The moment Shuoye Uchiha's words fell, the entire plaza erupted.
Some stared at him as if he were mad.
Others felt they were witnessing the dawn of a new era.
Danzō Shimura's expression turned darker than ever. He had not expected Shuoye to challenge the Hokage's authority so openly.
A surge of chakra exploded across the square.
The air between Shuoye and Hiruzen Sarutobi tightened like a drawn blade. One spark would be enough to ignite a war.
Yet Shuoye did not move.
He only watched.
Waiting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face flushed with fury.
"Shuoye! You dare question my Will of Fire? I inherited it from the Second Hokage! Everything I have done has been for Konoha's peace and prosperity!"
He lunged forward, hands flashing through seals.
Shuoye's lips curved faintly.
His chakra rose like a tidal wave. It pressed outward—steady, overwhelming—smothering Hiruzen Sarutobi's momentum before it could advance an inch.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
At this age…
To possess such power…
It defied belief.
Danzō Shimura could no longer hold back.
"Root—move!"
But before his order fully landed, Uchiha clan members stepped forward as one. They blocked Root without hesitation.
They stood with Shuoye.
Danzō Shimura's killing intent surged. He was ready to act personally—
—and was stopped by Hyūga Hiashi.
Two pillars of influence facing off. The pressure was suffocating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura felt a chill.
At some unnoticed point, Shuoye had gained the strength to confront the village head-on.
Even the once-isolated Uchiha now had allies.
Then—
A flash of yellow light split the air.
Minato Namikaze appeared.
He looked around at the chaos, stunned.
"What happened?"
For a brief second, hope flickered in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
But Minato Namikaze's expression held only confusion and unease.
"Minato, Shuoye has rebelled!" Hiruzen Sarutobi declared urgently. "He threatened to sacrifice me to protect himself. Execute him!"
Minato Namikaze hesitated.
He knew Shuoye's strength. His influence. And despite past misunderstandings involving Kushina Uzumaki, the two shared mutual trust.
Shuoye was one of the few in the village Minato Namikaze trusted completely.
He drew a breath.
"Is there some misunderstanding… Shuoye?"
Shuoye did not answer.
Fugaku Uchiha stepped forward and calmly explained the course of events.
Minato Namikaze's expression darkened.
Handing over the village's hero to appease other nations?
Absurd.
If that were the path forward, who would ever risk their life for Konoha again?
Lose, and you die.
Win, and you still die.
That was rot at the root.
After a long pause, Minato Namikaze spoke quietly.
"Third Hokage… I just remembered an urgent matter at the front lines."
In a flash of yellow light, he was gone.
He had chosen not to interfere.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew even grimmer.
Yet he steadied himself.
"Strength alone does not make a Hokage! One must inherit the Will of Fire! Shuoye—you are not qualified!"
Shuoye smiled.
"You're right. I have no interest in the Will of Fire. Nor do I seek the title."
He gestured toward Fugaku Uchiha.
"But I believe someone else is more suitable."
"I nominate Fugaku Uchiha as the next Hokage."
The crowd froze.
But the more they considered it, the more it made sense.
Fugaku Uchiha had once led the Uchiha clan. He possessed experience, strength, and growing public support.
"The Uchiha have never given less to Konoha than anyone else," Shuoye said.
He pulled Fugaku Uchiha forward.
"From this clan came countless heroes and warriors. It is time for the Uchiha to stand at the summit once more. Let our light illuminate the shinobi world. Let Konoha's glory burn again."
Each word struck like iron against steel.
Fugaku Uchiha's eyes shone with emotion he could not hide.
Once, he had stepped down as clan head under pressure.
Now—
He was being pushed toward the Hokage's mantle.
A position no Uchiha had ever dared imagine.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura struggled to resist.
"This is a time of crisis," Hiruzen Sarutobi argued. "A sudden transfer of power invites danger. We must deliberate further—"
A voice interrupted.
Kushina Uzumaki stepped forward, holding a sealed scroll.
