"Fugaku, you've done well. It seems my arrangements were correct. Continue evacuating and rescuing the villagers first. There's nothing for you to handle here anymore."
From Sarutobi Hiruzen's perspective, Uchiha Fugaku was a veteran powerhouse. On top of that, the heads of multiple major clans were already present.
As long as the One-Tail situation was under control, Namikaze Kirito and the others wouldn't dare make a move.
This was Konoha—their home ground.
What tricks could the other side possibly pull?
Yet Uchiha Fugaku didn't move.
He stood there silently, head lowered.
"…Huh?"
Hiruzen frowned. "Fugaku, did you hear me?"
A hint of displeasure crept into his voice as he realized he was being completely ignored.
At that moment...
The figure standing nearby slowly lifted his hat and veil.
A pale, familiar face emerged.
"Orochimaru…"
"Sensei," Orochimaru said softly, a grin spreading across his lips.
"It's been a long time. Hehehe…"
"Orochimaru!"
The ANBU reacted instantly, flashing forward to strike—but they were stopped in an instant.
Several white snakes burst forth from the shadows, coiling around the ANBU like living restraints, binding them tightly before they could even struggle.
"Orochimaru, what are you planning?!"
Hiruzen demanded, already forming seals, his gaze sharp and alert.
The commotion atop the high platform immediately drew everyone's attention.
"The leader of the Gensokyo… is Orochimaru?!"
"Isn't he a rogue ninja of Konoha?! How could he become the leader of another village?!"
"No—weren't there rumors that Orochimaru was working with Kirito-sama?!"
"What's going to happen now?!"
Almost simultaneously, Hyūga Hiashi, along with the heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans and other Konoha elites, led their people onto the platform.
The One-Tail had temporarily fallen unconscious, and their Hokage was standing face-to-face with a traitor.
If they didn't intervene now, it would be troublesome later.
"Orochimaru," Hiashi said coldly after glancing once at Fugaku's strangely lowered head.
"What business do you have returning to Konoha?"
"Hyūga Clan Head," Orochimaru replied calmly.
"I'm here to help Konoha… return to normal."
He extended his tongue and slowly licked his lips, sending a chill down the spines of everyone nearby.
Shhh—
Several figures suddenly appeared beside him.
Yakushi Kabuto.
Uchiha Itachi.
They stood silently, confronting Konoha's forces head-on.
"Itachi," Hiruzen said gravely, his eyes flicking toward Fugaku.
"Your father is here. Are you truly determined to continue down the path of betrayal?"
He was trying to use Fugaku to pull Itachi back.
The moment Sasuke saw him—
He snapped.
"ITACHI!"
Sasuke dashed onto the platform, unable to hold back any longer.
Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura followed close behind.
More and more Konoha shinobi gathered—Kakashi Hatake, Yūhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Might Guy—forming a tense encirclement.
"You traitor!" Sasuke shouted, eyes burning.
"You betrayed the Uchiha Clan, and you still dare show your face in Konoha?!"
"Sasuke…"
Itachi looked at his younger brother, a rare trace of warmth in his eyes.
"You've grown."
"Shut up! You are a Disgrace to the Uchiha clan!"
"Sasuke!"
Uchiha Fugaku suddenly spoke.
"Your brother is the one who truly loved our clan," Fugaku said calmly.
"You will learn the truth soon. Stay quiet."
Sasuke froze.
When his father spoke in that tone, he could only clench his fists and fall silent—though his eyes never left Itachi, silently demanding answers.
"Fugaku," Hiruzen said slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Third Hokage," Fugaku replied, lifting his head at last.
"Everything you've done to the Uchiha and to this village over the years… do you really want me to explain it all here?"
"Fugaku!"
Hiruzen's voice hardened.
"Don't think that a timely rescue gives you the right to speak to me this way. Don't forget—I am the Hokage! Are you planning to rebel alongside Orochimaru?!"
"What a ridiculous accusation," Fugaku smiled coldly.
"Do you really think the evacuation order came from you? Or that I was acting under your command?"
"Then what?" Hiruzen scoffed.
"Are you going to support Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage? Don't be absurd. Konoha will never acknowledge a traitor as Hokage!"
"Hehe…"
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Sensei, I have no intention of becoming the Fifth Hokage."
He paused, clearly enjoying the confusion on Hiruzen's face.
"But tell me—if the Fourth Hokage were to return… would you step down?"
"…What?! Impossible!"
The words struck like a thunderbolt.
The entire platform erupted in shock.
Everyone knew the Fourth Hokage had died sealing the Nine-Tails.
How could he possibly return?
"Minato gave his life for Konoha," Hiruzen said firmly.
"I—"
He stopped.
A sudden realization froze him in place.
Namikaze Minato's body—
It was never recovered.
Minato and Kushina had died that night… but their bodies were taken away by Namikaze Kirito.
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru's grin widened.
"It seems you've finally connected the dots, Sensei."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Very few people had witnessed Minato's death—only Hiruzen and a handful of ANBU.
And yet, the body had vanished.
The truth had been buried… until now.
"Namikaze Kirito!"
Hiruzen turned sharply, his voice trembling with fury.
"You did this!"
Kirito was already walking forward.
"Big brother!"
Naruto lit up when he saw him.
"You're here! What's going on?!"
Kirito ignored Hiruzen completely.
He walked straight to Naruto and gently placed a hand on his messy blond hair.
"It's fine to call me big brother," Kirito said softly.
"Because you should... Namikaze Naruto."
The world seemed to tilt.
Let Naruto bear the name Namikaze?
The Fourth Hokage's surname was Namikaze.
Then what did that make Naruto?
Shock, confusion, disbelief—every expression imaginable appeared among the crowd.
"B-Big brother…?"
Naruto stared up at him, pale blue eyes full of confusion.
"What are you talking about…?"
He didn't understand why the Third Hokage was looking at him with killing intent.
He didn't understand why everyone was staring at him.
But he could feel it.
That hostility.
Because sealed within him was the Nine-Tails, and through it, Naruto could clearly sense the malice directed his way.
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