Next Day...
Inside the Hokage Conference Hall.
The atmosphere was unusually heavy.
No one spoke loudly.
Clan Heads from every major clan had already taken their seats. Behind them stood many Jonin, all waiting quietly.
Even the usual discussions before a meeting were nowhere to be heard.
Everyone knew...
Today's meeting wasn't an ordinary one.
It would decide Konoha's answer to the Fire Daimyo.
Near the middle of the hall, Shikaku quietly sat with the other Clan Heads.
The Aburame Clan Head leaned slightly toward him.
"Shikaku-san..."
"Have you heard anything?"
Shikaku remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
"I can't say much."
His voice was low.
"But..."
He slowly looked around the hall.
"Many things are about to change in Konoha."
The Aburame Clan Head frowned.
Shikaku lowered his voice even further.
"I have a feeling..."
"This meeting will be remembered in Konoha's history."
Several nearby Clan Heads overheard those words.
Their expressions gradually became serious.
Even they could feel the pressure hanging over today's meeting.
At the front of the conference hall...
Elder Kiyo calmly sat in the guest seat, prepared for the Fire Daimyo's envoy.
His expression remained unreadable.
Behind him stood several samurai.
Standing beside them was Grand Elder Setsuna.
Officially...
He wasn't attending as Konoha's Elite Jonin.
Nor was he representing the Uchiha Clan as a shinobi.
From this day onward...
He represented the Uchiha Merchant Association.
Because of that, standing beside Elder Kiyo as an honoured guest was far more appropriate than sitting with Konoha's shinobi.
Everyone in the hall understood what that meant.
The distance between the Uchiha and Konoha had become even greater.
Not far away...
Fugaku stood silently.
His eyes remained fixed on Grand Elder Setsuna.
Yesterday's events had already reached his ears.
He knew the Grand Elder had handed over Uchiha jutsu to the Fire Daimyo.
But...
He couldn't stop it.
Right now, gathering support inside the clan was his highest priority.
Compared to the three Elder factions...
The number of shinobi following him was still too small.
Most of the active Uchiha had already chosen to stand with the Grand Elder.
Only those loyal to Fugaku...
The former followers of Elder Kagami...
And a few older shinobi who didn't want change remained on his side.
Even after using Shisui's reputation...
Even after showing them his vision for the future...
He had only managed to convince a portion of them.
His jaw slowly tightened.
'You'll regret this one day...'
He stared at Setsuna.
Grand Elder Setsuna noticed the gaze.
For a brief moment...
The two looked at each other.
Then...
Setsuna calmly looked away without saying a single word.
As though Fugaku wasn't worth responding to.
Fugaku's expression became even colder.
A moment later...
Homura slowly stood up.
His voice echoed throughout the silent hall.
"Everyone..."
"Many of you have probably guessed why today's meeting has been called."
His eyes swept across every Clan Head present.
"This meeting is Konoha's official response to the Fire Daimyo regarding our failure to properly protect the Land of Fire."
The hall became even quieter.
Homura turned toward Elder Kiyo.
"Our negligence allowed unknown shinobi to infiltrate the Land of Fire."
He lowered his head deeply.
"On behalf of Konoha..."
"We sincerely apologise."
The Clan Heads quietly watched the scene.
No one interrupted.
Homura slowly straightened his back before continuing.
"As everyone already knows..."
He gestured respectfully toward Elder Kiyo.
"Elder Kiyo is here as the personal representative of the Daimyo."
His voice carried genuine respect.
"Konoha is grateful that the Fire Daimyo chose to first hear our explanation..."
"Instead of passing judgment immediately."
As those words fell...
The entire conference hall remained silent.
Elder Kiyo quietly looked at Homura.
A faint smile almost appeared on his face.
'Unknown shinobi...'
'Chose not to pass judgment immediately...'
He repeated Homura's words in his mind.
Trying to shift the blame while protecting reputation in front of every Clan Head...
Even now...
The village elders were thinking about their image first.
"...Heh."
A chuckle escaped him.
He didn't expose Homura's wording.
Homura continued speaking.
"Our Third Hokage deeply regrets what happened."
He slowly looked toward Hiruzen, who remained seated in silence.
"And because of that..."
"He doesn't wish for the entire village to bear the consequences of this negligence."
His voice became heavier.
"So..."
"The Third Hokage has chosen to shoulder this burden alone."
The moment those words fell...
The entire hall became silent.
Many Clan Heads unconsciously looked toward Hiruzen.
Some sighed quietly.
Others lowered their heads.
At the same time...
Koharu, who was sitting beside Tsunade, quietly nudged her with her elbow.
