No trace of Hiruzen or Danzo could be seen inside the massive crater. They had been blasted so thoroughly that not even their bones remained.
But none of the ninja clans present felt any extra pity.
This was the inevitable outcome of getting involved in a struggle that was never yours to begin with.
A person really ought to have some self-awareness.
The heads of the various clans were already thinking about convening their own clan meetings. Hiruzen and Danzo were the best possible examples. Arrogant people only died, and sometimes even dragged their families down with them.
The Shimura Clan had already been erased from Konoha.
How much better could things possibly end for the Sarutobi Clan?
At best, they would spend decades barely surviving in Konoha, keeping their heads low and acting submissive while waiting for the Uchiha to forget all about this.
"Looks like Tobirama's eye for talent was fairly mediocre. The successor he chose simply couldn't shoulder Konoha's burden."
Haru spoke to the crowd, then turned his gaze toward Mito.
The battle just now had only been an appetizer. If he wanted to become Hokage, the most important thing was dealing with Mito.
"Who else wants to become Hokage?"
"You can all step forward right now. Konoha is democratic. As long as you have the heart to protect Konoha, you have the right to participate in the Hokage election."
"That was the First Hokage's intention too."
Haru's voice rang out loudly as his eyes swept across everyone present, but almost no one dared step forward and say,
"I want to become Hokage too."
Was the example right in front of them not clear enough already?
Haru's blade was still dripping with blood.
The moment you stepped onto the stage, it became a duel to the death.
Who in their right mind would want to go die?
Standing beside Mito, Toma wore a grave expression.
Haru's strength had already reached this level?
He had dealt with Hiruzen and Danzo as casually as slaughtering chickens.
Haru seemed to have no weaknesses at all. He could cast S-rank techniques casually, his swordsmanship had reached a miraculous level, and as for genjutsu, that didn't even need to be mentioned.
Even though Haru had not used genjutsu, trying to show off genjutsu in front of an Uchiha Sharingan would only make people laugh.
At the moment, Haru had only shown his three-tomoe Sharingan. No one had even seen his Mangekyo Sharingan yet, and that was the information Toma truly wanted.
Legend said the Mangekyo Sharingan awakened two powerful ocular abilities, though he had no idea whether that was true.
At any rate, he had never seen Madara use them. Every time his father fought Madara, it had just been a battle between giants.
Toma was deeply conflicted.
If he faced Haru, he would most likely die.
Did he really have to go up there when he knew it meant death?
Toma had not cultivated that kind of iron will.
He still had too many attachments.
Little Tsunade. His beautiful wife. His mother still needed him.
But he could not hesitate now.
If he delayed even a little, Haru might truly become Hokage.
From the corner of her eye, Mito had been watching Toma the whole time. She could clearly see his struggle.
With Haru's methods, her son would not be able to deal with him.
Mito certainly did not believe Haru would show Toma mercy.
He would definitely go for the kill.
"Then let this old woman test you herself!"
Mito finally stepped forward.
Since her son lacked the strength, then as his mother, she had to take the stage herself.
The Senju had finally reached the point where they could no longer endure in silence.
Mito's strength was plain for all to see, but no one present knew whether Haru could defeat her.
Still, the result hardly mattered anymore.
Standing among the crowd, Takuya could barely hide his excitement.
Haru's strength had already far exceeded his expectations, and everything he had shown so far was only the tip of the iceberg.
The younger generation of the Uchiha had already produced someone capable of holding up the heavens, while Toma looked dim and unimpressive by comparison.
Even if Mito won and became Hokage, what then?
How many more years could she even live?
The Uchiha had already won the future.
The moment Mito died, Konoha would belong to the Uchiha.
This time, he had truly bet on the right side.
"Wonderful. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Haru smiled and deliberately let his gaze drift toward Toma.
The mockery was impossible to miss.
That made Toma feel utterly stifled. He had never suffered such humiliation in all his life. It had always been him crushing others with strength.
Strength.
At this moment, he longed more than ever for his father Hashirama's power. If only he had inherited Wood Release, the situation would be completely different.
Suddenly, he remembered an experiment.
One that Tobirama had urgently ordered stopped back then...
Toma fell into deep thought while Mito stepped into place opposite Haru, clad in armor she had not worn in many years.
Ding!
Mangekyo Sharingan Trial Card -1
Haru used the Mangekyo Sharingan immediately, without the slightest hesitation. Good steel had to be used on the blade's edge.
If Mito lost control, then a mere three-tomoe Sharingan would never be enough to handle the Nine-Tails.
Pain had been smashed into a distorted mess by four-tailed Naruto, and Nagato had gone all out with Planetary Devastation and still failed to seal him.
Better to be cautious.
If he got killed carelessly here, that would be a real joke.
Lucky me.
Haru felt the eye power and realized that this time the random result was Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kamui.
A top-tier survival technique.
Advance to attack, retreat to escape.
Then surely he had to find a chance to hit Mito hard. Maybe even get a slash in on her.
"Mito-sama, this place is too small. Shall we change locations?"
Haru looked around.
This area was far too close to the center of Konoha. If Mito transformed into a tailed beast and he brought out Susanoo, the two of them blasting each other here would be enough to blow Konoha to the heavens.
How much money would it cost to rebuild the village after that?
"I was just thinking the same thing."
Mito had noticed the issue too.
Any random strike from the Nine-Tails' power was as destructive as an S-rank forbidden technique, and Haru's Susanoo was no different.
If the two of them started throwing S-rank techniques around near the heart of Konoha, then the village might as well disband on the spot.
"Let's go to the Forest of Death."
A vast stretch of forest surrounded Konoha and all of it fell under the village's domain. Because the area was so huge and filled with wild beasts and strange monsters, villagers who entered to hunt or gather often ended up attacked, and the death toll was not low.
Over time, all the forests around Konoha had come to be called the Forest of Death.
"Agreed."
Mito nodded.
That place was indeed suitable.
Though if she were being honest, she would rather have gone to the Valley of the End.
That was where Hashirama and Madara had fought their final battle, and the result was known to all.
Hashirama had won a narrow and miserable victory. Madara had fallen in regret.
Mito represented the Senju.
Haru represented the Uchiha.
If Mito defeated Haru at the Valley of the End, it would carry immense political significance.
As long as the Senju Clan still existed, the Uchiha would always remain beneath them in Konoha.
Unfortunately, the Valley of the End was a little too far away, and getting there would take time.
(End of Chapter)
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