You Dare Talk to Me About Qualifications!

Habit is a terrifying force!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's nearly twenty-year rule over Konoha had long since conditioned these ninjas and clans—whose professions and bloodlines were steeped in subservience—to accept commands from the Third Hokage without question.

There was no helping it!

During Namikaze Minato's tenure, he was still being bossed around by Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other members of the F4. There even existed the absurd reality of an Anbu force reporting directly to the Third Hokage, which meant that for the many clans of Konoha, Minato's influence was virtually non-existent.

Furthermore, Namikaze Minato's brief Hokage career, lasting little more than a year, was spent mostly trying to get his wife pregnant...

He was truly young and short-lived; in reality, he was nothing more than a puppet under Sarutobi Hiruzen. There was no point in even mentioning the glorious image of a Hokage.

That is why, even now, no one has ever questioned why Sarutobi Hiruzen is still able to occupy the throne of the Hokage.

No suitable successor?

Jiraiya unwilling to become Hokage? Senju Tsunade running away from the village?

This is what they call a reason? It is simply showing no regard for the many large clans and noble houses of Konoha!

Perhaps this is the power of habit!

Uchiha Jin's disdainful gaze swept slowly over the shocked faces of the crowd, his contempt for them reaching a peak.

Ridiculous ninjas, base bloodlines...

Since you have no way to cast off the subservience in your blood, then let a noble soul from Zhonghua rule you, or...

Destroy you!

"You brat of the Uchiha clan, how dare you slander the Hokage! Is the Uchiha Clan trying to commit treason!"

Among the crowd, it was Utatane Koharu who realized the situation first; only her shrewish nature was suited to handle such a scene.

However.

Uchiha Jin would not indulge such a decrepit old hag. Are ninjas really such fragile, incompetent creatures?

Sharingan: Suppression!

Skillfully utilizing the powerful ocular power of his Sharingan to force Utatane Koharu back, Uchiha Jin stood tall with unyielding backbone, continuing to roar at Sarutobi Hiruzen, filled with rage.

"The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, fought to his very last breath to protect Konoha until he withered away and died!"

"The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, sacrificed his life on the battlefield to cover his subordinates' retreat for the sake of Konoha's future!"

"The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, fought a bloody battle against invading enemies to protect the village, and even used his life and soul to seal the Nine-Tails Fox that was ravaging Konoha!"

"And you! Sarutobi Hiruzen!"

At this point, Uchiha Jin stepped forward, pointing at Sarutobi Hiruzen's nose and cursing him roundly.

"You are the only Third Hokage who, due to poor command during the Great War, caused countless young ninjas to sacrifice their lives on the battlefield, and in the end, you even voluntarily abandoned the hard-won fruits of Konoha's victory!"

His confrontational words rang through the entire venue, instantly shaking the hearts of everyone present. They all looked toward Uchiha Jin in horror.

Uchiha Jin's gaze, filled with fighting spirit, stared straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen without the slightest concealment, as if he were issuing a silent mockery.

Do you have the guts to go down with me?

Watching that gaze filled with madness and battle intent, even the politically seasoned Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned. He never imagined that Uchiha Jin would be so bold.

Is he not afraid...

I am not afraid!

After a series of probes, Uchiha Jin had finally confirmed Sarutobi Hiruzen's politician's mindset, and his confidence had already risen to seventy percent.

Therefore...

I have no scruples now!

"My Uchiha clan fought the Land of Water alone, while the clans of Konoha bled and fought against the other three nations. We finally won the Third Shinobi World War after untold hardships, paying with countless resources, wealth, and the blood and lives of our clansmen!"

Uchiha Jin was in high spirits. With nearly every clan head of Konoha present, he stepped on Shimura Danzo and pointed his finger at Sarutobi Hiruzen, cursing him in anger.

"And yet, because of your ridiculous weakness, you made us lose the right to war reparations! What did you take the lives of our clansmen for!"

"If I had been born a few years earlier, you wouldn't have just stepped down back then. This is blatant betrayal of the village!"

"You!"

The more Uchiha Jin spoke, the more agitated he became. He moved closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen step by step, his tone becoming increasingly sharp and impassioned, as if he were facing an irreconcilable enemy.

"You! Were! De! posed!"

The measured, resonant words stunned the entire audience. In that brief moment, the many ordinary ninjas and clan heads present were shocked once again.

That's right!

According to the records, Sarutobi Hiruzen did indeed step down voluntarily, but how could they not know that it was under the pressure of the Daimyo and the high-ranking officials of the Konoha clans? It was merely a way to give this 'Strongest Hokage' some face on the surface.

But Uchiha Jin's words had completely torn away that fig leaf, exposing Sarutobi Hiruzen's most hidden secret to the public.

"Uchiha Jin, what exactly are you trying to do!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly furious now. Being stripped bare in such a dark manner without the ability to refute it was a situation that even his years of composure could barely suppress.

But he could not make a move!

Although Uchiha Jin's words were harsh, every single one of them was a fact; if he were to refute them now, he would only fall into an even more embarrassing predicament.

"I admit that there were errors in my decision-making during the Third Shinobi World War, but that is already a thing of the past. Furthermore, my current position as acting Hokage is recognized by everyone in the village!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to quickly deliver a closing statement, hoping to steer the conversation away from this unfavorable context.

"The past has nothing to do with today. I just want to ask you: are the Uchiha going to release these people or not, and do I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, have the authority to deal with these 'suspects'!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth, a fierce glint flickering in his eyes; even though he believed in the 'art of compromise,' he still needed to employ tough measures to protect his own interests.

"If it were the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, or if today's matter didn't involve that dog Danzo, then I, the Uchiha, wouldn't say a word and certainly wouldn't harbor a shred of doubt!"

"But you!"

"You were once a member of the Second Hokage's personal guard, yet you failed to complete your mission of protecting the Hokage!"

Uchiha Jin slammed his foot down hard onto Danzo's face once more, then roared at Sarutobi Hiruzen again.

"Later, when the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato was attacked, you, Sarutobi Hiruzen, again failed to protect him, forcing the prime-of-his-life Hokage to perform that life-sacrificing jutsu!"

"And that dog Danzo blocked my Uchiha Clan from rescuing the Fourth Hokage, yet back then, he was merely dismissed and placed under permanent house arrest!"

"And today, it's even more outrageous that you've allowed this guy to appear here perfectly fine!"

"And now you ask me if you have the authority?"

"Authority, hah~"

The cold sneer remained on Uchiha Jin's face, but at this moment, he suddenly released the ocular power suppressing Danzo and delivered a heavy, powerful kick.

Bang!

As the 'Pot Shadow' Danzo's hunched body rolled to Sarutobi Hiruzen's feet, Uchiha Jin's words, dripping with disdain, rang out once again.

"You don't even deserve to talk to me about authority!"