S-Rank Rogue Ninja Hiruzen Sarutobi! Dead or Alive! Departure!

The next morning, Konoha Central Square.

The alarm bells rang long and loud, shattering the morning's tranquility.

Tens of thousands of Konoha civilians and ninja packed the square before the Hokage Building.

Every face was filled with shock and unease.

Everyone knew that the ringing alarm meant something had happened—and it was something major.

Tobirama Uchiha stood atop the Hokage Building, draped in the Hokage Cloak.

The wind stirred the hem of his robe, and the once-noisy crowd fell silent in an instant.

"Everyone."

Amplified by chakra, Tobirama's voice rang clearly across Konoha.

"Last night, Konoha suffered an extraordinarily vile and utterly inhuman act of rebellion."

Tobirama swept his cold gaze over the crowd and dropped the bombshell:

"The former Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was dissatisfied with the transfer of power!"

"After his conspiracy was exposed, Hiruzen Sarutobi went insane. To destroy the evidence—and to cultivate some evil forbidden technique—he personally slaughtered the entire Sarutobi Clan! He also wiped out the other three of the Four Great Clans, root and branch!"

Boom!

The square instantly erupted into an uproar.

"What? Did I hear that right? The Third Hokage... slaughtered his whole clan?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The Third was always so kind. How could he do something like that?"

"Yeah! That's far too outrageous! Lord Tobirama, is there some misunderstanding?"

Most villagers' first reaction was disbelief.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had cultivated his image as a Ninja Hero and benevolent father for so many years. That kindly old man persona had long since taken root in everyone's hearts.

Watching the doubtful crowd below, Tobirama's lips curved into a cold smile, as though he had expected this all along.

"You don't believe it?"

"I wish it weren't true either. After all, he was once the Third Hokage I admired most."

"But facts speak louder than words."

Tobirama waved a hand.

"Bring up the witnesses."

Several Anbu emerged from the rear, pushing out two wheelchairs.

Sitting in them were Sarutobi Shinnosuke, covered head to toe in bandages and barely clinging to life, and the young Sarutobi Asuma, who had not been seriously injured but whose eyes were swollen red and whose expression was blank.

The moment they saw the two, the noisy crowd fell silent.

They were Hiruzen Sarutobi's biological sons!

Even they had been reduced to this?

"Shinnosuke. Asuma."

Tobirama walked behind them, his voice low and tinged with pain.

"Tell everyone what happened last night."

"Don't be afraid. That Devil has already been driven away. Everyone in Konoha will seek justice for you."

Shinnosuke trembled as he raised his head, and his tears instantly burst forth.

After waking from his father's genjutsu, all that remained in his mind were images of his mother being killed, his younger brother being beaten, and his clansmen dying miserable deaths.

That hatred had already been carved into his bones.

"It... it was him!"

"It was Hiruzen Sarutobi! That Devil!!"

"He went mad! He said we would stand in the way of his pursuit of power! He killed Mother with his own hands! He killed every member of the clan!"

"He even wanted to kill Asuma and me... If Lord Tobirama hadn't arrived in time... we would already be dead!!"

Beside him, the young Asuma completely broke down and sobbed.

"Mom's dead... Everyone's dead... Sob... I'm going to kill him! I'm going to kill that bastard!"

The blood-soaked accusations of his two biological sons.

It was irrefutable proof that no explanation could overturn.

The entire square was in an uproar.

At that moment, everyone's worldview collapsed.

What followed was towering fury.

"Beast! He's nothing but a beast!"

"He even killed his wife and children? Is he even human?!"

"I used to respect him so much. Who would've thought he was an evil ghost wearing human skin!"

"Kill him! Trash like that has to die!"

The tide of public opinion made an immediate one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn from doubt to raging fury.

Yesterday's Ninja Hero had become today's universally despised rat in the street.

Tobirama watched the scene, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

Very good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, your sacrifice was very valuable.

Tobirama raised a hand, suppressing the crowd's fury.

"I hereby announce."

"Effective immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi is designated a Konoha S-Rank Rogue Ninja! He is wanted throughout the Ninja World! A bounty of fifty million ryo is placed on his head! Dead or alive!"

"In addition, the Anbu will conduct a final search-and-rescue operation through the ruins of the Four Great Clans. Even if there is only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I will not abandon a single comrade."

"Konoha will never allow this darkness to take root again!"

"Lord Tobirama is the true Hokage!"

"Sob... Lord Tobirama is so compassionate..."

Cheers rang into the skies.

Everyone looked at the man on the platform as though he were a savior, their eyes filled with worship.

Only Tobirama himself knew that this so-called rescue operation was merely to confirm whether any survivors had slipped through the net, so they could be finished off.

One hour later, the Hokage Office.

After the speech ended, Tobirama returned to his office, unfastened the Hokage Cloak, and casually tossed it over the back of his chair.

On the sofa, Kazahana Koyuki held a cup of tea, her hands trembling slightly.

She had witnessed the entire speech and heard those horrifying truths.

When she saw Tobirama enter, she hurriedly stood up, her gaze filled with reverence and a trace of fear.

"I never expected... that old man known as the Ninja Hero would be such a monstrous Devil."

"I saw his photo in the newspaper before. He had such a kind smile..."

Kazahana Koyuki felt chilled to the bone.

The ninja world was truly too terrifying.

Tobirama walked over, took the tea from her hands, and drained it in one gulp.

"Miss Yukie."

A meaningful smile rested on Tobirama's lips.

"Let me teach you a lesson."

"In this world, what the eyes see is often the most deceptive thing of all."

"Don't be so naive."

Kazahana Koyuki looked at the handsome face so close to her, and her cheeks flushed faintly.

The words were cruel, yet when they came from his mouth, they carried an inexplicable power that made her believe him.

Tobirama released his hand and returned to his office chair.

"All right, stop thinking about useless things."

"The matter has been dealt with, and those rat nests have been cleaned out as well."

"At dawn the day after tomorrow, we depart for the Land of Snow."

"You can go back and pack your luggage. Remember to bring a few more pretty outfits. I like looking at things that please the eye."

"Y-Yes!"

Kazahana Koyuki hurried out, her face red.

For some reason, alongside her fear of the coming journey, she now felt a faint trace of anticipation.

Two days later, Konoha Gate.

Morning sunlight spilled over the forest road.

There was no grand send-off, only Tobirama's group of three.

Tobirama wore casual clothes. A black high-collared trench coat accentuated his tall, straight figure, while a short blade hung on his back, making him look sharp and handsome.

To his left stood Pakura, who had received special training and had now fully embraced her role.

She wore a modified, form-fitting combat uniform.

A huge pack was slung over her back, and she carried a food box in one hand, looking exactly like a devoted all-purpose maid.

On his right was Kazahana Koyuki, wrapped in a thick trench coat and wearing sunglasses.

Tobirama turned to look at the two beautiful women.

One was a wild, mature beauty; the other, an ice-cold princess.

This lineup was simply ideal.

"I'm ready, Master," Pakura replied respectfully, her voice gentle.

"I'm ready too, Lord Hokage." Kazahana Koyuki nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.

"Then let's go."

Tobirama snapped his fingers.

"Destination: the Land of Snow."