Naraku wasn't surprised by the arrival of the Third Hokage—nor by his fury.
In fact, he had been waiting for this moment all along.
From the start of the battle with Shinnosuke, Naraku was well aware that the Hokage was watching everything through the crystal ball.
He also kept a close eye on the chakra movements inside the Hokage building.
He could almost picture it: the exact moment he pressed the blade to Shinnosuke's throat, the Third Hokage probably leapt out of his window in panic.
The truth was, Naraku had dragged out his conversation with Shinnosuke on purpose—for this very reason.
He wanted Hiruzen to arrive just in time.
And once he sensed Hiruzen's chakra closing in, he didn't hesitate—he sent Shinnosuke off to his next great adventure.
When the Third Hokage finally arrived, all he saw were raging flames devouring charred bodies.
The Hokage froze.
His son hadn't just been killed—he had been erased.
Not even ashes remained. Only four scorched outlines on the earth.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not the wise, composed leader of the village.
He was a grieving father, blinded by fury.
With a howl of rage, he lunged at Naraku.
Naraku swiftly sidestepped, not counterattacking.
"Lord Third, why are you attacking me?" he asked, voice calm, tone even respectful.
He even used the honorific "Lord" as if genuinely confused.
Hiruzen halted mid-strike.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Naraku.
For a few seconds, he just stood still, scanning the battlefield.
The bodies had been completely burned—no one could tell which one had belonged to his son.
And Naraku's polite tone?
He knew better.
Naraku had once openly accused him—at a council meeting—of betraying the Will of Fire.
There was no respect in that voice.
Only mockery.
Two seconds passed. Then Hiruzen bit his thumb and slammed it into the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A burst of smoke exploded, revealing a muscular figure.
White fur, sharp sideburns, a long goat-like beard, and the powerful body of a beast resembling a mountain gorilla.
Clad in armor and a sleeveless kimono, with Konoha's protector tied around his forehead, the Monkey King Enma appeared.
Strong, fierce, and loyal—Enma was known as one of the most powerful summons in Konoha.
At least, according to Hiruzen.
Naraku, however, considered such titles... relative.
Like how Hiruzen was called "The Professor" or "The Strongest Hokage"—often with air quotes.
For example, the slug Sage Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest, summoned by Tsunade, had existed since before the era of Kaguya.
Naraku suspected that Katsuyu's true form, the one no one had ever summoned, might be as massive as the Ten Tails itself.
Longevity, in the world of sages and beasts, meant strength.
Even Madara and Hashirama, legends of their era, eventually succumbed to time.
Compared to that, Enma seemed... quaint.
"What's going on, Sarutobi?" Enma asked, frowning as he surveyed the scorched battlefield.
"Don't ask questions. Transform into your adamantine staff!" Hiruzen barked.
Enma narrowed his eyes.
He'd served Hiruzen for decades—but lately, the Hokage had grown colder. Harsher.
Still, out of loyalty, Enma complied and transformed into a black, unbreakable staff.
Hiruzen grabbed it with a deadly glare and roared:
"Hyūga Naraku—DIE!"
Naraku parried with his sword. Sparks flew as steel clashed against mystical staff.
"Lord Hokage, there must be a misunderstanding," Naraku said coolly, dodging effortlessly.
"Today, I was attacked by a rogue group of unknown shinobi. I neutralized the threat—and came to report it to you."
Hiruzen's eyes burned with rage.
"Unknown shinobi"?
"Report"?!
Was this man mocking him?
Had he just murdered his son and come here to spin a story?
His attacks grew wilder, more unhinged.
Naraku's Byakugan caught everything—he had already sensed the approach of more chakra signatures.
Not just Hiruzen and Danzō.
Shinobi from all over Konoha were arriving.
The entire village had heard the thunderous battle.
Clan leaders were rushing in, one after another.
"Lord Hokage, please! You must've misunderstood something!" Naraku insisted again, voice still "sincere".
Hiruzen stood across from him, panting heavily, sweat mixing with ash on his face.
He looked at the sword Naraku held—and couldn't help but feel a chill.
This blade had not only blocked Enma's staff—it had damaged it.
A branch member of the Hyūga clan... wielding a weapon this powerful?
Impossible.
A treasure like that should never have fallen into such hands.
"You still dare act innocent?" Hiruzen snarled, striking again.
"Hiruzen, STOP!" a voice bellowed from behind.
It was Danzō, who had finally arrived, rushing to restrain him.
Moments later, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu followed, faces pale.
"Don't do anything rash!" Homura called out.
"The Patriarchs are arriving," Koharu whispered, dread in her voice.
All eyes turned.
Landing silently one after another were:
Fugaku Uchiha. Hiashi Hyūga. Shikaku Nara. Inoichi Yamanaka. Shibi Aburame.
And more.
The leaders of Konoha's clans had arrived.
This was no longer just a skirmish.
This was a battlefield—watched by all the power of the Hidden Leaf.
If they put down a table right here, they could hold a council meeting on the spot.
But no one was in the mood for diplomacy.
They looked at Hiruzen—red-eyed, trembling, barely in control.
They looked at Danzō, Homura, Koharu—desperately trying to calm the situation.
And they looked at Naraku—standing tall, calm, unbroken.
They had come to witness the truth.
And the firestorm was just beginning.