"Alright, it's about time we wrap this up."
"No need to worry, the four of you—the Third Hokage, the Assistant Hokage, and the two Hokage Advisors."
"I'll leave these three positions for you."
After beating them down with a stick, it's only fair to throw them a bone.
The clan leaders and the younger shinobi chuckled.
Yes, let them experience what it's like to be tethered to something permanently.
The positions held no real power, but since they were so desperate for them, why not?
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his head in disbelief. Facing Naruto's confident smirk, he involuntarily took a few steps back.
After everything that had happened, he was still allowed to continue...?
No wonder Tsunade had said that if she took this position, it would be until her dying breath.
Compared to that, the two Hokage Advisors—always meddling, always flaunting their seniority—clearly weren't as shrewd.
"Oh? I thought you were formidable, but in the end, you've been reduced to this?"
"As long as we remain the Hokage's Advisors, and as long as Hiruzen and Danzo retain their positions, everything that happened today can be repaid a hundredfold!"
"Uzumaki Naruto, you will regret this!"
Mitokado Homura's gaze turned icy.
Some of their people were dead, some imprisoned.
Naruto would pay the price—ten times over.
And he didn't bother to hide his malice.
Even without the ability to sense negative intent, Naruto could feel it.
So could everyone else.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru had already begun considering his escape.
The trial of the Sound Four was nearing its conclusion, and executions were next.
Lingering any longer meant being remembered.
Too bad for Auntie Snake—he had been marked from the beginning.
"Auntie Snake, don't be so tense. I won't kill you. Not that it wouldn't be troublesome if I did... But relax, I have great respect for researchers."
"Besides, with so many people from the four clans... are you really worried about running out of test subjects?"
Orochimaru's expression stiffened.
What… does that mean?
Wait—'troublesome to kill me'... I see. He lifted Anko's curse mark… Uzumaki Naruto is truly terrifying.
"Hmph! You're not getting away!"
Anko strode toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru merely smiled, making no attempt to escape.
With Naruto here, Anko wouldn't kill him.
At worst, she'd land a few punches…
That was fine. As long as he had an ample supply of test subjects—and official approval, no less—it was exhilarating.
Bang!
Anko's fist connected, and Orochimaru instantly regretted his smugness.
That strength…
It was no weaker than Tsunade's punch from earlier!
He went flying again.
"Good thing I didn't stick my tongue out this time..."
Naruto turned his attention back to the villagers below.
"As for all of you... don't worry. Soon, you'll know whether the new Konoha still has a place for you."
"Uzumaki Naruto! Watch your words!"
"As long as I am a Hokage Advisor, I will never allow—"
Mitokado Homura's words were abruptly cut off.
Both Koharu Utatane and Hiruzen snapped at him.
"Homura! Shut up!"
"Homura, stop talking!"
Clearly, he still thought their positions carried the same weight as before.
But it was already too late.
"Idiot!" Koharu spat.
Hiruzen's face darkened. He had nothing left to say.
It was only then that Homura realized something was wrong.
A sudden, bone-chilling killing intent erupted behind him.
Turning sharply, he locked eyes with the one radiating it.
Danzo Shimura.
The former war hawk's face was twisted with murder.
If looks could kill, Homura's head would have rolled by now.
"Tch!"
Danzo snorted and turned to leave.
But before he could take a step, Kakashi appeared in front of him.
"Did Naruto say you could leave, Assistant Hokage-sama? Hmm?"
Whoosh!
Might Guy landed beside Kakashi, striking a dramatic pose.
"The flames of youth will never abandon me!"
"I feel so alive!"
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temple.
It's over—he's gotten fired up again.
Danzo narrowed his eyes, exuding pure menace.
"Kakashi, are you trying to stop me?"
Kakashi blinked.
"Hah?"
Might Guy tilted his head. "Kakashi, is this guy serious?"
"Oi... Where do you get the confidence to think you're walking away from this?"
At that moment, Mitarashi Anko stepped forward.
"Tch!"
"Do I need your permission to leave?"
"Don't forget, I am still the Hokage's Assistant!"
Tsunade smirked. "Then I wonder—can my status as the Fifth Hokage override yours?"
"Danzo, I'm the new Hokage!"
Shff!
Hearing those familiar words, Danzo spun around, his glare locked onto Tsunade.
"Tsunade!"
His face flushed red with rage.
But before he could respond—
BAM!
Might Guy's foot crashed into his face.
"I'll fight~!"
Kakashi sighed.
"…It's over. Let's just burn all the history books tonight."
"You… Might Guy!" Danzo sputtered, clutching his face. "How dare you strike me?! Are you betraying the village?!"
Tsunade folded her arms. "I allowed it. So what?"
"That's enough!" a voice thundered.
Senju Tobirama had finally lost his patience.
He stepped forward, Hashirama by his side.
"Teacher Tobirama, look at her!" Danzo started, desperation creeping into his tone.
Bang!
Before he could finish, Tobirama kicked him square in the chest.
Then, shaking his head bitterly, he muttered, "I'm sorry, everyone. It was my mistake for making the wrong decision."
