The atmosphere within Konoha had grown unbearably tense.
Ever since the publication of "The Ghosts of Konoha," the village had been thrown into a state of unrest that showed no signs of easing. As time passed, more and more jonin, along with shinobi from clans both large and small, began gathering spontaneously in front of the Hokage Hokage.
Yet among this growing crowd, two major clans were conspicuously absent—
The Uchiha.
And the Hyuga.
Hiashi Hyuga had, of course, read the article. The moment he finished it, cold sweat had broken out across his back.
He had wanted to go.
But before he could even leave the compound, he had been stopped by the clan elders.
There were members of the Hyuga within Root—after all, the Byakugan was far too valuable an ability to be ignored. However, those who had been taken into Root were all from the branch family.
Hiashi cared about them.
After all, his own younger brother belonged to the branch family, and he had long harbored dissatisfaction toward the clan's rigid hierarchy.
Perhaps it was precisely because of his brother's situation that he saw the branch family members as people—individuals deserving of dignity.
But the elders did not share his perspective.
In their eyes, Root had indeed taken people from their clan, and the methods used had been far from honorable—but those taken were merely branch family members.
As long as the main family remained untouched, there was no reason to disrupt the balance.
"This situation is, at its core, a matter of choosing sides. We will wait until the outcome is clear before making our move. Only then can the clan remain stable."
Avoiding taking sides—that was the principle that had allowed the Hyuga clan to endure for so long.
But Hiashi found no comfort in that reasoning.
There had been a time when the Hyuga acted decisively.
Back when the Senju and Uchiha vied for dominance during the founding of the village, the Hyuga had firmly supported Hashirama Senju.
But now… ever since Hiruzen took power, the clan had become increasingly isolated, gradually severing its connections with other shinobi families.
Coupled with the growing tension between the main and branch families, the Hyuga had lost much of their former vigor. Now, they seemed to do little more than follow Hiruzen's lead.
Even though they remained one of Konoha's strongest clans, Hiashi couldn't shake the feeling that they were slowly rotting from within.
And yet, there was nothing he could do to change it.
A clan head was always restrained by the elders—to prevent reckless decisions that might lead the clan into ruin.
But that raised an unsettling question—
If the clan head himself is controlled by the elders… then who protects the clan head's authority? And who ensures the clan doesn't fall into ruin because of the elders?
Hiashi let out a silent sigh.
There was no answer to that question.
—
While he was lost in his thoughts, events were unfolding elsewhere.
Within the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Shin moved swiftly alongside Uchiha Haru and Uchiha Jin.
Accompanied by several key members of the Military Police Force loyal to them, they had already arrived at the headquarters.
Today, Uchiha Fugaku was absent.
And that made this moment a rare opportunity.
Ever since losing one of his eyes, Fugaku had tightened his grip over the clan's authority to an extreme degree. Especially after Shin had gained control of two division, Fugaku's hold over the remaining one had become even more rigid.
At the same time, he had begun making continuous efforts to reclaim control over the two divisions from Shin.
Under normal circumstances, Fugaku rarely left the headquarters unattended.
But today… was different.
Shin, Haru, and Jin all knew that something was about to happen within Konoha.
That information had come from Sora.
However, what exactly would occur—and how far-reaching the consequences would be—remained completely unknown.
Only now did they finally understand—
Natsuhiko was making his move against Danzō.
Or more precisely… against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for who Danzō was, they knew all too well. To the Uchiha, he was the most detested figure—without equal.
Ever since the era of the Second Hokage, Danzō had relentlessly targeted the Uchiha clan. Even after retreating into the shadows, he had never stopped.
Some of the surveillance placed on the Uchiha came from the ANBU—but far more of it originated from Root, the organization under his direct control.
And at every council meeting, whenever matters concerning the Uchiha were discussed, Danzō would always vote against them. Time and time again, he ensured that the clan was denied even the rights it rightfully deserved.
But this time, it seemed he had gone too far.
And Natsuhiko's response—as the head of the ANBU—was nothing short of terrifying.
On top of that, Uchiha Shin was privy to certain inside details. He knew that Natsuhiko had long been targeting Orochimaru.
From Orochimaru… to Danzō…
Everything appeared to be unfolding in a deliberate, orderly sequence—as though it had all been planned from the very beginning.
When Shin carefully pieced it together, he arrived at a startling conclusion.
Before the Orochimaru incident ever erupted, Natsuhiko had already been undermining him—spreading rumors and quietly setting the stage.
And now, with Danzō, he was once again using public opinion as a weapon, pressuring Hiruzen.
If that's the case… then does it mean he had already mapped everything out back then?
