The Rotting Konoha Ruling Class

An Anbu ninja wearing a porcupine mask stepped forward and spoke.

"Elder Shimura Danzō speaks the truth; Shinichi Hyuga foresaw the enemy's attack."

Having merely confirmed Shimura Danzō's words, the Anbu ninja returned to the ranks of the Anbu.

Only then did Shinichi Hyuga recall the identity of this Anbu; he should have been the personal guard who accompanied Shimura Danzō to the Hyuga clan compound.

He had left with Shimura Danzō later, and Shinichi Hyuga had not expected him to be an informant planted by the Third Hokage.

"Shinichi Hyuga, do you still intend to deny it?"

Shimura Danzō first felt a chill at the Third Hokage's methods.

To plant an informant among his most trusted guards was truly terrifying.

The most important thing now was revenge; he wanted to make Shinichi Hyuga pay the price, so he pressed him with a question immediately.

Deep down, he became even more wary of the Third Hokage.

At this moment, the Third Hokage also looked toward Minato Namikaze, hoping he would step forward.

The heads and elders of the other clans remained full of suspicion.

Yet, they did not wish to participate in this struggle.

They scoffed at the Anbu's testimony.

Anbu?

These were the Hokage's personal guards.

However, at this time, the Anbu captain was still the Third Hokage's son—Shinnosuke Sarutobi—and the transfer of power had not been completed.

Was it credible?

They specialized in dirty and exhausting work; framing someone was not impossible.

Those with such thoughts were ultimately in the minority, or rather, those who did not trust the character of the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō.

The majority, like Minato Namikaze, trusted "their own" Anbu unconditionally.

"Shinichi Hyuga, you must explain yourself now!"

Minato Namikaze's eyes turned sharp; he had already dismissed Shinichi Hyuga's initial words as mere sophistry.

A glimmer of approval appeared in the Third Hokage's eyes; his choice was indeed correct. People like Minato Namikaze were much easier to control.

"Is that so?

Why didn't the Anbu finish what he was saying?

Wasn't Shisui Uchiha monitoring me the entire time just now?

Why not bring out the mission report and see if I had the time or the suspicion?"

The barrage of questions left even Minato Namikaze feeling somewhat ashamed.

A flash of contempt crossed the depths of Shinichi Hyuga's eyes; the Third Hokage truly would not give up!

Despite having no evidence, he was determined to pin this "blame" on him.

"Monitoring you? That's impossible, isn't it? Could it be that the Uchiha clan wants to do something to the Hyuga clan?" Orochimaru asked, feigning ignorance.

He drew the attention of the crowd, effectively relieving the pressure on Shinichi Hyuga.

Everyone knew that Shisui Uchiha was a staunch lackey of the Third Hokage and could not represent the Uchiha clan at all.

The fact that the Third Hokage had dispatched him was already an overt interference in the internal affairs of the clans, which made the various clans very uneasy.

They felt threatened by the treacherous politics of Konoha.

The Third Hokage seemed to be playing a grand game; although he had stepped down, his influence still permeated every corner of Konoha.

The current candidates for clan heads all had intricate ties to him.

The Third Hokage's gaze fell upon his own disciple, yet he still did not understand why Orochimaru would support Shinichi Hyuga so strongly.

Even to the point of becoming an enemy of his own teacher.

"Shisui? What is going on?" Minato Namikaze's expression turned grim; only now did he realize how much he had been kept in the dark.

"I was indeed monitoring the Hyuga clan, but I was merely completing a routine patrol mission and did not intend to focus on monitoring Shinichi Hyuga."

Shisui Uchiha's thoughts raced; having received a certain hint, he offered an excuse that no one believed.

"Can my innocence be proven now? I arrived here together with Shisui Uchiha, didn't I?

As for your talk of foreseeing the enemy's attack, that is even more nonsensical.

Don't forget! I am a member of the Hyuga clan; it was clearly I who saw it."

Shinichi Hyuga retorted.

The very person arranged to monitor him had ended up becoming the one to prove his innocence.

This left the Third Hokage feeling frustrated and defeated.

"I have good news for everyone: the Hyuga clan meeting has concluded successfully. I have become the head of the Hyuga clan, and from now on, I will lead the Hyuga clan."

Shinichi Hyuga walked toward the Third Hokage, stood before him, looked down at him, and spoke calmly.

These words fell upon the ears of those present like a bombshell.

The Third Shinobi World War had ended, and the upper echelons of every clan were being reshuffled.

The most prominent example was the succession of the Fourth Hokage.

The heads of various clans were also being replaced.

However, never before had the head of a Kekkei Genkai clan been deposed while still in office.

Especially not the Hyuga clan, with its rigid hierarchy.

Shinichi Hyuga had truly set a precedent, and at this moment, they all wondered if he had resorted to some underhanded means.

Relying on overwhelming strength to suppress them was one thing, but the Hyuga clan had the Caged Bird, didn't they?

In their eyes, Shinichi Hyuga became even more unfathomable.

"Shinichi Hyuga, you are merely from the Hyuga branch family. What about Hyuga Hiashi? What have you done to him!"

The Third Hokage could no longer sit still. Hyuga Hiashi was a crucial piece in his plans, a future supporter for his own son—had it all been ruined now?

Hyuga Hiashi was truly a piece of trash.

"Former Hokage, Hyuga Hiashi deeply felt his own incompetence, having been misled by outsiders, and voluntarily stepped down from the position of clan head. From this day forward, the system of main and branch families within the Hyuga clan is abolished!"

Shinichi Hyuga's words were filled with mockery.

Between the lines, it was clear that the Third Hokage's schemes had been exposed, and he was setting things right.

The heads of the other clans felt a sense of admiration for Shinichi Hyuga.

Regardless of the methods used, the transfer of power had already been completed.

Now, it was just a matter of seeing how the village and the clan members would react; they became even more determined not to get involved in the struggle between Shinichi Hyuga and Shimura Danzō.

"Shinichi Hyuga, you have no qualification to serve as the head of the Hyuga clan." The Third Hokage's face was gloomy, and he sounded somewhat serious.

"Haha, whether I have the qualification or not is not for you to decide.

Even the Hokage has no right to interfere with the internal operations of a clan, let alone you, a former Hokage."

Shinichi Hyuga's laughter grew louder, eventually sounding like pure mockery.

As these words reached the ears of those present, they finally realized.

It seemed that Shinichi Hyuga had come today to declare war on the Third Hokage.