66-70

*Chapter 66: The Power of the Gods – Susano'o (Vote! Invest!)*

"The Aburame Clan’s insects, huh? Not bad! But simple tricks like that won’t defeat the Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan," Uchiha Obito muttered, narrowing his eyes as he watched the unfolding scene. He knew that a crucial moment was coming. Would they finally witness Uchiha Sōgen's eye techniques?

"Oh wow! What an incredible chakra surge!"

White Zetsu cried out in surprise.

Fortunately, no one else was around. The few Root ninjas lurking nearby had already been casually dealt with by Obito, so there was no need to worry about White Zetsu’s exclamation drawing attention.

In fact, anyone with even a bit of sensory ability or sharp instincts would be captivated by the black swarm of insects swirling together. More precisely, they would be drawn to the powerful, overwhelming chakra suddenly erupting from within the swarm.

"What is that?"

Hyūga Hiashi, who was locked in battle with an enemy, used his Byakugan to see through the surrounding chaos. What he saw shocked him. Sōgen, surrounded by insects, was now emitting a vast, dark, and chilling amount of chakra. It was a level of power Hiashi had only ever seen from a jinchūriki.

In an instant, memories of his clan’s records on the Uchiha came flooding back.

"It seems I made the right choice!"

Hiashi muttered under his breath. His previously weakening chakra suddenly surged as he released a large amount of chakra from his tenketsu points. His body began to spin like a top, forming a dome of chakra that shielded him entirely.

The rapidly spinning chakra dome not only deflected all physical attacks but also, as Hiashi pushed even more chakra into it, expanded outward with tremendous force. The surrounding enemies were flung aside, their bones and muscles shattered, leaving them barely clinging to life.

Seeing this, even Uchiha Shisui was impressed.

"I didn’t know the Hyūga’s Rotation technique could be used offensively like that. Not bad!"

Shisui praised, though his small sword continued to cut down the nearby Root ninjas. Together with Hiashi and Hyūga Mayu, they wiped out the remaining enemies. They then stopped and turned their attention in the same direction, no longer attempting to break through to the southeast.

In the next moment, a massive, skeletal arm wrapped in deep crimson flames parted the thick canopy of the forest. It stood like a towering spire, announcing the arrival of a god’s power once again to the shinobi world.

It was—

A glow deeper than any fiery blaze,

A color more intense than fresh blood.

The appearance of this skeletal arm was only the beginning. Soon, a second arm emerged, followed by a complete skeletal frame, forming out of the burning chakra. It stood tall, like an unmovable mountain on the battlefield.

And yet, this wasn’t the end.

Veins and muscles began to grow wildly over the bones, while the flaming chakra enveloped the form like a garment. In a mere moment, a massive figure wielding a giant blade cast a colossal shadow over the forest below.

This was the third form of Susano'o!

"What... what kind of monster is this?"

The Root ninjas were stunned.

If they had been ordinary ninjas, fear would have already driven them to panic. But Root ninjas had no names, no emotions, and no fear of death. Their only purpose was the mission. Even so, they found themselves at a loss, unable to comprehend how to fight this behemoth.

They had no experience dealing with something like this.

During the Nine-Tails incident, they had been tasked with monitoring the Uchiha and hadn’t engaged in combat. Over the years, many new members had joined, leaving the current force severely lacking in experience.

To put it simply,

They were like a tiger trying to bite a porcupine, not knowing where to start.

To make matters worse, Uchiha Sōgen wasn’t some porcupine that would just stay still. He was a dragon ready to strike back at the tiger.

Inside Susano'o, Sōgen’s eyes were now crimson, the eerie pattern of his Mangekyō resembling a six-pointed windmill slowly spinning. He frowned slightly as flames suddenly erupted from his feet, burning away the insects burrowing into his flesh. The fire, however, also severely burned his bare feet.

"Tch! That really hurts!"

He clicked his tongue lightly.

The insects clustered around him had been pushed out by Susano'o from the start. But those that had burrowed into his flesh couldn’t be removed by Susano'o, so he had no choice but to burn them out with fire.

Afterward, as the insects were incinerated, the power of his Yang Release slowly began to heal the burns on his feet.

At that moment, however, Sōgen’s focus wasn’t on his injuries. From the crystal embedded in Susano'o’s brow, he looked down at the vast forest below. The Root ninjas were scurrying like insects, while Shisui and the Hyūgas had moved to a more open area.

That was a logical move.

Upon seeing Shisui and the others, Sōgen’s thoughts shifted, and Susano'o immediately sprang into action. Its massive foot came down with a crushing force, obliterating the ground beneath it. The forest shook, sending dust clouds into the sky. The tremors spread toward the village center, and soon all of Konoha could feel the quake coming from the south.

Aburame Ryōma narrowly avoided being crushed by Susano'o.

At the last second, this skilled insect user escaped, though he was heavily injured. His arm had been broken by a stray rock, and nearly 80% of his insects had been wiped out. But he had survived, avoiding being turned into a bloody pulp.

"Susano'o... So this is Susano'o?"

As he fled, Ryōma repeated the name he had read in secret documents many times. He finally understood why Danzo-sama and the Third Hokage were so hostile toward the Uchiha. All that talk about the Uchiha being "inherently evil" now seemed like an excuse.

The truth was simple—

Fear. Envy. The Uchiha’s overwhelming power was what really drove their oppression. The Uchiha were too strong—so strong that their existence inspired terror in others. Without someone as powerful as the First Hokage to keep them in check, Konoha had no way to control the Uchiha.

And that’s why they were being suppressed!

But right now, Ryōma had more pressing concerns. What was he going to do next? Uchiha Sōgen had really mastered this legendary power, using it to break through his carefully laid traps with raw force. Ryōma felt a deep sense of despair, having been defeated by the Uchiha yet again without any hope of victory.

