Off With Hiruzen Sarutobi's Head!

Uchiha Kazuto had finished speaking and released the rope.

The sharp blade of the guillotine fell, effortlessly severing Hiruzen Sarutobi's head. Crimson blood sprayed from his neck as his head hit the ground, rolling twice. He stared at Uchiha Kazuto with eyes full of fury and even terror, dying with his eyes wide open.

After hearing Uchiha Kazuto's words, he understood—he understood everything!

A conspiracy—this was all Uchiha Kazuto's conspiracy!

What did he mean by "I made you do it"? That Study Corps, the brutal beatings of Konoha villagers—one swing every six strikes, beating people until their souls scattered—wasn't that all your own initiative? Wasn't it all your own proposal?

I didn't even hint at it, not once!

Even the cuts to the clans' benefits were started by you! I never had such thoughts before!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious. He had been deceived. From start to finish, Uchiha Kazuto's loyal facade had fooled him. Even moments ago, he had been wondering why things had turned out this way, never once suspecting Uchiha Kazuto. He had truly, from the bottom of his heart, considered Uchiha Kazuto a good dog of his!

He had already believed in Uchiha Kazuto wholeheartedly!

But he never imagined that the mastermind behind it all was Uchiha Kazuto—this man right under his nose.

Uchiha Kazuto had deceived all of Konoha!

He wanted to roar, to scream, to expose Uchiha Kazuto's conspiracy to the world, but he could no longer do so. He was left with only a head. He was dead.

"Lord Hokage, may you... go in peace."

Uchiha Kazuto looked down, meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, his face utterly cold. Not a trace of so-called loyalty could be seen on it.

His goal was finally achieved. He had killed Hiruzen Sarutobi in the name of righteousness, and in front of everyone, under their expectations, he had slain him.

If it were an ordinary person, during the course of the action, they might have gradually changed their mind, been moved by Hiruzen Sarutobi, softened, and been unable to strike—perhaps even abandoned the coup, seeking other ways to become Hokage, or even giving up on becoming Hokage altogether.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Kazuto was just an ordinary man. He didn't know what it meant to be moved, nor would he soften because his feigned loyalty had been acknowledged by Hiruzen Sarutobi. He wouldn't hesitate to strike him down.

"Late sleep! Late sleep!"

"Bowl break!!!"

With Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, the entire Konoha erupted in cheers. Everyone was immersed in an ocean of joy, unable to pull themselves out. This inherently evil Hiruzen Sarutobi was finally dead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was dead, and Konoha would know peace. Hiruzen Sarutobi was dead, and the clear sky had returned!

The bitter days of the past were finally over!

They no longer had to be beaten for saying a single bad word on the street, no longer had to raise their hands every day shouting "For Lord Hokage," no longer had to be forced to listen to Hiruzen Sarutobi's speeches.

"Lord Kazuto! A village cannot be without a shadow for a day. Please become our new Hokage, our new leader!"

"Lord Kazuto, your loyalty to the village is clear to us all. Please become the new Hokage!"

"Lord Hokage!"

"Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!"

Just then, faint cries rose from the crowd. Amid the surging enthusiasm, these calls spread like wildfire, expanding and spreading until, in the blink of an eye, they echoed throughout all of Konoha.

"You... this... I have been utterly loyal to the village. Now that Hiruzen Sarutobi has only just died, how could I... how could I..."

Seeing this, Uchiha Kazuto's face showed a flustered expression.

At that moment, a ninja rushed over carrying a golden robe and draped it over Uchiha Kazuto's shoulders.

"Lord Kazuto, please become our new Hokage!"

The ninja knelt, speaking with utmost respect.

"You... you all have truly put me in a difficult position, ah!"

Uchiha Kazuto shook his head helplessly at this sight, then stepped forward.

"Comrades of Konoha, from today onward, I am the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. From now on, I will show you a more advanced, a better Konoha. I will ensure that Konoha's ninja receive better treatment, and that ordinary people live better lives here!"

Uchiha Kazuto spoke seriously, his expression earnest.

At the same moment he became Hokage, the efficiency of his Dojutsu reached its peak, beginning to operate in full force. Surging, overwhelming power churned wildly in his eyes, and those crimson irises grew even more eerie.

"Lord Kazuto, we adore you!"

"Lord Hokage, we adore you!"

"Loyalty!!!"

"Sun Slash... is dead..."

Torifu Akimichi stared blankly at Hiruzen Sarutobi's corpse. Beside him, others held his body tightly, restraining him from moving.

The Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara clans had deep ties with the Sarutobi clan, so they knew nothing of the contents of Shimura Danzo's diary, nor were they aware of the undercurrents stirring in the village.

Otherwise, given their clans' relationship with the Sarutobi clan, they would surely have alerted Hiruzen Sarutobi, thus scaring off the prey.

As for why they didn't know...

Did they really think those villagers were truly in secret when they conspired in private? If not for the Military Police Force covering for them, their actions would have been discovered long ago. Without the Military Police Force's cover, any undercurrents, any protests, would have been thoroughly exposed by the Anbu.

Moreover, if not for the Uchiha's earlier strategy of imposing extremely strict control over Konoha, to the point where villagers outside and inside their homes dared not even speak or engage in any entertainment, then so many people trying to stage protests and a coup would have been found out long ago.

What seemed like coincidence was actually long premeditated!

As for the other ninja clans, Uchiha Kazuto deliberately let them know. Without his behind-the-scenes manipulation, those clans would never have learned the contents of the Diary of Shimura Danzo.

After all, no ninja would be idle enough to go around monitoring a bunch of ordinary people. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, before the incident occurred, wouldn't have wasted time spying on commoners.

Because before this, who could have imagined that a group of ordinary villagers in the village would want to stage a coup, organize protests, and replace the Hokage? It was sheer madness.

There was no precedent!

And most importantly...