The sudden appearance of Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza caught Sarutobi Hiruzen off guard for a moment. But he quickly pieced it together—they were here in the dead of night to take a stand, likely siding with Uchiha Akainu. After all, Inoichi had already pledged himself to Akainu's "absolute justice" some time ago. As allies of the Yamanaka clan, the Nara and Akimichi clans naturally followed suit, making the same choice.
Hiruzen's expression darkened at the realization. But his frustration wasn't directed at the Ino-Shika-Cho trio or even Akainu himself—it was aimed at the long-deceased Danzo. If Danzo hadn't fought Akainu back then, nearly wiping out the Yamanaka clan in the process, the Yamanakas wouldn't have abandoned their Hokage to align with Akainu's ideals. That battle had highlighted Akainu's restraint in sparing the Yamanakas, cementing their loyalty to him. Hiruzen gritted his teeth in irritation. If Danzo were still alive, Hiruzen would've chewed him out to vent his pent-up frustration.
"Lord Hokage." A cold, youthful voice broke through the tension, coming from Uchiha Itachi, who had finally arrived at the Sarutobi clan compound. Far behind him, Uchiha Fugaku kept his distance, standing atop a nearby building. From that vantage point, he could clearly see the unfolding scene at the Sarutobi compound.
Fugaku's gaze took in an unexpected crowd: "Lord Hokage, Lady Koharu, Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, Tsunade, Orochimaru's disciple, Inoichi, Choza, Akainu, Shikaku…" His eyes widened in shock. Why are so many people here tonight? Add in the throng of Anbu and Root ninjas, and it seemed half of Konoha's elite forces were gathered.
---
"Kid, what's going on here?" Tsunade stepped forward, shooting an annoyed glance at Koharu before casually clapping a hand on Akainu's shoulder. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "You storm into the old man's house with these two kids wielding ninja blades, looking ready for a fight. This isn't just a late-night visit, is it?" She turned to Hiruzen. "And what's with you, old man? Bringing all these Anbu and Root ninjas here—you're not just here to have a midnight chat with Akainu, are you?"
Her eyes flicked back to Jiraiya, whose expression was grim. "And you—what are you doing here? Were you the one tailing me earlier, besides Shizune?"
Tsunade's barrage of questions, thrown at everyone present, slightly eased the tense atmosphere.
"Hmph!" Koharu snorted, her voice sharp. "If this kid hadn't gone crazy tonight, would I have mobilized all these Root ninjas in the middle of the night?" She wouldn't have bothered explaining to anyone else, but Tsunade's status warranted a response. Gritting her teeth, her face clouded with hatred, she continued, "This kid killed a lot of people tonight—members of the Utatane and Mito clans, nearly twenty in total! And now he's targeting the Sarutobi clan! If Hiruzen and I hadn't brought the Anbu and Root, the Sarutobi clan might've been next. Yet, somehow, this maniac has people supporting him. It's utterly disgraceful—morals thrown out the window!" Her pointed sarcasm targeted the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Mitarashi Anko.
But her biting words had little effect. The targets of her scorn showed no visible reaction.
Koharu's outburst made Tsunade and Jiraiya pause. Tsunade muttered, "I knew it—this kid's really out here 'executing justice.' And he's making such a big mess without caring who gets caught in it."
Jiraiya, his face stern, took a deep breath and stepped past several people to stand before Akainu. His serious gaze locked onto Akainu's eyes as he asked gravely, "Akainu, is what Advisor Koharu said true? I rarely meddle in Konoha's affairs, and even when I see something, I usually stay out of it. But this is too big to ignore. I have to step in tonight. Killing over twenty fellow Konoha ninjas in one night—that's the work of a murderous butcher, shaking the very foundation of the village. Akainu, is this really the justice you claim to uphold?"
Akainu lifted his gaze, staring coldly at Jiraiya. "When justice is weak and sees evil but stays its hand, that's a necessary compromise. But when justice grows strong, unshaken by any storm, and still refuses to judge the evil it sees, it becomes a faded justice. If justice fades, the countless victims who died in hatred, unable to rest in peace, will have no one to seek retribution for them."
Though many were present, only Akainu's voice rang out, reaching every ear. His gaze shifted past Jiraiya to a Sarutobi clan ninja standing behind Hiruzen. "Sarutobi Kyo," he said coldly.
The named ninja froze, his face pale with disbelief. Instinctively, he stepped back, trying to hide among the others. But Akainu's words had already drawn the attention of those who knew Kyo, and soon, everyone's eyes were on him.
Jiraiya glanced back, puzzled.