This battle…

He didn’t know how to win!

Especially when he noticed the massive sword of Susano'o descending toward him. In that moment, he realized his fate was sealed. Maybe this wasn’t so bad. At least he wouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath. Death seemed like a release—

The crimson blade carved into the earth, leaving a deep gouge. Ryōma was wiped from existence.

"This is only the beginning!"

As Ryōma’s chakra faded from his vision, Sōgen shifted his gaze to the scattered Root ninjas below.

Since Susano'o had already been revealed, he figured he might as well take this chance to remind everyone why the Uchiha were so proud. He would make sure they remembered where the Uchiha’s arrogance came from and why the Uchiha were Konoha’s most powerful clan.

(Chapter End)

Chapter 67: The Prestigious Uchiha Clan of Konoha (!!!)

"The third stage of Susanoo... Such reckless consumption of ocular power won’t last long." Uchiha Obito sighed in disappointment. He hadn’t yet uncovered Uchiha Sōgen's true ocular abilities. Since Sōgen was already using Susanoo without hesitation, there was no way he would waste more of his power using other Mangekyō Sharingan techniques.

Still, it wasn’t entirely a wasted effort.

Though Obito hadn’t used Susanoo himself, from what Madara had said, its consumption of ocular power was terrifying. The higher the stage, the greater the cost. The third stage was already a significant drain, and repeated use of the Mangekyō would inevitably lead to blindness.

"Obito, should we continue watching?" Black Zetsu asked.

"No need. Leave a few White Zetsu here to monitor things." Since he couldn’t fully grasp Sōgen’s ocular abilities, there was no point in staying. Instead of wasting time watching Sōgen slaughter Root's shinobi, it made more sense to return to Kirigakure to plan the upcoming war between Konoha and the Mist. The goal would be to deplete Sōgen’s Mangekyō Sharingan through the Mist shinobi.

As for Konoha...

It was already drowning in blood without his intervention!

The Byakugan was also too much of a nuisance. Operating in Konoha required extreme caution to avoid being detected by the Hyuga clan. He had no intention of revealing himself so early. In comparison, the chaotic Kirigakure, where he had control over the Fourth Mizukage, was far more liberating. He could manipulate the Mist as he pleased.

Space suddenly distorted, and Uchiha Obito’s figure rapidly shrank, absorbed into his alternate dimension. Black Zetsu, seeing this, closed up his Venus flytrap-like form and left several White Zetsu to hide nearby, while he himself silently merged into the ground.

———

"Have all the personnel gathered?"

"Elder Homaru, 42 of the clan's jōnin are present."

At the Konoha Police Force headquarters, on the rooftop.

Uchiha Homaru, Uchiha Genshi, and Uchiha Kyo, the three elders, arrived together. They had brought part of the clan's stationed jōnin and used the authority granted by the clan head to summon some of the jōnin stationed in the police force, gathering a total of 42 jōnin.

If the three elders were included, that made 45.

This was despite leaving some behind to guard the clan’s grounds and the police force, which explained why the Konoha leadership had despised the Uchiha for years but couldn’t easily handle them. In Sōgen’s view, the real reason for the Uchiha's near-destruction in the original timeline was the lack of a solid backbone, which led to internal division.

"Very good," Uchiha Homaru stepped forward. He looked at the 42 jōnin kneeling on one knee. Among them were 14-year-olds and elders with graying hair who already had grandchildren. He took a deep breath and spoke:

"Time is short, so I’ll keep it brief. The clan head has run into trouble, and we, along with the other elders, are going to support him. If anyone has an issue with this, speak up now. You have ten seconds to decide. If no one objects after ten seconds, we move out."

Ten seconds wasn’t much time at all.

The younger Uchiha looked excited, while the older ones cautiously checked their ninja tools. But no one objected within those ten seconds. The proud Uchiha were not afraid of death.

Especially these jōnin.

They were proud of their bloodline, confident in their strength, and ready to die for the glory of the clan!

This was the Uchiha, a clan with arrogance embedded deep in their bones!

"Move out!" Uchiha Homaru commanded.

The three elders, despite their age, led the way at the front, and the 45-man group raced toward the southern part of the village.

———

At the Hyuga compound.

The Hyuga clan, already situated in the southern part of the village, was close to the Matsutake Pavilion. That was why Hyuga Hiashi had suggested breaking out toward the southeast. Under normal circumstances, the Hyuga clan should have been the first to notice the battle at Matsutake Pavilion when the barrier team temporarily malfunctioned.

However,

When the Third Hokage visited, he first met with Hyuga Seikou, one of the clan elders. For some reason, Seikou then contacted the other main family elders, and together, they issued a lockdown order. Without the elders’ permission, no clan member was allowed to leave the premises.

Even when some noticed the ongoing battle, the elders remained indifferent and even dispatched trusted members to watch over the clan leader’s close allies.

Until—

"Seikou, it seems you’ve made the wrong choice."

The main family elders activated their Byakugan, gazing at the deep crimson Susanoo visible in the distant forest. The oldest elder spoke slowly, "Whether Hiashi really intended to break our clan’s thousand-year traditions is unclear, but without a doubt, he bet on the right outcome."

Hyuga Seikou’s face paled,

Though he was battle-hardened, this situation pushed his limits.

"Elder Kiyohiko, are you really going to let the Hyuga clan go down this dangerous path?" The Third Hokage, addressing the eldest elder—who had lived through the era of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara—tried to reverse the situation.

"This has nothing to do with the Hyuga anymore, Lord Hokage. Your concern should be the Uchiha." Elder Hyuga Kiyohiko sighed while watching the deep crimson Susanoo. "I never thought I’d live to see Susanoo again. What a disappointment!" He made no effort to hide his disdain for the Uchiha clan’s Susanoo.

