Lord Brahman!

With a single finger, the life force of Uchiha Shisui began to rapidly fade; his heart ceased its beating, and he began to slip into a near-death state.

After waiting a moment, and confirming that Uchiha Shisui's life had reached its absolute nadir and was on the verge of total extinction, Uchiha Brahman took out a golden fruit and placed it upon Uchiha Shisui's forehead.

Following this, he looked at the struggling Shimura Danzō behind him. To prevent this old thing from shouting and screaming, those chakra chains not only bound him to the ground but also sealed his chakra and constricted his throat to keep him silent.

"Danzō, it's your turn!"

Uchiha Brahman made a casual gesture, and a kunai formed of chakra appeared in his hand. He then drove the blade into Shimura Danzō's skin and began to slide it slowly along.

Scarlet blood flowed from the wound, and Shimura Danzō let out sounds of fury and agony. Gradually, the old man's eyes shifted from rage to terror, until finally, the effects of Izanagi came to an end.

"Base commoner!"

Brahman spoke a single word, then slammed a fist into the center of Shimura Danzō's back, right over his heart.

Thump-thump!

Shimura Danzō's heartbeat stopped instantly, and he began his descent toward death. Seeing this, Uchiha Brahman smiled and took out a Seed of Blessing, placing it on the old man's head. As the Seed of Blessing melted away, the old man successfully became a thrall of Uchiha Brahman.

"Greetings to the great Lord Brahman!"

At this moment, Uchiha Shisui arrived behind Brahman, knelt down devoutly, and kowtowed with immense reverence.

"Hahaha..."

Brahman turned his head, looked at Uchiha Shisui, and burst into laughter.

Nearby, having received the Seed of Blessing, Shimura Danzō opened his eyes.

Brahman snapped his fingers, and the chakra chains binding Shimura Danzō vanished. The old man then climbed to his feet and knelt on the ground.

"Shimura Danzō, greetings to the great Lord Brahman! The ninja world shall eventually become the possession of the great Brahman!"

Shimura Danzō kowtowed devoutly as he spoke.

"Hahahahahaha!!!"

Uchiha Brahman laughed heartily, then lowered his head.

"Very good. Go back and do what you must!"

Uchiha Brahman grinned, then performed a hand seal and vanished.

"Yes, great Brahman!"

The two figures bowed and offered thanks to the spot where Brahman had just stood, then, as if nothing had happened, began to clear away the corpses of the Root ninjas on the ground.

Praise Brahman!

On the other side, at the Daimyo Palace.

The Daimyo, who had been drinking tea, suddenly set down his cup.

"Someone come! We depart tomorrow for Konoha! It is time to change the Hokage!"

"Yes, Daimyo!"

"In Konoha, there is no one left who is my match. It is time to reclaim my position. That damned old man Sarutobi, the position of Hokage should have been mine, Brahman's, all along!"

Inside the fish shop, Uchiha Brahman closed the door, looked toward the distant Hokage office building, and grinned.

At this moment, no one knew that a massive upheaval was about to occur.

That same evening, Sarutobi Hiruzen received news that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would be arriving in Konoha, and he learned the purpose of the Daimyo's visit: to replace the Hokage.

"...Has the Daimyo lost his mind?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the window, watching the night sky outside. Although the Daimyo was the nominal ruler of the Land of Fire and the ultimate superior of all ninjas, he did not actually possess the authority to appoint a Hokage—or rather, it wasn't that he lacked the power, but that he lacked the ability to unilaterally appoint someone else as a Kage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know what had gone wrong with the Daimyo's brain. Was he too old? Had he developed dementia?

The next afternoon.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire arrived in Konoha with a group of guards.

"The Daimyo..."

A group of villagers looked respectfully at the old man surrounded by guards, while some Konoha ninjas, having received orders from the Hokage, carefully protected the Daimyo.

Upon arriving in Konoha, the Daimyo did not go to see Sarutobi Hiruzen first.

Instead, he headed straight for the fish shop where Uchiha Brahman resided.

The numerous ninjas and commoners did not understand the Daimyo's intentions and could only follow along.

Inside the fish shop, Uchiha Brahman lay lazily on a chair, holding a gray-skinned rat the size of a cat in his arms.

Just then, the area outside the fish shop became lively.

"Has he arrived? Hehehe!"

Uchiha Brahman tossed the large rat in his arms onto the floor, stretched, and waited quietly.

Outside the door.

"..."

The Daimyo stood at the doorway, trembling with excitement. Under the confused gazes of those around him, he walked slowly toward the shop entrance as if making a pilgrimage.

Several guards followed closely behind the Daimyo.

Soon, the Daimyo entered the fish shop.

"You've come."

Uchiha Brahman looked at the old man indifferently. The next moment, he saw the old man kneel on the ground with extreme devotion.

"This lowly subject pays respects to the great Lord Brahman!"

The Daimyo knelt on the ground with utmost piety, kowtowing and bowing to Uchiha Brahman.

"My Lord!"

Seeing this scene, the guards beside him were instantly struck with terror. No, the ruler of a nation was actually kneeling and kowtowing to a commoner who sold fish? Was this a genjutsu? When did it happen!

The guards immediately glared at Uchiha Brahman.

"You bastard, what have you done to our Lord!!!"

Angry shouts rang out, and the guards prepared to attack immediately.

"Stop! Do not be disrespectful to the Lord!"

The next moment, the Daimyo let out a roar, trying to stop the guards' actions. Unfortunately, the guards had already concluded that the Daimyo was under control. After only a moment of hesitation, they immediately prepared to unleash ninjutsu to attack Uchiha Brahman.

"Sigh, what useless things. You can't even command your own subordinates!"

Seeing this, Uchiha Brahman shook his head helplessly. The next moment, a pair of scarlet eyes appeared, instantly dominating the vision of the guards.

Not long after.

Uchiha Brahman followed behind the Daimyo as they stepped outside, with the guards standing behind him in absolute reverence.

"What's going on? Who is he? Did the Daimyo come here just for this person?"

Some commoners looked at Uchiha Brahman and said in surprise. Anyone with eyes could see that the Daimyo had come here with a purpose, and that the old man's attitude toward this youth was incredibly respectful.

"I know him, he's a fishmonger, and he's from the Uchiha clan. I come here to buy fish all the time!"

At this moment, some commoners spoke up, and everyone was shocked. A common fish-selling youth had actually received such courtesy from the Daimyo, to the point that he was the first person the Daimyo visited upon arriving in Konoha.

The Uchiha clan?

In the crowd, some Anbu ninjas heard the words of the commoners. After memorizing the appearance of Uchiha Brahman, they departed immediately.