The wind echoed through the arena, resounding and merciless. Hiruzen Sarutobi, his limbs crippled, still held a shred of his old, spirited demeanor, but in an instant, the illusion shattered. He seemed to age ten years in a heartbeat, his face crumbling like ancient parchment, as if death itself were looming over him.
Just moments ago, he had harbored a sliver of hope that Minato Namikaze's information was incomplete, that he could still offer an excuse. But it was complete. Worse, it included things the Third Hokage had never even recorded. The glorious image he had painstakingly cultivated for decades was utterly shattered. Even if he didn't become a universally hated monster like Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen was now firmly nailed to the pillar of shame in Konoha's history.
On the other side of the arena, Danzo's eyes burned with extreme malice. Though he was already as notorious as a villain could be—at least within the shadows—the Daimyo didn't know the full extent of it. Now, with this turn of events, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, whom Danzo had just spent years appeasing, would likely never support him as the next Hokage.
And then there were the two reanimated Hokage. Orochimaru had escaped without even bothering to dispel his Impure World Reincarnation?
While Danzo silently plotted his next move, the ninjas bribed by Menma—mingling within the restless crowd—chose their moment perfectly.
"So all these years," one shouted, his voice cutting through the tension, "everything has been orchestrated by the Third Hokage's faction!"
"No wonder our village is getting weaker!" another voice joined in. "We can't even withstand an attack from Orochimaru!"
"Every time another village attacks Konoha, it's always us apologizing and cleaning up the mess! They're bleeding the village dry to keep their own clans in power!"
"Of the legendary Sannin, one defected, and the other two haven't dared to return in years. The White Fang of Konoha was so strong they had to kill him!"
Those who dared to speak first lit the spark. Naturally, the surrounding ninjas were completely ignited by the flame.
"Third Hokage! Don't you have an explanation?!"
"The Will of Fire—is it just a weapon you use to hurt your own people?!"
"Hiruzen, you and your cronies are a cancer on Konoha! You are the sinners of Konoha!"
When a wall starts to fall, everyone rushes to push it down. In this atmosphere, most people stopped thinking. They blindly followed the crowd. They forgot the good things Hiruzen had done in the past; they only remembered the bad things that were now exposed.
Even the civilian ninjas who had originally supported Hiruzen were filled with righteous indignation, as if the persecuted clans and powerful shinobi were their own brothers and sisters.
Asuma Sarutobi was completely isolated. If Kakashi Hatake hadn't stayed by his side with his head down, Asuma would have been mortified.
"Are you satisfied now?" Tobirama Senju glared at Menma with genuine hatred.
Originally, they could have resolved this privately, avoiding such a massive commotion within the village. But Menma had deliberately ignited everyone's discontent toward the Hokage. Combined with the ninja clans fanning the flames, it was a disaster. If it weren't for the presence of the First and Second Hokage, Tobirama had no doubt that the crippled Hiruzen would have been torn to shreds by the enraged mob. The position of Hokage would become a joke.
Although he was furious at Menma's methods, Tobirama understood that priority one was appeasing the ninjas on the verge of mutiny. He broke free from the Wood Release restraints, stepped forward, and pressed his hands down for silence.
"Quiet down," Tobirama's voice wasn't authoritative, but it carried the weight of his anger. The crowd fell silent. "I will give you an explanation regarding the Third Hokage shortly."
Menma seized the opportunity. "What kind of explanation does the Second Hokage intend to give?"
Tobirama glanced at him but didn't answer. Instead, he walked over to Hashirama Senju, who was still kneeling on the ground, looking somewhat bewildered.
"Brother," Tobirama said, "it seems I can't return to the Pure Land just yet. I'll be staying in this world a bit longer."
"Meaning...?"
Tobirama nodded. He quickly formed hand seals before his chest.
"Impure World Reincarnation Release!"
A flash of white light appeared on the back of Tobirama's head. A kunai covered in strange runes dropped to the ground with a thud.
Hashirama sighed when he saw this. "Even in death, there's no peace."
He clapped his hands in front of his own eyes. Another flash of white light, and the control kunai was forced from his head as well.
After completing the process, Tobirama looked back at the silent ninjas before him.
"You've all seen it. I have released the control of the Impure World Reincarnation and regained my freedom. From now on, I, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, and the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, will assume the position of Acting Hokage."
He paused, his voice dropping. "And the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is hereby relieved of his position. Danzo Shimura is relieved of his position as Hokage Assistant. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado are relieved of their roles as Elder Advisors."
"However," Tobirama continued, "considering their past merits, their demerits will be offset, and no further punishment will be imposed."
"Not enough."
Menma's cold voice cut through the air before Tobirama had even finished speaking. He hadn't let Hiruzen die simply to strip him of power; he wanted to watch the Sarutobi Clan decline into ruin. Letting him off with just a removal from office was far too lenient.
Tobirama frowned, no longer choosing to protect his former disciple. "The four will be detained for investigation starting today. They will be forced to fully compensate for all the ill-gotten gains they've made over the years. Furthermore, all four individuals and their families must volunteer for the most dangerous missions. Front lines only. Is this arrangement sufficient?"
For a reanimated corpse, this was already Tobirama's limit. Menma naturally understood this; he didn't actually expect this punishment to be fully enforced anyway.
He never intended to use the reanimated dead for revenge. Moreover, his target was never just Hiruzen, Danzo, and a few others. His target was everyone in Konoha who had carved a piece of his dark past into his soul.
Stripping Hiruzen of his power and making the clans cough up money? This was merely the appetizer.
"Fine," Menma said nonchalantly, withdrawing his chakra and the fox tail. "After all, I never held any hope for the two of you who created such a 'hopeful' ideology for future generations."
He slowly walked up to Hashirama, staring directly into his eyes.
"Your so-called Hokage position can be sacrificed, but the Will of Fire—this vessel of infinite potential—must be preserved. Isn't it just that you want someone as powerful as you to emerge among your descendants to maintain a temporary peace?"
Menma's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Unfortunately, whenever such a person appears, they are pushed to the opposite side by the very people who claim to inherit your Will. Tell me, Hashirama... do you really think the village and this 'Will' of yours can continue to be passed down?"
"Hahaha..."
With a cold laugh, Menma relinquished control of his body. He retreated into his consciousness, leaving the physical world behind.
Next, he would wait and see how Tobirama, after hearing those words, would help Hiruzen accelerate his research into the ninjutsu for sealing Menma's personality. Only then could Menma begin his true plan to break through the 80% Trust Dependence Value threshold.
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