Whether the Third Hokage's will was firm or not was one thing, but he was certainly easily swayed.
Of course, beyond his personal temperament, a far more important factor was the cold, hard reality—once power began to shift, the process, under normal circumstances, became irreversible.
If a former village leader were to return to life, he'd at best be a retired senior advisor. This "former Hokage" specifically referred to the Second; the First didn't count.
As for abnormal circumstances? The Third Hokage wasn't so extreme as to try and eliminate his successor outright.
Thus, in the twilight of his rule, the contentious "Sharingan Registration System," despite its stumbling blocks, was ultimately implemented.
Objectively speaking, this policy could be considered a positive one for Konoha. Given the Uchiha Clan's tendency to grow unwieldy and develop into a potential threat, converting the conflict between the clan and the village into an internal clan dispute, while not exactly honorable, was the correct move for those in power.
Even for the Uchiha Clan themselves, compared to the fate of total annihilation, a bit of "taming" wasn't a big deal—the price was relatively light. Some might cling to the idea that life was precious but dignity priceless, but that was only because they hadn't actually lost their lives yet.
If one adopted the Second Hokage's mindset, once the Uchiha posed a threat, annihilating the clan was absolutely an option. In comparison, Yūshin Genki's approach was actually more lenient, though far more complex to execute.
Konoha had existed for so long. At its founding, the Uchiha were severely outmatched by the village's collective strength. The disparity was even greater now. The Sharingan was powerful, but how many Mangekyō could the Uchiha possibly have?
After this troublesome system was pushed through, the following year, the Third Hokage ended his controversial tenure and handed Konoha's authority to the new Hokage, Yūshin Genki.
Regarding the anti-Uchiha policies, the Third Hokage's role as the scapegoat was temporary. In time, the cleverer Uchiha would realize the Fourth Hokage's hand in it all. The blame would then be shared between the Third and Fourth. Well, the Third wasn't getting off clean.
Konoha might face internal strife in the future, but this system effectively contained its potential scope and the number of participants.
The Uchiha would, of course, fracture. Under the new policy, those who willingly accepted Konoha's leash also received substantial benefits, like a farmer doting on his prized livestock.
But these benefits didn't come from nowhere. It was a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Simply put, the total resources Konoha allocated to the Uchiha Clan each year were fixed. Previously, these were distributed fairly. Now? Resources were tilted toward Uchiha ninja who obeyed Konoha's rules.
If some got more, others got less. Regardless of cause, effect, or hidden malice, no one could expect harmony between the haves and the have-nots.
Humans were animals at heart. Sometimes, that animalistic nature only needed a little nudge to rear its ugly head.
The Uchiha could live well, or they could live poorly. As for those who feigned loyalty to the village while secretly plotting rebellion, frankly, they were a tiny minority. Even if someone initially wanted to play the spy, over time, they'd shed that skin willingly.
It was simple. Being a spy meant enduring endless scorn. People need psychological support. After being hated enough, they'd come around on their own. Sacrificing for the clan only earned you hatred. Might as well listen to the village—at least the pay was fair and no one was cheated.
Even setting aside the complex Uchiha affairs, during any power transition, there were always those who thought they'd spotted an opportunity, a loophole, ready to put on their makeup and take the stage.
Currently, the Third Hokage was semi-retired. His political influence was greatly diminished but not entirely gone. He could still be used.
Using him, however, wasn't simple.
At the Third Hokage's residence, a heated argument had just concluded. Neither side convinced the other, and it ended on a sour note.
Danzō Shimura flung his sleeve aside, his face an iron-hard mask of deathly pallor as he stormed out of Hiruzen's home.
Danzō was, of course, dissatisfied with the new Hokage. In fact, aside from himself, he'd be unhappy with anyone becoming Hokage. People were different. Some were born political creatures; the lust for power was innate.
But Danzō, as the opposition, had reasons beyond mere selfishness. He believed this Hokage was incompetent and overly radical, implementing all sorts of new policies the moment she took office and throwing the whole village into chaos.
That's why he was gathering dissent, preparing to change the Hokage.
Change one, be dissatisfied, change another, repeat the process a few times… Wouldn't Danzō Shimura himself eventually get a chance to step into the spotlight?
So, while he publicly decried the new Hokage's recklessness, privately he thought she wasn't reckless enough.
The Third Hokage naturally couldn't endorse Danzō's thinking. In his view, Konoha's next generation was brimming with talent. What room was there for old-timers to meddle? Or rather, the old-timers could point fingers from the sidelines, but they shouldn't actually interfere.
Having been Hokage himself, he couldn't understand Danzō's sour-grapes mentality. Hiruzen Sarutobi believed the next generation had talents like Genki, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and even Sakumo Hatake. The generation after that had ninja like Minato Namikaze already emerging. Konoha's future was bright. What more did the old guard need to stir up?
Realizing the Third Hokage was unreliable, Danzō Shimura immediately returned to his lair. He issued an order to his subordinates.
"Hiruzen is useless. Prepare to execute the next plan."
Given that the Fourth Hokage, Yūshin Genki, was the daughter of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, directly assassinating her carried far too much risk. So, Danzō wanted to try a grassroots approach first, stirring up public discontent toward the new Hokage within Konoha.
To shake the Hokage's foundation, Danzō was even willing to cooperate with the Uchiha.
But just as Danzō resolved to make his move, a ninja dressed like an ANBU hurried into the Hokage's office, whispering a report to Yūshin Genki.
Genki glanced at the messenger, a flicker of surprise on her face—she couldn't fathom why someone would be so stupid. Then she promptly dismissed the need to analyze a fool's psychology. She clapped her hands softly. A real ANBU operative materialized.