Bang!
Senju Hashirama followed up with a kick of his own.
"I don't know… Tobirama kicked him, so I wanted to kick him too."
However, his face soon darkened.
"Danzo, do you want to continue making a fool of yourself?"
This time, Mitokado Homura took the hint.
Head bowed, he remained silent.
"Kurama."
"Here I come."
The Nine-Tails approached Naruto. "Who's the target?"
"The two Hokage Advisors… and our esteemed Sandaime Hokage."
"Understood. Mission commencing now."
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, Kurama's chakra surged forward, embedding itself into the three men.
They were frozen in shock.
A chakra hand had lashed out toward them… then vanished.
They felt nothing.
But what they didn't realize was that, in that instant, their lives were no longer their own.
Homura's face paled. "Naruto… ahem, I just remembered I have some urgent business to handle. I'll be taking my leave now—"
Kurama, still grinning, barely suppressed his glee.
Naruto knocked him lightly on the head. "Don't be too rough."
"Got it~"
Whoosh—
Before he could finish speaking, the Nine-Tails disappeared.
On the other side, Danzo could no longer mask his emotions.
Especially when he noticed the expressions of those around him—
The very shinobi who once showed him respect now looked at him with nothing but mockery, disdain, and indifference.
Respect? That was nowhere to be found.
But what unsettled him most was Naruto's gaze.
A look so cold, so utterly detached, that it didn't even acknowledge him as a person.
Danzo seethed.
At this moment, the darkness that had shrouded Konoha for years was finally lifting.
The so-called Third Hokage? Reduced to a joke.
But Danzo refused to accept it.
The title of Hokage—that was all he had ever pursued.
Now, these two words meant nothing to Naruto—the very same Naruto that Danzo had once regarded as nothing more than a tool, a weapon of war.
The so-called Fifth Hokage...
Danzo could see it in Naruto's eyes—he had no interest in the title at all.
Wasn't that enough to make someone break down?
The Hashirama cells within Danzo's body burned with unbearable heat, reacting violently after being struck by the very man they had come from. His only thought now was escape—his carefully laid plans were in shambles. He had almost forgotten… Not everyone was like Hiruzen. This new Hokage had no need for a shadow to do his dirty work.
Danzo cast a glance at the Hokage, only to find that he looked as pale as a corpse. Useless fool. Internally cursing his supposed leader, Danzo narrowed his eyes and searched for a way out.
Little did he realize, the Hokage was drowning in regret—not for his failures, but for not throwing himself into the fire the moment Orochimaru had made his move. If he had died then, perhaps none of this would have happened...
From the side, Orochimaru chuckled. "Oh? A corpse, right in front of us… and the Sarutobi clan still has so many sacrifices to offer."
This time, Danzo didn't mutter his usual 'Hiruzen, you will regret this.'
This time, the Hokage truly did regret it.
"Alright," Naruto's voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Let's begin the inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage."
As he raised his hand, countless vines surged from the ground beneath the defeated elders, coiling around them in an instant. Their sheer crushing power paralyzed Danzo, robbing him of any chance to activate Izanagi.
"Master, it's your turn to say a few words."
"I haven't even changed my clothes yet!" Naruto protested.
Tsunade grabbed him by the arm, dragging him away. "Besides… come with me. How about we let the First and Second personally hand over the Hokage hat?"
Naruto hesitated. "Uh…"
Before he could answer, Tsunade was already pulling him along.
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and amusement flashing in their eyes.
"Tsunade wouldn't…" Hashirama started.
Tobirama coughed, cutting him off. "Ahem, big brother."
"Ah… hahaha~"
At this point, Kushina couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Since Tsunade and Naruto will take some time…" Her expression darkened as she turned her gaze back to Danzo. "It's time to settle some personal scores."
All eyes fell upon the restrained war criminal.
"Naruto told me," Kushina said, her voice dripping with venom, "that you have ten Sharingan embedded in your arm… and that your right eye is Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami."
She chuckled. "You've already died twice. That means you have, what, eight lives left? No… nine?"
"Orochimaru."
From the rubble, the snake sannin stirred. Seeing Kushina's expression, he quickly straightened himself. "I'm here."
"After we kill him, I want you to capture a member of the Shimura clan and bring him back."
Orochimaru blinked. "...Alright."
A sudden twitch. Then a flicker of motion.
Sasuke's ears had caught everything.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open, and he sprang to his feet.
"So that's it…" Sasuke murmured, his voice laced with fury. "Brother Shisui… You were murdered by this bastard too?!"
Minato, watching from the side, smiled. "Let's wait for Naruto to return and lift his restraints. Otherwise, he won't even be able to speak properly."
Sasuke sneered. "Let's celebrate Konoha's rebirth—and the Fifth Hokage's inauguration—with the death of this old man."
Shikamaru, ever the strategist, interrupted. "We need to keep him alive for now. We'll expose all his crimes to the public before executing him."
"Fine," Sasuke muttered, cracking his knuckles. "But I call first blood."