The Uchiha and Hyuga, the two most renowned dōjutsu clans in the shinobi world.

The rivalry between them had spanned over a thousand years. If the Sharingan’s three tomoe could barely compete with the Byakugan, the Mangekyō Sharingan was a power beyond the reach of the Byakugan. Because of this superior power, the Hyuga had always been ranked below the Uchiha.

Especially during the time of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, the Hyuga didn’t even dare speak against the Uchiha.

That humiliation,

Hyuga Kiyohiko, now almost 90 years old, had never forgotten.

"Seikou, take responsibility for your actions. Hiashi remains our clan leader until he does something truly harmful to the clan. Today’s mess is your doing, so you should be the one to clean it up." With these words, Elder Kiyohiko summoned an attendant to help him leave Seikou’s courtyard.

The other main family elders followed suit, leaving Seikou to face the consequences of his actions alone. It was clear that he had been chosen as the sacrifice to appease Hyuga Hiashi's anger.

Afterward,

The Third Hokage also hurriedly excused himself.

The old Hyuga elder wasn’t wrong—Susanoo’s appearance would not go unnoticed by other clans in the village. Failing to kill Uchiha Sōgen and Hyuga Hiashi meant Root’s operation had failed. Whether the Hyuga clan intervened or not was now irrelevant.

The Hokage needed to figure out how to handle this mess and deal with the backlash from both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.

———

At the Akimichi clan compound, Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi had both arrived, led by their friend Akimichi Chōza to meet Akimichi Torifū. The elder of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio was enjoying a barbecue with Chōza's son. The old man and the young boy sat on either side of the grill, eating heartily.

"Shikaku, Inoichi, want to join?" Akimichi Torifū asked, offering a piece of ribeye as the two entered.

"Uncle Torifū, now isn’t the time to be eating," Shikaku said with a wry smile. If he had any choice, he wouldn’t keep bothering the old man. But without Torifū’s presence, he felt uneasy about the situation.

"Sigh! I knew today’s troubles weren’t over!" Akimichi Torifū sighed heavily.

He had suspected something would go wrong when he saw Uchiha Sōgen and Hyuga Hiashi talking outside the Hokage building. But he hadn’t expected it to escalate so quickly!

"What exactly happened?" Torifū put down his chopsticks. The chubby Chōji looked up in confusion but was encouraged to continue eating by Torifū. The Akimichi children had to eat well, after all. The more they ate, the faster they mastered the clan’s Multi-Size Technique.

"Susanoo," Yamanaka Inoichi answered, sharing what he had observed. Using his Mind-Body Switch Technique, he had controlled a hawk to survey the situation firsthand. At first, he hadn’t recognized the deep crimson giant, as Susanoo hadn’t appeared in decades.

Thankfully, Nara Shikaku had identified it based on the information provided.

"Root attacked the Uchiha and Hyuga clan leaders, but from the looks of it, the operation failed. Both the Uchiha and Hyuga clan leaders are still alive, and the Uchiha leader has activated his Susanoo and is currently wiping out Root's forces," Inoichi Yamanaka observed carefully.

"Root?"

Torifu Akimichi felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Are you sure you didn’t mistake him for someone else?"

"I saw Sho Yamanaka." Worried that Torifu Akimichi might not know who he was referring to, Inoichi Yamanaka explained, "Sho Yamanaka, my cousin. Danzo took him to Root for training a long time ago."

Torifu Akimichi sighed silently. Among the Ino-Shika-Cho trio clans, both the Nara and Yamanaka clans had people taken by that bastard Danzo. Only the Akimichi clan had no one join Root. Of course, it wasn’t out of respect—Danzo just didn’t think anyone from the Akimichi clan was suited for the secretive and covert work.

"If it’s Root… Danzo’s still laid up in the hospital..."

Torifu felt an even bigger headache coming on. It didn’t take much imagination to figure out who was pulling the strings behind this.

"Let’s go check it out. Be ready to adapt to the situation. You three should come with me."

Torifu didn’t have any better ideas.

Ignoring something like this was definitely out of the question. The heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had been attacked inside the village. Regardless of the reasons behind it, the severity of the situation couldn’t be understated. If they just let it go, who knows what chaos would follow in the village?

He couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment toward his old friend. This kind of bottomless struggle was going way too far!

It wasn’t just the Uchiha, Hyuga, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.

Every clan with any standing in the village was starting to make moves. The Aburame, Kurama, Kazamatsuri, Ise—one by one, they were all sending people to the scene in the south of the village. Even the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans had dispatched members to head to the site of the incident.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 68: I Won’t Let This Go Easily! (!)

The deep crimson Susanoo rampaged across the land.

Its enormous sword mercilessly reaped the lives of the Root ninjas. There was no need for precise targeting or controlled force—just swinging the blade toward the chakra waves was enough. The sharp, massive sword would slice through anything in its path.

Forests, rocks, earth, rivers—nothing could withstand the blade of Susanoo.

Even Root, unafraid of death, found itself thrown into unprecedented chaos under such an overwhelming assault. But it wasn’t just Susanoo’s immense power that led to this. More importantly, the death of Aburame Ryoma, their direct superior, had left Root without leadership.

Root had always only had one true leader: Danzo.

He used cursed seals to control all his subordinates, including even his "right-hand man," Aburame Ryoma. Ryoma had been publicly given power second only to Danzo himself, and as long as Ryoma was there, Root remained stable.

But with Ryoma dead and Danzo lying on his deathbed in the hospital, Root was left without any strong figure to unify it. Root’s members, trained only to follow orders, didn’t even have the ambition to fight for power. Each squad fought on its own, and then one by one, they were utterly crushed by Sougen.

In truth, the members of Root were hopelessly rigid.

They had no concept of flexibility.

