Naruto: The Fall of the Uchiha - Chapter 38
Habit is a powerful force!
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s nearly twenty-year reign over Konoha had ingrained a deep-seated habit of obedience among the shinobi and the ninja clans. They were all too accustomed to following the directives of the Third Hokage.
They had no choice!
Even during Minato Namikaze’s tenure, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the rest of the “Konoha F4” continued to wield significant influence. Minato’s reign, lasting just over a year, saw him more preoccupied with ensuring his wife’s pregnancy than making substantial changes. His brief rule was largely overshadowed by the presence of the Third Hokage and his direct ANBU force.
Minato’s short-lived and largely ineffective tenure had left Hiruzen firmly in control, maintaining the image of a powerful Hokage.
Thus, no one questioned why Hiruzen still held the esteemed position of Hokage. Was it due to a lack of suitable successors? Was it because Jiraiya refused the role or because Tsunade had left the village?
These reasons seemed dismissive of the influential ninja clans of Konoha, reflecting the power of habit.
Uchiha Jin’s eyes swept disdainfully over the shocked faces around him, his contempt for them reaching a peak.
Pitiful shinobi, despicable bloodlines…
If they couldn’t break free from their inherent servility, then it was up to the noble soul from another world to rule them—or destroy them!
“Uchiha brat, how dare you slander the Hokage! Are you trying to rebel?” Koharu Utatane was the first to react, and her shrewish nature was well-suited to confront such a situation.
However, Uchiha Jin had no tolerance for this old crone. Was this what shinobi had become?
Sharingan: Suppression!
Using his Sharingan’s powerful ocular abilities, he forced Koharu back. Standing tall and proud, Jin continued to shout at Hiruzen, filled with righteous anger.
“First Hokage Hashirama Senju fought to his last breath to protect Konoha!”
“Second Hokage Tobirama Senju sacrificed himself on the battlefield to ensure the future of Konoha!”
“Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze battled to protect the village, sealing the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life!”
“And you, Hiruzen Sarutobi!”
Jin stepped forward, pointing directly at Hiruzen’s face, his voice filled with fury.
“You’re the only Third Hokage who, through poor leadership, caused countless young shinobi to die on the battlefield, and then willingly surrendered Konoha’s hard-won victories!”
His words echoed through the crowd, causing everyone to turn in shock towards Jin.
Jin’s battle-hardened gaze bore into Hiruzen, silently mocking him.
Let’s go all out!
Even Hiruzen, seasoned in politics, was stunned by Jin’s audacity.
Was he not afraid…
I’m not afraid!
After the recent series of tests, Jin felt firmly assured in his understanding of Hiruzen’s political mindset.
Therefore…
I have nothing to fear!
“The Uchiha fought Water Country alone, while Konoha’s ninja clans battled the other three nations. After much sacrifice, we finally won the Third Great Ninja War, paying a great price in resources and lives!”
Jin was in high spirits. He stood tall in front of the assembled clan leaders of Konoha, his foot still on Danzo’s head and his finger pointed at Hiruzen.
“But because of your cowardice, we lost our right to war reparations. What do you take our clansmen’s lives for?”
“If I had been born a few years earlier, you wouldn’t have just retired—you’d have been deposed for betraying the village!”
“You!”
Jin’s anger grew as he advanced on Hiruzen, and his voice became increasingly sharp and aggressive as if facing a mortal enemy.
“You were DEPOSED, not retired!”
His powerful words shocked the audience, shattering the illusion of Hiruzen’s voluntary retirement and revealing the truth.
“Uchiha Jin, what are you trying to do?”
Hiruzen was genuinely furious now, unable to contain his anger at having his dark secrets exposed.
But he couldn’t retaliate!
Jin’s harsh words, though difficult to hear, were all true. Any attempt to refute them would only make Hiruzen’s position more precarious.
“I admit there were mistakes in my decisions during the Third Great Ninja War, but that’s in the past. My current position as acting Hokage is supported by the entire village!”
Hiruzen quickly summarized, trying to steer the conversation away from his unfavorable past.
“The past has nothing to do with today. I just want to know if you’ll release them. Do I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, have the right to handle these ‘suspects’?”
Hiruzen’s eyes flashed with anger as he spoke through gritted teeth. Even a master of compromise needed to assert his authority.
“If it were the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, or if this didn’t involve Danzo, I wouldn’t hesitate to comply without question!”
“But you!”
“Once a member of the Second Hokage’s guard, yet you failed to protect him!”
Jin stomped on Danzo’s face again before turning back to Hiruzen.
“Then, when the Fourth Hokage was attacked, you failed again, leading to his sacrifice!”
“And Danzo, this scum, hindered the Uchiha from aiding the Fourth Hokage, yet you only removed him from power and placed him under house arrest!”
“And now, he’s here again!”
“And you ask me if you have the right?”
“Right, huh…”
Jin’s cold smile remained as he released his suppression on Danzo, kicking him hard towards Hiruzen.
Boom!
Danzo’s hunched body rolled to Hiruzen’s feet as Jin’s disdainful words echoed once more.
“Are you even qualified to discuss qualifications with me?”
…
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