The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was extremely important to all of Konoha.
Therefore, no matter the reason, Hiruzen Sarutobi could never abandon the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
More importantly, Hiruzen knew full well that the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails.
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Uchiha Madara had once controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked Hashirama Senju, the First.
Therefore, Hiruzen absolutely couldn't let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki fall into the hands of the Uchiha Clan.
If someone from the Uchiha Clan gained control of the Nine-Tails' power, it would be a disaster for him.
So when Hiruzen heard Bai Ye refuse without hesitation, his expression turned grave.
"What did you say? Uchiha Byakuya, don't forget who you are..."
"You're only the captain of the Security Force. I'm the Hokage of Konoha..."
"Hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at once..."
Hiruzen immediately invoked his status as Hokage.
He wanted to use his authority to force Bai Ye to comply and take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki back from him.
But, unfortunately, that didn't work on Bai Ye.
"I told you: from this moment on, Kushina Uzumaki belongs to our Uchiha Clan..."
Bai Ye held Kushina and spoke fearlessly.
"You... Uchiha Byakuya, are you really going to betray Konoha?!..."
"How dare you defy the Hokage's orders..."
Hiruzen continued shouting sternly, intending to pin a few labels of traitor to Konoha on Bai Ye.
But, unfortunately, Hiruzen hadn't even finished speaking before Bai Ye cut him off.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, you're the Hokage, yet you failed to keep the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki safe..."
"You let Kushina rampage and destroy Konoha... You're the one who betrayed Konoha..."
"Since you're no good as Hokage, leave it to the Uchiha Clan..."
"It's all for the Will of Fire..."
Bai Ye knew that if it came down to political rhetoric alone, he might not be a match for Hiruzen.
Hiruzen could easily make black seem white, then use the Will of Fire as an excuse. No one could find fault with him.
So Bai Ye didn't give Hiruzen the chance to finish what he was saying.
You like using the Will of Fire, don't you? Well, I can use it too.
Let's see what you'll do now.
Hearing Bai Ye's words, Hiruzen's face darkened even further.
"It's all for the Will of Fire" — those were my words!
You stole my line. What am I supposed to say now?!
"Uchiha Byakuya, put down the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at once..."
"This is your final warning..."
Hiruzen said in a low, ominous voice.
"I told you, Kushina Uzumaki belongs to the Uchiha Clan now..."
"No one can take Kushina Uzumaki away..."
Bai Ye looked at Hiruzen and spoke with utter disdain.
"Damn it! Anbu, heed my command!..."
"Take back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at once..."
Hiruzen gave the Anbu surrounding them an order.
Although Hiruzen knew Bai Ye possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and was extremely powerful,
he wouldn't easily pick a fight with Bai Ye before finding a way to counter the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But things were different now. Bai Ye actually intended to take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki away.
That was something he simply couldn't tolerate.
Even though Hiruzen didn't want to fight Bai Ye, he had no choice now.
At Hiruzen's command, the Anbu around them drew their weapons in unison.
"What are you Anbu doing?!..."
"How dare you attack the Security Force? Are you trying to betray Konoha?!..."
Bai Ye spoke to the Anbu in a hostile tone.
At the same time, the Security Force members around them gripped their weapons tightly.
"Hmph. I'm the Hokage. I decide who's a rogue ninja..."
"Attack! Take back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at once..."
Hiruzen had no desire to keep up the act. He dropped his usual kindhearted façade.
Now, he only wanted to take back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as quickly as possible.
"Yes... Attack!"
At the order, the Anbu charged straight at Bai Ye without the slightest hesitation.
"So you really are going to betray Konoha..."
"Then I'll judge you in the name of the Will of Fire..."
"Security Force, heed my command! Eliminate every last member of the Anbu..."
Bai Ye immediately ordered them to attack as well.
"Yes..."
At Bai Ye's command, the Uchiha Clan shinobi in the Security Force showed no hesitation either. They drew their weapons and charged at the Anbu.
Although the shinobi who made it into the Anbu were all elite Konoha ninja, and extremely powerful,
the Uchiha Clan shinobi in the Security Force were even stronger.
In particular, the Uchiha shinobi who had awakened the Sharingan were more than a match for the Anbu.
With the Sharingan's powerful abilities, the Security Force members easily overwhelmed the Anbu.
This was the kind of strength the Uchiha were supposed to have!
Seeing the Uchiha Clan shinobi beating the Anbu, Bai Ye couldn't help thinking to himself.
When all was said and done, the shinobi world was a place where strength reigned supreme.
And in the shinobi world, the easiest way to grow stronger was to have a powerful bloodline limit.
Shinobi with bloodline limits could easily overwhelm ordinary ninja of comparable strength.
Even if the occasional ordinary ninja trained themselves to the point of matching a bloodline-limit wielder, they were few and far between.
Bai Ye really couldn't understand why Konoha, with all its powerful bloodline clans, didn't make proper use of them and build good relations with them.
Instead, Konoha constantly targeted those clans, as if afraid they might grow stronger.
In the end, Konoha's population dwindled.
The greatest shinobi village in the world had been reduced to a shadow of its former self.
Nagato's Six Paths of Pain alone had been enough to destroy Konoha.
If Naruto Uzumaki's Talk no Jutsu hadn't worked in the end, whether Konoha still existed would have been anyone's guess.
"Damn it, those Uchiha..."
"This can't go on. I have to end this fight right away..."
Seeing his Anbu getting beaten by the Uchiha Clan shinobi, Hiruzen's expression turned grim.
He knew full well that the longer this dragged on, the worse things would get for him.
He had to take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki back from Bai Ye and end the fight immediately.
"Whoosh..."
With that, Hiruzen didn't hesitate. He yanked off his Hokage robe, revealing a well-built shinobi outfit underneath.
When he'd heard that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had gone berserk, he'd prepared for battle and changed into his combat gear.
But he hadn't expected Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, to be subdued by Bai Ye.
Still, his preparations hadn't gone to waste. Now he would personally snatch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki from Bai Ye's arms.
"Whoosh..."
Before anyone could react, Hiruzen used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared in front of Bai Ye, reaching for Kushina Uzumaki in his arms.
At this point, he didn't care about attacking by surprise or saving face.
Taking back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was what mattered.
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