Even though they knew staying meant certain death, not one of them attempted to flee. Perhaps the threat of the cursed seal still lingered, or perhaps they had truly given up all emotion, leaving only the mission in their hearts. In any case, the Root ninjas fought Susanoo with everything they had and were one by one slain by the great sword that fell upon them, bringing their nameless lives to a quiet end.

There was no need for ninjutsu.

No need to use ocular powers, either.

Every swing of Susanoo’s blade had enough destructive power to rival a standard B-rank jutsu. After the nearby forest had been thoroughly devastated and the terrain had dramatically changed, no more Root ninjas were seen moving in formation. All that remained was a black giant eagle circling in the sky.

“Get down here!”

Sougen looked up at the black eagle flying in the air. Susanoo, moving as he willed it, swung its sharp sword into the sky. The mere gust of wind from the swing knocked the giant eagle off balance. The creature, made of ink, wasn’t resistant enough, especially with two people riding on its back.

The black eagle shattered.

The two riders fell from the sky.

But the woman named Shuri reacted quickly, raising her scroll and hurriedly drawing a new hawk. The fresh drawing caught them both just before they hit the ground, preventing them from becoming a mangled heap of flesh.

However, at that moment…

A giant arm extended, grabbing both the black eagle and Shuri, along with Yamanaka Masakazu. The eagle shattered into ink, leaving only Shuri and Yamanaka Masakazu alive.

“Demonic Illusion: Dragon’s Sleep.”

Susanoo raised the two captives in front of him.

At such a close distance, Sougen’s ocular power could reach both Shuri and Yamanaka Masakazu before they could even speak. They were immediately put into a deep sleep, with no chance to resist or even to take their own lives.

Yin Release Secret Technique: Super Beast Imitating Drawing—

Got it!

The acquisition of this secret technique made Sougen feel a rush of excitement. With this technique, there was a chance that his training in Yin Release could finally get on track.

After confirming that no Root members had escaped and sensing the chakra fluctuations from the Hyuga Clan’s compound, Sougen noticed a large group of chakra sources heading his way. No surprise—this must be the reinforcements sent to help Hyuga Hiashi. Though they were late to the battle...

Wait, what!?

Why were there also large chakra sources approaching from the northeast? And why did they all feel so familiar, rushing toward him at incredible speed?

“This chakra... Grandpa’s here?”

Sougen squinted his eyes, recognizing the familiar chakra signatures as they drew nearer.

Every person’s chakra had subtle differences, almost like a personal identity stamp. While the Transformation Jutsu could alter appearances, it couldn’t change chakra signatures. That’s why White Zetsu’s technique of mimicking chakra was considered the most powerful transformation technique.

Sougen deactivated Susanoo.

Carrying the two captives, he went to meet the Uchiha clan members rushing to his aid.

Unlike the Hyuga Clan’s reinforcements, who had arrived slowly, the Uchiha Clan had come from much farther away. Yet they arrived at almost the same time. They hadn’t wasted a single moment, rushing to his side as fast as they could.

“Captain!”

“Clan leader!”

“Clan leader!”

“Captain!”

The Uchiha clan members greeted their clan leader as they arrived.

“Sougen, are you alright?”

Uchiha Genshi looked at his grandson with concern. They had seen Susanoo disappear moments earlier. As an elder of the clan, Genshi knew about the Mangekyo Sharingan and the toll it took, leading to inevitable blindness after repeated use...

“I’m fine!”

Sougen smiled.

Noticing the worry that still lingered on Genshi’s face, Sougen quickly realized that his grandfather was concerned about his vision. But explaining his ability to recover his ocular powers wasn’t something he could do in front of everyone. As he glanced around, he saw the looks of admiration and respect from his clan members.

The power of the gods: Susanoo!

Such a mighty force was indeed worthy of reverence.

“Sougen, what happened here that made you resort to using that?” Uchiha Homaru couldn’t wait to ask, while Elder Uchiha Kyo quietly moved closer, listening for Sougen’s response.

“Well...”

Sougen paused for a few seconds. He took a few steps and stood on a nearby tree trunk, which had been skewed into the ground, looking down at the 45 Uchiha jonin, including the three elders. He spoke loudly:

“I know everyone wants to know what happened here. It would be too troublesome to explain it one by one, so I’ll just tell you all at once. Earlier, Root forces attempted to assassinate me here—again. They gathered their most elite troops to attack me and the Hyuga Clan’s leader. This wasn’t the first time. We’ve had grudges from the past, but this time, I’ve captured evidence. If the village doesn’t give the Uchiha Clan a proper explanation, I will not let this go easily. Those who dare provoke the Uchiha must pay the price! So, prepare for battle!”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

The clan members responded loudly, their anger mingling with excitement.

They were furious that their clan leader had been attacked in the village but thrilled by his resolute stance!

Their killing intent surged like blades, so thick it almost materialized into a sea of blood before their eyes!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 69: I'm Already Furious! (!)*

The murderous intent and fighting spirit of the Uchiha were so intense that Hyuga Hiashi didn’t dare get too close at first. Instead, he led his trusted subordinates to stay at a reasonable distance, cautiously watching the more than forty Uchiha jonin gathered there.

Seeing so many Uchiha jonin made Hyuga Hiashi feel envious.

Even for the Uchiha clan, it seemed that having more than forty jonin represented the best of their entire clan. Uchiha Sōgen had only been the clan leader for less than half a year, yet he had already gained the support of these Uchiha jonin.

Without turning around, Hiashi could see with his Byakugan the 22 Hyuga jonin standing behind him. This was the most reliable force he could command from his clan!

In terms of numbers, Hiashi was confident that the Hyuga clan had more jonin than the Uchiha. However, the unfortunate truth was that he, as the clan leader, couldn’t fully control all of the clan’s power. The elders of the main family held significant authority, dividing the power of the clan leader and making it difficult for Hiashi to freely exercise his strength.

