention.  

 This way, suspicion wouldn’t linger on him.  

 The letter’s content wasn’t flawless. In fact, it was riddled with inconsistencies. But paradoxically, those very flaws were its strength.  

 The more implausible the letter seemed, the more it implied that Danzo was hiding something.  

 What Sasuke needed now was chaos. The murkier the waters, the more freely he could maneuver. Let the sky fall; as long as Danzo held it up, Sasuke had nothing to fear.  

 “Lord Third Hokage, this letter was indeed given to me by Lord Danzo. If you don’t believe me, you can confront him about it. I believe there’s something suspicious going on—perhaps even a conspiracy. Please, be cautious!”  

 Sasuke took another step forward, pressing his advantage.  

 Retreat was only temporary; offense was the best defense.  

 Furthermore, Sasuke understood that to convince the Third Hokage of the letter’s authenticity, confrontation was the best strategy. Hiding the letter would only arouse further suspicion.  

 **+8**  

 The system’s acknowledgment flashed before Sasuke’s eyes. His points increased, climbing steadily.  

 “No! Absolutely not!”  

 The Third Hokage waved his hand firmly, his face grave. Removing the pipe from his mouth, he fixed Sasuke with a serious gaze.  

 "You haven’t shown this letter to anyone else, have you?"  

 “No, only to you,” Sasuke replied earnestly.  

 “Sasuke, remember this: only you and I know about this matter. Under no circumstances can a third person find out. Even if Danzo questions you, you must not reveal that you showed it to me!”  

 “Why?” Sasuke asked, feigning confusion.  

 “This matter is far more complex than it appears. We can’t afford to reveal our hand yet,” the Third Hokage replied gravely, his tone brooking no argument.  

 “Is that all?” Sasuke pushed, taking a calculated step forward. He knew the importance of timing and limits.   

“Sasuke, the village has wronged you regarding the Uchiha clan. Please, let this matter rest for now. I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”  

 The Third Hokage’s tone softened, transitioning from authoritative to paternal, a seamless shift from commander to compassionate elder.  

 “This... this...” Sasuke lowered his head, his expression a perfect blend of grievance and reluctance. His clenched fists reflected inner turmoil, playing the part of a misunderstood child flawlessly.  

 “Sasuke, you’ve suffered greatly,” the Third Hokage said, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. “But this is all for the stability of the Leaf Village.”  

 “I understand,” Sasuke replied solemnly, lifting his gaze to meet the Hokage’s. “For the stability of the Leaf Village, a little grievance is nothing!”  

 **+9**  

 The system points flashed again, further rewarding Sasuke’s performance.  

 “Hmph. What a good boy,” the Third Hokage said, a faint smile forming. Despite suspecting that Sasuke’s reactions were overly polished, he couldn’t refute the sincerity of the boy’s words.  

 “Now, if there’s nothing else, you should return to class. Graduation is around the corner, and with your skills, you’ll undoubtedly take first place. Remember, this is our secret. Don’t tell anyone.”  

 “Yes, Lord Third Hokage. I’ll head back now. Goodbye.” Sasuke bowed deeply before forming a seal and vanishing with a **whoosh** using the Body Flicker Technique.  

 **+10**  

 The Third Hokage was left momentarily stunned. Taking a deep draw from his pipe, he stared at the empty office, lost in thought.  

 After a pause, he returned to his desk, spread out a scroll, and began writing several names:  

 **Danzo. Mizuki. Orochimaru. Sasuke.**  

 The Third Hokage drew lines and circles between the names, pondering deeply.  

 Meanwhile, outside the office, Sasuke felt a wave of exhaustion. The conversation had drained him mentally and emotionally.  

 But he was satisfied.  

 He had won this round.   

Not only had he extricated himself from suspicion, but he had also cemented Danzo as the scapegoat.  

 **Lord Danzo.**   

The master of blame-taking.  

 No matter how outrageous the claim, pin it on Danzo, and someone would believe it. Truly remarkable.  

 A smirk played on Sasuke’s lips as he made his way back to the academy, opening his system panel.  

 “Can I adjust the transparency of this?” he thought.  

 The panel instantly became semi-transparent, allowing him to see both the stats and the road ahead—reminiscent of Iron Man’s interface.  

 **Current system points: 174.**  

 “Not bad!”  

 Sasuke allocated 2 points to his **Spirit** and **Body** attributes, instantly clearing his fatigue and restoring his clarity.  

 **Current system points: 172.**  

 “Of these, I’ll reserve 12 points and invest the remaining 160 into Ninjutsu. I must master the Flying Thunder God Technique before the graduation exam!”  

 (End of Chapter)