"Lord Second Hokage!"
"This man is an intruder!"
"He invaded Konoha, killed the Cloud Village envoys, and forced us to kneel!"
"He clearly has malicious intent!"
Before Hiruzen could even open his mouth—
Danzo stepped forward, his voice filled with righteous fury as he pointed directly at Naruto.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
His gaze shifted from Danzo… to Hiruzen… and finally settled on Naruto.
In that instant—
He understood.
The one who had summoned him.
The one who had brought him back to life—
Was this blond boy.
And what unsettled him most…
Was that this wasn't reanimation.
This wasn't a puppet.
This was true resurrection.
"…Hiruzen. Speak."
The words were calm.
But heavy.
Hiruzen trembled.
For a brief moment—
It felt like he had returned to his youth, standing before his teacher once more.
"Nidaime-sama… the situation is this…"
He began explaining carefully.
The Cloud Village envoys had died outside the village.
They had followed a "trail"—
And it led them here.
But as he spoke…
His voice weakened.
Even he knew—
This explanation was fragile.
Naruto let out a soft chuckle.
A trail?
Without his permission—
No one in the ninja world could have traced anything.
"…Allow me to explain properly."
Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward.
His voice was cold.
Controlled.
He told the entire story.
Hinata's kidnapping.
The pursuit.
The enemy's death.
What should have been justice—
Had been turned into guilt.
The Cloud Village demanded compensation.
A life for a life.
And Hiruzen…
Agreed.
The Hyuga were forced to comply.
Hizashi died in place of Hiashi.
A sacrifice.
"…And now," Hiashi said, his voice icy, "you accuse us again?"
Tobirama's expression darkened.
"…Is this true?"
Hiruzen said nothing.
Tobirama turned toward the ANBU.
"…Speak."
Silence.
No one dared.
More shinobi began to gather.
Clans arrived.
The Uchiha.
The Nara.
The Yamanaka.
The Akimichi.
The street filled with people.
And all of them saw it—
The Third Hokage…
Kneeling.
"…That's the Second Hokage!"
"…How is he alive?!"
Whispers spread.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Tobirama stepped forward slowly.
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"Hiruzen. Danzo."
"Have you forgotten your duty?"
Hiruzen suddenly lifted his head.
"I have not!"
"The village is weak right now!"
"We can't afford war!"
"If sacrificing one person preserves peace…"
"Then it's worth it!"
Tobirama's eyes flashed.
"…One person?"
Without warning—
He kicked Hiruzen to the ground.
"You call that 'one person'?!" he roared.
"You sacrificed trust!"
"You sacrificed unity!"
"You sacrificed the Will of Fire!"
His voice echoed through the entire street.
"If people can be discarded so easily…"
"Then this village has no future!"
He stepped forward, his presence overwhelming.
"As Hokage—"
"If anyone must be sacrificed…"
"IT SHOULD BE YOU!"
Silence.
Absolute.
The shinobi standing around felt those words sink deep into their bones.
Because Tobirama—
Had lived by them.
He had sacrificed himself.
For the village.
Naruto stepped forward.
"You're wasting your breath."
"They've rotted."
"They think they are Konoha."
"And that gives them the right to sacrifice anyone."
His tone was calm—
But sharper than any blade.
Danzo snapped.
"You're lying!"
"I would give everything for Konoha!"
Naruto laughed.
"Hiruzen might."
"You?"
"Not a chance."
Danzo's face twisted.
Naruto didn't stop.
"When the Fourth Hokage took over…"
"Did you ever choose a successor?"
Silence.
"…No."
"Because Root is your life."
"Your power."
"You never intended to let go."
Naruto pointed directly at him.
"The previous generation stepped down."
"They made way for the next."
"But you?"
"You cling to power."
"The Will of Fire is about growth."
"But you've choked it."
"Don't you dare claim this is for the village."
The crowd stirred.
Expressions shifted.
Doubt spread.
Even Hiruzen—
Remained silent.
Tobirama watched quietly.
Then let out a long breath.
"…You've disappointed me."
"I hereby declare—"
"NO!"
Danzo's scream cut through the air.
"I am loyal to Konoha!"
"I am the Root of Konoha!"
His voice cracked.
Desperate.
For a moment—
Tobirama paused.
A flicker of emotion crossed his face.
Then—
Naruto snapped his fingers.
The bandages on Danzo's arm tore apart.
Revealing—
Rows of Sharingan.
And Hashirama's cells.
The crowd gasped.
Tobirama's expression turned ice-cold.
"…Impressive."
"My brother's cells."
"Uchiha eyes."
"And you used them… on yourself."
Any trace of hesitation—
Vanished.
"I declare—"
"From this moment—"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen is stripped of his title as Hokage."
"Shimura Danzo is stripped of all authority."
"Danzo will be imprisoned."
"And he will explain…"
"…where these eyes came from."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
In that moment—
Konoha changed.
Forever.
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