Chapter 82 : Challenge!

Upon hearing Third Hokage's words, the elders of Konoha exchanged excited glances and smiles. It was a relief that the Third Hokage was finally going to teach this impudent young individual a lesson and help him realize his place.

For Kazuhiko, who had been speaking rudely, the higher ups had shown remarkable restraint. As the inhabitants of the world's top-ranked ninja village, they were accustomed to asserting their superiority. 

Their mindset was straightforward: they had acknowledged their past mistakes, apologized, and now expected forgiveness.

They deemed it unreasonable to demand compensation from them. This day, they were determined to impart a lesson to the haughty newcomer from the Land of Whirlpools and ensure that everyone comprehended who was in charge.

"Very well, teach him a lesson, Hiruzen! You are renowned as the strongest Hokage of all time, and that boy will soon understand the might of a true warrior!"

Utatane Koharu was particularly eager, hoping to witness Kazuhiko's defeat. She had, after all, been slapped by him before, which had left a psychological scar. She needed her comrades to avenge her and eliminate the shadow that had haunted her since, as she had been silenced by fear upon seeing Kazuhiko.

The elders of Konoha all focused on Kazuhiko, eagerly awaiting his response. The members of the Uzumaki clan looked at their clan head with a mixture of concern and hope.

Despite his prior triumph over the Third Mizukage, Uzumaki clan members realized that the person before him was the Hokage, the supreme leader of the world's foremost ninja village, the Third Hokage. 

He carried the reputation of being the most potent Hokage in history, a title that held immense significance.

While they trusted in Kazuhiko's abilities, they worried, particularly in Konoha, where any mishap could have far-reaching consequences.

Kazuhiko was unperturbed by this, confident that they wouldn't dare go too far on their home turf. If they did overstep their bounds, he was confident he could respond appropriately. 

It seemed that everyone shared a common pattern, and the origins of these ideas were shrouded in mystery. No one could discern who had copied whom first, or whether any copyright fees had been exchanged.

While most refrained from commenting on the matter, the esteemed Sarutobi Hiruzen, renowned as "the strongest of all generations," was openly challenged against the claim. 

In the face of this challenge, Kazuhiko remained resolute and unwavering. He even had a hint of amusement.

"Very well, I'm curious to witness the true strength of a Hokage hailed as the 'strongest in history.'"

When he emphasized "the strongest in all generation," Kazuhiko displayed a sense of unmistakable disdain.

The elders of Konoha showed excitement, disregarding the irony in Kazuhiko's words. They firmly believed that the Third Hokage would give him a humbling lesson.

Before they could revel too much in their anticipated victory, Kazuhiko added, "However, the Third Hokage is considerably older than me. If I win, these islands will be the price you must pay us. What do you say?"

His words left them momentarily bewildered. They hadn't expected the young Uzumaki Clan Head to have such confidence in defeating the Third Hokage, deeming it naive and youthful.

The Konoha elders sneered at the notion.

"Don't speak of defeating Lord Hokage; if you can simply withstand his might, you'll already be victorious!"

Mitokado Homura slammed the table, looking mockingly at Kazuhiko.

He then turned to Utatane Koharu, hoping for her agreement. However, she merely smiled, offering no response.

The other higher ups nodded in agreement. They held no belief in the Kazuhiko's ability to survive an encounter with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, before becoming Hokage, had garnered a fearsome reputation.

Danzo, unlike the other elders, frowned, for he and Utatane Koharu knew a bit more about Kazuhiko's true capabilities. Yet, they had kept this knowledge a secret, having experienced an embarrassing incident involving the Land of Whirlpools.

Their silence misled Sarutobi Hiruzen into believing that the Uzumaki clan had ambushed them and that Kazuhiko had beaten him sneakely.

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained confident in his own strength. He took a puff from his pipe, exhaling a subtle green smoke.

"As Elder Homura has said, should you endure my attacks, you shall win. In that case, the four islands will be yours."

Kazuhiko exuded confidence as he agreed, emphasizing, "It's a deal!"

The third elder, who had prepared the contract in advance, handed it over, impressed by Kazuhiko's foresight.

Those watching couldn't help but marvel at Kazuhiko's confidence. He had set a trap, waiting for the Hokage to challenge him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He was visibly agitated but remained silent.

"Today, I'll make this kid regret challenging me!" Sarutobi Hiruzen thought as he glanced at the contract, making minor revisions before both parties signed and sealed it.

"Boy, today, I'll ensure you can't stand up!"

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