Tsunade didn't react.
She simply continued sitting there.
Koharu frowned.
She nudged her again.
Still no response.
Finally...
Tsunade slowly turned her head and looked at Koharu.
"Heh."
A mocking smile appeared on her face.
Seeing that smile...
Koharu almost ground her teeth.
She leaned closer and whispered in a threatening voice.
"Tsunade..."
"Have you forgotten what we agreed on?"
"This isn't the time for your attitude."
Beside Tsunade...
Jiraiya also leaned over.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Tsunade..."
"Please."
"Don't make things even more difficult."
For a few moments...
Tsunade simply stared at both of them.
The veins on her forehead twitched slightly.
Her fist slowly tightened.
She gritted her teeth.
Then, in a voice only the three of them could hear, she muttered,
"If either of you makes me do something like this again..."
"I'll personally break both of your legs."
Jiraiya gave an awkward smile.
Koharu quietly looked away, pretending she hadn't heard anything.
"...Tch."
Clicking her tongue in annoyance...
Tsunade stood up.
In one hand, she held the old scroll.
In the other...
The wooden box containing the First Hokage's memento.
She slowly walked toward Elder Kiyo.
The eyes of everyone in the conference hall followed her.
Stopping before the Daimyo's envoy...
She spoke calmly.
"Elder Kiyo..."
Tsunade slowly looked at Elder Kiyo.
Her expression remained calm.
"In the past..."
"Shinobi lived every day between life and death."
Her voice echoed throughout the silent conference hall.
"At that time..."
"My grandfather and the late Fire Daimyo shared the same dream."
"They wanted to unite the shinobi."
"They wanted to build a peaceful Land of Fire."
"A place where future generations wouldn't have to live through constant fear and endless wars."
As she spoke...
She slowly handed the wooden box to Elder Kiyo.
"The Land of Fire was the first nation to take that step."
"A path that every other nation later followed."
Elder Kiyo quietly accepted the box.
Tsunade continued.
"Misunderstandings may arise with time."
"Conflicts may appear."
"But..."
She paused for a brief moment.
"The Senju Clan never wished for the bond between the Fire Daimyo and Konoha to break."
The moment she mentioned the Senju...
A trace of discomfort flashed across her face.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
She looked directly at Elder Kiyo.
"This is the memento the previous Fire Daimyo personally gifted to my grandfather."
"It was a symbol of trust."
"Today..."
"We return it to the Fire Daimyo."
"As a symbol that Konoha still values that trust."
"And..."
"We are prepared to accept whatever punishment the Fire Daimyo considers appropriate."
Silence filled the conference hall.
Elder Kiyo quietly looked at the wooden box in his hands.
His brows slowly furrowed.
'A clever move...'
He glanced toward Homura.
Then toward Hiruzen.
Now...
This was no longer something he alone could decide.
He would have to seek the Fire Daimyo's opinion again.
After a long pause...
Elder Kiyo nodded.
"I'll deliver your words to the Fire Daimyo."
He looked at Tsunade.
"We also have no wish to see the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire drift apart."
"But this time..."
"The lives of many nobles were placed in danger."
"If anything had happened to them..."
"The entire nation would have fallen into chaos."
He was about to continue.
"So the noble houses—"
"Hm."
A calm voice interrupted him.
Everyone turned.
Hiruzen slowly stood up from his seat.
His movements were slow.
But firm.
He looked first at Elder Kiyo.
Then, every shinobi gathered inside the hall.
His tired eyes slowly swept across the room.
Finally...
He spoke.
"As Hokage..."
"The responsibility for everything that happened during my tenure belongs to me."
His deep voice echoed throughout the hall.
"It is because of my failures..."
"That trust has been shaken."
"It is because of my decisions..."
"That both Konoha and the Land of Fire have been placed in this situation."
He took a slow breath.
"As repentance..."
"I will personally remove my face from the Hokage Mountain."
The hall fell completely silent.
Hiruzen continued.
"I have made too many mistakes during my years as Hokage."
"Those mistakes have caused pain..."
"Conflict..."
"And distrust among many people."
His eyes slowly closed.
"Therefore..."
"From this day onward..."
"I resign from the position of Hokage."
The words struck everyone present like thunder.
Hiruzen slowly removed the Hokage hat from his head.
Holding it in both hands, he looked at it one last time.
"When Konoha chooses its next leader..."
"They will not become the Fourth Hokage."
A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face.
"They shall become..."
"...the Third Hokage."
The conference hall fell into absolute silence.
Not a single person spoke.
Several Jonin unconsciously straightened their backs.
Nobody believed they had just witnessed a Hokage erase himself from history.
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