With the arrival of several powerful shinobi in the village, murmurs spread throughout the conference room. Everyone was whispering about the chaos that had erupted in Konoha the previous night.
Just then, Uchiha Byakuya entered the hall, Tsunade following closely behind him.
"Lord Byakuya, you've arrived..."
The moment he stepped in, Nara Shikaku immediately stood up and respectfully guided him to the Hokage's seat.
All eyes turned toward the scene.
"Uchiha Byakuya!? What's going on!?"
"Isn't that the Hokage's seat?"
"What is Shikaku doing?"
"Could this be related to the events of last night?"
The room buzzed with confusion. Yet, under everyone's astonished gaze, Byakuya calmly took the head seat.
"Almost everyone is here…" he said calmly. "Shikaku, make the announcement."
"Yes, Lord Byakuya."
Shikaku took a breath and stood before the gathered jonin and clan representatives, his face unusually solemn.
"A major event occurred in Konoha last night…"
"The former Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, along with the Sarutobi clan, the Tenkin clan, and the Mitokado clan… have betrayed the village."
A stunned silence fell upon the room.
"What did he just say!?"
"The Third Hokage… betrayed Konoha!?"
"Hiruzen-sama? The elders too!?"
"You must be mistaken, Shikaku! The Hokage would never betray the village!"
"You're joking, right? Please tell us it's a mistake!"
Disbelief rippled across the room. The position of Hokage was sacred — a symbol of trust and leadership in Konoha. Betrayal from such a figure was unimaginable.
Shikaku's gaze didn't waver.
"It's difficult to believe, I understand… but it's the truth."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen and several elder clans attempted to abuse their authority. Last night, they fled the village after being exposed for their crimes. They are now classified as nukenin — missing-nin who betrayed Konoha."
Gasps echoed.
"They actually fled…"
"Hiruzen-sama is a traitor now…?"
"How did it come to this?"
The eyes in the room slowly turned toward Byakuya. Everyone knew of the long-standing tension between the Uchiha clan and the upper echelons of Konoha's leadership. But this outcome… was more decisive than anyone imagined.
Byakuya stood up slowly, his gaze calm and commanding.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen abandoned his duty as Hokage. He exploited his authority, suppressed rival clans, and endangered the future of this village."
"As captain of the Konoha Military Police Force and the head of the Uchiha clan, I could not allow this to continue."
"This decision was made for the Will of Fire — for Konoha's future."
His words echoed through the hall with unshakable conviction.
Now, everyone finally understood. It had been Byakuya who exposed and removed the corrupt leadership overnight. And he had done so without throwing the entire village into chaos.
Whispers of awe and fear spread among the clan leaders. Everyone knew that the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Tenkin clans wielded considerable power — even now, a coordinated attack against any one of them would have required serious planning. Yet, the Uchiha clan had silently subdued them all in a single night.
This was more than a political maneuver. It was a show of absolute power.
Shikaku stepped forward again.
"Konoha can no longer recognize Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage."
"But our village cannot remain leaderless."
"We must select a new Hokage — one who truly protects the Will of Fire and leads without corruption."
"I wonder if you have any good candidates..."
Nara Shikaku continued calmly, his gaze sweeping the room.
"Hokage!? A new Hokage!..."
At his words, murmurs erupted throughout the conference room. Everyone's eyes widened slightly, and a tense eagerness filled the air.
The title of Hokage—symbol of power, leadership, and control over Konoha—was naturally something that stirred desire in every ambitious heart present.
But these were no fools.
The fall of Sarutobi Hiruzen at the hands of Uchiha Byakuya had drastically altered the village's balance of power. No one dared openly contend with the Uchiha clan now.
And so, silence took hold.
All eyes slowly turned toward Byakuya.
"What? No one has a candidate?"
"In that case..." Byakuya's voice rang clear and authoritative, slicing through the quiet.
"Let me propose one myself."
Tension gripped the room.
Everyone expected him to name himself—after all, who else but the victor would claim the seat?
But Byakuya's next words shocked them.
"I propose Senju Tsunade as the next Hokage."
Gasps and startled glances followed.
Even Tsunade, who had attended the meeting reluctantly as the last prominent member of the Senju clan, looked taken aback.
"...Me? Hokage?" she muttered, almost in disbelief.
She hadn't come here for power or titles—only to ensure the Senju name still had a voice in Konoha's politics.
"Yes. Senju Tsunade will be Hokage," Byakuya reaffirmed, his tone brooking no challenge.
Then he looked around the room, eyes sharp.
"Who agrees? Who objects?"
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