Hashirama, You're Really Coming?

Hearing Yutaro's well-reasoned speech, the Uchiha in the shrine were swept up in his emotions and felt deeply seen.

Many shinobi who had awakened the Sharingan had lost their parents, siblings, and other family members in the Shinobi Wars.

They had shed blood for Konoha and been wounded at Kannabi Bridge...

Just listen to him. What a speech.

So even among the Uchiha who supported Fugaku, quite a few felt that Elder Yutaro was right.

Besides, for the moment, both sides were in agreement: they supported sending troops and backing Konoha's war against Kumogakure.

"That monkey, Sarutobi Hiruzen, should just step down!"

"Exactly. As the village's supreme leader, he lets Danzo and Orochimaru run wild; as Hokage, he refuses to lead from the front; as a teacher, he lets the Legendary Sannin go to ruin. He's the very picture of someone who does nothing and gets nothing done."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, you're unfit to be Hokage!"

"..."

After denouncing the Third Hokage, it was only natural to compare him with others. Someone began listing the Uchiha Clan's many fine deeds.

"We Uchiha are the true role models of Konoha!"

"Well said! Our Police Force treats shinobi from clans big and small equally. Even if the Hokage's son breaks the law, he's punished just like anyone else. We enforce the law fairly and impartially."

"I'd like to add something about our work. Within the Police Force, we hold small meetings every five days and large ones every ten. We're diligent in our work and thorough in our reviews."

"Let me add to that. In our daily lives, we Uchiha keep our distance from the people and never take so much as a needle or thread from them. We don't exploit our monopoly on medicinal herbs to fleece the public, either. We're the role models for clans big and small."

One good deed after another was brought up, and the midmonth clan meeting—which had started with reminiscing about the clan's hardships—finally got back on track.

The scene was getting out of hand. Quite a few Uchiha broke down on the spot, leaving the men silent and the women in tears.

Another day of feeling sorry for our Uchiha.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Clan elder Amano rapped his cane against the floor, restoring order.

"Everyone's had their say. We'll discuss impeaching the Hokage another time. Today's topic is whether the Uchiha will accept the Hokage's mass conscription and take part in the fighting."

Amano paused. When no one objected, he continued:

"Now, let's vote by a show of hands."

Kazuhiko didn't need to see the vote to know the outcome. The result was—

The Uchiha would definitely accept the conscription and take part in the war against Kumogakure.

How did he know? Because he had a cheat.

At that moment, [Deep Blue] displayed the answer clearly:

[Worldline unfolding...]

[Uchiha Yutaro: The Uchiha and Konoha really are sick. We need to operate immediately and cut out the tumor growing on Konoha! Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi must step down!]

[Worldline unfolded—]

[Worldline One: The butterfly wings you've set in motion are brewing a storm that will sweep across the entire Uchiha Clan. Take part in the campaign against Kumogakure, end the war successfully, and push for the Hokage's impeachment.]

[Reward: 2 chances to draw a Kage Level trait; Yutaro's favor increases significantly. (The Uchiha's fated course seems to be shifting. Will it hasten their destruction or lead them toward a new beginning?)]

[Worldline Two: You take back a flap of your wings, putting safety first. Do not take part in the campaign, and secretly obstruct the Hokage's impeachment.]

[Reward: 1 chance to draw a Kage Level trait; Sarutobi Hiruzen's favor increases significantly. (The Uchiha must return to their rightful path. You will personally bury a budding seed.)]

[Worldline Three: You flap your wings and unleash the storm. Take part in the campaign against Kumogakure, end the war successfully, and support a new Hokage.]

[Reward: 2 chances to draw a Kage Level trait; Yutaro's favor increases significantly; unlock a designated shinobi trait pool. (The Uchiha's fate will be in your hands...)]

Kazuhiko studied the worldline quests, his feelings complicated.

"The butterfly wings..."

Without him, the Uchiha would most likely still accept the conscription and take part in the campaign.

Otherwise, given all the conflicts between the Uchiha and Konoha, they wouldn't have waited several more years before attempting a coup, leading to the events of the Uchiha Clan's massacre.

But the idea of impeaching the Third Hokage was definitely the result of the butterfly wings he had "set in motion."

According to the original story, the Third Hokage remained Hokage until Orochimaru killed him.

And judging by Yutaro's speech and the worldline prompt, the idea of impeaching the Third Hokage had come from Kazuhiko.

Just as [Deep Blue] had described:

[The butterfly wings Kazuhiko set in motion are brewing a storm that will sweep across the entire Uchiha Clan.]

Kazuhiko studied the three worldlines and fell into thought.

Impeach the Hokage, secretly stop the impeachment, or support a new Hokage.

Given Konoha's current state and its future, any of them could happen.

First, impeaching the Hokage wasn't unprecedented in Konoha. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had witnessed it firsthand.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha won a costly victory over Iwagakure.

Hiruzen had advocated and implemented a peace agreement, refusing to demand compensation from the Land of Earth and Iwagakure in order to end the war quickly.

The decision sparked widespread discontent throughout Konoha. Danzo saw his opportunity and joined forces with the Konoha High Command to hold Hiruzen accountable.

In the end, Hiruzen resigned to take responsibility, then used the opportunity to put Minato Namikaze forward for the Hokage Position. Danzo's attempt to seize power failed.

So impeaching the Hokage wasn't far-fetched. They just needed a ready-made reason to push it through.

And such a reason existed!

It was about to happen, too.

The Hyuga Incident!

Under the pretext of signing a peace treaty, Kumogakure sent a delegation to Konoha.

But their true goal was to covet the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. On the night the treaty was signed, they sent a Jonin to sneak into the Hyuga Clan Compound and kidnap young Hinata, only for Hiashi to discover and kill him on the spot.

The Kumogakure delegation denied everything and turned the accusations around, claiming that Konoha had killed a peace envoy and had no intention of negotiating in good faith.

Threatening to start a war, Kumogakure's leadership made an outrageous demand of Konoha:

They insisted that the body of the culprit, Hyuga Hiashi, be handed over as compensation.

In the end, the Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan shamefully gave in. They sacrificed Hyuga Hizashi to secure Kumogakure's signature on the peace treaty.

"If we use this incident to impeach the Third Hokage... it'll be easy!"

Kazuhiko's eyes lit up.

The Uchiha, the Hyuga, and Danzo, who was determined to become Hokage—he couldn't see how that combination could lose.

As long as they had a suitable candidate for Hokage, completing the quest to support a new one should be easy!

It was about time Konoha had a Hokage who could wield top-tier Lightning Magic.

Then it's decided—

Princess Tsunade!

Kazuhiko didn't hesitate. He decisively chose Quest Three and checked the rewards.

Two chances to draw a Kage Level trait—solid!

A huge increase in Yutaro's favor—couldn't care less.

Unlocking a designated shinobi trait pool—absolutely incredible!

Hashirama, you're really coming?

Kazuhiko began to daydream.

"Mom Tsunade, where are you? You're so hard to find."