Sarutobi Hiruzen Finally Makes His Entrance!

In fact.

Uchiha Habara had sensed several waves of chakra probing in this direction ever since the Uchiha began crushing the Root ninja blocking their way. The village's various factions were probably all heading here now.

But this place was closest to the Root Base, and Danzō had been far too confident. He'd thought he could come here and handle everything by himself.

Their clash with Danzō hadn't lasted all that long, but by Habara's reckoning, it had been more than enough time for the other players to arrive.

Shisui was so distracted by the thoughts in his head that, despite being known as Body Flicker Shisui, he hadn't noticed the ninja from the various factions already surrounding them in the distance. Nor had he noticed the agile figure who was about to make an entrance.

Boom!

Amid a deafening crash, a dark figure plunged from the sky, and a furious voice rang across the scene.

"Stop! What do you think you're doing?"

At the sound of that voice, Uchiha Shisui first looked delighted. Then, all at once, he turned visibly hesitant. He could probably have earned enthusiastic applause with that performance in a face-changing act.

The Uchiha who had been suppressing the Root ninja withdrew their chakra-enhanced eyes. Led by Habara and Tunan, they slowly returned to stand behind Uchiha Jin.

The Root ninja, finally able to relax, hesitated as they glanced at their battered leader on the ground, then at the agile figure who had just appeared nearby. Under the tacit direction of several Root squad leaders, they chose to keep quiet.

Obviously!

The newcomer was none other than the village head of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, hailed as the strongest Hokage in history!

Sarutobi, the so-called strongest Hokage, wore an extremely grim expression. His stern gaze swept over the battered corpses scattered across the ground, and even with all his years of composure from sitting safely behind the lines, his brow couldn't help twitching.

"What exactly happened here? And whose bodies are these?"

Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen managed to stay calm. His steady gaze slowly settled on Uchiha Jin.

Hm!

It was only then that Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed the figure beneath his opponent's feet looked vaguely familiar.

Could I have been mistaken? I'm getting old, so perhaps my memory—

"Cough, cough... Sarutobi, save me!"

Spitting out clumps of dirt, Danzō, who had been lying still, finally struggled to cry for help.

Damn!

It really was Danzō!

But even after seeing his beloved old friend in such a sorry state, the Hokage, hardened by war, still managed to keep his composure.

Hm!

With the kunai Uchiha Jin occasionally pointed at Danzō's head and all those red-eyed youths behind him looking like hungry wolves, this wasn't something even the strongest Hokage could handle alone.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen simply looked at Uchiha Jin, then scrutinized Uchiha Shisui, whose face was flushed with shame.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A moment later, two more figures appeared behind Sarutobi Hiruzen. They were Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, both members of the Konoha F4.

But, just like Sarutobi Hiruzen when he'd arrived, after taking in the scene crackling with tension, the two silently stood in place and watched. Neither paid the slightest attention to Shimura Danzō, who had once again been buried in a pit.

What had happened earlier wasn't important. Danzō had simply taken it upon himself to mobilize Root ninja to do the dirty work without authorization.

None of that really mattered anymore!

What mattered was... Danzō had lost!

Now that Danzō had lost, it was time to change the rules of the game!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

With Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's arrival, it was as if a signal had been lit. Chakra signatures appeared everywhere, and one phantom after another took shape behind Sarutobi Hiruzen.

But clearly...

After their pupils contracted at the sight, each newcomer chose to silently take a place behind Sarutobi Hiruzen and watch events unfold.

And so, once again, a world came into being in which Danzō was the only one being ignored...

At last!

As the number of figures appearing with the Body Flicker Technique finally stopped growing, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly spoke again.

"Release Danzō, then explain what happened here. And whose bodies are these?"

Just as before, Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone carried no hint of accusation. He sounded like an impartial judge promising justice to the wronged.

Before Uchiha Jin could speak, Shisui stepped forward. He first bowed respectfully to Sarutobi Hiruzen, then began to explain.

"Let me tell you what happened, Lord Hokage. It was like this..."

Thud!

With another clean, forceful kick, Shisui, caught completely off guard, was sent flying once more. Danzō, who had just managed to catch his breath, was buried in the dirt again a moment later.

"Mm... mmph..."

"Uchiha Jin, do you know what you're doing?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression suddenly turned stern. But deep in his eyes, as he watched Shisui being kicked away, a flicker of delight surfaced.

"Of course!"

Uchiha Jin shrugged indifferently, then nodded to Habara beside him.

"Yes."

Habara bowed to Uchiha Jin, then turned and addressed Sarutobi Hiruzen in an even tone.

"The Police Force discovered spies disguised as Anbu who had infiltrated the village and tried to harm an Uchiha elder. When they refused to surrender after being warned, we killed them all."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow twitched slightly. He paid no heed to Habara's words, instead staring fixedly at the many red-eyed youths, including Uchiha Habara.

The Uchiha clan's strength... had grown again!

What concerned Sarutobi Hiruzen even more was that this stronger Uchiha clan seemed to be drifting ever farther from the Will of Fire...

Sarutobi Hiruzen exchanged a subtle glance with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Once they understood one another, he finally looked at Danzō again.

"Uchiha Jin, why did you attack Danzō? Do you know what crime it is to harm the Hokage Assistant?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored Habara and stared straight at Uchiha Jin. His imposing presence made his authority unmistakable.

"Of course!"

Uchiha Jin replied calmly, then looked to Habara again.

"Harming the Hokage Assistant is considered treason against the village and is punishable by death!"

Habara couldn't help chuckling. He gave Shimura Danzō on the ground a strange look, then had the two Uchiha behind him raise the enormous dark green scroll they'd brought out earlier.

"The Police Force is responsible for maintaining order and stability within Konoha Ninja Village. We make the village's laws and arrest those with criminal intent, including ninja—but not the Anbu directly under the Hokage. We're even responsible for organizing ninja to take part in the village's police work..."

Whoosh!

As Habara continued speaking, Tunan obligingly summoned the document issued by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.

Only then did Uchiha Jin look back at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his voice tinged with mockery.

"Third Hokage?"

"I wonder, what crime is it for a civilian ninja to violate a Hokage's ban and even collude with spies to murder an elder of my clan?"

Hiss...

At Uchiha Jin's words, the circle of clan leaders behind Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

Today!

Something big was about to happen!