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)