Three Batons Shatter an Alliance—Sir, I'm a Konoha Civilian!
As Senju Tobirama's urgent orders were issued,
the ANBU moved immediately.
As the saying goes: Only in violent winds does tough grass reveal itself; only in chaos does true loyalty become clear.
Tobirama also intended to use this emergency operation to test his authority and standing within Konoha.
Dozens of ANBU currently on duty throughout the village responded without hesitation. The moment they received the order, they obeyed and rushed in at once.
These operatives were all jōnin or special jōnin—not a single chūnin among them.
If the Hokage were not Senju Hashirama—that inhuman monster of a shinobi—then a force like this, once mobilized, would be more than enough to overthrow Konoha's leadership within hours.
Even Tobirama's disciples arrived immediately after receiving word, without the slightest delay.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Tobirama's mouth.
He was very satisfied with the results of this "test."
Of course—
There were still minor flaws.
"Put those away!"
"Who told you to draw kunai and shuriken?"
"And you—Danzō! Why do you even have explosive tags ready?!"
Tobirama looked at the fully armed ANBU. High-quality kunai and shuriken gleamed in their hands, and Shimura Danzō had even prepared explosive tags.
Loyalty, indeed.
"But sensei," someone asked hesitantly,
"didn't your order say that violent mobs had gathered in Konoha and were attempting to storm the Hokage Building?"
"These are villagers who have been misled," Tobirama replied coldly.
"This operation is about correcting mistakes, not annihilating people."
"We will conduct ideological education."
"Replace your weapons with wooden batons."
"Disperse the crowd."
"Arrest the ringleaders and bring them to ANBU custody."
"Detain them for a few days, educate them properly, and make them reflect on their errors."
In an instant, Tobirama redefined the incident:
The villagers had been deceived by malicious actors.
They had questioned the Hokage's leadership and even attempted to approach the Hokage Building.
This was utterly unacceptable.
Konoha was, at its core, a military organization—
merely disguised as a village.
No military organization could tolerate such behavior.
Still, villagers were ultimately civilians.
Tobirama knew perfectly well that someone was manipulating events behind the scenes.
This village had been built with his own hands.
The villagers were part of it too.
They were not criminals—just pawns.
So he would not use lethal force.
This operation's purpose was clear:
Disperse the crowd
Arrest the troublemakers
Apply "education," plus a little physical punishment
A few bruises were acceptable. Medical-nin would handle the rest.
But one thing had to be made absolutely clear:
Village decisions are not up for civilian debate.
Understand them or not—you will obey.
"Yes, Lord Tobirama!"
The response was uniform and thunderous.
Soon after, Tobirama personally led the baton-armed ANBU and his disciples toward the site of the disturbance.
The area was crowded with teahouses and food stalls, and nearby was a public training ground.
This was Konoha's number one breeding ground for rumors—
a perfect place to stir civilian sentiment.
"The Hokage is incompetent! What a disgrace to Konoha!"
"Look at Akatsuki—so decisive! They went to war immediately for their ninja!"
"And what about Konoha? Still doing nothing!"
"I heard the Hokage doesn't even manage the village—his brother does!"
"Hah! No wonder we're so weak."
"At this rate, we should just let the Uchiha take over!"
"Why don't we go protest at the Hokage Building?"
"Why wait—let's go now!"
Tobirama listened expressionlessly as more than a hundred villagers gathered, their complaints buzzing in his ears.
Their thinking was dangerously unstable.
All it would take was one loud idiot to raise his arm—
And they might really charge the Hokage Building.
Tobirama raised his hand.
ANBU hidden in the surroundings immediately moved.
The area was sealed off in moments.
Some ANBU remained concealed, searching for instigators and ensuring no one escaped.
The encirclement tightened.
"Who authorized this gathering?"
"Spreading rumors? Inciting unrest?"
"All of you—come with us to ANBU for investigation!"
The villagers panicked when they saw dozens of masked figures in black combat gear closing in.
Even an idiot could tell—
These people were here for them.
They had never even heard of "ANBU."
Was that a place you ever came back from?
"RUN!!"
"Oh? You're running now?!"
The moment the villagers fled, the ANBU became even more energized.
They were all die-hard supporters of Tobirama's Senju faction.
Uchiha? Please.
You idiots dared slander the Hokage?
Dared slander Lord Tobirama?
Were you tired of living?!
"ANBU enthusiastically integrate with the civilians!"
"Three batons shatter an alliance—Sir, I'm a Konoha civilian!"
"One strike to the legs to stop escape!"
"Two to the mouth to stop begging!"
"Three to the head to stop thinking!"
Shimura Danzō chanted as he swung his baton with terrifying enthusiasm.
In mere moments, over twenty villagers were down—
rolling on the ground, wailing in pain.
"Danzō," Hiruzen Sarutobi warned,
"you're going too far. Lord Tobirama said minor punishment, not this."
Danzō didn't slow down.
"Hiruzen, I owe Lord Tobirama everything!"
"I once caused a deficit of hundreds of millions of ryō—selling myself wouldn't repay it!"
"And yet he spared me, took me as his disciple!"
"These villagers dared question the Hokage—dared question Lord Tobirama!"
"If they aren't taught a lesson, they'll never remember!"
Hiruzen sighed.
He was still swinging his baton—
just much slower.
Danzō, however, accelerated again.
Two more villagers dropped.
Hiruzen stiffened.
If I'm labeled 'disloyal'…
With no choice, he swung faster.
The rest of the ANBU fought just as hard to demonstrate loyalty.
Villagers fled in all directions, overturning teahouses and food stalls.
Unarmed civilians stood no chance.
Those who crouched obediently were hit less.
Those who resisted received six strikes per second.
Cries, screams, chaos.
Soon, every instigator was subdued.
"Sensei!" Danzō reported eagerly.
"All violent elements have been apprehended!"
"Danzō," Tobirama corrected calmly,
"these are Konoha villagers. Watch your wording."
"Detain them in ANBU custody."
"Treat the injured immediately."
"Conduct ideological education."
"By tonight, I want written confessions from some of them."
Danzō nodded fervently.
In his eyes, Tobirama was far too kind.
These people had only suffered superficial injuries—
a few days' rest would fix them.
And Tobirama even assigned medical-nin—
a luxury most low-ranking ninja never received for free.
Thus, the storm of public opinion was forcibly suppressed.
News of the so-called "Konoha Unlimited Combat Tournament" spread anyway.
Hundreds of civilians had been beaten and arrested—
there was no hiding it.
Onlookers watched in terror.
By evening, teahouses and restaurants across Konoha all hung the same sign:
"NO DISCUSSION OF VILLAGE AFFAIRS."
No one wanted to be dragged away for someone else's loose tongue.
That evening—
Hashirama Senju, still unaware of everything, wandered the streets as usual.
He noticed fewer villagers than normal.
Every shop bore a strange new sign.
Even the villagers who used to greet him warmly now avoided him.
Years of gentle rule—
and the regulation:
"Konoha ninja are forbidden from using ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu against civilians."
Had made people forget how power truly worked.
Today's swinging batons reminded them.
Ninja and civilians were not equals.
Kindness was optional.
Obedience was not.
"Why does the village feel… strange today?" Hashirama murmured.
He stopped a villager trying to flee.
"H-Hokage-sama, please don't hit me!!"
"Don't let the ninja take me away!"
"I was wrong!"
"I shouldn't have complained about you at the teahouse!"
"I'm sorry!!"
Hashirama froze.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why would I hit you?"
"I'd never have anyone arrest you."
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