Danzō's subtle movements didn't escape Morpheus's notice, but he made no move to stop him, instead watching with a faint smile.
Feeling Morpheus's gaze, Danzō sensed danger. But he was too far in to stop, rapidly forming hand seals.
Just as he was about to unleash his ninjutsu, a searing pain erupted from his heart, coursing through his body, tearing at every nerve.
"Aaahhh!" Danzō let out a hysterical scream, collapsing to the ground, convulsing.
The scene made everyone in the room pale.
Morpheus's gaze swept over them, his smile enigmatic. "I let you wake because I have ways to control you. The Caged Bird seal—you're all familiar with it, I presume."
Their faces twitched, instinctively glancing at each other's foreheads. They were smooth, unmarred by any seal.
"No need to look," Morpheus said, waving a hand. "The seal I placed on you is far superior to the Caged Bird. It's embedded in your hearts."
Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively pulled open his shirt. His chest was unmarked.
Morpheus said calmly, "I told you, it's in your heart, not on your chest. To see it, you'd need to cut yourself open and look at your heart."
Silence fell over the group.
Morpheus continued, "It's not just you. Every major clan in Konoha—Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Hyūga, Aburame, Shimura, Inuzuka, Sarutobi, and more—bears the same seal. Every notable jōnin, too. Your lives are in my hands. If you wish to die, just say the word, and I'll wipe out your entire clan, just like you did to the Uchiha."
Hiruzen's face darkened to a grim shade.
Nara Shikaku spoke up, "Please, don't misunderstand or act rashly. We can discuss this."
"No discussion," Morpheus said coolly. "I've made myself clear. As of now, I am Konoha's master. From this moment, I rule the Konoha. My word is law—your job is to obey."
Shikaku glanced at Hiruzen but said nothing.
"No need to look at him," Morpheus said. "The moment I arrived, Konoha ceased to be his. The Sarutobi clan's lives are now in my hands. He won't dare defy me unless he wants his clan to follow the Uchiha's fate. Right, former Hokage?"
Hiruzen's face twitched at Morpheus's casual taunt, but he didn't dare retort. What if it was true? What if the Sarutobi were truly under Morpheus's control? Defiance could mean annihilation.
So Hiruzen stayed silent.
Morpheus turned to Shikaku. "Nara Shikaku, you're a smart man. What's your choice? Resist and be eradicated, or kneel and pledge loyalty? You have three seconds. Three, two—"
Before he could say "one," Shikaku dropped to his knees. Morpheus was too powerful; he'd effortlessly subdued Konoha. Resistance meant annihilation.
Smart men didn't follow the Uchiha's path.
"Lord, from today, the Nara clan pledges its loyalty to you," Shikaku said.
Morpheus nodded, satisfied, then turned to Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza. "I hear the Ino-Shika-Chō always move as one. Will you two kneel as well?"
Chōza and Inoichi exchanged a glance and knelt.
They pledged their loyalty.
Morpheus's gaze shifted to Hyūga Hiashi. "And you, Hyūga clan leader? Resist or…"
Before he could finish, Hiashi knelt. "The Hyūga clan has long awaited a true leader like you to rule Konoha."
Morpheus raised an eyebrow. "I see. It seems you weren't thriving under Sarutobi's rule. Was it because of your brother?"
Hiashi's voice was firm. "Since that incident, the Hyūga have been at odds with Sarutobi Hiruzen. If he weren't Hokage, we'd have settled the score long ago."
His brother's death was a lifelong wound. If not for Hiruzen's position, he'd have demanded justice.
Morpheus turned to Hiruzen. "Looks like you weren't a beloved Hokage."
Hiruzen said coldly, "Frame me as you will. I have no regrets about my service to Konoha."
Morpheus smirked. "I believe you. But you're too weak. Under your rule, Konoha endured two Shinobi Wars. You won, but at great cost. Sakumo Hatake took his own life, Orochimaru defected, Tsunade left, Jiraiya distanced himself. The Uchiha were wiped out, Naruto Uzumaki lives worse than a dog, and the Hyūga were forced to take the fall for the Kumogakure's mistake. Look at what you've done—Konoha's strength has plummeted. It's nearly fallen apart. Yet, under your care, the Sarutobi clan thrives, with over three thousand ninjas, I hear."
Morpheus paused, looking at Hiashi. "Hyūga leader, how many ninjas in your clan?"
"A little over a thousand," Hiashi replied.
Morpheus sighed. "Pathetic. You're far behind the Sarutobi, yet you call yourselves Konoha's greatest clan."
Hiashi stared at Hiruzen, stunned. If he recalled correctly, the Sarutobi were a minor clan when they joined Konoha, barely a few hundred strong—far smaller than the Uchiha, Senju, or even Hyūga. Now they had three thousand?
How much corruption had fueled their growth?
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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