By forcing Orochimaru into a corner and driving him out of Konoha, he effectively made Hiruzen sever one of his own arms.
Then, to counterbalance the growing power of the ANBU, Hiruzen was left with no choice but to elevate Danzō and allow him to take charge of Root.
And since Natsuhiko had already understood Danzō's nature, he anticipated that this day would come… which is why he prepared the newspaper in advance—waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow?
The more Shin thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
The development of the newspaper had been… unnaturally smooth.
For something so massive, something that had appeared almost out of nowhere, it should have faced resistance, setbacks, or at least some degree of turbulence.
And yet—it hadn't.
From beginning to end, its rise had been flawless.
Sora had once mentioned that the idea of the newspaper had come from Natsuhiko on a whim. Beyond that, nothing else had been explained.
But even that was enough to make Shin think deeply.
From the outset, its trajectory had been carefully designed—setting a goal of reaching the entire population, pricing it low enough to ensure widespread access, hooking readers with explosive revelations from the very beginning, and eventually introducing advertising to sustain its growth.
Every step… felt deliberate.
As if it had all been laid out in advance, following a precise and unbroken plan.
If that's true… then this Commander's terrifying nature isn't limited to his strength alone.
In fact…
Shin stopped himself there.
He didn't want to continue that line of thought.
Because the more he recognized Natsuhiko's power, the deeper his unease about the future of the Uchiha clan grew.
Especially when he realized that he himself had no way of escaping Natsuhiko's influence—and that the fate of future generations remained uncertain—those concerns only became heavier.
Shaking his head, he forced those thoughts aside.
His gaze shifted toward Uchiha Jin, who stood beside him, his figure concealed beneath layers of clothing.
"Today… we're counting on you."
Shin's voice was low, tinged with something difficult to name, yet resolute.
"This is a rare opportunity. I want to take full control of the Military Police Force once and for all."
"You know what's happening in Konoha right now. It's time for us to take a stand—on behalf of the Police Force."
"I know. Of course I know."
Jin slowly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with an almost unsettling excitement beneath the shadow of his hood.
"That damned Danzō…"
"No matter the reason, I told you before—I'll help you. And this time, since it's Danzō we're dealing with, I'll give it everything I've got."
—
"Commander, this was delivered by the Hokage."
Inside the ANBU Commander's office, Renge stepped in with a document in hand. Natsuhiko stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the distant Hokage Rock carved into the mountainside.
He didn't react much to her arrival, nor did he respond to her words.
Because this outcome… was exactly what he had expected.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to change anything, there was only one way—he had to meet Natsuhiko face to face and reach some form of understanding.
Hiruzen didn't dare act rashly. He knew that if he moved against the newspaper now, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
But doing nothing wasn't a solution either.
Even if he tried to counter Natsuhiko through the so-called newspaper agency he had established, engaging in a battle of public opinion, the result would likely be disastrous—a complete mess with no chance of recovery.
Natsuhiko could easily imagine Hiruzen's current dilemma.
To resolve this crisis, the Hokage had no choice but to meet with both him and the clan heads.
The problem was—
Natsuhiko held the initiative.
There was no need for him to rush.
Renge seemed to understand that as well. Watching Natsuhiko remain motionless by the window, she casually placed the document on the desk before walking over to his side.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked softly. "The Hokage's situation… or the Uchiha's?"
"Neither requires much thought, does it?" Natsuhiko replied with a faint smile, shaking his head. "As far as the Hokage is concerned, I already know how this will end. As for the Uchiha…"
He trailed off, choosing not to elaborate further.
Renge, however, understood perfectly.
The Uchiha had already offered significant support. If they still failed to seize this opportunity, then they truly were beyond saving.
In truth, she didn't find Natsuhiko's attitude strange. If anything, she sometimes wondered whether his leniency toward the Uchiha stemmed from Uchiha Sora.
But that was something she would never voice.
Even Senju Shoma had remained silent about Natsuhiko's decisions—though part of that might be due to his lack of full understanding of the situation.
Still, Renge believed that even if Shoma knew everything, it wouldn't change anything.
Because the Senju clan, in a very real sense, now belonged to Natsuhiko.
Everyone in the clan knew that he was the head of the ANBU. And more importantly, everyone had already come to accept that only Natsuhiko could lead them into a new era of strength and prosperity.
So no matter how difficult his decisions might be for others to understand, no one would oppose him.
In fact, his standing within the clan was already comparable to that of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju in their time.
"When do you plan to meet him?" Renge tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "The Hokage must be getting anxious. What if he panics and makes a reckless move?"
"He won't," Natsuhiko replied calmly, shaking his head. "He knows that patience is his only option right now."
