Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in silence through the night.
A trap.
Anyone could tell it was a trap without even thinking.
Uchiha Yao had driven him from the position of Hokage. Why would he now kindly invite him to suppress a rebellion?
He merely wanted an excuse to uproot the Sarutobi Clan beyond Konoha's borders.
Going meant death.
Refusing meant defying orders, which was also a dead end—and he would be branded a coward.
Furthermore, the Sarutobi Clan would undoubtedly become what the Uchiha Clan had once been, targeted by Uchiha Yao at every turn.
Uchiha Yao's open schemes were flawless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly lifted his pipe and took a deep drag. The last trace of dejection in his cloudy eyes was replaced by a crazed resolve.
He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was the Third Hokage.
He was the one who had inherited the will of the First and Second Hokage.
Konoha was the work of his life's blood.
He would never allow Konoha to fall into the hands of a clan born inherently evil like the Uchiha!
He had lost the political struggle. He had lost the people's hearts.
But he had not lost everything.
As the Professor of Ninjutsu, he had nearly every ninjutsu recorded since the village's founding in his mind, including those classified as forbidden techniques.
"Asuma."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice regained its former steadiness.
"You will immediately take part of the clan and leave the village."
Asuma froze.
"This is an order," Hiruzen Sarutobi said without room for argument.
"The Sarutobi Clan's embers cannot be extinguished."
He rose to his feet, and his hunched back seemed to straighten somewhat.
"As for me..."
A fierce glint flashed through his eyes.
"I'll let that brat know that the Will of Fire will not be extinguished!"
"He wants me out of the