Akainu's voice continued, calm but piercing. "Nine years ago, during the Third Great Ninja War, you sold Konoha's war intelligence to the Cloud Village for ten million ryo. This led to a critical loss at one of our defense points, resulting in the death of one Konoha jounin and seven chunin. Four years ago, you colluded with Cloud ninjas to kidnap Hyuga Hinata. When the plan failed and Hyuga Hiashi fought the Cloud ninjas, you fled in guilt. One year ago, the Third Hokage tasked you with overseeing a Konoha infrastructure project, allocating seven million ryo. You pocketed four million, leading to a shoddy construction that collapsed in heavy rain, killing an innocent civilian."
With each accusation, Sarutobi Kyo's face grew paler, sweat soaking his back until he was drenched. Jiraiya stood frozen, his serious stance faltering.
"Hold on!" Kyo shouted, noticing the strange looks from others. "You've got no proof for—"
"The Yamanaka clan will provide evidence," Inoichi interjected, his expression solemn. "Don't worry—our clan's secret techniques won't harm your mind or spirit too much. Just let us examine your memories, and everyone will know if you're innocent or guilty."
Kyo's mouth went dry, unable to utter a word.
Hiruzen's grim expression shifted to one of helpless disappointment. Akainu continued, "Sarutobi Yatsuki." A Sarutobi civilian woman froze, her wide eyes filled with terror she couldn't hide. "Twelve years ago, due to a chaotic personal life, you gave birth to a daughter behind your fiancé's back. You drowned the infant in a Konoha public restroom, dismembered her, and flushed her down the toilet."
With a thud, Yatsuki collapsed, trembling. "She… she wasn't aware yet," she muttered, as if trying to convince herself. "A baby who can't think isn't a person, right? So it wasn't murder, was it?"
Looking up in a daze, she met her honest husband's shocked gaze. Desperately, she turned to Hiruzen, a distant relative, only to see him glance at her briefly before closing his eyes in disappointment. Yatsuki sat there, stunned, as if her soul had left her.
"Jiraiya," Akainu said, "do you think it's justice seeking to execute her that's the work of a murderous butcher, or is it her, who killed her own daughter, who's the real butcher?"
Jiraiya was speechless. Yatsuki's reaction confirmed the truth of Akainu's accusations. "Sarutobi Kazuki," Akainu continued, naming Yatsuki's "honest" husband, who looked up in panic. "Three days ago, after your wife publicly humiliated your… performance, you, in a twisted state of mind, sneaked into your daughter's room to 'prove yourself.'"
Yatsuki, still on the ground in despair, froze, then turned to her husband in rage. "Kazuki!" she screamed, ignoring the crowd of prominent figures. "No wonder Sakura's been acting strange and won't talk no matter how I ask! It was you! You monster! She's your daughter—your ten-year-old daughter! Are you even human? Do you have any shame or morals?"
"You're calling me a monster?" Kazuki retorted, red-faced with anger. "You hid a child you had with another man, dismembered it, and flushed it away! You're worse than me! And who's to say Sakura's even mine? She could be another man's bastard!"
Yatsuki's neck veins bulged as she shrieked, "She's our daughter! Don't you think I'd know if she was yours, you beast?!" With newfound strength, she lunged up, snatching a kunai from a nearby Sarutobi genin's waist and stabbing at her husband.
Splurch! The kunai pierced Kazuki's abdomen, his face contorting in pain as he screamed. "Argh! You're insane!" He kicked her away, yanking out the kunai, blood gushing out. Yatsuki, disheveled, lunged again. "Die, you monster!" In a panic, Kazuki stabbed the bloodied kunai into her chest.
The gruesome scene unfolded over thirty seconds, yet no one—not even the nearby Sarutobi ninjas—intervened. They watched with complex expressions as Yatsuki collapsed, lifeless, and Kazuki, clutching his bleeding wound, fell soon after. The stench of blood filled the air, assaulting everyone's senses.
Hiruzen had closed his eyes in pain, unable to stop it. His moral compass wouldn't let him speak or act, as he believed Akainu's accusations were true. Koharu, too, was at a loss, watching Akainu once again claim the moral high ground. She hadn't expected such depravity within the Sarutobi clan. Was Hiruzen so busy as Hokage that he'd neglected his own clan? She fell silent, realizing the Utatane clan members killed by Akainu's followers likely weren't much better—just varying degrees of vileness.
"Jiraiya," Akainu said calmly, his words cutting deep, "do you think my actions align with the justice I claim?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth but said nothing. After a long silence, he sighed and stepped aside, clearing a path. Koharu's eyes widened. "Jiraiya…"
He cut her off, his voice low. "Advisor Koharu, I'm sorry. I can't interfere here. Akainu's actions are extreme, but Konoha's tolerance of these people is just as wrong. Don't put me in this position."
