"Execute them! Execute them!"
"Set things right!"
"Uchiha forever!"
The roar before the Hokage Tower shook the night sky.
The Uchiha's cries spread like wildfire, igniting the long-suppressed fury of the other clans.
"Parasites! Scum!"
"No wonder Konoha's been rotting!"
"Tch—blind fools, all of us!"
Rotten leaves and smashed eggs rained down, pelting the Danzō lying on the ground.
Root members stood stiff as clay statues—any slight movement, and ANBU immediately pinned them down.
When the wall collapsed, everyone pushed.
And what's more—
This was three men who had already been trampled straight into the mud.
The Third Hokage's face was ashen.
He knew it.
His old companions were finished—completely.
The uproar lasted nearly half an hour before slowly dying down.
Kai looked down at Danzō beneath his foot.
[Defeated Shimura Danzō. Attempting trait copy.]
[Available traits: Sharingan Collector (Black), Bridge Blocker (Black)…]
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained Excellent Trait: Wood Release Cells · Incomplete (Blue).
Effect: Increases physical vitality and balances mental energy, but due to immature replication, usage consumes lifespan.]
Jackpot.
Kai's lips curved upward.
As expected of the so-called "Shadow Hokage."
He never disappointed.
This defective Wood Release trait was exactly the nourishment Kai needed—
To patch up his life force.
Or more precisely, to reduce the consumption caused by Wood Release cells.
He had already invested plenty of other traits into the original Wood Release line.
The returns had been… negligible.
Barely worth mentioning.
But this—
This counted as his third Wood Release–related trait.
"Stack Wood Release cells."
[Fusion successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained Excellent Trait: Wood Release Cells (Purple).
Effect: Grants autonomous control over cellular division speed and injury recovery.]
Evolved.
Wood Release Cells had evolved.
Now it was essentially a self-regulating switch for cell division.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't interfere much.
Of course—
With a Light-Gold body already in hand, Kai doubted he'd be getting seriously injured anytime soon anyway.
Good fortune lifted the spirit.
Before he realized it, Kai's small hand had already slid into his hair.
"…Tch. That's bad."
At the same moment, Fugaku stepped over and cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem. Kai… about what we do next—"
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward the Third Hokage.
Killing intent flickered.
He had hesitated before.
But now—
Things had gone too far to turn back.
Shua.
Before Fugaku could finish, even the peace-minded Second Elder rushed over.
Kunai clenched tightly in hand, eyes resolute.
He didn't say a word—
But his stance was clear:
Say the word, and we charge.
Even if it's the Third Hokage—
They'd kill him if they had to.
Clack—clack.
Sensing danger, ANBU immediately shifted, forming a partial shield in front of Hiruzen and the others.
The atmosphere turned taut once more.
Yet—
When those elite ANBU glanced unintentionally at Kai's small figure, their gazes wavered.
Avoided.
It was obvious.
Whether it was that unfathomable domain, or the crimson chakra hands earlier—
Both left them with a chilling sense of absolute disparity.
So much so that they didn't even dare leak killing intent.
Instead, their eyes turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hoping this undefeated old man could once again lead them down the "right" path.
Hiruzen: …
Why are you all looking at me?!
He wanted to shout it—
But he couldn't.
Enma's sudden retreat had already planted a seed of doubt in the so-called "Professor of the Ninja World."
This Uchiha boy…
He couldn't see through him.
So even after two of his old companions had been crushed to pulp, he only kept a dark expression—
And stayed silent.
Finally, with great difficulty, the Third Hokage spoke, his voice hoarse:
"Danzō and the others… were indeed my failure to supervise."
"This time… the Uchiha clan has my thanks."
As he finished, the old man's back bent a little further.
Even his eyes seemed cloudier.
"Just thanks?" Kai murmured, looking at the old man barely taller than himself.
His gaze brimmed with mockery.
"Surely the Hokage hasn't forgotten our slogan just now?"
Thud.
As expected—
There was no dodging it.
Hearing that, the Third Hokage's face darkened further.
Though buried in wrinkles, it was unmistakable.
"Third-sama—"
At that moment, the leaders of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans hurried forward.
The pressure Kai exerted was immense, but as the Third Hokage's most loyal core clans—
They had long been bound together.
If Hiruzen truly fell today, they wouldn't fare well either.
"Third-sama…"
"Hokage-sama!"
One after another, more clan heads stepped forward.
If Danzō and the two advisors were merely high-ranking officials, they might respect them—
But they wouldn't stake their clans.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was different.
He had been Hokage for decades.
His roots ran deep throughout Konoha.
Especially in a ninja world obsessed with bloodlines—
The web of interests was so tangled that even the Fire Daimyō was, in some ways, little more than a figurehead.
If the Uchiha truly moved against the Hokage now—
It could very well become a fight to the death.
Of the more than twenty clans present earlier, only about half remained before the Hokage Tower.
And standing at the forefront—
Was the Hyūga clan.
"Ahem…"
Seeing the situation spiraling, Hyūga Hiashi coughed softly and spoke in a low voice:
"Kai, the Uchiha may state their demands freely."
"I believe that for the sake of Konoha's peace, the Hokage-sama will agree—as long as they're not excessive."
His voice wasn't loud.
But the moment it fell, many eyes lit up.
And the Third Hokage's face darkened even more.
State demands freely?
Will definitely agree?
Hyūga Hiashi—whose side are you on?!
Hiruzen cursed inwardly.
He knew that if he openly objected, it would provoke dissatisfaction among the clans.
But if he didn't object—
BOOM!
Suddenly, a violent blast of compressed air tore forward!
Luckily, the Third Hokage's reflexes were still sharp.
With a quick twist, he dodged aside.
But the clan head behind him wasn't so lucky.
He barely had time to show confusion—
Then—
BANG!
PSHHK!
The air palm slammed into him, and blood burst from his mouth.
"Ghh—!"
He sucked in a sharp breath, his organs screaming in pain.
He looked at Kai.
Then at the Third Hokage.
For a moment, he didn't even know who to blame.
Blame Kai for striking ruthlessly?
Blame the Third Hokage for dodging too fast?
In the end, he reached a single conclusion:
Being weak is the real sin.
It was his own fault—for reacting too slowly.
After dodging, Hiruzen finally reacted.
He stared at Kai and shouted:
"Uchiha Kai! Attacking before the Hokage—what are you trying to do?!"
"Trying to do?"
Kai grinned, his small teeth flashing.
"I'm coming for you."
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