Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

Faced with Hattori's nonsense, if this had been the Sarutobi Hiruzen from ten years later, he might have simply laughed it off. But not now.

"It seems you're not planning to speak. Inoichi, proceed."

"Yes!"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Yamanaka Inoichi responded immediately and reached out towards Hattori's head.

Seeing this, Hattori prepared to dodge, only to find that he couldn't move at all!

"What's going on? Is this…?"

Realizing something, he looked towards Nara Shikaku, noticing that he was forming a hand sign, with his shadow connected to Hattori's own.

"It's the Shadow Imitation Technique!"

"Correct!"

Hearing Hattori's words, Nara Shikaku grinned, a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Recognizing it right away shows you're no ordinary kid. But it doesn't matter; we'll soon find out who you are. Inoichi!"

"Mm!" 

Yamanaka Inoichi nodded, placing his palm on Hattori's head.

"Mind Reading Technique!"

"Damn it!" Hattori's face turned pale at Inoichi's words. As someone who had seen *Naruto*, he knew Yamanaka Inoichi, as the Konoha intelligence chief, could read memories without any device.

Once he started, not even the dead could keep their secrets! So when Inoichi's hand touched his head, Hattori couldn't hide his alarm. 

However, to his surprise, Inoichi's hand lifted after a moment on his head, a look of shock mirroring Hattori's own.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but ask, "Inoichi, what did you find?"

"I…"

Inoichi opened his mouth in shock, casting a wary glance at Orochimaru before shaking his head.

"Nothing."

"…"

The onlookers, sharp as they were, frowned at Inoichi's unusual reaction. Orochimaru, however, looked intrigued, breaking into a laugh.

"Heh heh heh… Inoichi, that look you gave me wasn't one you'd give a comrade. I'm curious: what did you see in that kid's mind?"

"Well…"

Inoichi hesitated, but before he could answer, Jiraiya stepped in.

"Orochimaru would never betray Konoha. This must be a Sand Village trick. This kid's suspicious, so who knows what you saw was even real!"

Hearing this, Inoichi hesitated further, prompting Nara Shikaku to chuckle.

"Heh heh, Inoichi, just tell us what you saw. This is your job, after all; let Hokage-sama judge it!"

"Mm, Shikaku's right."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, adding, "Whatever you saw, share it. As the Third Hokage, I can handle it."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Encouraged, Yamanaka Inoichi took a deep breath.

"I saw Sand infiltrating Konoha. And…Orochimaru, wearing the Kazekage's robes, using the Edo Tensei to summon the First and Second Hokage—to kill you, Hokage-sama!"

"Uh…"

Everyone reacted with mixed expressions at this seemingly absurd revelation.

But Hattori was a bit surprised.

"Inoichi actually saw that? Right, with so many memories in a person's mind, what he sees depends on selected memories. It's like using a search engine—Inoichi's keywords were 'Sand Village' and 'Konoha Village.'"

Realizing this, Hattori relaxed, even allowing a smile.

"Then it's fine. I have no incriminating memories of Sand or Konoha. Let them look. I'm not the one who'll have to worry!"

Sensing Hattori's relief, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped in front of him, narrowing his eyes.

"Didn't expect you'd know a genjutsu to mislead mind-reading. But I wonder, if I killed you, would it still work?"

Hattori: "(Д*)"

Whoa, are you even human?

Infuriated by Hiruzen's words, Hattori lost his temper and snapped.

"you Monkey! What did I do to deserve death? Genjutsu? Genjutsu your grandmother! Who would hide one in their mind like that? Did you get your Ninja Professor title from a dog or monkey?"

"Uh…"

Hiruzen hadn't expected Hattori to lash out, momentarily caught off guard.

And Hattori didn't stop there, instead growing even more vocal.

"You absolute moron! You should know what a scumbag your student Orochimaru is! He's obsessed with immortality, conducting all sorts of human experiments. His betrayal is only a matter of time, and you're blaming me?"

"…"

"If you don't believe me, have Inoichi check *Orochimaru's* mind for incriminating evidence. See if he knows Edo Tensei!"

"…"

"What's the matter? Why won't you speak? Afraid he'll flee if you press him? So, I'm the scapegoat now? 'Professor,' you're the bear in *brave*, aren't you?"

"…"

"Can't believe I ever respected you; turns out I was blind! No wonder Orochimaru will end up killing you!"

"…"

"Fire of Will, my foot! The Second Hokage handing you hokage was a waste. It would've been better off with Danzō—at least he has a brain. But you… ha… ptooey!"

Hiruzen showed no reaction to Hattori's rant, as though it wasn't directed at him.

When Hattori finally stopped, Hiruzen simply asked, "Finished? Aren't you afraid I'll really kill you?"

"Heh…"

Hattori's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Try it. Go ahead."

"Oh?" Intrigued, Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Seems like you've got some leverage after all."

"Whether I do or not, you'll find out if you try."

Hattori locked eyes with Hiruzen, preparing to lift the seal on his hidden power.

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