The Fifth Generation, We Love Your Mouth!

"Restore the glory of the Gunbai."

"For the Uchiha, kill!"

In a corner of the forest, the slaughter continued.

Uchiha Tekka, a Jonin of the Konoha Military Police Force, leaped into the air. Having completed the release of a visual genjutsu, he flashed a cold blade and cleanly slit the throat of an Anbu operative wearing a boar mask.

Blood mixed with the rain, winding into a stream across the scorched earth.

"Broadcast to the entire village—"

His voice pierced through the curtain of rain. Uchiha Xiu raised his eyes to look at Inoichi Yamanaka, issuing a precise order: "The new Hokage assumes office today. Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Yashiro are to lead their squads to the capital immediately to petition the Daimyo and complete all necessary protocols."

Until one possesses the strength of Senju Hashirama, one must follow the proper procedures.

If state funds are available, one takes them.

Uchiha Xiu was not arrogant; he had no desire to invite unnecessary trouble.

"Understood, Fifth Hokage."

Inoichi Yamanaka, responsible for Konoha's overt intelligence operations, was slightly surprised but nodded in agreement, swiftly forming hand seals:

"Ninja Art: Mind Transmission Technique."

Without the use of any devices, he communicated directly with the designated targets. It was highly efficient, a form of consciousness-based communication.

During this time, Jonin of the Sarutobi clan ran back and forth, taking the initiative to suppress resistance within their own ranks.

Live.

Dedicate yourselves to Konoha.

Before the battle, the old clan head, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had specifically told everyone... do not live with resentment.

Moreover, the children needed adults to look after them.

Hyuga clan compound.

On the ancient pavilion, Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan remained fixed on the direction of the Forest of Death, veins bulging at his temples.

"Father..." Hinata Hyuga gripped the corner of his robe tightly.

"It is over now."

Hiashi lowered his head and sighed, "Come with me to pay respects to the Fifth Hokage."

In a corner, an elder hesitated, "What if those Uchiha madmen mind that we didn't declare our stance sooner and decide to purge us?"

"Purge?"

Another clan elder sneered, "At least thirty percent of the Konoha Military Police Force's prime fighting strength is dead. They have finally secured the position of Hokage... what they need most right now is stability."

A few kilometers away.

Dressed in a white trench coat and carrying a large insect canister, Shibi Aburame felt the swarm in his sleeves grow restless. The image of Torune's corpse, pierced by Wood Release, flashed back in his mind.

"Shino, go pay respects to the Fifth Hokage... and while you're at it, retrieve Torune's body and file a complaint regarding Danzō's atrocities."

When Shimura Danzō was in power, he had coerced many talented juniors from small ninja clans, brainwashed them, and planted the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on them...

When it came to not acting like a human being, the Pot Kage was truly leagues ahead of everyone else.

Now, by filing such a complaint, they could smoothly complete their severance from the past and naturally align themselves with the Uchiha clan.

"May the Sage of Six Paths protect us; the Fifth Hokage is not a madman."

Similar scenes were unfolding in the Inuzuka clan compound.

The ninja hounds whined and barked toward the Forest of Death!

Even through the barrier, the dogs could still sense the unsettling chakra reactions.

Over the next period, every clan in Konoha, large or small, was notified by Inoichi Yamanaka in turn.

The situation was crystal clear. Since the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho, who were closest to the Sarutobi clan, had already declared their stance, why should anyone else persist?

Those ninjas who were truly willing to die for the Third Hokage's Will of Fire and refused to obey the new Hokage's orders had already been wiped out or had committed suicide.

After all, having been in power for so many years, if not a single person was willing to die for him, then Sarutobi Hiruzen would have been a truly pathetic leader.

Elsewhere.

Hokage Rock shelter.

Civilians whose homes were adjacent to the Forest of Death, or who feared a repeat of the Nine-Tails incident, had all been relocated here.

Five Anbu squads, along with teachers urgently pulled from the Ninja Academy, provided protection.

Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, gently patted his daughter Ayame's shoulder, silently comforting her.

"Can the Hokage defeat those red-eyed people..."

"Shh." Teuchi quickly covered her mouth.

It was common knowledge that the village was full of unruly people who bullied others at every turn. If the members of the Military Police Force weren't fierce and strict in their law enforcement, how could they keep such people in check?

Besides, who won or lost didn't really matter much to a small business owner.

As long as the shop remains, once dawn breaks, the noodle shop will open for business as usual.

"Naruto."

"Sasuke-kun..."

In a corner where no one paid any attention, Haruno Sakura buried her head in her knees and wept softly.

Forest of Death.

The turmoil gradually subsided.

"Collect all the bodies you can find and register the lists of the fallen and the missing."

