After weighing the pros and cons, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly retreated, his gaze locked firmly on Uchiha Ran. His hands were clasped behind his back, ready to form hand seals at any moment.
Just then, a clear, authoritative voice rang out.
"Hiruzen," Hiashi Hyuga said coldly, "do you still remember why the Village was founded in the first place?"
Hiruzen's body stiffened. He turned to see Hiashi Hyuga, dressed in white, stepping forward from the crowd. His expression was stern, his presence resolute.
"Hiashi Hyuga," Hiruzen snapped, "are you planning to involve yourself as well? Don't say I didn't warn you—if this fails, the Hyuga Clan will end up just like the Uchiha Clan!"
Hiruzen had never feared Hiashi before—and he feared him even less now.
Veins bulged at Hiashi's temples. He glanced at Uchiha Ran.
Ran nodded, then let out a sharp whistle.
In the next instant, two figures shattered the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Hokage Office and descended inside.
At the same time, two gigantic Susanoo hands manifested.
One glowed cyan-green, brimming with vitality.
The other burned crimson-red, radiating overwhelming destruction.
The two hands reached out together and seized Hiruzen Sarutobi's arms.
Hiruzen froze in shock. He immediately circulated his chakra, trying to break free—but his arms were locked tight within the skeletal grip of Susanoo. He couldn't move them at all.
"You… you Uchiha dare to rebel?!" Hiruzen roared. "Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha—you traitors! I trusted you! And now you side with Uchiha Ran to suppress me?!"
Though he shouted at Itachi and Shisui, his eyes were fixed on Ran.
If his guess was right, the Uchiha Clan's sudden shift—and Shisui and Itachi's change in allegiance—were all tied to this boy.
Shisui, who had nearly lost his Mangekyō Sharingan to Danzo Shimura's schemes, and Itachi, who had watched his closest friend be hunted down, felt no guilt at Hiruzen's accusations.
You were heartless first. Don't blame us for being ruthless now.
Without Hiruzen's tacit approval as Third Hokage, Danzo would never have dared to steal bloodline abilities from shinobi within Konoha itself.
Ironically, this time they truly misunderstood Hiruzen.
He really had known nothing about that incident—he was taking the blame for Danzo's crimes.
Hiashi Hyuga looked at Hiruzen with satisfaction. This disheveled state suited him far better than the lofty, righteous figure he used to be.
Hiashi still remembered how Hiruzen had once half-threatened, half-suppressed him—preaching benevolence while sacrificing Konoha's own shinobi for so-called peace.
That was unforgivable.
Hiashi glanced at Uchiha Ran.
Ran smiled and lifted his right hand slightly, signaling him to proceed.
In front of everyone, Hiashi walked up to the restrained Hiruzen Sarutobi, assumed a combat stance, and shouted:
"Hiruzen Sarutobi! When you sacrificed my brother's life back then, did you ever imagine this day would come?!"
He struck forward.
Bang!
Hiashi's palm slammed into Hiruzen's chakra points.
Hiruzen let out a muffled groan. His right arm went limp, chakra instantly sealed. He knew the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist well—but this was the first time he had been on the receiving end.
He sneered through the pain. "Rebels… all of you. Just like the Uchiha Clan—rebels of Konoha!"
"Say that again," Uchiha Ran said calmly, his anger sharp enough to make him laugh.
He stepped forward and slapped Hiruzen across the face.
Smack!
The sound echoed through the room.
The villagers and clan members felt their hearts jolt.
The Third Hokage—had just been slapped.
Hiruzen stared blankly at Ran. Being struck, having his chakra sealed—that was one thing.
But being slapped in the face?
His formerly gentle, hypocritical expression twisted completely.
"Uchiha Ran, you insolent brat!" Hiruzen shouted. "Do you have any idea how much Konoha suffered during the Second Great Ninja War if not for me?!"
"You—a nobody who contributed nothing—dare to raise your hand against me? Were you even alive during the Second Great Ninja War?!"
Ran laughed softly.
"No one denies your merits, Third Hokage," he said coldly. "But merit is merit, and fault is fault. Merits don't erase sins."
"Are you planning to live off your past achievements forever—draining Konoha dry, persecuting innocent heroes, and oppressing the children of those heroes?"
"I remember a saying from your Will of Fire," Ran continued, his gaze sharp.
'Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns. The firelight illuminates the village, and new leaves will sprout.'
"That's about inheritance," Ran said. "The older generation sacrifices itself so the next can grow strong. Tell me—have your actions since the Second Great Ninja War truly followed that belief?"
"For the sake of so-called peace, you've yielded again and again. Living standards have collapsed. Is this what the Will of Fire was meant to be?"
Hiruzen's face trembled.
His eyes reddened.
Memories surged—his younger self, his ideals, his original resolve.
"I…" His voice shook. "What… what have I been doing all these years…?"
His body trembled as he stared at his own hands.
Ran gestured calmly.
Itachi and Shisui exchanged glances, then released their grip.
Hiruzen Sarutobi collapsed to his knees, staring at his hands as he wept uncontrollably.
From this moment on, he was no longer the lofty Third Hokage.
Just an old man—one who had finally remembered his original intentions.
Hiashi Hyuga clenched his fists, wanting to strike again, but stopped himself.
After all, he had grown up listening to Hiruzen's teachings.
He knew how diligent and sincere Hiruzen once was—how everything he did had been for Konoha.
It was only later… that power had blinded him, and his original will had been devoured.
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