Rebuilding Root

Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was trembling with rage, roaring, "When did Konohamaru become my son? This... this is slander! This is defamation against me! I... I..."

Hearing the cursing downstairs, Utatane Koharu's wrinkled face darkened, and she trembled with anger at the noisy and offensive insults.

Mitokado Homura was also furious, looking at these ignorant villagers who had been incited by Uchiha Qingcheng and had now turned into a mob, shouting and cursing outside the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was originally in good health, but he was constantly suppressed by Qingcheng, often so angry that he couldn't sleep at night. Although only in his sixties, he looked like he was over ninety.

Especially during this period, Uchiha Qingcheng, using the Third Hokage's name, was carrying out Collapse Plan in Konoha, which had infuriated Hiruzen Sarutobi so much that he started losing his hair.

Most importantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi went from being unable to sleep to being afraid to sleep, fearing that he would wake up to find Konoha launching a coup, and the Sarutobi Clan, like the Shimura Clan, being wiped out by Uchiha Qingcheng. The bodies of all the Third Hokage were becoming increasingly emaciated.

His health, which had been quite good before, had deteriorated due to prolonged lack of sleep and frequent outbursts of anger from Qingcheng; his face had become contorted. Now, hearing such insults...

The Third Hokage was overcome with rage, his body began to tremble, and he cried out in agony, "I can't breathe! Come help me!"

The Third Hokage then began to pant, looking completely out of breath.

Utatane Koharu, seeing the Third Hokage suddenly plop down in a chair, was instantly shocked and cried out, "Hiruzen, what's wrong? Don't scare me! You're the Hokage of Konoha, you have to hold on! We can't leave this trouble for the next Hokage!"

Mitokado Homura also looked worried, seeing the Third Hokage panting heavily, and said with concern, "Hiruzen, how are you? Is your heart bothering you? We'll take you to the hospital."

Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his chest again, looking furious, and said, "How could these villagers insult me like that? Am I really that much of a failure?"

Seeing Hiruzen's furious face, Utatane Koharu advised, "Hiruzen, don't pay attention to those villagers. They've just been misled by Uchiha Qingcheng. The real enemy is that Evil Uchiha."

Sarutobi Aiki was also startled by the sudden collapse of the Third Hokage, and said with a worried expression, "Uncle Third Hokage, you must be strong, you must not fall. If you fall, I'm afraid the Uchiha Clan will stage a coup."

The Third Hokage clutched his chest again, saying with difficulty, "I will not fall. I am the Shinobi Hero Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi! I have fought on the battlefield for so many years, how could I be defeated by an Evil Uchiha?"

Meanwhile, below the Hokage Building, the villagers, seeing the Hokage hiding in his office and too afraid to come out, grew increasingly agitated with their curses.

Fujikawa immediately shouted, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, come out and give everyone an explanation! Stop hiding in your office like a turtle!"

Some of the trolls directly cursed, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, you're a beast! You actually betrayed the Third Hokage Second Hokage's information for the sake of the Third Hokage's position, which led to the Second Hokage in Hidden Cloud Village. You're the one who deserves to die!"

Hearing this, all the villagers who had been shouting and cursing began to raise their voices again, pointing at the Hokage Building and continuing to hurl insults.

The Third Hokage, who had almost recovered, roared angrily upon hearing these words, "What does the Second Hokage's death have to do with me? This is blatant slander! I'm going to arrest these villagers!"

Sarutobi Aiki said with a embarrassed expression, "Third Hokage, we Anbu Ninja don't dare to go out on the street. Those guys from the Police Force are all watching us like hawks. And some Anbu Ninja are still eating prison food in the Police Force's prison."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned again, "Why didn't you tell me about what happened to Aiji? Am I such a failure as Hokage?"

Sarutobi Aiki said with a helpless expression, "The reason I didn't tell you is because I was afraid you would act impulsively and go looking for Uchiha Qingcheng's faults. Our war with the Uchiha Clan has been a series of defeats, and now the Sarutobi Clan can no longer afford to pay the price."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest heaved with rage. He recalled his matchup against Uchiha Qingcheng, feeling as if his Achilles' heel had been exposed, constantly losing despite always being fully prepared.

But the thought of Uchiha Qingcheng taking out the Three-pronged Kunai and beginning to summon Uchiha Yongcheng filled him with an unknown fear, as if he were facing an unknown and invincible enemy.

The Third Hokage then mocked himself, saying, "I am truly a useless, cowardly, and incompetent person. Second Hokage, I am sorry. I failed to protect the village, and now it has fallen apart. I can't even imagine what Konoha will become in the future."

Mitokado Homura, his face also filled with worry and panic, said, "This time, the Konoha High Command leadership has lost everything. Hiruzen, should I resign and go home? I can no longer be Konoha Advisor. I'm afraid of the Uchiha Clan's retaliation. My three-year-old grandson can't be separated from his grandfather."

Mitokado Homura Utatane Koharu to flee, spoke again, "Homura, if you leave, what will happen to Hiruzen? What will happen to the Future of Konoha? The village is already on the verge of collapse. We, the Konoha High Command, must pull ourselves together, fight a counterattack, and suppress the evil aura of the Uchiha Clan."

Upon hearing his old comrade's words, Mitokado Homura thought to himself, "Back then, being Konoha Advisor to Konoha was an honorable position. At that time, Hiruzen only listened to Danzo's advice and treated me like a burden. It wasn't until Danzo's tragic death that Hiruzen realized my strength."

Mitokado Homura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with pleading eyes, then gritted his teeth and said seriously, "Hiruzen, I've made up my mind. I'll fight alongside you. We can definitely save Konoha."

Seeing the serious look on Homura's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi said again, "Our Konoha cannot be without Root. After this crisis is over, I will give you financial support to take over as the leader of Root and protect the village in secret. Homura, do you agree?"

Utatane Koharu also said very seriously, "Homura, please agree to Hiruzen! Our Konoha cannot be without Root. Those dark forces hidden in the sunlight are the sharpest blades to deal with the Uchiha Clan."