Especially after the death of his younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi, who had been the head of the branch family, Hiashi’s power was further restricted by the elders. Compared to Uchiha Sōgen, who held full power, the difference was night and day…

“Hiashi-senpai.”

As Hiashi was lost in thought, Sōgen walked over to greet him.

“Sōgen-kun, the unity of your clan is truly enviable.”

Hiashi snapped out of his thoughts and offered a natural compliment.

“Unity forged out of necessity!” Sōgen waved his hand modestly. A united Uchiha? That statement seemed a bit ironic. The Uchiha were indeed united when it came to protecting their clan's honor, but once the external threats were gone, the Uchiha would often turn on each other, driven by their arrogance.

This was well-documented in the clan’s historical records.

The Uchiha clan even developed the forbidden technique Izanami to counter their own internal strife, which showed just how extreme their infighting had been. It wasn’t baseless to say that the Uchiha were a dangerous clan.

The Uchiha clan truly had a streak of madness in their blood!

What’s even more terrifying is that this madness often triggers the power of the Sharingan, allowing them to gain even more strength as they spiral into insanity!

“Let’s get to business, Hiashi-senpai. What are your plans from here?”

Sōgen cleared his throat, steering the conversation back to the main topic.

He hadn’t come just to hear flattery from Hiashi, though it was pleasant to hear.

“Of course, an eye for an eye!”

Hiashi’s face immediately darkened when he heard Sōgen’s question. He spoke through gritted teeth, “As the leader of the Hyuga clan, I was nearly killed by Root right here in the village! This kind of humiliation is unprecedented. It’s like there’s a volcano inside me about to erupt. If I don’t release this anger, I’ll never be at peace.”

“The Hyuga have their limits too!”

Sōgen studied Hiashi, who was on the verge of exploding with rage, for a few seconds before nodding slightly. He didn’t say much more.

It seemed that this time, the usually composed Hiashi had truly been pushed to his breaking point! This was a good thing.

Though Sōgen doubted whether Hiashi could truly achieve his “eye for an eye” goal, after all, they were up against the Hokage. Whether the Hyuga’s fury could actually harm the Third Hokage remained to be seen.

At that moment, someone arrived.

Kurama Sogyun led seven jonin from his clan to join the Uchiha and Hyuga. When he saw the blood-red Sharingan and pure white Byakugan staring back at him, both Sogyun and the seven jonin behind him instinctively took two steps back.

That was terrifying.

It felt like they were being stripped naked under the gaze of so many Sharingan and Byakugan.

“Clan Leader Kurama,”

Sōgen greeted him with a friendly tone.

At this, the murderous intent in the air began to subside, and Kurama Sogyun quickly led his seven jonin closer to Sōgen. He whispered, “Sōgen, if there’s anything you need, just say the word. The Kurama clan may not be powerful, but we will support you to the best of our ability.”

“Thank you, Sogyun-senpai.”

Sōgen expressed his gratitude, then fell silent again.

The arrival of the Kurama clan was just the beginning. Before long, the clan leaders and jonin from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, as well as others like the Ise and Wind Festival clans, arrived one after another. All of them were shocked by the overwhelming killing intent emanating from the Uchiha and Hyuga. With a glance, they exchanged silent looks, realizing that today’s situation would be hard to resolve peacefully.

Soon after, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio appeared together, and from a distance, everyone could see the imposing figure of Akimichi Torifu.

“Hiashi-kun.”

Akimichi Torifu approached Hiashi.

The large elder looked at Hiashi and softly asked, “Is there no other way?”

“Torifu-senpai, I was nearly killed just a moment ago,” Hiashi responded, trying to maintain a calm tone as he addressed the elder, who had no grudge against the Hyuga. “If I back down now, how can I continue to lead the Hyuga clan? And if I retreat now, do you think they’ll appreciate our restraint? Or will they see us as easy targets?”

Facing Hiashi’s pure white eyes, Torifu was left speechless.

He realized his error in thinking.

Hiashi was right. Whether for his own pride or for the honor of the Hyuga clan, retreat was no longer an option. Moreover, Torifu knew his old friends well. In their youth, they had been willing to sacrifice everything for the village. But now, in their old age, they had become like this…

“Forgive me, Hiashi-kun. I spoke out of turn.”

“No harm done, Torifu-senpai. I understand your good intentions, but there are some things I simply must do,” Hiashi replied firmly, his resolve unwavering.

Torifu walked away in disappointment.

In the desolate wasteland, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. The tension between the Uchiha and Hyuga clans was palpable, and everyone felt the immense pressure. No one had forgotten the deep crimson Susano’o they had seen earlier.

As everyone stood in this tense silence, not even daring to breathe too loudly, the Third Hokage, his two advisors, and a large group of ANBU finally arrived.

“Hokage-sama!”

The clan leaders of the Wind Festival and Ise clans, who had arrived earlier, stepped forward to greet the Third Hokage.

These two clans were staunch supporters of the Third Hokage, or rather, allies of the Sarutobi clan. The Wind Festival clan had long controlled the education department, while the Ise clan held power within the medical department. Whether out of personal loyalty or self-interest, betraying the Third Hokage was not an option for them.

“Wind Festival…”

The Third Hokage was just about to speak when someone interrupted him.

“Hokage-sama, is the village planning to exterminate the Hyuga clan?”

Hiashi stepped forward and nearly roared the question.

This was something no one had expected.

In many people’s minds, if the Uchiha were known for their arrogance, the Hyuga were known for being traditional and rigid. Everything from their rules and behavior to their clothing gave off an ancient and solemn vibe. Hiashi, as the clan leader, embodied all of these traits.

He was always serious, dignified, and refined... That was how everyone saw Hiashi.

