Yamanaka Inoichi struggled to make himself clear.
His words came out measured, almost strained, as though each sentence had to be weighed before it was allowed to exist.
Sweat gathered at his temples despite the cool air.
When his voice faltered, his eyes shifted—instinctively—toward Shikaku.
Shikaku understood immediately.
He understood what the boy was trying to force out of Inoichi's mouth… and what would happen once it was spoken.
If Inoichi said it himself, the village higher-ups—and by extension the three great clans—would be pulled directly into the open.
Accusations would stop being whispers.
A murmur rippled through the gathered villagers as Inoichi hesitated.
Say it, Inoichi thought desperately.
Or don't. Just don't make me be the one.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Every face in the crowd suddenly felt closer. Too close.
Shikaku exhaled slowly.
There was no avoiding it.
Whether he liked it or not, someone had to say it—and Inoichi was already on the verge of breaking.
He stepped in.
"Toyoma," Shikaku said, his voice calm but heavy, "whatever Kuroto was doing would have been under orders from the higher-ups. He served them during that time."
The moment the words left his mouth—
The crowd stirred.
"What does that mean…?"
"Higher-ups?"
The whispers spread like sparks in dry grass.
Inoichi's heart dropped a beat.
He said it. He actually said it.
Toyoma heard the words—and understood immediately.
So here comes the main act.
"So you're saying he worked under ANBU," Toyoma said evenly.
The murmurs grew louder.
"Then tell me, Nara Patriarch—why would ANBU attack the Uchiha?"
That did it.
The crowd erupted.
"Why would the village do that?"
"Are they lying to us?!"
Inoichi felt his breath hitch.
This isn't good. This isn't nice.
His palms were slick with sweat. He could already imagine the fallout—the elders demanding explanations, the clans hardening their stances.
Toyoma didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
"You do realise," he continued calmly, "that by saying this, you're making a serious accusation against the village leadership."
His eyes swept across the gathered villagers.
"In front of everyone."
Shikaku met Toyoma's gaze, his expression unreadable—but his thoughts weren't.
Why are you saying it like you don't already know… when you're the one forcing me into this corner?
Inoichi swallowed hard.
Stop him. Someone stop him.
But no one moved.
"Or," Toyoma said softly, almost thoughtfully, "are you all simply shifting the blame?"
Silence fell.
Not the calm kind.
The dangerous kind.
Toyoma's gaze shifted from Shikaku… to Inoichi… and finally to the three clan heads standing before him.
Every pair of eyes followed.
"Yes, Nara Patriarch. That is a serious accusation."
The voice cut through the crowd.
Every head turned.
The Third Hokage had arrived—Hiruzen Sarutobi—flanked by a squad of ANBU.
Beside him stood the two elders, Homura and Koharu.
It was Koharu who had spoken.
Her gaze was sharp, calculating.
Homura followed immediately, his tone stern.
"You cannot accuse the village without proof, Nara clan head."
Toyoma's eyes shifted.
From the village higher-ups… to Shikaku.
Then he spoke—his voice not loud, but clear enough for every villager to hear.
"Since the village leadership is here,"
Toyoma said calmly, "it should now be easy to determine who the traitors inside our village are."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
"Those who would harm the families of shinobi," he continued, "who are fighting for the very village they live in."
His gaze settled on Hiruzen.
Then the elders.
Koharu's expression hardened.
"Uchiha boy," she said coldly, "this is not how one seeks explanation or justice. Marching into another clan's area with an armed group—do you not know the village has rules?"
Her words found support immediately.
"Yes, complaints should be filed properly!"
"Even if they suffered, this isn't the way!"
"The Uchiha went too far!"
Toyoma listened in silence.
Then he looked at Koharu.
"It's simple," he said.
"I don't trust the village leadership."
The crowd froze.
"To me," Toyoma continued evenly, "your actions resemble those of Cloud spies—harming Konoha from within, yet roaming freely."
His eyes sharpened.
"Only because the clans outside the Uchiha are too cowardly to investigate you."
The world stopped.
Hiruzen stiffened.
Homura and Koharu went completely still.
This was no longer an accusation.
It was a direct challenge to their identity as Konoha shinobi.
The villagers fell into absolute silence.
Not a whisper.
Not a breath.
Shikaku stared at the boy.
This child… is truly fearless.
Fear crept into his eyes—not of the elders, but of what Toyoma had just unleashed.
Even the Uchiha were shaken.
Those who had attended previous meetings had heard hints of this before—but hearing it said openly, in front of the entire village…
The line had been crossed.
Hiruzen stared at Toyoma.
