Shiranui Riku and Uzumaki Kushina followed Jiraiya and Tsunade into the Hokage Building.
Without even knocking, Jiraiya pushed the door open and called out, "Old man, Tsunade and I are back!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up with a warm smile, taking a puff from his pipe. "I'm glad you're back, truly."
His eyes landed on the two children behind them. "Riku? Kushina? What brings you here?"
Riku's gaze flicked to the crystal ball on the Hokage's desk. It hadn't been there last time. Its presence now meant Hiruzen had likely been observing the village—and saw everything that had unfolded.
Fine. Let's do this.
Riku stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama brought me here to face questioning."
At the word "questioning," Kushina instantly grew anxious. "Hokage-sama, Riku didn't do anything wrong! He was only trying to help me!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand. "Slow down. Let me hear the full story first."
Riku, Jiraiya, and Tsunade relayed everything that had happened.
The Hokage set down his pipe. The warmth faded from his face, replaced by serious contemplation as he looked at Riku.
Kushina tried to speak, but Riku gently pulled her hand and shook his head. She bit her lip but stayed silent.
Just as Riku was about to speak, Tsunade unexpectedly stepped in. "Old man, Riku knows he acted rashly, but those two brats started it. No serious harm was done, so why not let this go?"
Hiruzen turned to Riku. "Riku, do you understand you were in the wrong?"
Riku stepped forward boldly. "Hokage-sama, I don't believe I was wrong."
Tsunade and Jiraiya looked stunned. The boy had just been offered a way out—yet he chose to stand his ground?
Kushina looked horrified. If Riku had just apologized, it might all be over.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice deepened. His presence grew heavier. "You don't think you're wrong?"
Riku met the pressure head-on. "That's right. I told you before—I want to protect Konoha."
"But your actions go against that goal," Hiruzen countered.
"No, I disagree. Protecting Konoha means protecting the people and things that deserve protection—not those who harm their comrades. Konoha's rules clearly prohibit attacking fellow shinobi. That Genin violated those rules by using a real kunai on Kushina, a new student.
"People like that are a cancer to the village. If he could attack Kushina today, he could attack someone else tomorrow. No one wants to turn their back to someone like that."
Riku's voice remained firm. "They've called me a traitor, bullied me, beaten me—but I never retaliated. Because to me, they were my comrades. I believed they would one day accept me.
"What I did today was to uphold that ideal. My actions weren't a betrayal of Konoha—but a defense of its true values. It's those who attack their own who deserve condemnation."
The room fell silent.
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged surprised looks. Such conviction—from a nine-year-old?
Hiruzen's oppressive aura faded. Riku's logic was sound.
And more than that—he had seen the Sharingan awaken in Riku during the confrontation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew of no Uchiha in recent memory who had awakened the Sharingan so young. Combine that with mastery over A-rank jutsu, half-Uchiha blood, and unwavering loyalty, and Riku's future potential was undeniable.
He would become a pillar of Konoha.
Finally, Hiruzen said, "Even if others were at fault, the Konoha police are responsible for maintaining order. You cannot take justice into your own hands. Still, you acted to protect Kushina. That intent matters. I'll let this go if you spend three days at home reflecting."
Kushina beamed with relief. "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Riku bowed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Internally, Riku understood that this was the best outcome. He'd turned a dangerous moment into proof of his loyalty. Even if Hiruzen suspected personal motives, as long as they didn't cross the line, it was acceptable.
"You're dismissed," Hiruzen waved them off.
Hand in hand, Riku and Kushina left the Hokage's office.
Jiraiya watched them go. "Kids these days... Sharingan at nine and A-rank ninjutsu. What monsters."
Tsunade nodded. "I heard the Uchiha need strong emotional stimulus to awaken their eyes. Kushina's trouble triggered it. That means... she's important to him."
Hiruzen exhaled a long, tired breath. He had hoped Minato Namikaze—Jiraiya's student—would one day bond with Kushina. But now, it looked like that window had already closed.
Riku and Kushina returned home together.
Kushina flopped on the couch, letting out a sigh. "That was a close one. Just three days at home and you're in the clear."
Riku's expression turned serious. "Kushina, there's something I need to tell you."
She tilted her head, confused. "What is it?"
With Hiruzen likely still reminiscing with Tsunade and Jiraiya, Riku figured the crystal ball wasn't active.
So he told her.
"Everything I said in the Hokage's office... was a lie."