"And even if he goes to meet the clan heads first, it won't be easy for him to reach any real agreement."
Natsuhiko understood that if he continued to stay out of sight, Hiruzen would be forced to take some kind of action. Sitting still and waiting was not in his nature.
But unfortunately for him, Natsuhiko had already made arrangements.
He had specifically instructed Shibi Aburame to hold off on everything until after he and Hiruzen met in private.
Shibi wasn't a fool.
He knew that, in some sense, they were being used as the spearhead—the ones sent to the front lines. The real confrontation would take place between Natsuhiko and Hiruzen.
But he didn't mind.
Because he understood one simple truth—
If they didn't step forward, they would only be waiting to die.
And once they did step forward, there was no turning back.
Trying to remain neutral, swaying back and forth like a reed in the wind, would only lead to the worst possible outcome.
None of them were fools. They all knew exactly what they had to do.
Renge only needed a moment of thought before she grasped Natsuhiko's intentions completely.
Although she still felt that leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi hanging like this wasn't exactly a good idea, Renge quickly decided not to dwell on it any further.
"Commander, how far are we planning to take this?" she asked after a brief moment of thought.
Or rather, it wasn't so much about how far they would go—but how far Natsuhiko intended to push Hiruzen Sarutobi.
One thing was already clear to her: Hiruzen would not be forced to step down. That conclusion, at least, she had received directly from Natsuhiko. She didn't fully understand why, but she trusted his judgment.
However, not stepping down did not mean escaping consequences. That much was undeniable. This was, after all, a true struggle over power.
"To be honest, I haven't fully decided yet," Natsuhiko replied, turning away from the window to look at her with a relaxed smile. "There are some departments that, even if I take them, won't really be of much use to me."
He had considered it.
What to take, how much to take—he had thought about all of it.
But after weighing it carefully, he realized there wasn't actually anything he absolutely needed to seize.
He didn't know the current state of the Military Police Force, but he was very clear on one thing: a fully functioning Police Force possessed terrifying influence.
From his previous life's perspective, it was essentially a hybrid between a civilian police force and a military police unit—capable of managing civilians while also handling shinobi. In other words, something akin to both regular police and military police combined. Properly controlled, its power would be immense.
Meanwhile, the ANBU in his hands were like the FBI of that world, and Root was essentially the infamous CIA.
Now that Root had collapsed internally, and with Hiruzen needing time to rebuild it, a portion of its authority would naturally flow toward the ANBU.
He didn't even need to fight for it—these things would come to him on their own.
As for Danzō's actions this time, he had offended far too many people on too many fronts.
Not to mention the administrative departments and the Interrogation Division—those units had already begun drifting away from Hiruzen, and there was no way to pull them back.
Especially not with Nara Shikaku's foresight in play. After all, Minato Namikaze was still alive.
Under these circumstances, even Natsuhiko himself wasn't entirely sure what else he should be targeting.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, he paused, lightly touching his chin as if something had just occurred to him.
"What is it?" Renge asked, noticing his expression change.
"I just thought of something," Natsuhiko said with a faint smile. "Tell me… if I take the Medical Department, do you think Hiruzen would be angry enough to cough up blood?"
...
Meanwhile, outside the Hokage Building, the crowd had only grown larger.
For Konoha, this day was suffocating—paralyzing. Nearly everyone had abandoned their work and gathered here instead.
They were all waiting. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for the Hokage to speak.
But time passed slowly, and the Hokage Building remained completely silent. The lack of response only deepened the dissatisfaction among the crowd.
Uchiha Fugaku stood quietly within the masses, wearing a black eyepatch as he observed the cluster of clan heads and jonin at the front.
Today's developments had gone far beyond his expectations.
But inwardly, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
Because this time… it was Konoha devouring itself from within.
He hated Danzō.
And he hated Hiruzen even more.
It was Hiruzen who allowed Orochimaru to escape after the attack on him—something Fugaku could never forgive.
And Danzō's repeated targeting of the Uchiha had long since driven his resentment to the limit.
After reading the newspaper, Fugaku had already come to a conclusion in his mind.
If Hiruzen had not indulged both Orochimaru and Danzō, none of those forbidden experiments would have ever taken place.
And if not for their unchecked ambition… Orochimaru would never have dared to attack him in the first place.
And in order to protect his own interests—and to maintain that absurd façade of nostalgia for old ties—Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually let Orochimaru go.
To Fugaku, this wasn't just negligence. It was outright disregard for himself… and for the entire Uchiha clan.
What made matters worse was that, after losing one of his eyes, the unstable elements within the clan had only become more brazen.
