After a brief farewell to Itachi, Shisui Uchiha, and the others, Shuoye Uchiha disappeared into the night.
Shisui Uchiha arrived moments later, staring in the direction Shuoye had left. Doubt lingered in his heart—but in the end, it gave way to unwavering trust.
"Shuoye… are we really going to cooperate with Orochimaru? According to my sources, Danzō Shimura's actions may also have involved him…"
There was a faint concern in Shisui Uchiha's voice.
Shuoye turned back. Beneath the moonlight, his smile was calm—almost relaxed.
"Shisui Uchiha, remember this. Power is the key to mastering everything. As long as I stand at the peak, Orochimaru will only ever be a piece on my board. And a very useful one."
He patted Shisui Uchiha on the shoulder and left.
Time passed.
Everything in the village moved forward in steady rhythm.
But peace in Konoha never lasted long.
News arrived like a storm front.
Several major ninja villages had jointly issued demands.
The atmosphere across Konoha shifted overnight.
"What? They want us to hand over Lord Shuoye unconditionally? And release the Raikage? Return the Tailed Beast? On what grounds?!"
"Are they joking? We're the victors!"
"This is outrageous!"
Anger rippled through the streets.
Yet among the seasoned shinobi, there were quieter voices.
"Konoha's strength has made the other villages uneasy. No one wants to see another Hashirama Senju… or Madara Uchiha… rise again."
"The situation is dangerous."
At the center of the village plaza, heavy clouds blocked the sun. Shadows cut across the ground, mirroring the weight in the air.
Villagers packed tightly together, their gazes fixed on the two figures standing opposite one another.
Shuoye Uchiha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Shuoye's eyes were deep and unwavering.
He spoke without raising his voice, yet every word carried clearly across the square.
"Third Hokage… are you planning to hand me over?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face tightened. A bitter sigh escaped him.
"Shuoye, this is for the village. Sometimes sacrifice is necessary. The other villages are convening a summit. We have no choice."
His words fell like frost.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Nearby, Danzō Shimura let out a quiet, satisfied laugh. There was resentment in his eyes—and something darker.
Shuoye Uchiha… do you really think you can escape this?
Around them, disbelief simmered.
"This is Konoha? Our hero is to be sacrificed?"
The thought took root in many hearts.
And then—
Shuoye laughed.
It was not loud, but it cut through the tension like steel.
"Oh? Sacrifice is unavoidable?"
A faint glow gathered in his palm—his unique solidified transformation technique.
"I can reshape you into my appearance. Your chakra is close enough to mine to pass as genuine. I am young. I still have endless potential. The village will remember the Third Hokage."
He paused deliberately.
"So… how about you sacrifice yourself in my place?"
The plaza fell silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned ashen.
"You—! That's impossible! If we were exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic!"
For a moment, no one spoke.
Shuoye had openly challenged the Hokage's authority.
More than that—he had exposed a contradiction.
Sacrificing him was acceptable.
Sacrificing the Hokage was not?
"Shuoye, you must understand," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, voice tight. "We cannot take such risks. I am the Hokage. To die in such a manner would disgrace the title itself."
Shuoye's laughter rang out again.
"Interesting. Truly interesting."
His gaze sharpened.
"Always preaching the Will of Fire. And now that it is your turn to burn… you hesitate?"
"Don't make me laugh."
"Third Hokage… you have grown old."
"Konoha does not need sacrifice. It needs change."
"You should step down."
The final word echoed.
Chakra surged upward from Shuoye's body like a pillar tearing into the sky.
A suffocating pressure rolled outward, vast and oppressive. It pressed down on the plaza, on the rooftops, on the very air itself.
People found it hard to breathe.
He did not shout.
He did not move.
Yet standing there, Shuoye Uchiha seemed as though he stood above the heavens themselves.
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