Nara Shikaku left without saying another word.
After all, he knew this was just going through the motions. Even Uchiha Jin, as the Hokage of New Konoha, never expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to surrender, did he?
So...
Having completed the formalities, Nara Shikaku couldn't be bothered to listen to Hiruzen Sarutobi's nonsense.
And to this...
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were filled with murderous intent. He wanted to kill Nara Shikaku countless times, but in the end, he chose to give up.
Because—it was meaningless!
First of all, Nara Shikaku's strength was average, and he currently held no power in New Konoha, so he wasn't considered an important figure. Killing him wouldn't actually affect the overall situation.
On the contrary...
It would only provoke New Konoha!
Although Orochimaru had created a team of Edo Tensei experts, no one knew their true strength since they hadn't been used yet. He had to preserve a final way out for the Sarutobi family.
In case he failed, even if he died... even if most of the Sarutobi Clan were purged, as long as the final line wasn't crossed, it might still be possible to preserve a trace of the Sarutobi bloodline.
"Damn it, why?"
"Why did things develop to this point?"
"Uchiha Jin!"
"God is truly blind. I clearly controlled and could have even wiped out the Uchiha. Why did heaven send such an intelligent guy to the Uchiha?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was incredibly furious.
If Uchiha Jin didn't exist, he was confident he could have finished off the Uchiha two years ago.
Even if the Uchiha could awaken one or two Mangekyo, it would only be a slight trouble for him; solving it wouldn't actually be a big problem.
But, as it happened... Uchiha Jin not only awakened the Mangekyo but was also a rare Uchiha with a brain!
An Uchiha with formidable strength and a brain not inferior to a Nara—this was the real reason the Village's situation spiraled out of control.
But, sigh!
After a helpless sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi opened a drawer and took out a new tobacco pipe.
Yes.
In the past two years, he had developed a habit of stocking new pipes. After all, because of Uchiha Jin, the destruction rate of his pipes had increased significantly.
If he didn't keep a certain stock, he would often fall into the predicament of having nothing to smoke.
Lighting another bowl of tobacco, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze became profound.
"Orochimaru, I'm counting on you!"
"I hope the Village can survive this tribulation. Otherwise, the foundation accumulated by the Sarutobi family for decades might completely vanish this time."
"I hope..."
"...everything goes smoothly!"
He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the pitch-black Village outside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into memory.
In the past, even at night, one could feel the warmth of thousands of lights in the Village.
But now?
Except for the four Ninja Clans like the Sarutobi, the entire Village was filled with deathly silence and desolation.
Finally, sigh!
After a helpless sigh, he shook his head and left.
Tomorrow would be the start of the war. He had to go to sleep early tonight to ensure he had plenty of energy for tomorrow... Early the next morning.
On New Konoha's side, at Training Ground 13.
The experts of the entire Village gathered like a forest. The casualness on Uchiha Jin's face was gone, replaced by an overbearing aura as deep as an abyss.
Looking at the experts under his command, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
He thought of the panic when he first transmigrated, the fear of not having a Gold Finger, the caution during the Third Great Ninja War, the silent preparation of a way out due to the night of the clan's massacre, and the despair when his parents were taken away by Root after he returned from cultivation... All of this was in the past!
With the Mangekyo awakened in despair, he had planned step by step until his wings were full. Now, only the final closing battle remained before he could truly and completely control the entire Konoha... and it would be a Konoha he created himself, one without any traces of the Senju Clan, without any constraints, a Konoha that belonged only to him!
Thinking of this, a surge of heroic pride instantly rose within him.
Finally.
Taking a deep breath, he immediately spoke coldly.
"Set out!"
Uchiha Jin gave the order.
He didn't use excessive sentimentality, and there wasn't even a need for a speech.
Because he had absolute control over the Village before him; he didn't need to engage in nonsense like the Will of Fire as Hiruzen Sarutobi did.
In an instant.
As Uchiha Jin left, everyone present followed behind him.
Twenty minutes later.
When the group arrived at the entrance of Old Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had already been waiting for a long time.
Clearly.
They also didn't want today's battle to take place inside the Old Konoha Village.
"Uchiha Jin, you've gone too far!"
"When your Uchiha wanted to break away from the Village to form New Konoha, I didn't stop you and watched as each of your clans left."
"Even if we are no longer from the same Village, we both belong to the ninja Villages of the Land of Fire. Our Konoha was also willing to maintain friendly contact with your Village."
"But your appetite is too large!"
"Not only did you secretly manipulate and incite riots in the Village, but now you even want to completely destroy our Village?"
"If this can be tolerated, what cannot!"
"Today, even if I have to sacrifice this old life of mine, I will slay you, this evil Uchiha, right here!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the initiative to attack.
He firmly held onto the banner of 'justice,' determined to brand Uchiha Jin as a traitor.
Even if Uchiha Jin could destroy his Village, he wanted him to bear these stains forever.
As a ruler for so many years, using these tactics had become almost instinctive.
But, unfortunately...
If it were anyone else, they might have had to endure it silently, but Uchiha Jin didn't fall for this at all.
He didn't even lift an eyelid as he retorted directly.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, stop trying to paint yourself in a good light!"
"I originally couldn't be bothered with the affairs of your Old Konoha, but the villagers who sought refuge with us hate you too much and insisted that I, the Hokage, seek justice for them!"
"On this point, I am also very helpless!"
"But considering we all belong to the Land of Fire, and considering the many rotten things you've done in the entire Village during your reign as the Third Hokage, I, as a Hokage, don't want to let the word 'Kage' be shamed!"
"So I have come for the words 'fairness' and 'justice'!"
"Our New Konoha is going to eradicate you, this tumor, you who have shamed the title of 'Hokage'!"
"So, enough talk!"
"Are you ready to accept the judgment of 'justice'?"
Uchiha Jin spoke with a righteous and noble air.
His words highlighted his own helplessness and expressed his determination to seek justice for all the wronged villagers for the sake of fairness and righteousness.
And to this...
Hearing these words, Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood!