Chapter 98: Strong and domineering Uchiha Akira!
Uchiha Akira stood on the brow of the 500-meter-tall Susanoo, looking down at the 2 clamoring Advisors below. His gaze was like looking at 2 flies buzzing around a giant's feet.
First Hokage? Uchiha Madara?
What era was this, still bringing up these dead relics? Akira was neither a naive saint like Senju Hashirama nor an idealistic madman like Uchiha Madara. He was simply himself. A pragmatist who only wanted to control his own destiny and, incidentally, wanted everyone who stood in his way to die.
"Noisy."
Two words, transmitted from within Susanoo. The voice clearly reached everyone's ears. It carried an undisguised, cold annoyance.
The next second...
Boom—!!!
The War God, standing between heaven and earth, moved. It slowly raised its right hand, which blotted out the sky. Each of its 5 fingers was like a mountain peak.
Shadow instantly enveloped Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado.
Hiruzen saw this scene; despite his injuries, he rushed forward without hesitation to block.
"Stop!"
However, the giant palm merely moved slightly, and the wind pressure it generated was like an invisible wall, crashing heavily into Hiruzen's body.
"Pfft—!"
Hiruzen's body was sent flying once again. In the face of absolute power, the so-called "strongest Hokage" didn't even have the right to approach.
The giant hand continued to descend. The shadow of death completely engulfed the 2 Advisors.
Homura, this Konoha elder who had been scolding Akira just a second ago, now had all the color drained from his face. The instinct for survival made him form hand seals without thinking, preparing to escape with the Body Flicker Technique.
But, Utatane Koharu, beside him, was a completely different sight. This pampered old woman was already too terrified to move. She looked up, staring blankly at the increasingly close, massive palm that could crush everything. Her mind was blank.
How dare he? How dare he kill me? I am a Hokage Advisor! I am an Advisor of Konoha!
These thoughts flashed through her mind in her last moments.
The giant palm descended.
Splish.
A sound like stepping on a ripe tomato. The ground trembled slightly.
The giant palm lifted. In its place, only a blurry, red-and-white paste of flesh mixed with fragments of clothing remained.
Konoha Advisor, Utatane Koharu. Dead.
Homura's figure appeared awkwardly not far away. He had just narrowly dodged the fatal blow with the Body Flicker Technique, and now he was gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat that soaked his robes. Still in shock, he looked back and saw the pile of crushed flesh that had once been Utatane Koharu. A chill ran from his tailbone straight to the top of his head.
Just then, the head of that terrifying War God slowly turned. Two scarlet, blood-moon-like giant eyes locked onto his position.
A cold, indifferent voice came from the sky, like the judgment of a god.
"Homura Mitokado, do you also wish to dance?"
Homura's body trembled violently, his legs gave way, and he could no longer support his weight. With a "thud," he fell to his knees. A warm liquid quickly spread from beneath him. A pungent, foul odor permeated the air.
This Konoha Advisor was scared to the point of wetting himself.
"No… don't…"
"I… I was wrong…"
"Spare me… please spare me…"
Homura was in tears, incoherently kowtowing and begging for mercy. The dignity of a Konoha elder, the backbone of a ninja, were crushed into dust in the face of the fear of death.
Akira looked contemptuously at the terrified Homura. Then he fixed his gaze on Hiruzen.
Hiruzen roared.
"Uchiha Akira!"
"Why…"
"She only… said a few words…"
"Why, even Koharu had to be killed!"
Hiruzen's eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at Akira.
"A fly, buzzing incessantly in my ear."
"Swat it dead."
Akira's gaze swept over the puddle of flesh, then returned to Hiruzen's face, which was filled with pain and disbelief.
"Do I… need a reason?"
Hiruzen's body swayed violently, as if he had aged more than 10 years in an instant.
"Third Hokage."
"My patience is limited."
The cold killing intent was undisguised.
The terrifying War God, in conjunction with Akira's words, slowly condensed a Totsuka Blade hundreds of meters long. Its blade pointed directly towards the Hokage Rock.
A threat. A naked, unreasonable, fatal threat.
Hiruzen's fists clenched. His body trembled incessantly. He had no doubt. As long as he said "no," the next second, that sword would fall, cutting him, along with the village he had protected his entire life, in 2.
All the Konoha ninja held their breath. Waiting for their Hokage to make the final decision that concerned everyone's fate. Every second was excruciating.
Finally, Hiruzen slowly unclenched his tight fists. He used all his strength to squeeze out a word from between his teeth.
"...I."
"...Agree."
Akira's lips curved slightly upward.
"Very good."
"Then, the second demand."
Akira, from his elevated position, continued to declare his will.
"The Advisor position left vacant after Danzo Shimura's death... shall be taken by me, Uchiha Akira. From now on, Konoha's decisions will require my approval."
"Hokage-sama, do you have any objections?"
Do you have any objections?
These words were like a slap, harshly striking Hiruzen's face.
Advisor. This position was an extension of the Hokage's power, an important position for balancing various factions. Now, Akira not only wanted to control Konoha's enforcement power but also wanted to directly interfere with Konoha's highest decision-making body.
This was no longer just a power grab. This was to completely sideline the Hokage. To make Hiruzen a Hokage in name only, a puppet.
"You…!"
Hiruzen trembled with rage, unable to catch his breath, and coughed violently.
"Cough… cough, cough…"
He pointed at Akira, his old face contorted with anger. Hiruzen wanted to refuse. He wanted to use his identity as Hokage to defend his last shred of dignity.
But, when Hiruzen saw the Susanoo War God Akira was wielding, and saw the Totsuka Blade gleaming coldly in its hand, all words were stuck in his throat.