For him to roar in anger like this was something that shattered many people’s preconceived notions.

The outburst from Hiashi Hyuga caught many people off guard, leaving them speechless.

"Hiashi, what are you saying? No one intends to wipe out the Hyuga clan. The Hyuga are an indispensable part of the village," said the Third Hokage, frowning. He hadn't expected Hiashi to launch such a direct and aggressive confrontation so soon, especially considering his past behavior.

There was no time to think of a countermeasure. He forced himself to respond, "I already know what happened here. The Root’s reckless actions will surely be punished..."

"Reckless actions?"

Uchiha Sougen sneered.

That mocking laughter interrupted the Third Hokage.

Hiashi Hyuga remained expressionless, unmoved by the Hokage’s words.

"Hokage-sama, I don't care about the reasons behind this. I just want to know how the village plans to explain itself to my clan," Hiashi said as he activated his Byakugan, the veins around his eyes bulging intimidatingly.

At the same time, the Hyuga clan’s Jonin stepped forward, silently showing their support for their leader.

"And don’t forget about us, the Uchiha clan. We also demand an explanation for this attack!" Sougen joined Hiashi, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. His crimson Sharingan eyes bore the pattern of a six-bladed pinwheel, different from the usual three tomoe.

With just a glance, the Third Hokage lowered his eyes, avoiding Sougen's gaze.

"Hiashi, and Uchiha Clan Head, I have already investigated this matter. It was led by Ryoma Aburame and a few key figures from the Root..."

"I’ve already said, I don’t want to know why. I just want to know what the village is going to do about it," Hiashi pressed, his tone sharp and demanding.

The Third Hokage was silent for a few moments before speaking again, "The ones responsible for this attack have already been killed. They died right here..."

"So that’s it then? Because the perpetrators are dead, it's over? The dead can’t be held accountable, whether it’s Uchiha or Hyuga, there’s no way we can get justice from the dead. Is that what you’re saying, Hokage-sama?"

Sougen’s voice was soft but carried a chilling coldness.

Behind him, the Uchiha clan’s Jonin excitedly activated their three-tomoe Sharingan. Some, like the younger Uchiha Hokuto, were even gripping their weapon handles, ready for a fight.

This subtle shift in the atmosphere caused alarm among the other clan leaders present.

If this escalated into a fight, wouldn’t it mean the end of Konoha?

Many people began to panic, fearing a true conflict might erupt. But in this tense moment, no one dared to step in, afraid of dragging their own clan into the mess.

The Third Hokage, whose gaze remained downcast, could also feel the terrifying chakra from the Susano'o’s ribcage forming around Sougen. His expression darkened as he exhaled deeply. "It’s my responsibility as Hokage that I failed to properly supervise the Root after Danzo’s coma. For that, I am willing to step down from my position as Hokage."

"Hiashi, Uchiha Clan Head, does this explanation satisfy you?"

Hiashi was stunned by the words.

He had intended to use this incident to pressure the Third Hokage into stepping down, but he hadn’t expected the Hokage to resign voluntarily. This unexpected move completely threw off Hiashi’s plan, leaving him unsure of what the Hokage was really up to.

"Not enough!"

While Hiashi was in a daze, a voice suddenly rang out, startling him.

"That’s still not enough!" Sougen said coldly, staring at the Hokage with a sharp gaze. "It shouldn’t be a resignation; it should be a dismissal followed by an investigation!"

"This wasn’t some small scuffle involving a dozen people. Over a hundred Root ninjas were involved—enough for a small war! Yet the Barrier Squad didn’t notice a thing, and the Anbu were completely blind to it. This wasn’t a mere oversight; it was gross negligence!"

Sougen’s words hit hard.

"Uchiha Sougen, while it’s true Sarutobi made a mistake, accusing him of negligence goes too far. The Barrier Squad was conducting maintenance on the village’s grand barrier today. This area is part of the Hyuga clan’s territory, and out of respect for the clans, the Anbu don’t approach without cause. It was an unfortunate coincidence. Blaming everything on the Hokage—what are you Uchiha planning? Are you trying to start a rebellion?" Koharu Utatane finally couldn’t hold back, defending the Third Hokage while accusing the Uchiha of ill intentions.

"Hahaha!"

Suddenly, Sougen burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as tears nearly rolled down his face.

"Elder Koharu, do you really take me and my clan for fools?" He wiped the tears from his eyes and scanned the Third Hokage, the elders, and the gathered clan leaders. His gaze eventually returned to the Hokage.

Staring at the Hokage, who dared not meet his eyes, Sougen spoke slowly, "Hokage-sama, let’s stop this farce. I am... beyond furious!"

The calm mask on Sougen’s face cracked, revealing his anger.

"I, Uchiha Sougen, head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Police Force, hereby accuse the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, of dereliction of duty, abuse of power, and failure to fulfill the responsibilities of the Hokage. I present four examples:

First, to consolidate his power and eliminate a potential threat, he spread rumors that forced Sakumo Hatake to commit suicide.

Second, he colluded with Danzo and Orochimaru to steal the First Hokage’s cells for inhumane experiments. When the truth was revealed, he shifted the blame to Orochimaru, allowing him to escape.

Third, he neglected the orphan Naruto Uzumaki, the Fourth Hokage’s son, allowing rumors of the Nine-Tails to spread while pretending to be the savior in order to control the Jinchuriki.

Fourth, he displayed weakness in the face of threats from the Cloud Village, forcing the Hyuga clan to sacrifice a member to appease them. The body of Hiashi’s brother is still on a Cloud Village lab table!"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, you are no longer the hero you once were. You hide behind the banner of 'for the village,' but your actions have been driven by selfish desires and thirst for power. You are no longer fit to be Hokage!"

His words echoed in the air, leaving everyone stunned.