In such a short period of time, those individuals had already seized control of two divisions within the Military Police Force. Even more troubling was that several of Fugaku's loyalists had gone missing.
Fugaku had genuinely considered confronting Shin over this.
But by now, Shin 's standing within the clan had only grown stronger with each passing day. And without any concrete evidence, Fugaku could not act rashly.
He knew all too well that a single misstep could invite even greater trouble.
All of this combined had pushed Fugaku's mentality to the edge.
At this point, he found himself sincerely wishing that people like Hiruzen Sarutobi would simply die.
It was because of them that he had lost a Mangekyō Sharingan. It was because of them that he had fallen into his current situation.
"Clan Head, it's already quite late. Would you like to head back and rest? We can return later," a nearby shinobi asked quietly.
"No need," Fugaku replied indifferently. "Something this interesting—I have no intention of missing it."
The moment his words fell, however, his expression suddenly changed.
Because he saw it—
Uchiha Shin was walking over, accompanied by three division leaders from the Military Police Force.
And that single sight meant one thing—
In just a few short hours since his absence, he had completely lost control of the Police Force.
Fugaku could not make sense of how everything had fallen apart so quickly.
But one thing he understood very clearly was this:
Even if he went to demand answers now, he would receive none.
And more importantly, he had come to realize something even more bitter—
At this moment, aside from the title of clan head, he truly had nothing left.
The fall of three division leaders was a blow beyond imagination.
Yet that was not the only crisis unfolding.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was also facing a situation of equal gravity.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen sat in silence, his expression dark and heavy. The atmosphere in the room had long since grown suffocating, as if something foul lingered in the air.
He smoked quietly, his gaze distant and unfocused as he looked at the portraits of the First and Second Hokage hanging on the wall. No one knew what thoughts were passing through his mind.
It wasn't until his eyes shifted to the portrait of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, that a sharp glint suddenly surfaced within them.
"…Impressive," he muttered coldly. "I never expected that after you left, you would leave me with such a troublesome opponent."
Hiruzen had already begun to piece everything together in his mind.
From the trajectory of Natsuhiko's actions over the past year, it was clear—this man had been steadily forcing him step by step toward the edge of a cliff.
It likely began right after the Nine-Tails incident, when Minato was taken to Mount Myōboku to recover.
First, the restrictions on the ANBU were loosened.
Then, he was guided into loosening control over Root.
And since Natsuhiko already knew Danzō's secrets, it was only natural that he was also aware of Orochimaru.
From there, he had slowly probed and schemed against Orochimaru, pushing him step by step into the abyss.
Once Orochimaru's crimes were exposed, Hiruzen was forced to make a choice.
And the moment he lost Orochimaru, Natsuhiko immediately accelerated the growth of the ANBU while simultaneously creating the newspaper.
At that point, Hiruzen no longer had the capacity to deal with him directly. He could only react by reactivating Danzō and Root to counterbalance the ANBU.
And that, too, was likely part of the plan.
Because Hiruzen's attention and resources were limited, his control over Danzō would inevitably weaken.
And Danzō—of all people—was already a man with a history… one that Natsuhiko had clearly exploited from the very beginning.
"Think about it—he already had a prior record, yet never received any real punishment. And now his authority has expanded to this extent… of course he would only become more unscrupulous."
Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured coldly, his voice low and heavy with restrained emotion.
"Human nature… power… desire… Hah. You really calculated everything."
Danzō's unchecked escalation had naturally ignited the fury of every clan he had once "handled."
And yet Danzō was his shadow. For so long, Hiruzen had stood behind him—meaning the reason those clans had endured in silence was not only Root's intimidation, but also Hiruzen himself.
Now those clans had been pushed to the brink.
At the same time, Natsuhiko's newspaper had begun relentlessly promoting the ANBU. And behind the ANBU… stood Minato Namikaze.
It was all too subtle, too precise.
It was quietly telling them—
They still had a choice.
They could choose Minato.
They could choose the ANBU.
Tightening his pipe between his teeth, Hiruzen finally understood everything.
And in that moment, beyond shock and dread, there was even a trace of admiration.
Complex emotions churned within him until, unexpectedly, a faint smile surfaced on his face.
"Putting aside all matters of stance and position… Senju Natsuhiko, you really are born for the role of Hokage."
"So it seems the village still has a successor."
At that thought, something inside Hiruzen seemed to loosen.
He understood that Natsuhiko was a man who harbored the "Hokage's dream." Someone like that would never allow the village to truly fracture.
He would have his own plans. His own control over everything.
Hiruzen admitted it—he had lost. At least this time, he had lost.