"Third Hokage. This is a will left by Mito Uzumaki. Perhaps… you should hear it."
She opened it. The seal of the Uzumaki clan gleamed red.
Her voice was gentle, but firm.
"Sarutobi child… you have given much to Konoha. But perhaps it is time for the younger generation to shoulder the burden. Rest for a while. Let them lead Konoha into its future."
The words landed like a hammer.
In that instant, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to age years.
"Had it not come to this…" Shuoye murmured, shaking his head.
Then he added, calm as ever—
"Root will be dissolved as well."
Danzō Shimura's face turned ashen.
He did not argue.
Fugaku Uchiha stepped forward, overwhelmed, reaching instinctively toward the Hokage's cloak—intending to tear half and offer it to Shuoye.
The half-sleeve of the Hokage robe symbolized the highest honor beneath the Hokage.
Shuoye stopped him with a smile.
"Fugaku Uchiha, your position is not proven by cloth. It is proven by resolve."
Fugaku Uchiha bowed deeply.
"I, Fugaku Uchiha, will not fail Konoha."
Shuoye nodded.
With this, the shadow of a clan massacre was erased.
As for the Hokage title—
A hollow name.
He had no desire to become a bureaucrat.
Let Fugaku Uchiha handle governance.
There were greater matters at hand.
Soon, Shuoye stood before the gathered shinobi.
"Other villages wish to test us. To trample our peace."
His gaze swept the crowd.
"Konoha does not fear war. If they wish to fight—then we will fight to the end."
Far away, in Iwagakure—
Ōnoki sat heavily upon his stone seat, reading Konoha's uncompromising response.
The firmness shocked him.
"Konoha… what changed?"
A troubling thought surfaced.
"Has that madman Shuoye truly taken control?"
Back in Konoha, Fugaku Uchiha reported.
"Shuoye, the message has been delivered. But if full war breaks out…"
Shuoye raised a hand.
"Cloud is posturing. They know war would burn them as well. Sand seeks opportunity—but Cloud will not let them reap the spoils."
As if summoned by prophecy—
News arrived.
Kumogakure had withdrawn.
Fugaku Uchiha stared at Shuoye, who calmly sipped tea.
"How did you…?"
"In this world," Shuoye said softly, setting the cup down, "there are no eternal enemies. Only eternal interests."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But Konoha is still too weak."
The top-tier combat power was sufficient.
The mid-tier was not.
One Uchiha could defeat ten average shinobi.
Yet Shuoye would not hand out Haki or the Zanpakutō system freely. Those were foundations of rule.
Only absolute elites would learn them.
If Konoha's overall strength was to rise quickly—
There was only one path.
He looked at Fugaku Uchiha.
"Have you ever imagined a Konoha where every shinobi stands like a dragon?"
Fugaku Uchiha blinked.
Shuoye rose.
"I will open the forbidden archives of every clan. All ninjutsu. All knowledge. Every shinobi—regardless of origin—will have the chance to grow."
Only then would Konoha become unshakable.
Shock rippled through the room.
This would change everything.
Resistance erupted among the clans.
"Our secret techniques cannot be exposed!"
Others countered.
"If Shuoye is right, Konoha will reach heights never seen before."
Elsewhere, Nara Shikaku sat alone, deep in thought.
"To open every clan's archives…"
"Shuoye, your vision surpasses any Hokage in history. But this will not be simple."
He chose to support it.
Later, Kushina Uzumaki found Shuoye.
"This is too risky. Conservative clans won't accept it easily."
Shuoye smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
"Kushina Uzumaki, trust me."
He leaned closer, brushing a light kiss against her forehead.
"Even if only for me, you believe I can handle it… right?"
Her cheeks flushed.
"I wasn't worried."
"Then tonight we try the third-stage vibration?"
"You—! I'm ignoring you!"
Laughter lingered in the air.
A messenger rushed in.
"Lord Shuoye! The clan heads have united. They demand to see you."
Shuoye's eyes sharpened briefly—then settled.
"Perfect."
He had been waiting for this.
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