"Transfer the ashes to the Memorial Stone."

With the same confidence he held when he took over as captain of the East Sea Team, Uchiha Xiu did not need a Hokage haori to bolster his presence. He quickly stepped into his role and began issuing orders:

"Regardless of their faction, all those killed in action shall be issued pensions according to the standards for those who sacrificed themselves in foreign combat."

"Take the severely wounded to the hospital immediately. Have the medical corps perform emergency treatment; do not skimp on medicinal supplies."

"The subsidy standards for the wounded will also follow those of foreign wars."

"Understood." Shikaku, the leader of the Jonin squad, responded immediately.

Based on his understanding, the village's finances were quite strained.

However, this was the first official decree issued publicly by the Fifth Hokage since taking office, and no one dared to raise an objection.

Furthermore... this move sent a very clear signal of reconciliation to the outside world.

It was conducive to the unity of the village.

It could not be more appropriate!

--Kumogakure frequently harassed the borders of the Land of Fire; Iwagakure schemed from the shadows; Kirigakure was mired in internal strife, unable to attend to other matters; Konoha had ceded a small amount of profit to win over Sunagakure, avoiding being attacked from both front and rear.

This was the mess left behind by the Third Hokage, and the landscape of the Ninja World that the new generation of Hokage had to face.

Of course, Sunagakure and Konoha were only brothers on the surface. If they learned of the internal strife and felt that Konoha was falling into further decline, the impoverished Sunagakure would not hesitate to take a vicious bite out of their "good brother."

Wasn't that exactly what the Konoha Crush plan six years later was all about?

Add to that the Akatsuki organization, currently in a state of dormancy.

Pain Six Paths.

Black Zetsu.

The Otsutsuki Clan.

"There has never been a time when the village needed unity more than now," Uchiha Xiu said, glancing at Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku.

"The Military Police Force can be deployed at any time, logistics will follow, and we will lead enough civilian ninja to hold a front line against a Great Nation... No problem!"

Having experienced multiple Ninja Wars and even served in the temporary command layer, Uchiha Fugaku responded decisively.

Before the clan produced a Hokage, we fought to the death for the sake of the village's interests and to guard the borders of the Land of Fire.

Not to mention now!

It was just that, in the foreseen future, the Fifth Hokage possessed a Mangekyo.

It was not a big problem... Xiu would awaken it sooner or later.

He even possessed Wood Release.

At the moment, no one dared to press the issue.

As Hokage, Uchiha Xiu's power was absolute.

He did not need to explain himself to anyone else.

"Once a Ninja War breaks out, the entire Uchiha clan will never take a single step back," Elder Setsuna declared, patting his chest.

Elder Shin of the moderate faction muttered in his heart: "Fighting is fine, too; it can help bolster the prestige of Xiu as the Fifth Hokage. Sigh, taking power through a coup d'état never sounds good."

"According to clan history, we Uchiha are not just a prestigious family of the Ninja World; we belong to the warrior class. Our ancestors actually had ties to the court nobles, so we count as half-insiders. The Daimyo will not refuse."

Yashiro, preparing to serve as an envoy to the capital of the Land of Fire, looked triumphant, showing not a hint of fatigue.

"Withdraw. Staying here tonight serves little purpose."

On the abandoned high tower.

Uchiha Obito distorted space-time and silently retreated from Konoha, though his heart was filled with killing intent: "Uchiha Xiu, Fugaku, Shisui—you are blocking my path."

"Hmph, let those villages probe first. Let dogs bite dogs."

Pretending to be deceived by Obito, Itachi, who harbored suspicions about him in his heart, retreated silently.

So be it.

On the hidden front, he would monitor this so-called Akatsuki for Konoha.

--I suspect that the man before me is connected to the night of the Nine-Tails, the mastermind who drove the Uchiha and the Third Hokage's lineage into opposition!

It was also at this moment that the two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, finally arrived in the Forest of Death in a hurry.

According to the official Rin no Sho settings, Mitokado Homura possesses Kage-level strength, and as his counterpart advisor, Utatane Koharu likely possesses Kage-level strength as well.

It is just that the two rarely take direct action in the plot.

"Tsk, I actually thought these two might lose their minds, take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto hostage, rally the old guard, start a New Wo Shing Wo, and try to pull that 'dual Konoha bosses' routine."

With five tons of gold bullion in his portable storage scroll, surrounded by loyal Uchiha elites, and backed by the Main God Space... Uchiha Xiu's gaze did not waver in the slightest as he looked at the two.

Quietly, nearly half of the chakra in his body recovered.

Next, he would seize control of the financial power.

Use strength to carry Konoha to victory, winning again and again.

Then, I shall be the most beloved Hokage!