Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart twisted in pain. It seemed that the position of Hokage he had painstakingly maintained for so many years had ultimately been corroded beyond recognition in places he could not see.
He surveyed the house damaged by the Nine-Tails' Chakra, then solemnly ordered, "Take Lady Mito's body to the place left behind by the First Hokage."
Just then, dark clouds rolled across the sky, blocking what little light remained.
Sarutobi Hiruzen withdrew his gaze from the clouds and slowly turned to his two old friends. In a low voice, he asked, "Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, over the years, have you used the power in your hands to obtain too many things you shouldn't have?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance before stepping forward and speaking quietly. "Hiruzen, we stopped being children long ago. We now have groups of juniors around us, even entire clans. We merely used some of the village's money. That money would have been distributed to others anyway. Rather than give it to them, why not give it to our clans? Aren't you the same?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen flew into a rage. "What do you mean, I'm the same? Everything I do is for Konoha! For Konoha, I would even sacrifice everything!"
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze, like gunpowder on the verge of being lit—ready to explode at the slightest spark.
Seeing that Mitokado Homura's persuasion had failed, Utatane Koharu hurried forward to smooth things over. "Now that we've become Konoha's elders, our juniors will inevitably use that authority to gain more benefits, one way or another. That is beyond doubt. Doesn't that include you as well? The truly strongest clan in Konoha right now is actually your Sarutobi Clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply. He knew that if they continued, the matter