Right now, aside from the empty title of "former Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen had nothing left.
Inside the village, those who still respected him might obey his orders out of courtesy. Those who didn't could just turn around and walk away, and he had no right to say anything about it.
His own strength was no longer on Shiki's level.
Coupled with the current situation, Sarutobi Hiruzen was completely powerless.
"Biwako, you should understand… that's my son too. Do you think I don't want to avenge them?"
Hiruzen looked at Biwako with a weary sigh. No matter how incompetent he might seem, he could never ignore his own son.
"But…"
Biwako fell silent, her eyes almost brimming with tears.
Yet in her heart, she had already accepted Hiruzen's words.
"Sigh…"
Hiruzen exhaled and shook his head, saying nothing more.
He wanted to let it go and calm his heart, but Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had no intention of doing the same.
"Hiruzen, we can't just sit back and watch Shiki take control of the entire Konoha!"
"…"
[We can't just watch Shiki take your power away.]
Hiruzen rolled his eyes at them in irritation.
Do you really take me for a fool?
Ever since he learned that Koharu and Homura had been stripped of their authority as elders, Hiruzen had already guessed why they came to see him.
What a joke.
Back when he was forced to step down as Hokage, they hadn't said a single word in his defense. They'd sat there like corpses.
Now that their own power was threatened, they couldn't sit still anymore?
And now they wanted to use him?
How convenient.
"I advise you two to calm down. At your age, wouldn't it be better to just retire peacefully?"
Hiruzen really had let go this time.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression calm. There wasn't the slightest trace of anger on his face.
This made Koharu and Homura feel completely bewildered.
Weren't you furious when you were driven out of the Hokage's seat?
Why are you acting so open-minded now?
Hiruzen might have let it go—but that didn't mean Koharu and Homura could.
"Impossible!"
"This is absolutely out of the question! We will never give up this power!"
The two of them shot to their feet. One of the teacups was knocked aside, clattering loudly to the floor.
Hiruzen didn't even glance at the teacup. He simply looked at Koharu and Homura.
"This authority… we will never surrender it!"
"Hmph! Since you won't help us, then we'll act on our own!"
With that, Koharu and the one-armed Homura turned in unison and left Hiruzen's home.
Hiruzen only shook his head in the end and said nothing.
The room quieted down again. After a moment's hesitation, Biwako finally asked:
"Is Shiki really that dangerous?"
She had never met Shiki in person. She had only ever heard of him, and didn't really understand what kind of man he was.
"Mm."
Hiruzen nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Just wait. The Utatane clan and the Mitokado clan are finished."
"Ah…?"
Biwako looked at Hiruzen in shock.
The Utatane and Mitokado clans were not especially large or powerful on their own.
But because Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were elders, no one in the village dared to underestimate these two ninja clans.
And yet now, Hiruzen was actually saying that those two clans were done for?
Biwako simply couldn't believe it.
"Otherwise, what do you think?" Hiruzen asked quietly. "Why do you think Shiki hasn't moved against them yet?"
Unlike Biwako, who had never witnessed it, Hiruzen had seen Shiki's strength with his own eyes.
He had almost already guessed Shiki's intentions.
"Shiki is waiting for Koharu and Homura to make the first move. That way, he'll have the perfect reason to wipe out the Utatane clan and the Mitokado clan in one stroke."
Too dangerous.
A man like that… is truly far too dangerous.
That was the very reason Sarutobi Hiruzen was so afraid of Shiki.
When he'd been forced to abdicate by the major clans, Hiruzen had indeed been overwhelmed by anger—he'd even lost his composure entirely for a time.
But once he calmed down and thought it through, he quickly realized something was off.
The entire situation… had been Shiki's plan from the very beginning.
No matter what choice Sarutobi Hiruzen had made back then, the position of Hokage would still have fallen firmly into Tsunade's hands.
"Then… shouldn't we remind Koharu and Homura?"
Biwako frowned.
Over the years, her relationship with those two elders couldn't be called especially good, but it wasn't bad either.
At the very least, she felt they should be warned.
"It's pointless."
Hiruzen shook his head without hesitation.
"At this point, all they can think about is how to regain their status as elders. No matter what we say, they won't listen."
Hiruzen had already seen through it clearly.
So he simply gave up on trying to persuade Koharu and Homura any further.
"Sigh…"
Aside from sighing, Biwako didn't know what else to say.
Hiruzen had already seen everything clearly.
Whether it was Koharu Utatane or Homura Mitokado, neither of them were the kind of people who would back down easily.
"It won't be long now," Hiruzen murmured. "Neither Koharu nor Homura are patient people."
In Hiruzen's view, it wouldn't be long before they tried something against Shiki.
And when that happened, the Utatane clan and the Mitokado clan would be pitiful indeed—both clans would be erased.
Forget it.
In any case, it has nothing to do with me anymore.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, then stopped dwelling on it.
Just like that, not only Konoha, but even the entire ninja world fell into a rare moment of tranquility.
—
In his own courtyard, watching his plans and power mesh together more perfectly by the day, Shiki smiled faintly.
Normally, he either drank tea in peace, or called everyone over for a small barbecue.
These days were comfortable—almost too comfortable.
The only problem was that Tsunade had been incredibly busy lately.
And whenever she was tied up with work, Yugito Nii would come over whenever she had any free time.
"Shiki-kun! If only the ninja world could stay this peaceful forever…"
Sitting beside him, watching his calm profile, Yugito couldn't help but speak her mind.
If time could freeze in this moment, that would be enough.
"Don't worry. There will be a day of true peace."
Shiki smiled slightly.
They were still far from that day.
The Akatsuki, Uchiha Madara, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya… all of them were troublesome existences.
But with himself here, Shiki had absolute confidence that one day, the ninja world would truly know peace.
"Mm!"
Yugito nodded seriously, without a trace of doubt.
In her eyes, no matter what Shiki said, it was always correct.
"Shiki-kun, can I keep coming here every day from now on?"
Yugito asked in a small, hopeful voice.
Off to the side, Kurenai couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Aren't you already here every single day?
What's the point of asking something like that?
"Huh?"
Shiki glanced sideways at Yugito, just about to answer—
When Tsunade's voice suddenly cut in.
"Keep dreaming. What do you think this place is, your own house?"
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