The Swords Were Drawn

Even in such a tense moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained calm, his pipe still dangling from his lips, his words serious, just as imposing as he was in the Hokage Building.

"Get back here right now!"

Danzo spoke up angrily, and the two men, one red-faced and the other white-faced, responded.

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's words and Danzo's reprimand, the members of the Security Department looked at each other, and finally turned to look at Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Sakumo at the front.

Seeing that the Security Department and the Uchiha had not made a move, Sarutobi Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank. He had not stopped Danzo's rudeness, but Danzo's rudeness had not had the effect it usually should have.

These elite guards and Anbu Military Police Force are Konoha's elite forces, totaling nearly four hundred people, more than twice the Jonin Class.

They are Konoha's true elite force; any loss to either side is tantamount to cutting off one's own arm.

Especially when the smoke of the Ninja War had just cleared, they were still fighting with Kumogakure and had only recently signed agreements with the other three kingdoms, so the enmity between them ran deep.

If news of internal strife in Konoha spreads, the Konoha, having lost many elite ninjas, will likely once again be on the verge of war.

A single contract cannot restrain the wolves from tearing apart the weakened Konoha. With such chaos in the Capital City, Konoha faces a true danger of annihilation.

Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Sakumo Sarutobi Hiruzen. At this moment, the two of them frowned, unsure of how to answer, finding themselves in a dilemma.

The unauthorized assembly and departure of the Military Police Force from the village are no different from rebellion.

"Third Hokage, this inspection mission is extremely complex. It requires the judgment of the Commander-in-Chief of the Security Department Uchiha Nara. We are merely following orders."

Uchiha Fugaku forced a perfunctory response.

"No matter how complicated the task, it's now handled by the Anbu. Since I'm here, I'll handle it personally. Do I need to repeat myself when we return to Konoha? Hmm!?"

Seeing that Uchiha Fugaku's words were perfunctory and the Military Police Force remained inactive, Shinobi Hero Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened. He adopted an authoritative demeanor, and with a heavy nasal tone, caused most of the Military Police Force members to show panic.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had led Konoha for many years, displayed his full power at this moment. Many of the members of the Military Police Force were outstanding young people, many of whom were ninjas who had grown up during the reign of the Third Hokage.

From birth to now, from graduating Genin to becoming Chunin and Jonin, the Hokage of Konoha has always been the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. His power and status have deeply penetrated people's hearts. With the Third Hokage's authoritative words, many members of the Military Police Force wavered, and some even quietly retreated.

While some of the lower-ranking members wavered and panicked, the higher-ups looked at the group led by the Third Hokage with serious expressions.

"Third Hokage, now that you have abdicated, you are the former Hokage, only temporarily handling Hokage affairs. While we respect you and obey your orders,..."

However, we were given a mission by Uchiha Nara himself, and the mission is too important for us to disobey. Please understand!

"Naraku, as a candidate for Hokage, is also in the Capital City. Perhaps we could ask Lord Naraku to explain this to you?"

Despite his initial reluctance, Uchiha Fugaku answered, the most defiant he had ever been in his Uchiha Fugaku.

Anyway, he just wouldn't leave, he just wanted to see what tricks the Third Hokage and the Anbu were up to.

Fugaku, having glimpsed glimpses of the future using his Destiny Dōjutsu, understood that the turning point was definitely here. He had to protect the clan leader Uchiha Nara, no matter what, and prevent him from being harmed by any conspiracy.

"The Uchiha are indeed betraying Konoha! They're even ignoring the Hokage's orders! If you don't obey the Hokage's orders, are you still Konoha ninjas?! Huh!?"

Having led the Konoha Administrative Department for many years and dealt with most of the Konoha Ninja, Mitokado Homura also stepped forward and loudly rebuked them.

"What Hokage's orders! Hiruzen Sarutobi, you made a cowardly peace deal with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, causing innocent Konoha ninja to die, a meaningless sacrifice!"

And they've even delayed paying the compensation! How can you face the Konoha Ninja on the Memorial Stone? How can you face their families?

"Since Sarutobi Hiruzen has abdicated, you should stop calling yourself Hokage! You are not worthy of being Hokage!"

