Early the next morning, the Hokage Building was completely surrounded by tens of thousands of villagers, holding similar banners and chanting slogans demanding Uchiha Tohkou's resignation.
Even the village's genin, who wanted to come to the Hokage Building to receive their missions, couldn't get in.
Although the ANBU on duty inside the Hokage Building immediately stepped in to maintain order and set up a cordon in front of the building, this time, these troublemakers were clearly prepared, standing outside the cordon and constantly throwing things at the Hokage Building.
Even the large window of Uchiha Tohkou's Hokage office had been pelted with several eggs, the egg whites and yolks sliding down the glass, leaving a large stain.
Inside the Hokage's office, Uchiha Tohkou calmly brewed tea, listening to Nagai Seiichi report on the Jonin team's arrangements for the day, as if the commotion outside the window had nothing to do with him.
After a while, Kakashi was transported to the Hokage's office by Genma Shiranui and the other two using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"How is it? Have you found out who instigated and colluded with these villagers?" Tokō Uchiha poured tea for them and then asked.
Kakashi nodded and said, "It's the remnants of the Utatane and Mitomon families."
"So it was them. That makes sense," Tokō Uchiha said. "Where is the Third Hokage now?"
"Last night, the two clan heads secretly visited the Third Hokage, but he refused them entry. Before dawn this morning, he took his grandson and left the village for the Fire Temple, also taking a squad from the guard unit as protection," Kakashi said.
Tokō Uchiha nodded. It was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi truly wanted to retire peacefully; he fled at the slightest sign of trouble and, to show his sincerity, had even placed himself under the guard unit's surveillance.
"Tokō, what about the people below?" Kakashi asked.
"No rush, the people behind them haven't shown themselves yet," Uchiha Touhuan said.
At that moment, Uchiha Inahisa knocked and entered the office, reporting, "Hokage-sama, Elder Hyuga Kazuki of the Hyuga clan wishes to see you."
"Oh? He's here so soon? I thought he'd have to wait a while," Uchiha Touhuan chuckled. "Please let him in."
A short while later, Hyuga Kazuki stepped into the Hokage's office.
"Greetings, Fifth Hokage-sama," Hyuga Kazuki greeted upon entering.
"What brings Elder Hyuga here?" Uchiha Touhuan asked.
"Hehe, I'm just here for a stroll, but the village is certainly bustling today." Hyuga Kazuki casually sat down at Uchiha Touhuan's desk, causing Kakashi and Nagai Seiichi, who were there to report, to frown slightly.
They hadn't even sat down yet, so why was this old man doing so?
"Please excuse my rudeness, Elder Hyuga." Uchiha Touhuan poured Hyuga Kazuki a cup of tea without batting an eye.
Hyuga Kazuki casually picked up the teacup and downed the tea in one gulp, a gesture that made Kakashi and Nagai Seiichi furrow their brows.
[This old geezer really thinks he's something special.] Nagai Seiichi's gaze towards him gradually became dangerous.
"Hokage-sama, these matters below need to be resolved, right?" Hyuga Kazuki said. "Does the Hokage-sama intend to wait here in the Hokage Building indefinitely?"
"That's no trouble for Elder Hyuga," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Hokage-sama, the villagers must have a reason for opposing you so much. Dragging this out isn't a solution..."
Uchiha Touhuan narrowed his eyes, looking at Hyuga Kazuki, and interrupted him directly, "I said I would handle this. Elder Hyuga, are you trying to teach me how to be Hokage?"
As soon as Uchiha Touhuan finished speaking, the people still in the Hokage's office stretched their limbs, and the atmosphere became heavy.
"Young man, don't think you're Hokage just because you're Hokage. When I followed the First and Second Hokage, you weren't even born yet. Sometimes you should listen to the opinions of your seniors," Hyuga Kazuki said sternly. "
Someone, show him out," Uchiha Touhuan said mercilessly, his face darkening, in response to Hyuga Kazuki's condescending remarks.
Seiichi Nagai and two members of the Anbu from the Hokage's office quickly arrived behind Kazuki Hyuga, saying in a warning tone, "Elder Hyuga, please."
Kazuki Hyuga snorted coldly, stood up, and walked out of the Hokage's office, leaving behind the words, "This happened so soon after taking office; you'd better think about how to explain this to the Daimyo."
...
Kazuki Hyuga strode out of the Hokage's office, a cold smile playing on his lips.
However, just then, a whooshing sound came from behind him, and the next moment, a police baton struck him directly on the back of the head.
Kazuki Hyuga was clearly stunned by the sudden blow to the back of his head, but the next second, the person who struck him dragged him into an office inside the Hokage building.
What followed was a barrage of fists and batons.