"Assemble that special ANBU squad," she said.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Danzō Shimura had run amok for years, seemingly accustomed to having his way. He completely failed to grasp that the primary reason for his long, comfortable existence was the Third Hokage acting as his umbrella.
Without that umbrella…
In short, conspirators like Danzō Shimura couldn't withstand scrutiny. He hadn't paid a price not because he was innocent, but because no one had investigated him.
In fact, he and his Root organization were one of Konoha's largest criminal enterprises. Once the Hokage decided on a crackdown, he was a dead man.
The Hokage had the club. Danzō had his skull. That was roughly the power balance.
Some things vanish the moment light touches them.
So Yūshin Genki found his actions supremely foolish. He'd completely missed the chain reaction a change in Hokage brought. It wasn't that the vast majority of Konoha couldn't deal with Danzō; it's that this "vast majority" definitely didn't include the Hokage.
Danzō's one mistake was opposing the Hokage.
"I wasn't even planning to bother with you, and you stick your head out asking for a beating? What kind of logic is that?"
Yūshin Genki felt baffled. Indeed, the longer you lived, the more you witnessed humanity's sheer diversity.
Soon, she gathered a temporary ANBU squad. "Temporary" because some members weren't even ANBU.
But for now, they all wore ANBU attire, faces masked. For some, however, the masks were practically pointless.
Because…
The first stood over 190 cm tall, broad as a door, with white hair in a single ponytail—a bestselling author.
The second was about ten centimeters shorter, coincidentally also with white hair in a single ponytail. The difference: he carried a short sword on his back, a man whose life's work was cutting people down.
The third had blond hair and was empty-handed. Nothing much to say—he was the first one's student, Konoha's rising star.
The fourth had short, black hair, his frame that of a child. He excelled in a fighting style similar to the third's, a beneficiary and supporter of the new policies.
The Fourth Hokage assembled the team. She stated their mission concisely and immediately led the way. Eradicating parasites hidden within Konoha's upper echelons—was that supposed to be complicated?
Danzō Shimura was still weaving his petty plots. He seemed unfamiliar with Yūshin Genki's style—when the Hokage sought vengeance, she didn't waste a single second.
Thus, the new Hokage, with just these four, stormed directly into the Root organization's underground base. Truly a Hokage, daring to enter such a dangerous place guarded by only a single squad.
Well, that sounded a bit forced. With these four, not only was moving within Konoha safe, she could probably stroll through Kumogakure without issue.
"Yūshin Genki, why are you here?"
Danzō Shimura came forward to block their path, a flicker of doubt in his mind. He'd just decided to act, and she appeared? It meant a leak, a traitor in his ranks. Impossible. Had the cursed seals failed?
Yūshin Genki glanced at the ninjas moving in the shadows and shook her head slightly. Her gaze returned to Danzō. You don't even deign to call me Hokage.
Wasn't he asking for death?
Genki just didn't understand why the previous Hokage had allowed a state-within-a-state to exist in Konoha. Was the Third a bit too… well, no matter. The point stood.
"Danzō Shimura, I have received confidential reports alleging your involvement in illegal human experimentation, linked to multiple missing-ninja cases. You are to come with me for investigation."
Her first words were polite enough. As Hokage, she couldn't just execute without warning.
This attitude bred contempt in Danzō.
"Yūshin Genki, you disgrace the legacy of the Second Hokage. Since taking office, not only have you reversed proper order, you now frame loyal servants. What if I refuse?"
"Fine. Remove the bandages. Let us confirm what you're hiding beneath them."
This was why the Third was Danzō's umbrella. Tear off that eye patch, and it was a death sentence. Danzō was essentially parading evidence of illegal experiments and harming fellow villagers right under everyone's noses. The audacity was astounding.
"This is a scar from war, a badge of honor granted by Konoha. What right do you have to expose it?"
Yūshin Genki looked utterly innocent. This couldn't be called execution without warning now, could it? She'd warned him. He refused the offered face. What else could she do?
She turned to the four behind her.
"Bring me the evidence."
"Hokage-sama, your order could be more specific…"
They didn't quite grasp her meaning. The blond in the group offered a suggestion.
"Tch, don't you get it? No rapport at all. I suspect his eye socket contains an Uchiha's Sharingan. Hear my command. Cut off his head and bring it to me."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
See? If she'd said that from the start, everyone would have understood.
In the next instant, the blond appeared behind Danzō. The black-haired one was in front. The two white-haired ones were a beat slower—old men losing their edge. The young ones were indeed quicker.
A storm of blades enveloped Danzō.
Given Danzō's pathetic strength, he couldn't beat any of the five present one-on-one, let alone survive a four-person assault.
What shocked him more was the Hokage's command—so decisive, so ruthless, so unbound by rules. Didn't she fear the chain reaction of attacking a high-ranking official?
If Yūshin Genki knew his thoughts, she'd scoff. High-ranking officials weren't all the same. For instance, Genki couldn't order these four to directly kill the Third Hokage.
Danzō was a Konoha advisor. Did he really think this title was comparable to the likes of Yūshin or Sasuke Sarutobi from the village's founding days?
"Surrender and live. Draw your blade, and you die."
Yūshin Genki announced this to the surrounding ninjas, fulfilling her obligation to inform.
She didn't need to lift a finger herself. At this moment, she recalled a scene from her first mission outside the village with Lord Yūshin.
Faced with Lord Yūshin's pressure, Danzō could only swallow his anger. But facing her, Danzō dared to resist. He had been offered face and refused it.
Simultaneously, Yūshin Genki never forgot Lord Yūshin's teaching from that day.
Lord Yūshin had said:
"Kill first. Frame the corpse later."
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