First, I'll Break One of Your Arms

"As a retired Hokage, what right do you have to issue orders?!"

Masaki Uchiha was so incensed by this arrogant reply that he slammed his hands on the table and stood up.

"Are you suggesting that Konoha has had two sitting Hokage all this time?"

This question left Sarutobi Hiruzen frozen in place.

That's right, I am retired.

The only Hokage in name is the Fourth.

I am merely an advisor who volunteered to help the Fourth handle administrative affairs.

But, for the sake of Konoha.

I will never allow the Uchiha to seize power.

Looking at Masaki Uchiha's stance now, it seems today will not end easily.

At this thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen's previously dim eyes suddenly sharpened.

"That was merely a matter of expediency. I called everyone here today to announce something."

"I hereby declare that I am resuming the position of Hokage!"

No sooner had Sarutobi Hiruzen finished his 'inauguration declaration' than a thunderous shout rang out.

"I object!"

The one who spoke was none other than Masaki Uchiha, who was now glaring daggers at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"What do you take the Daimyo for? And what do you take Konoha for?"

"Do you think that just because you are a former Hokage, you can assume the office without the Daimyo's permission?!"

"Konoha belongs to everyone; it is not named Sarutobi!"

"As long as I, Masaki Uchiha, am here, you will not succeed!" Masaki Uchiha's righteous display genuinely moved some of the ninjas present.

In particular, the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization had long since thrown their lot in with the Uchiha.

If they let Sarutobi Hiruzen take power again, they would surely suffer for it.

Thus, they all began to voice their opposition.

The sounds of dissent and heated discussion grew louder and louder.

Seeing that the situation was not going as he had anticipated, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately shouted, "Quiet, everyone."

Seeing that he had something to say, the crowd turned their eyes toward him in unison.

"My decision to resume the role of Hokage is only temporary. It is to stabilize Konoha as it stands now. Once a new Hokage is selected, I will naturally step down."

Sarutobi Hiruzen chose the stalling tactic, intending to drag things out until he was firmly established as Hokage.

Clack.

The door to the conference room opened once more.

"As elders of Konoha, we approve of Hiruzen assuming the position of Hokage!"

It turned out that Sarutobi Hiruzen's old comrades had arrived: Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō.

Upon seeing who had arrived, Masaki Uchiha began to laugh.

"So, it's the two elders. You've come at the perfect time. I would like to ask: who issued the order I have in my hand?!"

Masaki Uchiha produced the order stamped with the Hokage's seal and displayed it to everyone present.

When the crowd saw it, they realized—no wonder they hadn't seen a single Uchiha clansman while intercepting the Nine-Tails and evacuating the villagers. So that was the reason.

The resentment they had felt toward the Uchiha began to dissipate.

But when Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō saw the order, their pupils constricted sharply.

Shimura Danzō's face turned deathly pale in an instant. Damn it, I forgot to retrieve this order.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Shimura Danzō in disbelief. You actually gave the Uchiha such leverage?

"It was us..." Before Utatane Koharu could finish, Mitokado Homura tugged at her, and she immediately corrected herself: "It was an order issued by the Fourth."

"Are you certain?" Masaki Uchiha asked mockingly.

The two were unsure of Masaki Uchiha's intent and remained silent for a moment, looking toward Sarutobi Hiruzen. As for Shimura Danzō, he kept his head bowed, lost in thought.

Receiving the distress signal from his old comrades, Sarutobi Hiruzen helplessly stood up to explain: "As everyone knows, when the Nine-Tails first appeared, the pattern of the Sharingan appeared in its eyes. It was later confirmed that the Nine-Tails was being manipulated by someone. To be safe, the two elders issued this order on behalf of the Fourth. I believe everyone can understand that, right?"

This excuse could only be described as barely holding water.

For a moment, everyone in the room nodded to themselves, with the exception of the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Seeing this, the two elders couldn't help but feel a sense of smugness.

At this moment, Shikaku Nara, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up: "But doing this does not comply with Konoha's regulations, does it?"

"Even under Konoha's emergency protocols, there is no provision allowing elders to issue orders in place of the Hokage."

As soon as these words were spoken, they drew everyone's attention back once more.

Masaki Uchiha's favorability toward the Ino-Shika-Cho clans climbed another notch at this moment.

He would have to increase their workload in the future; the capable should always do more.

The two elders knew that what they had done was against the rules, but it had all been done at the instigation of Shimura Danzō, so if anyone was to be held responsible, it should be him.

Thus, the two turned their gazes toward Shimura Danzō.

Unfortunately, Shimura Danzō didn't even spare them a glance.

It was their orders that were written and their seals that were stamped; he was merely executing their commands, so if a problem arose, they were naturally the ones responsible.

Did they expect him to take the fall for this?

From Shimura Danzō's reaction, the two realized that they were definitely going to be the ones taking the blame today.

Damn it!

That accursed Shimura Danzō, he was actually making them take the fall when things went wrong?

Masaki Uchiha had no intention of waiting any longer. "Someone, arrest Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately for the Crime of Violating Emergency Ordinances and the Crime of Forging Official Documents, and lock them in the Police Force Prison."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Ichiro and Uchiha Shun, the two brothers, immediately leaped out, ready to arrest the two elders.

"Wait, they had their reasons for doing this. Considering how many years they have dedicated to Konoha, let them off this once."

Sarutobi Hiruzen began playing the emotional card, trying to garner sympathy for them.

"Hmph, if everyone could avoid punishment just by claiming they have contributed to Konoha, then what is the point of our Police Force? What is the point of the law?"

"Besides, when they were contributing to Konoha, did Konoha not reward them?"

"Their positions as elders didn't just appear out of thin air, did they? Isn't that Konoha's reward to them?"

"To speak only of their merits and hardships while completely ignoring the rewards Konoha has bestowed upon them—such people make me sick. Ptooey!"

A thick glob of phlegm was spat with precision by Masaki Uchiha right at the feet of the two elders.

"Masaki Uchiha, you..."

"Take them away."

The Anbu following behind the elders tried to intervene, but unfortunately, they were no match for the elite Uchiha jonin and were subdued on the ground in short order, handed over to other Uchiha clansmen to be kept under guard.

"Elders, if you please."

Uchiha Ichiro and Uchiha Shun, the two brothers, were somewhat excited at this moment.

Once someone entered the Police Force Prison, they shouldn't expect to come out unscathed.

Not to mention that these were two core members of Sarutobi Hiruzen's clique.

The two elders, being advanced in age, had long since seen their strength decline and were unable to resist at all. With no other choice, they had to cooperate and leave.

In any case, the two charges Masaki Uchiha had leveled against them wouldn't kill them, and with their status as elders and Sarutobi Hiruzen's mediation, it would be nothing more than a period of confinement.

Once they got out after a while, they would come back to settle the score with the Uchiha properly.

The light of confidence still flickered in the hearts of the two elders, but alas, times had changed.

By the time they emerged again, the world would have turned upside down.

"This matter is settled. Let us discuss the next one."

Masaki Uchiha said indifferently.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"