Hyuga Kazuki turned to retaliate, but years of pampered life had almost made him forget how to fight. He tried to activate his Byakugan, but the opponent's fists and batons surged like waves, leaving him no time to circulate his chakra. He could only barely make out who was attacking him—a Jonin who had been standing in the Hokage's office.
[He doesn't even have a clan crest; he's just a commoner ninja. How dare he attack an elder of the Hyuga clan?]
Hyuga Kazuki was furious, but his anger was limited to a single moment; the three men's fists and batons gave him no time to react.
Nagai Seiichi and two ANBU dragged Hyuga Kazuki into an office and brutally beat him. Soon, Hyuga Kazuki was bleeding from a head wound.
"You son of a bitch!" Nagai Seiichi, seeing that the beating was enough, grabbed Hyuga Kazuki by the collar and, cursing, punched him in the face. Hyuga Kazuki fell to the ground, spitting out several teeth.
Nagai Seiichi kicked him forcefully while pulling a kunai from his ninja tool pouch, holding it to Hyuga Kazuki's neck and dragging him back up.
"You son of a bitch, do you even know your own limitations?" Nagai Seiichi said viciously.
"Shameless old man! In the ninja hierarchy, you're Touhuan-sama's senior, but now Touhuan-sama is the Hokage, the Hokage! Don't you understand? You're just an elder of a ninja clan."
Hyuga Kazuki, already dazed from the beating, was being carried like a tattered rag doll by Nagai Seiichi, the kunai gleaming before his eyes.
"Damn it, if you dare disrespect the Hokage again, I'll chop you up and throw you into the Naka River to feed the fish, you know that?"
"Do you understand?" Nagai Seiichi said viciously. Hyuga
Kazuki, already mentally dazed from the beating, could only nod hastily.
"I asked you if you understand, so say something!" Nagai Seiichi roared.
"Understood, understood..." Hyuga Kazuki managed to say through his lisping.
Soon, the commotion attracted the attention of others inside the Hokage Building.
Upon seeing Hyuga Kaname's miserable state, the ANBU on duty quickly summoned the medical ninja on duty in the Hokage Building. Nagai Seiichi, meanwhile, obediently returned to the Hokage's office, head bowed, awaiting Uchiha Touhuan's reprimand.
"...
What kind of mess is this?" Uchiha Touhuan glanced at the obedient Nagai Seiichi standing by his desk and scolded him.
"Because that old man was disrespectful to the Hokage..." Nagai Seiichi explained softly.
"How could you hit him?" Uchiha Touhuan said, "Who will dare approach the Hokage Building after this?"
"Watch your step! Is the Hokage Building a yakuza hideout?"
Nagai Seiichi lowered his head, obediently accepting Uchiha Touhuan's reprimand.
After a while, Uchiha Touhuan stood up from his chair and walked to Nagai Seiichi's side. A faint smile played on his lips as he patted Seiichi on the shoulder before speaking:
"Seiichi, I understand you, but you still need to be careful in the future. How can the captain of a Jonin squad lay a hand on a village elder? Don't do it again."
"Yes!" Nagai Seiichi nodded.
"As punishment, your salary for this month will be deducted," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Yes!" Nagai Seiichi nodded.
After a while, Uchiha Touhuan took out two ninjutsu scrolls and handed them to Nagai Seiichi. "I remember your son's chakra nature is wind, right? Take these two B-rank ninjutsu."
"This…" Nagai Seiichi took the scrolls, looking at Uchiha Touhuan in disbelief.
"You can't do this again," Uchiha Touhuan reminded him.
"Yes!" Nagai Seiichi stood at attention and saluted.
...
At this moment, within the Mitokado clan's territory, Yuuta Utatane and Isao Mitokado were plotting in a secret chamber.
"Shouldn't we just go out and watch? What if Uchiha Touhuan really dares to order the security forces to suppress the rioters?" Isao Mitokado said.
"Even if he does suppress the villagers, so what?" Yuuta Utatane chuckled sinisterly. "As long as those villagers cause trouble, we've won. He's only been in office for two days and such a big incident has already happened; he can't explain it to the daimyo. If he can't give the daimyo a reasonable explanation, the daimyo will definitely cut this year's budget. Then we'll report his coup plot to the daimyo. How long can he hold onto his Hokage position?"
"You really have a plan!" Isao Mitokado said admiringly.
"Hmph, Lord Koharu and Lord En were the advisors personally appointed by the Second Hokage. How dare the Uchiha clan climb over us! And Inuzuka and Aburame, those two clans have even dared to seize our property recently, they deserve to die!" Yuuta Utatane said.
However, the two were unaware that their clan territory was now surrounded by a team of elite ANBU.
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(End of Chapter)