Even the Third Hokage was momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth to refute, especially about the accusation of colluding with Danzo and Orochimaru, but before he could speak, Kurama Sogyun, standing behind Sougen, made a decision.

"The Kurama clan supports Uchiha Sougen’s impeachment."

Then came the next voice.

"The Hyuga clan supports Uchiha Sougen’s impeachment!" Hiashi declared after a brief hesitation, spurred on by Sougen’s reminder of his brother’s death.

Soon after, an unexpected development occurred.

"The Aburame clan supports Uchiha Sougen’s impeachment!" Aburame Shibi, cloaked in his hooded coat and sunglasses, spoke up.

No one had anticipated that the low-profile Aburame clan would be the third to support Uchiha Sougen.

Though quiet and unassuming, the Aburame clan was considered one of Konoha’s strongest clans, second only to the Uchiha and Hyuga.

Now, with Uchiha, Hyuga, and Aburame united, the pressure was immense. As the alliance formed, the balance of power began to shift.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 70: Acting Fifth Hokage! (!)*

Shibi Aburame firmly cast his vote in support of the rebels. He knew many were watching him and many were confused by his choice. But he ignored them all. He felt no obligation to explain himself. After expressing his support for the impeachment of Uchiha Sougen, he fell back into his characteristic silent, stone-like demeanor.

Yet—

The wind won't stop just because the tree wishes to stay still.

"Aburame clan head... Do you realize that Uchiha Sougen killed Ryoma Aburame not long ago?" Mitokado Homura couldn’t understand why Shibi had made such an irrational choice. The normally quiet Aburame family was one of the core supporters of their faction.

However, the Aburame clan had betrayed their trust.

"I know."

Shibi’s response was calm.

"You know? You know and still—"

"Counselor Mitokado, the Aburame clan is not anyone’s slave. I just want the children of my clan to grow up free to choose their own future, not bound like dogs with cursed seals. From the moment Ryoma was taken to Root, I already considered him dead."

Even through Shibi’s dark glasses, Mitokado Homura could feel the icy, bone-chilling stare.

The distance in his tone underscored just how wrong their understanding of the Aburame had been. Their silence wasn’t due to heartlessness; they simply weren’t talkative. In reality, their love for family never waned. Watching their brothers and children be taken away by Danzo, never to be seen again—that pain still lingered.

Standing beside Shibi was a man cloaked in a black trench coat.

This was Shikuro Aburame.

A rare venomous insect user and the strongest member of the Aburame clan. Yet his only son had been taken by Danzo while he was away on a mission, forced to become a member of Root. His cold, emotionless gaze was fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

"Danzo... Clan Head Aburame, Root is Danzo's doing, but..." Even Mitokado Homura himself felt how weak his defense sounded. How could Danzo have taken so many clan prodigies without the Hokage’s permission?

The Aburame had once petitioned the Third Hokage over this.

But they were brushed aside.

Today—

The seeds planted long ago had finally borne fruit. And this was a bitter fruit the Third Hokage never wanted to taste.

"Uchiha, Hyuga, Kurama, Aburame..."

Hiruzen's heart grew heavy.

He realized the gravity of his oversight. His plan had been to resign as Hokage and end the crisis with his departure.

But he forgot that his resignation might be seen as a sign of weakness. Meanwhile, the alliance between the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had grown into an unstoppable force, further complicated by old grudges.

The result—

The previously silent Aburame clan had joined the opposition.

And this might only be the beginning. Hiruzen knew all too well how many clans Danzo had angered to build Root. The numbers were staggering. But back then, Hiruzen had been the strongest shinobi in the village, the longest-reigning Hokage. He had stood tall with three brilliant disciples by his side.

But time is cruel.

The once mighty shinobi was no longer the force he had been, and the feared “darkness of the shinobi” lay in a hospital bed, awaiting death. Even his disciples had left him, for various reasons.

Yet out of respect for his past strength, no one dared be the first to challenge him—until Uchiha Sougen, young and full of fire, pierced the illusion of power around him.

In an instant, the tide shifted.

"Uchiha Sougen, does your clan intend to stage a coup?"

Hiruzen glared at Sougen, bloodshot eyes filled with fury.

Before anyone else could step forward in support of the Uchiha, Hiruzen aimed his anger at them. Though his resentment for the Hyuga, Aburame, and Kurama was no less, his tactical mind held sway.

At this moment, it was better to destroy the Uchiha. Without them, the Hyuga and Aburame couldn’t make waves. Only the Uchiha, co-founders of Konoha alongside the Senju, had the power to turn the tide.

"This isn't a coup!"

"This is the will of the people!"

"This is righting wrongs!"

Sougen’s voice was strong, his words sharp as knives, cutting deep into Hiruzen’s heart.

Pointing at the Third Hokage, Sougen said, "Lord Hokage, no one can deny your contributions to Konoha. That’s a fact. But Konoha can’t live in the past forever. This village belongs to you, to us, and to the future!"

"Your time has passed! The future belongs to the younger generation. And don’t embarrass yourself any longer with your baseless accusations. Let me make this clear—Uchiha has no interest in the Hokage position. This isn’t the era of Madara Uchiha, and I don’t covet that chair of yours."

"I think the Hyuga feel the same. We’re not doing this for more power. We’re just... fed up with old men like you sitting on our heads!"

Harsh words can cut deeper than swords.

Righting wrongs?

Was he really the one who was wrong?

Hiruzen’s anger surged, his chest tightening. He had devoted his life to Konoha, and now this young upstart was accusing him of being outdated.

"Uchiha Sougen..."

“Well said!!!”

A cheer drowned out Hiruzen’s voice.

Hiashi Hyuga coldly watched the Third Hokage, not wanting to give him any chance to pull any tricks. He might not know the phrase, but he understood that this was an all-or-nothing moment. If they didn’t overthrow the Third Hokage now, there would be no second chance.

