Konoha Village
"Hey, isn't that the former Third Hokage?" a villager jeered.
"Hah! The Third Hokage? He's just a washed-up old man who abused his power for personal gain," another scoffed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked silently down the street, carrying a small box in his hands. He gave an awkward smile in response to the mockery but didn't say a word.
He quickened his pace and made his way toward the main gate of Konoha.
Outside the Village
Stopping just outside the village gates, Hiruzen turned to look back at Konoha one last time. A long sigh escaped his lips.
Not long ago, he had stood proudly as the Third Hokage, respected and admired by the people of the village.
But everything had changed—practically overnight.
Since being forced to step down, he had become a pariah. The villagers now treated him like a criminal, someone to be condemned and avoided. Even within the Sarutobi clan, where he once held authority, he had sensed growing resentment and distance.
Eventually, unable to bear the scorn, he had resigned as clan leader.
Now, wherever he went, he was met with scornful glares and whispered insults.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had finally reached his limit.
He had decided to leave the village.
He looked down at the wooden box in his hands—inside were the ashes of Shimura Danzō.
"Danzo," he muttered. "Even though we drifted apart after you became Hokage, I never expected you to die so quickly..."
He sighed again, a heavy sound filled with regret.
"At least you fulfilled your lifelong dream before you died. You became Hokage. I suppose that gave you some peace."
With that, Hiruzen turned and began walking away from Konoha.
At the Village Gate
The guards on duty were no longer the familiar faces of Izumo and Kotetsu. Instead, the gate was manned by members of the Uchiha clan.
One of the Uchiha guards narrowed his eyes as Hiruzen passed. "Sarutobi Hiruzen just left the village. Should we report it to the clan leader?"
Another nodded. "Yeah, I'll go inform him. You stay here and keep watch."
Hokage Office
Inside the office, Uchiha Fugaku sat at his desk. The sun streamed in through the tall windows behind him.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen has left the village?" Fugaku asked with narrowed eyes, his voice low.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the Uchiha messenger replied respectfully.
"Should we... eliminate him?" the Uchiha asked, making a slicing motion across his throat, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Fugaku's gaze darkened. "Nonsense!"
The room fell silent.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen is still the former Hokage. If anything were to happen to him within the borders of the Land of Fire, the blame would fall squarely on me."
The messenger lowered his head quickly, trembling. "Forgive me, Hokage! I understand now."
Fugaku's tone shifted—low and calculating. "But... once he leaves the Land of Fire, what happens to him is no longer our concern."
The messenger's eyes lit up. He understood perfectly.
"You're absolutely right, Hokage."
Fugaku nodded. "From this moment on, you're promoted to captain of the security division. You may choose ten Uchiha to accompany you. Consider this your first infiltration mission."
Fugaku walked over to the desk, penned a brief mission order, and handed it over.
The Uchiha bowed deeply. "I understand, sir."
Fugaku waved him off, then walked to the window and folded his hands behind his back. He stared out at the village, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I was so busy dealing with Danzo," he murmured, "I forgot about Hiruzen. But it's not too late."
In the Land of Fire
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat beside a quiet river, watching the current flow steadily past.
He looked down at the box in his lap.
"Danzo, this place is peaceful. Shall I scatter your ashes here?"
Hidden in the woods nearby, the Uchiha observers almost gasped aloud.
Did he just say he was going to scatter Shimura Danzo's ashes? The man was going to dispose of his friend's remains like this?
"If you don't answer," Hiruzen said calmly, "I'll take that as agreement."
He opened the box and poured the ashes into the flowing river.
The Uchiha looked on in shock.
He actually did it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had just scattered Shimura Danzo's ashes into the water.
What had Danzo done to warrant this kind of treatment, even in death?
"Go on," Hiruzen muttered, throwing the now-empty urn into the river.
He stood up and turned toward the woods.
"You've been following me for a while," he said loudly. "You can come out now."
The hidden Uchiha froze.
As expected from the man once called the Professor of Ninjutsu—he had sensed them.
"You're still hiding?" Hiruzen asked again, voice sharper.
Several of the Uchiha were just about to retreat when a figure stepped out from the bushes.
A white-haired man walked forward, chuckling.
"Haha, you really are impressive, sensei. You saw through my disguise instantly," Jiraiya said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.
Seeing Jiraiya, Hiruzen visibly relaxed. "Ah, Jiraiya. You startled me. I thought it was the Uchiha."
Jiraiya tilted his head. "What's going on, Sensei? Why are you out here?"
He walked up to Hiruzen slowly.
"If I stay in the village, Fugaku won't let me live," Hiruzen said with a tired sigh.
Jiraiya frowned. "Then why leave? Why not stay and fight?"
Hiruzen gave a bitter laugh. "Everyone hates me now. I'm no longer the Third Hokage they respected. At this point... there's no meaning in continuing."
Jiraiya seemed to think for a moment, then gave a slow nod.
"In that case, I'll help you."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. "What... do you mean?"
Before he could react, Jiraiya raised a short sword and plunged it into Hiruzen's chest.
Blood spilled as Hiruzen gasped. "You... why?"
Jiraiya gave a soft smile. "You're suffering, Sensei. I'm helping you find peace."
He pulled the blade out gently, and Hiruzen collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Hidden in the trees, the Uchiha observers were stunned.
What just happened?
Jiraiya had just murdered his own mentor?!
"Report to the Hokage immediately!" one of them whispered, and they disappeared into the trees.
Jiraiya looked down at Hiruzen's body and muttered, "That should clear the Uchiha of suspicion."
At that moment, a ripple in space appeared, and Uchiha Obito emerged from thin air.
"Come on," he said coldly. "Let's go collect our payment from Fugaku."
"Alright, senpai," Jiraiya replied—and with a puff of smoke, his appearance shifted into that of Uchiha Shisui.
The two vanished into the night.
A long silence settled over the clearing.
Then, the body on the ground twitched.
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes.
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