Jiraiya realized why the ninja world needed a Child of Prophecy, a savior. As Akainu said, the ninja world was warped, its morals diseased. Everyone's thoughts and values had been twisted by this broken world. He felt an urgent need to find the Child of Prophecy, to guide them toward positive change.
Koharu, seeing Jiraiya's stance, turned to Tsunade. "Tsunade!"
"Don't call me," Tsunade snapped, her eyes shadowed as she faced away, her skin trembling from the blood's stench. Focusing on the moon, she said, "I've always thought Akainu's doing the right thing. The ninja world's chaos is like a lawless era. If you don't use harsh measures, how do you fix it?"
Koharu turned to Hiruzen, who'd closed his eyes. "Hiruzen!"
He exhaled heavily, opening his eyes to reveal sorrow and guilt. Koharu's heart sank—he'd been shaken by his clan's sins. "Take them away," he said to Akainu, his voice weary. "To the Police Force. Investigate thoroughly. If evidence is found, deal with them accordingly."
The remaining Sarutobi ninjas, yet to be named, froze in fear. Their Hokage had abandoned them. "Lord Hokage!" Kyo, the first named, panicked. He knew Akainu's ruthless methods. If taken and his memories probed by the Yamanakas, exposing his crimes, his fate would be grim—likely mirroring the dead couple on the ground. "I'm a Sarutobi! We're related! My cousin's uncle is your sister's husband! We're family, aren't we? I'll return the money I stole, compensate the family of that civilian, and share what I know about Cloud spies…"
He pushed through the Sarutobi ninjas, stumbling to Hiruzen. "I'll serve ten, twenty, even thirty years in prison!" With good behavior, thirty years could be halved to fifteen. I'd only be in my forties… He didn't dare voice that thought, knowing it'd earn him a slap.
Slap! A crisp sound rang out. Kyo froze, his pleading expression stiffening as Hiruzen's hand left a red mark on his face. "The Sarutobi clan has no place for someone who betrays the village for money!" Hiruzen roared, his anger genuine in front of the crowd. "Kyo, you've disappointed me. Your actions are no different from a Konoha traitor!"
Protecting the village's core interests was Hiruzen's底线, the reason he'd shielded Danzo so often. But Kyo had crossed it. Realizing he'd mobilized the entire Anbu to protect such clansmen—and that everyone had seen it—Hiruzen's face burned with shame. His reputation as Hokage had taken another hit, and he'd been forced to "compromise" with Akainu again.
"Traitor…" Kyo's already pale face whitened further. Konoha had forsaken him. "Why am I a traitor, but not Uchiha Akainu? He's killed so many villagers!" He pointed at Akainu, but in less than a second—
Splurch! A flash of a blade severed his index finger, which flew into the air and landed on the ground. "Don't point at Akainu-senpai with your filthy hand," Izumi said coldly, flicking the blood from her sword. She glared at Kyo, who clutched his hand in agony.
Hiruzen frowned, noticing Akainu's followers adopting his extreme tendencies. But Akainu spoke, "It doesn't look like the Third intends to let me take your clansmen."
Hiruzen paused, then made a gesture. The Anbu silently parted, no longer shielding the Sarutobi ninjas. Turning to Koharu, he said tiredly, "Koharu, have your people stand down too."
Koharu gritted her teeth, glaring at Akainu before barking, "Stand back!" The Root ninjas obeyed, retreating alongside the Anbu.
Akainu began naming names expressionlessly. "Sarutobi Kyo." Izumi stepped forward, pulling handcuffs from her Police Force gear and cuffing Kyo's hands behind his back, ignoring his missing finger. "Sarutobi Tsunaji." A trembling Sarutobi ninja was identified as others stared in shock. Izumi, out of handcuffs, used ninja wire to bind his wrists. "Sarutobi Koji." Anko moved past Hiruzen, restraining another ninja who tried to resist. She twisted his wrist, eliciting a scream. "Sarutobi Reina." Anko knocked out the screaming ninja with a chop, then turned to a pale middle-aged woman. A white snake shot from her sleeve, biting the woman's shoulder. With a cry, the woman collapsed, paralyzed.
"Take them all," Akainu ordered.
---
"Akainu… won again," Fugaku murmured from his vantage point, exhaling deeply. He couldn't understand why Akainu always prevailed against the Hokage, while his own compromises never succeeded. For the first time, doubt crept into his eyes. Have all my efforts over the years been misguided?