Gone was the calm, grandfatherly Hokage.
Anger burned openly in his eyes—raw, furious, unrestrained.
For a moment, it felt as if he might devour the boy where he stood.
His voice, when he spoke, carried authority that pressed down on everyone present.
"Boy," Hiruzen said sharply, "do not cross that line."
The crowd stiffened.
"How dare you address the leaders of this village as spies of an enemy nation?"
Koharu and Homura both turned toward Hiruzen in alarm.
They understood immediately.
In front of the villagers… the Third Hokage had lost face.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi would not let that pass without punishment.
"You will apologise," Hiruzen continued coldly, "to the elders—and to me. Right now."
His voice hardened further.
"Do you have any idea what your words can do? Accusing the village leadership publicly undermines morale. It attacks the dignity and integrity of those entrusted with protecting Konoha."
"This is not just an insult," he said."It endangers the village itself."
As Hiruzen spoke, a figure lingered at the edge of the gathering.
Danzo Shimura.
He had been listening the entire time.
Kuroto was Root.
This matter touched him directly—but Danzo had waited, silent and patient, for the perfect moment.
Now, it had arrived.
Other clan heads had gathered as well, drawn by the escalating tension.
When they saw Toyoma standing alone against the village leadership, shock flickered across their faces.
Fear followed.
The moment Hiruzen finished speaking, they knew it.
The line had been crossed.
Danzo stepped forward.
"Yes," he said calmly, confidence etched into his features. "Uchiha brat, you are openly questioning the leadership of this village."
His single visible eye swept across the Uchiha present.
"You accuse them of treachery. You question their will to protect Konoha."
A thin smile curved his lips.
"That is more than enough for us to conclude that you are deliberately creating chaos within the village."
Danzo turned slightly toward Hiruzen.
"Third Hokage," he said, "rather than demanding an apology, we should apprehend him."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
Hiruzen did not even glance at Danzo.
His eyes never left Toyoma.
"Because you are a child," Hiruzen said slowly, "I am willing to let this go—if you apologise. Here. In front of everyone."
Silence followed.
Several clan heads exchanged looks.
They did not want escalation.
They did not want attention.
They did not want to stand where Toyoma stood.
"This has gone too far," one of them said hurriedly. "Children make mistakes."
"Yes," another agreed. "You should apologise to the Hokage."
The Kurama clan head spoke next, his voice strained."Uchiha kid, swallow your pride. Say sorry."
One by one, more voices joined in.
Not in support.
But in fear.
Toyoma stood alone.
Surrounded by the village.
The Uchiha clan members were deeply shaken.
Whispers rippled through them—fearful, conflicted.
Should he apologise?Or has this already gone too far?
Even among the Uchiha, doubt crept in.
Shisui, standing near the Hokage, clenched his fists before finally speaking.
"Toyoma," he said urgently, "you should apologise. Don't make this worse. Hokage-sama is an understanding leader."
Toyoma closed his eyes.
For a single moment, the world seemed to pause.
When he opened them—
Six tomoe flared within his Sharingan.
A sharp, unnatural pressure crashed down on the square.
Toyoma's gaze swept across everyone present—from the Third Hokage… to the elders… to every clan head… to the civilians standing at the edge of the crowd.
Hiruzen and the elders stiffened.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
For the first time, worry crept into their expressions.
The Third Hokage forced his face into calm and drew breath to speak—
But Toyoma spoke first.
He turned toward the Uchiha Grand Elder.
"Grandpa Setsuna," Toyoma asked calmly, "have you ever seen a play where a thief calls someone else a thief?"
Setsuna blinked, confused.
Then he laughed.
"Hahaha… I've seen it today, son."
The sound echoed.
Hiruzen's anger flared violently.
"Boy—don't test—"
Toyoma cut him off.
His voice was not loud.
It was clear.
Cold.
Deadly.
"Hey, monkey-bred," Toyoma said, staring straight at Hiruzen.
The entire square froze.
"Have you and your clan grown so fat from consuming this village that you truly believe you can do anything?"
Gasps erupted.
Toyoma didn't stop.
"Do you think these clans and civilian shinobi are your source of confidence?" he continued."That they give you the right to infiltrate other clans' territory… attack their families…"
His Sharingan burned.
"And then stand there thinking—I am the Hokage. I am the law. I am a god."
Silence.
Absolute, suffocating silence.
No one saw a monster in that moment.
They saw something worse.
A mad demon who had chosen to burn the world rather than bow.
Hiruzen stood frozen.
For the first time since becoming Hokage—
He was being openly defied.
And humiliated.
In front of the entire village.