This time—

Konoha had to change regimes!

"Lord Hokage, it's time to face reality! No one can erase the merits of your past achievements, but the mistakes you've made over the years cannot be ignored either. It's time for Konoha to choose a new Hokage."

As he spoke, he shifted his gaze toward the clan leaders who had remained silent and the jonin from the civilian faction who had sensed something was happening and had arrived. He raised his voice and declared, "The conditions here may be a bit rough, but in urgent situations, we must act decisively. As the head of the Hyuga clan, I second the Uchiha clan leader's motion to impeach the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. If you're truly committed to a new future for Konoha, let’s make a decision here and now!"

His eyes lingered on various people for a couple of seconds.

"The Aburame clan agrees."

Shibi Aburame’s stance was firm to the extreme.

"The Kurama clan stands by its decision."

Kurama Tsumuyun was no longer even that nervous. The combined forces of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were already reassuring, and the Aburame clan's support made him feel at ease. With such a strong lineup, there was no possibility of losing!

As everyone knew, the Uchiha's reputation among ordinary villagers was abysmal. However, only a small number of people were aware that the Third Hokage's reputation among the higher-ups of Konoha's clans was just as bad. His good-cop-bad-cop routine with Danzo was not clever enough to fool everyone. While the villagers hated Danzo, many also held deep grievances against the Third Hokage.

"The Shiranui clan seconds."

"The Yamakaze clan seconds."

"The Kamizuki clan seconds."

"The Gekko clan seconds."

Like a flood breaking through a dam, the momentum surged forward toward a new future, unstoppable. One clan leader after another stood up to express support for the impeachment, just as Hyuga Hiashi had predicted. This was the tide of history!

The Shiranui clan had once backed the Fourth Hokage, but after his death, their efforts were wasted. When the Third Hokage regained power, he made things difficult for them, leaving the clan stagnant once again. The Yamakaze, Kamizuki, and other clans were allies of Hiashi and saw no future for themselves under the Third Hokage, as the Sarutobi, Shimura, Kazamatsuri, Ise, and the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance dominated most of the village's interests.

As for the Gekko clan, their situation was similar to the Aburame's. They despised the Root organization and, by extension, held resentment toward the Third Hokage.

These clans were merely a reflection of the larger wave of change.

And so, in this open field, Konoha was undergoing a revolution!

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, became the first Hokage to be impeached.

With the joint effort of 23 ninja clans, big and small, Sarutobi was forced to step down, leaving the position of power he had held for decades.

Hiruzen clenched his fists in anger but had no choice but to loosen them again as more and more clan leaders stood up. There was no turning back. Even if he could wipe out the Uchiha clan here and now, it wouldn't change anything.

There was no going back to the past.

Once the facade had been torn, there was no restoring it to its former state.

Besides, he wasn’t even confident he could defeat the Uchiha clan. If he could, it wouldn’t have come to this point! Even though he had many Anbu at his disposal, he knew full well that many of them were from the very clans that were now impeaching him. If he gave irrational orders, it might backfire.

The two elders were in shock.

The sudden shift in power left them at a loss. Seeing so many clans stand up, they felt their hearts sink. There was no longer any hope for Sarutobi's side to turn things around. What would become of them? What would happen to their families in the days to come?

An uncertain, stormy future seemed to be just around the corner.

At that moment, Hiruzen asked, "Uchiha Sougen, who do you plan to put in power as your puppet?"

He had given up on resisting with force, knowing that Uchiha Sougen wouldn’t miss a chance to eliminate him if he did. So, while accepting his defeat, Hiruzen attempted to plant a seed of doubt for the future Fifth Hokage.

Sougen, with a faint smile, replied, "That’s not something for a Hokage who’s been impeached to worry about. But, since you ask, I don’t mind telling you. The Hyuga clan leader and I plan to bring back Tsunade and Jiraiya, and the future Fifth Hokage will be chosen between them!"

These words were not only for Hiruzen but also for the clan leaders and jonin present.

The Uchiha and Hyuga had no intention of monopolizing power.

"Will the position of Hokage remain vacant until my disciples return?" Hiruzen asked.

"You really don’t give up, do you? Are you so desperate to drive a wedge between the Uchiha and the other clans?" Sougen shook his head, smirking coldly. "Listen carefully, former Hokage."

He cleared his throat and, in front of everyone, declared, "As the head of the Konoha Police Force, I, Uchiha Sougen, recommend Akimichi Torifu to serve as acting Fifth Hokage until the real Fifth Hokage is chosen!"

It was a masterstroke.

Hiruzen’s face turned ashen.

His last attempt had failed as well! Torifu... of all people, it had to be Torifu. Even in his rage, Hiruzen had to admit it was a brilliant choice. Appointing Torifu, a fellow student of the Second Hokage and a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, as interim Hokage would significantly reduce the other clans’ concerns about the Uchiha.

And naming Jiraiya and Tsunade as candidates for the official Fifth Hokage showed the Uchiha's broad-mindedness.

This was a complete defeat for Hiruzen.

"Me? Hokage?" Torifu, who had remained silent all this time, was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

The chubby old man wanted to decline, but before he could speak, a chorus of support drowned out his objections. He realized that it wasn’t so much about his popularity but rather that the smaller clans and many civilian jonin did not want to see the Fifth Hokage come from the Uchiha or Hyuga clans.

Moreover, the jonin from the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance behind him showed visible excitement. Despite their usual laid-back attitude, there were many among them with great ambitions.

For the younger members of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, Torifu’s appointment as interim Hokage was like winning the lottery.

Publicly and privately, there was no way for him to refuse.

Thus, everything fell into place.

Without a Hokage hat or cloak, the acting Fifth Hokage took office.

(End of Chapter)