"Old man Third, it's not just the Uchiha who can suppress Tailed Beasts," Kushina said coldly. "Don't forget—it was Lady Mito who brought me to the village from the Land of Whirlpools and sealed the Nine-Tails inside me. At this point, I have every reason to believe you conspired to wipe out the Uzumaki Clan."
"What else do you have to say?" Tobirama Senju asked, his voice cold.
"I swear I didn't destroy the Senju and Uzumaki Clans!" Hiruzen Sarutobi sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "You have to believe me!"
"You all know—the Uchiha were a destabilizing factor. Their Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails. If we gave them access, what if they used it to rebel?"
"Back then, there was no one in the village who could stand up to them!"
"Hold on, I've got a question," Uchiha Fugaku interjected. "Why are you so sure the Uchiha would rebel?"
"What do you think we wanted? The Hokage's seat?"
"That's right," Hiruzen admitted. "That's what Danzo said. The Nine-Tails would only be safe in our hands."
Everyone: "…"
So now you're pinning everything on Danzo? No wonder he chopped off your arms and legs. If it were me, I would've done the same.
"Forget it," Fugaku said, shaking his head. "People who end up pathetic usually had it coming."
"In the end, this was all about you and Danzo being power-hungry," Tobirama said with a sigh. "Reviving Wood Release was just a cover. What you really wanted… was total control over the village."
"The Senju and Uzumaki clans were just obstacles in your path."
"Tell me—back then, when I stayed behind to cover your retreat and made sure you all got out safely—how did Kagami die?" Tobirama asked.
"I died during the Great Ninja War," Uchiha Kagami said, removing his mask. "But in truth… it was their actions that led to my death."
"Kagami!" Hiruzen's eyes widened in horror.
Everyone: "…"
Well, that confirms it.
"I was killed by Danzo too," said Uchiha Shisui, also removing his mask. "Two years ago, Danzo used Kagami's Mangekyō Sharingan and caught me off guard. He poisoned me, then had Root ambush me. They killed me and stole my right eye."
"The Sharingan Danzo used to control the Nine-Tails tonight—that was mine."
Hashirama: "…"
Tobirama: "…"
"Hashirama. Tobirama. Let me ask you—was it the Uchiha who wanted to rebel? Or was it your beloved disciple who forced us to the brink?" Madara shouted, slamming his hand on the table.
"They killed our kin. They stole our eyes."
"Then they blamed us for everything and exiled our entire clan from the village."
"You tell me—how were we not supposed to rebel?"
He swept his gaze across the room. "Tell me—wouldn't you?"
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio lowered their heads in silence.
"I'd rebel too," said Inuzuka Tsuime and Aburame Shibi, stepping forward.
"You see?" Madara said. "Nothing to say now, huh?"
Hashirama bowed his head in shame.
Tobirama looked equally embarrassed.
"And even then, we Uchiha didn't rebel. We endured it all. We sacrificed everything for the village."
"If not for your two 'good disciples' turning on each other, we'd have been the next clan to be wiped out!" Madara roared.
"From the First Great Ninja War to the Second, to the Third—and even tonight—when has the Uchiha Clan not been the first to charge into battle?
"Since the founding of Konoha, we've bled for this village, sacrificed for it, given our lives for it. And now—are we not worthy of the Fifth Hokage's seat?"
Madara slammed the table again, pointing directly at the Senju brothers. "Hashirama. Tobirama. You tell me. Do we Uchiha deserve it—or not?!"
"…Yes," Tobirama bit out, his voice tight.
"…Yes," Hashirama echoed, eyes downcast.
"Good," Madara said, finally satisfied. He sat back down, heart light.
For once, I've put Hashirama under my heel. Asked him if we're worthy—and he said yes. Beautiful.
Finally, I've won. Thanks to the younger generation for making it happen.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi. Do you accept this judgment?" Tobirama asked sternly.
"Sensei! I really did everything for Konoha! I had no selfish motives, I swear!" Hiruzen cried, barely able to lift his broken body.
"To this day… still no remorse." Tobirama's voice was cold. "You've let me down, Hiruzen. Whether you had selfish intent, I don't know. But what you did—that, I can't forgive."
He held up a document. "Back when my brother was Hokage, he told Madara and me:
That Konoha should be ruled together, by all its clans.
And that no child should ever be sent to the battlefield."
"But what about you?" Tobirama snarled, slamming another file into Hiruzen's face. "After I died, you five survived—"
"One became Hokage. Two became advisors. One was Hokage's assistant. And you, Torifu Akimichi… just because you weren't an advisor, don't think I didn't know what you were up to!"
"Ino–Shika–Chō. You lived and profited alongside them! Your three clans colluded with theirs, taking control of Konoha's key departments and businesses—"
"And squeezing out the other ninja clans."
"Konoha became your little echo chamber! And you dare say you did it for the village?"
"I spit on that!"
"Where's your shame?!"
Koharu, Homura, and Torifu fell to their knees. Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Chōza did the same, heads bowed in silence.
"Even if I'm dead, I'll still protect the children of this village!"
"Because I know—they are Konoha's future!"
"And the lot of you—spewing noble ideals while hiding behind your desks—"
"What was the result?" Tobirama's voice thundered as he hurled another stack of reports at them.
"Nawaki went to war at twelve. Itachi was on the battlefield at four. Kakashi, Guy, Genma, Ebisu—all of them were under ten when they first saw combat."
"And you five cowards—full-grown adults—hid in Konoha and watched the kids die!"
"Tell me—are you worthy of being Hokage? Of being advisors?" Tobirama's fury rose with each word. Finally, he kicked Koharu and Homura hard, sending them sprawling.
The two scrambled back to their knees, trembling, heads low, unable to speak.
"There were four top leaders in Konoha's inner circle," Tobirama growled. "Now I have no choice but to strip three of them of their titles. The fourth already betrayed the village."
"Look at you—old, gray, decayed. Leeches on Konoha's bones. Every one of you was once my student…"
"And now, Konoha is rotting—and it's breaking my heart."
"My brother entrusted this village to me, and look what you've done to it. I'm furious. I'm ashamed."
"I've failed Konoha. I've failed the Senju. I've failed the Uzumaki."
"If I weren't already dead, I'd strip myself of rank and take my own life in penance!"
"And you, too—Ino–Shika–Chō. Don't think standing quietly on the sidelines makes you clean."
"I know some of you are even more corrupt than those three."
"So let me give you a word of advice: Dig into your own hearts. Turn them inside out. Clean them. Sort yourselves out."
"When I first became Hokage, I thought Konoha's greatest threat was the other Four Great Nations—the other hidden villages."
"But now I see clearly: Konoha's true sickness isn't out there—it's right here."
"It lives inside this very Hokage building!"
"In my own students—and in you, the clan heads. If we rot in here, the whole village will rot with us. And if you all fall, the people will rise against us. We'll be torn to pieces!"
"As that kid Lu Shugen said: 'If silence doesn't lead to an explosion… it leads to extinction.'"
"I can't believe it. A village as grand as Konoha—brought to ruin by you five wastes of space.
This… this is a disgrace."
"Go home. Reflect on your actions. Konoha belongs to everyone. Not to the whim of a few."
"From this moment forward, Hiruzen Sarutobi is stripped of the title of Third Hokage. Koharu and Homura are stripped of their positions as advisors."
"Effective immediately—Uchiha Fugaku of the Uchiha Clan shall assume the title of Fifth Hokage."