Second Elder Uchiha Kyo completely ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen. When the Third Hokage abdicated and presided over the election of the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Kyo had a slightly better impression of the Third Hokage. Now, hearing these people, calling him Hokage on one side and Hokage on the other, he couldn't help but shout angrily.

"It seems the Uchiha are indeed going to betray us. Third Hokage, give the order!"

Utatane Koharu, with a solemn expression, offered her advice to the Third Hokage.

The atmosphere in the arena gradually became somewhat strange. Many Anbu Ninja touched the hilts of their swords or their ninja tool pouches, while others were gathering their Chakra, preparing to unleash Ninjutsu.

Upon noticing the unusual Military Police Force, many ninja groups loyal to Naraku also touched their sword hilts and ninja tool pouches, channeling their Chakra.

As the auras of these elite Konoha ninjas clashed, dust billowed at the palace gates, and hundreds of palace samurai guards and Guardian Ninja trembled with fear, as if they would die at any moment.

"Uchiha Fugaku, Hatake Sakumo, I order you to lead your subordinate units and leave the Capital City immediately, returning to Konoha..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was grim as he stared at Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Sakumo ahead, delivering his final ultimatum as if the words were spat out between clenched teeth.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't say what followed, but everyone in the room understood the consequences of disobeying.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, do you think you're still the Hokage?! We obey our clan leader's orders! Who do you think you are?!"

Uchiha Kyo, the Second Elder of the Uchiha clan, was tough his whole life. Although he has basically retired now that young people are in power, he still holds a high-ranking position in the Uchiha.

He showed no respect for Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was exerting pressure on him, and directly insulted him.

As Uchiha Kyo finished speaking, more members of the Military Police Force from other clans, as well as the Uchiha clan members who had always revered the Third Hokage, all stepped back slightly.

Under Naraku's leadership, the Uchiha clan members' status and reputation in Konoha rose, and no one wanted to rebel or disobey the Third Hokage.

Many clan members and Military Police Force were astonished by Uchiha Kyo's disrespect towards the Third Hokage Uchiha Kyo, staring at him with puzzled expressions.

"Hahahaha! Good! Good! Good!"

Enraged, Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed, saying "good" three times in a row. His pupils widened, releasing the imposing aura and killing intent befitting Shinobi Hero.

Just before the powder keg was about to explode, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently at Uchiha Fugaku and Hatake Sakumo ahead.

Although no Ninjutsu was used, the aura of Kage Level powerhouse caused the Chunin the arena to swallow hard.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen his powerful aura, Uchiha Fugaku was equally unyielding, unleashing his Chakra and radiating the aura of a strongman, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Third Hokage.

As the two clashed, Danzo, Danzo nearby, also unleashed his Chakra to overwhelm Fugaku, causing the smoke and dust in the arena to sting people's cheeks.

Hatake Sakumo sighed inwardly, silently unleashing his own Chakra to counter Danzo's aura. He couldn't bring himself to attack the Third Hokage Sakumo and the others, but stopping Sakumo fighting was something he felt no qualms about.

"Third Hokage, we obey your orders, but as the previous Hokage, it is probably inappropriate for you to come to the Capital City to temporarily assume the Hokage duties!"

Your arrival in the Capital City at this time gives me ample reason to suspect that you are here to pressure or coerce the Daimyo!

If not, I think you should avoid suspicion at this time, so as not to mislead the villagers of Konoha into thinking that the Fourth Hokage was chosen by you under duress from the Daimyo.

Please return to Konoha! Otherwise, no citizen of the Land of Fire, no Konoha Ninja, will allow such disloyalty and rebellion to occur!

Uchiha Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and an equally vast amount of Chakra. He was initially struggling under the pressure from the Third Hokage Danzo, and others, but after Hatake Sakumo lent his assistance, the situation changed, and he held his own in terms of momentum.

At this moment, Fugaku was certain that the turning point he had seen with his Destiny Dōjutsu was right before his eyes.

He usually respected the Third Hokage and dared not provoke them, but at this moment he broke with Third Hokage and confronted the Third Hokage head-on.

Uchiha Fugaku was determined not to leave, no matter what.

Even if things really come to a head and we have to leave, we should take the Third Hokage and the Anbu team with us.

They accused the Third Hokage of coercing Daimyo, forcing Third Hokage to leave with them.