At this moment, a grand welcome ceremony was unfolding at the main gate of Konoha Village.
Leading the procession was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the aging but still-present Hokage, accompanied by the last remaining high-ranking officials of Konoha. Following closely were the heads of the major clans—Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and more—as well as other notable jonin and respected ninja. They had all gathered to receive the triumphant return of the Uchiha clan.
Crowds of ordinary villagers also filled the surrounding area, curious and excited to witness the scene for themselves.
When the group finally laid eyes on the returning Uchiha, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd. No one had expected the Uchiha clan to repel the invasion from Sunagakure on their own.
"Did Suna become that weak... or did the Uchiha grow this strong?" one jonin muttered in disbelief.
As surprise turned into envy, many couldn't help but feel a bitter twinge of regret.
Had they known the Uchiha would achieve such a decisive victory, they would have leapt at the chance to join the battle. War was dangerous, yes, but it was also the fastest way to gain honor, status, and merit. If their clans had participated, they too would have reaped both fame and increased political clout within the village.
But at the time, when Uchiha Byakuya had invited them, most had scoffed. They dismissed his ambition as suicidal arrogance and refused to dispatch a single ninja.
Now, that decision haunted them.
Not all clans had made that mistake. The Hyuga clan, for instance, had cautiously sent a small team, hedging their bets. Though their contribution was limited, their participation earned them battlefield merit and honor.
The Hyuga clan head stood in the crowd, arms crossed, a satisfied smile on his face as if to say: "See? The Hyuga make prudent choices."
Even more impressive was the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance. Their three clan leaders had personally joined the campaign and distinguished themselves with sharp tactical support. Aside from the Uchiha, they were the biggest beneficiaries of the war.
But for now, regardless of past decisions or regrets, the mood at the gate was festive and full of praise.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, face beaming with warmth, strode forward to greet Byakuya. In his mind, the gesture was calculated—a public display of unity and authority. To the villagers, it would look like the Hokage was still in control, even over a powerful force like the Uchiha. And if Byakuya cooperated and shook his hand, it would subtly imply that he still acknowledged Hiruzen's leadership.
Seeing Byakuya raise his hand, Hiruzen's smile grew even wider. He assumed the Uchiha leader was preparing to shake hands.
As expected, Hiruzen thought smugly. No matter how strong, in the end, they still bow to authority.
He closed the distance quickly, reaching out to meet the gesture.
But instead of a handshake, "Pah!"
A crisp slap echoed across the plaza as Byakuya's palm met Hiruzen's cheek.
The entire crowd froze.
The cheerful chatter stopped abruptly. Hiruzen, mid-smile, stood there stunned—half from the impact, half from sheer disbelief.
The slap hadn't just landed on Hiruzen's face—it had shattered the illusion of control he had tried so hard to project.
The crowd burst into whispers:
"Did... did Uchiha Byakuya just slap the Hokage?"
"No way—he really did!"
"Is the Uchiha clan declaring war right here and now?"
Tension flooded the air. Many ninjas instinctively reached for their weapons or prepared chakra, ready to react at the first sign of violence. This could erupt into a civil war at any second.
But the anticipated battle never came.
Instead, Byakuya gave a casual smirk, looked at the stunned Hokage, and said with a tone of mocking innocence:
"Oh my, Hokage-sama!? My eyesight must be terrible. I must've mistaken you for someone else. Apologies for the mistake."
Though he used the word "apologies," there wasn't an ounce of sincerity in his voice. The remark was dripping with provocation and sarcasm.
Bad eyesight? Mistook him?
Everyone present knew how absurd that excuse was.
The Uchiha, the clan famed for the Sharingan—one of the most precise and perceptive ocular abilities in the entire ninja world—mistaking someone's identity? That was a slap in the face worse than the literal one.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened.
"Uchiha Byakuya, you..."
His voice trembled with barely controlled rage, teeth clenched as he glared at the young Uchiha prodigy.
He was the Hokage—the Third Hokage of Konoha Village—and represented the face of the entire Hidden Leaf.
Now, he had just been publicly humiliated.
How could Sarutobi Hiruzen not be furious?
Several ANBU agents, tasked with guarding him, instinctively reached for their weapons. One signal from the Hokage, and they would strike without hesitation.
Yet Byakuya stood fearlessly in the face of this fury, not even flinching. Instead, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Hokage-sama, why such anger?" Byakuya said calmly. "Aren't you always preaching kindness and tolerance? This reaction doesn't suit your usual image at all..."
"You—!"
Hiruzen trembled with rage. Byakuya's words hit a sore spot.
Over the years, Hiruzen had carefully cultivated the persona of a benevolent, wise Hokage. He always wore a kind face in public, upholding the Will of Fire in name. But behind that mask was a calculating mind.
No matter how composed he tried to appear, being slapped in the face—both literally and metaphorically—before an audience was something even he couldn't stomach.
And Byakuya had done it deliberately.
How could Sarutobi not be angry?
From behind Byakuya, Nara Shikaku and the others watched in silent awe.
"As expected of Lord Byakuya… such courage," Shikaku murmured.
"He completely shattered Sarutobi Hiruzen's scheme in one move," another murmured.
Shikaku could see through the old Hokage's play immediately. The grand 'hero's welcome' ceremony was nothing but another layer of Hiruzen's manipulation—a soft trap, meant to corner the Uchiha through public pressure.
But Byakuya had no intention of playing along. He saw through the game at a glance—and crushed it in front of everyone.
Only someone with Byakuya's overwhelming strength and unshakable will could stand against the Hokage so brazenly.
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL to gain access to 40+ chapters