Sarutobi Hiruzen's surrender had been entirely within Yuhara's expectations.
He had Naruto in his hands, three Susanoo towering over the battlefield, and clan ninjas refusing to take sides.
Even if none of the three Susanoo had reached their third form—no armor, just twenty to thirty meters tall—they were still enough to crush Hiruzen.
Sure, if things turned into a full-scale fight, the Uchiha might be overwhelmed by Konoha's numbers, but the village would be annihilated in the process.
With that in mind, Yuhara decisively dispelled his Susanoo. Shisui and Fugaku followed suit.
The moment he did, pain surged through his eyes.
But the ordeal was over, and there was no more danger.
"Lord Hokage, everyone here—do you know what really happened tonight?"
Yuhara's gaze swept over the crowd as he asked calmly—but he didn't wait for answers.
"It's simple: Uchiha Itachi, along with shinobi dressed in ANBU gear, infiltrated the Uchiha compound, attempting to assault and even destroy the clan!"
Everyone froze at his words—this was explosive.
Even the civilian ninjas had heard of Itachi, son of the Uchiha clan head.
And now this guy had betrayed his own clan? Became their executioner?
Unbelievable. Even more shocking—those involved included ninjas in ANBU uniforms.
Civilians didn't know about Root, so all they saw were ANBU uniforms—and turned their questioning stares toward the Third Hokage.
The idea that the Hokage wanted to wipe out one of Konoha's founding clans?
Some civilians still supported him—but others were sharp enough to realize this was something that should never have been considered.
The clan ninja's reactions were even more telling. They stayed calm but now focused their attention directly on Hiruzen.
"Hmph. Nonsense! The Uchiha are part of Konoha. That's been true since the village was founded. I would never allow something like that."
Hiruzen had noticed the shift in their gazes, but he still responded coldly.
"And where's your proof? What's stopping you from dressing up random corpses from prison in ANBU gear?"
"If you doubt the corpses, Lord Hokage, lucky for us, the Yamanaka elites are all here.
Shall we have them verify?
Also, when I fought Danzō, I clearly sensed Uchiha chakra from him—and something even more curious.
Shouldn't we examine Danzō's body too?"
Yuhara chuckled lightly. Even though Sō and Takeshi hadn't arrived yet, he wasn't worried.
Danzō's corpse was right there—Yuhara was very interested in what a proper investigation would reveal.
His words instantly shut Hiruzen up. Would he dare approve such an inspection?
Obviously not. He knew there might be ANBU under his direct control among the corpses.
And Danzō? No way would he risk an autopsy—not yet, at least.
Hiruzen went silent. But Yuhara wasn't finished—he had more bombs to drop.
"Besides Itachi and suspected ANBU, we also encountered someone very interesting.
Another Uchiha—but not one recorded in our clan history. And he had a Mangekyō Sharingan."
Yuhara paused, studying the crowd's reactions before continuing.
"He used space-time ninjutsu—likely a Mangekyō ability.
And most importantly—he confessed it himself. Eight years ago, he was the one who released the Nine-Tails. He controlled it. He attacked Konoha.
He killed Lady Biwako, the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and countless ninja who died defending the village."
With that, the entire crowd erupted.
No one had forgotten the attack eight years ago. Many had lost family and friends. They lost their Fourth Hokage.
And now, a mysterious Uchiha had admitted to it—had worked with Itachi and ANBU to attack the Uchiha tonight?
The news was devastating.
Hiruzen froze, and then his expression finally cracked.
He had always known Itachi said someone contacted him—someone from the Akatsuki.
But Itachi had never said who that person was, what they looked like, or what they could do. He never said he was a Uchiha.
He just asked Hiruzen to trust him. Promised he could handle it. And now\...
"Make way! Coming through!"
Just then, a group of people carrying corpses arrived from the perimeter.
Many ninja frowned—seeing the ANBU uniforms on the corpses—but still moved aside to let them through.
Hiruzen closed his eyes, realizing things were spiraling even further out of control.
His only relief now was not allowing Yuhara to call for a Yamanaka probe—because if those corpses really were from ANBU, it would've been a disaster.
"Lord Hokage, these are the people who attacked us alongside Itachi. Some corpses dissolved—classic ANBU technique."
Yuhara locked eyes with Hiruzen again—each word hammering him.
"And beyond the bodies, we have surveillance footage from the clan compound.
Yes—it was all recorded.
Everyone here should be familiar with such systems. And the footage is here. We can play it for all to see.
See what these people were really trying to do. See if what I said is true. See if that mysterious Uchiha really exists."
Yuhara paused, then fixed his gaze on Hiruzen.
"So—what do you say, Lord Hokage?"
Hiruzen closed his eyes and fell silent. Playing the footage stirred real inner conflict.
But it didn't last long—he made up his mind.
Danzō was dead—there was no undoing it. All he could do now was distance himself. And confirm the truth.
Especially whether that Uchiha from eight years ago actually existed. That mattered to him more than anything.
"If you have evidence—then play it."
And as the footage rolled, everyone's expression changed.