"Hokage-sama, why is this? There shouldn't be a rule in the ANBU that once you join, you can never quit, right?"
The smile on Uchiha Fugaku's face faded, and his voice became cold.
"It is true that there is no rule in the ANBU that once you join, you can never quit. However, as an ANBU member, you will be exposed to many village secrets."
"In order to avoid the leakage of village secrets, I can agree or reject the other party's application to withdraw, depending on the importance of the secrets they hold."
The Third Hokage looked very businesslike.
"In view of the extremely important secrets held by Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Itachi's application to withdraw from the ANBU is rejected."
"Hokage-sama, are you targeting Itachi or the Uchiha clan?"
Uchiha Fugaku asked with a cold expression.
"Patriarch Fugaku, where do you get that from? I treat all the families in the village equally."
There was a subtle hint of mockery in the Third Hokage's voice, but that was not visible in his expression, which still gave him an official look.
"As far as I know, a few days ago, Hatake Kakashi, the captain-general of the ANBU, proposed to resign from the position of captain-general and leave the ANBU, and you agreed immediately."
"Itachi, who is now just an ordinary ANBU ninja, proposed to quit the ANBU, but you refused on the grounds that the secrets he holds are extremely important."
Uchiha Fugaku had a mocking look on his face.
"Could it be that the secrets held by Itachi, an ordinary ANBU ninja, are more important than the secrets held by the ANBU chief captain?"
Given the current relationship between the Uchiha family and the Hatake family, he naturally knew that Hatake Kakashi had withdrawn from the ANBU and that it had been approved.
"You even know this."
There was a flash of anger towards Hatake Kakashi in the eyes of the Third Hokage.
Uchiha Fugaku knew this, he must have heard it from Hatake Kakashi.
When Kakashi Hatake spread the news, he immediately felt a little embarrassed.
Kakashi Hatake serves as the captain-general in the ANBU, while Itachi Uchiha is just an ordinary ANBU member.
It obviously doesn't make sense that the secrets held by an ordinary ANBU member are more important than the secrets held by the ANBU captain.
He forced an explanation.
"For some reason, Uchiha Itachi came into contact with confidential events that Hatake Kakashi had never been exposed to."
"Third Hokage, do you think we are fools or you are the fool?"
"Itachi is just an ordinary ANBU member, but he has access to important secrets that Hatake Kakashi cannot. You can use this to fool fools, but don't even think about using it to fool my Uchiha family."
Hearing the Third Hokage's forced defense, the hot-tempered elder Uchiha Setsuna sneered.
"How dare you speak to the Hokage like that."
A man wearing a pig-face mask shouted at the chief elder, Uchiha Setsuna.
He was standing in a position closer to the Third Hokage and should be an ANBU captain.
"Given the relationship between my Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage, do you still want me to be respectful in front of him?"
The great elder Uchiha Setsuna sneered repeatedly.
"How could you be so disrespectful to the Hokage, Chief Fugaku, please discipline your clan members."
The man with the pig-faced mask looked at Uchiha Fugaku and said coldly.
"Who do you think you are? How can I, a member of the Uchiha family, allow you to lecture me?"
Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, and his gaze was locked on the pig-faced masked man, and a terrifying aura burst out.
Thump, thump, thump…
The man with the pig-faced mask felt as if a huge mountain was pressing down on him. He could not help but step back repeatedly, with cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
Although he possesses the strength of an elite jonin and few in Konoha can match him, he is nothing in front of Uchiha Fugaku.
Just the burst of breath was enough to make him unable to bear the pressure.
"Patriarch Fugaku, this is a bit too much. You attacked the ANBU members in front of me, the Hokage. This is too much of a disrespect for me, the Hokage."
The Third Hokage stood in front of the pig-faced masked man and blocked Uchiha Fugaku's momentum for him.
He looked towards Uchiha Fugaku and his voice was filled with warning.
"How could that be? You are the Kage of a village, how could I not take you seriously? It's just that this ANBU ninja is too rampant and lacks discipline, so I used my momentum involuntarily."
Uchiha Fugaku chuckled and did not respond.
He really did not take the Third Hokage seriously, but he could not say that openly.
After all, the Third Hokage is the Kage of a village and the person with the highest status in the village.
If he admitted that he did not take the Third Hokage seriously, he would definitely draw criticism from other families in the village.
"Really? It's a big taboo for a ninja to be unable to control his emotions. Patriarch Fugaku must pay attention to this."
Seeing that Uchiha Fugaku didn't respond, the Third Hokage could only speak sarcastically.
He had indeed set a trap just now, trying to lure Uchiha Fugaku into it.
If Uchiha Fugaku dared to admit it, not only would it attract criticism from other families in the village, but he could also use this as an excuse to attack Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha family.
But unfortunately, Uchiha Fugaku did not respond.
"Don't worry, Hokage. As long as you don't bring this crazy pig-like guy to me, I can control my emotions."
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the man wearing a pig face mask and said.
Being compared to a mad pig, the man wearing the pig face mask clenched his fists, with anger showing on his face under the mask.
But considering Uchiha Fugaku's strength, he finally endured it.
Instead of continuing to stare at such a small character, Uchiha Fugaku looked at the Third Hokage.
"Hokage, your reason just now is untenable. With Itachi's position in the ANBU, it is impossible for him to be exposed to village secrets that are more confidential than those of the ANBU captain."
"Even the ANBU chief captain can agree to leave the ANBU, but you don't agree with Itachi leaving the ANBU. This doesn't make sense. Or are you really targeting the Uchiha family?"
Having said that, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes turned cold.
"I treat all the families in the village equally and will never target the Uchiha family."
The Third Hokage naturally would not respond to this.
If he admitted that he was targeting the Uchiha clan, his image in the village would certainly be damaged.
He changed the subject directly.
"Let's not talk about the secrets that Uchiha Itachi holds. If Uchiha Itachi wants to leave the ANBU, he must at least apply for it himself. This matter cannot be done by others."
He believed that with the brainwashing he had done to Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Itachi would never leave the ANBU.
Moreover, after so much time has passed, Uchiha Itachi still has not appeared, which means that something has happened to Uchiha Itachi and he may have been imprisoned.
"I am the head of the Uchiha clan and Itachi's father. I have the right to make decisions for Itachi."
Uchiha Fugaku said.
(End of this chapter)