But if this defeat could reveal the capabilities and mindset of someone who might one day become Hokage…
Then perhaps it wasn't entirely a bad thing.
—
"Long time no see, Hokage-sama."
In the evening, inside the Hokage's office, Natsuhiko looked calmly at the old man before him.
Behind him stood a large group of clan heads and various jonin.
Natsuhiko glanced at those behind him, especially at Uchiha Shin with Uchiha Haru and two Uchiha ninjas he didn't recognize.
At that moment, he knew the Military Police Force matter had essentially been resolved.
Natsuhiko was someone who valued the process, but even more than that—he valued results. And now, a satisfactory result had clearly been delivered.
Yet alongside that satisfaction, a faint sense of curiosity arose.
Something felt… off about Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The man didn't look as defeated as expected. There was no rage, no panic, no visible collapse of spirit. Instead, he appeared strangely calm—almost relaxed.
What, did the old man finally break and decide to lie flat and give up?
Natsuhiko thought to himself casually, though he did not voice it.
"You've finally come, Commander Natsuhiko." Hiruzen said slowly, lifting his head. His expression was calm—neither joy nor anger present. "I've been waiting for quite some time. Aren't you afraid the village will fall into chaos?"
"With you here, Hokage-sama, nothing will fall into chaos," Natsuhiko replied smoothly, though internally he felt a faint jolt of unease.
But Hiruzen simply shook his head.
"No… it is not because I am here that the village will not descend into chaos."
"It is because of you."
That single sentence carried a depth of meaning that immediately sharpened Natsuhiko's perception.
So the old fox has seen through something after all.
No wonder he seemed so composed.
Although this development wasn't exactly ideal for Natsuhiko, it wasn't something that would destabilize him either.
Just as he was about to respond, Hiruzen spoke again.
"This incident has brought unimaginable pain to many clans, and at the same time, it has dealt me a tremendous blow. Therefore… it must be addressed."
At that, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused slightly. He lifted his head and gazed at Natsuhiko for a long moment before speaking again.
"Therefore, Commander Natsuhiko, if you have any demands, then say them directly. I will give you—and everyone present—a satisfactory answer."
—
"Damn it… damn it… damn it!"
In the underground chambers of Root, Danzō smashed every porcelain object within reach. His fury had reached its peak.
He had never imagined that those who had once been completely suppressed—people who should have been unable to resist him—would actually dare to stand up against him.
It felt like being bitten by a weak insect that he had never bothered to take seriously before. The sensation alone filled him with disgust and irritation.
But what infuriated him even more was the realization that he had become nothing more than a piece on someone else's chessboard.
Danzō was not a fool.
At times, he could be so arrogantly reckless that it seemed otherwise, and it was true that power had gradually warped his mindset over the years—but that did not mean he was incapable of seeing the truth of his situation.
And right now, the situation was clear.
After Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had come to him and relayed the newspaper incident along with the gathering of clan heads, he had immediately understood that he was in serious trouble.
Even more crucially, he realized that the two elders had come not simply to inform him—but to subtly warn him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not going to let this go.
"Why is this happening… why has it come to this?!"
Danzō roared like a madman, but there was no voice within Root that could answer him.
After a long while, he gradually forced himself to calm down.
The reason for his breakdown was simple—he had already received word that Senju Natsuhiko, along with the clan heads and jonin, had gone to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His instincts were sharp. He understood that his real trouble was about to begin.
But he refused to sit and wait for death.
He had to do something.
"Come here!" Danzō shouted.
But the next instant, a calm voice drifted into his ears.
"Danzō-sama… are you planning a final struggle?"
That voice made his body tremble slightly.
He knew exactly who it belonged to.
"Senju Natsuhiko…"
Danzō turned sharply, glaring at the man who was already sitting in his chair without anyone noticing when he had arrived.
"You've really gone too far," Natsuhiko said lightly, completely ignoring Danzō's expression as well as the Root shinobi rapidly closing in around him.
He remained seated, relaxed, almost languid, with a faint, gentle smile on his face.
"To be honest, you should be thanking me. I let you live this long, even restored you to a position of such high authority."
"But now… your role has essentially reached its end."
"I've always understood the difference between the Third Hokage and you."
"But today, I've come to understand it even more clearly."
"The Third Hokage believes that Konoha is above everything else."
"But you, Danzō-sama… from beginning to end, have always believed that you yourself are above everything else."
Natsuhiko tilted his head slightly, a faint trace of mockery appearing in his eyes.
"So in the end, the Third Hokage has already made his decision."
"And I have also allowed you to experience power beyond imagination."
"Which means now… Danzō-sama, you only have one choice left."
He paused slightly, his smile deepening.
"And that is—"
"Death."