The Third Hokage could only respond helplessly, "You actually still ask me why?"
"That bastard Uchiha Ryosuke actually dared to throw my child into prison, making me lose great face. How could I possibly let him roam free?"
"Kumogakure is also a bunch of useless trash. Even with the power of an entire village gathered against two clans, they still couldn't deal with them."
Yamanaka was even more heartbroken. "Hokage-sama, are you not afraid that if the two clans were defeated or even wiped out, Kumogakure would demand a huge sum of reparations from Konoha, or even demand the lands of the Land of Fire?"
The Third Hokage explained at this moment, since everything had already been exposed anyway. "Maybe we would lose some money, but Kumogakure would also pay a great price to destroy these two clans. By then, they wouldn't dare to start another war."
"If they dare to go too far, it's not like we can't go to war with them."
Upon hearing this explanation, Yamanaka became even more disappointed. Just for such a reason, he had completely disregarded the interests of the village. And he still naively believed that with only a small price paid, Kumogakure would back down?
How was that possible? The people of Kumogakure were greedy.
He had initially thought that Ryosuke blaming the deaths of the Second Hokage, the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and Sakumo Hatake on the Third Hokage was a bit of a stretch.
But now, it seemed that it wasn't an injustice at all. The Third Hokage simply did not care about the deaths of the village's talented individuals. Instead, he cared more about that foolish son of his.
The crimes committed by his son, Asuma, had already spread throughout the entire village. He had actually burned down an entire street, injuring many people. If someone like that wasn't thrown into prison, would there even be any justice left?
He said nothing more. He simply returned to his seat in silence.
The Third Hokage, to turn out to be such a person, was truly disheartening. The other clan leaders also had looks of disbelief. They never expected that the Third Hokage had actually done it.
How utterly ridiculous. The Kage of their village was actually a traitor. He actually abandoned the interests of the village over his own personal grudges.
Utterly disgraceful.
Everyone's hearts surged with fury. Hyuga Hiashi was equally enraged. He never imagined that the village had truly produced an internal traitor, and that traitor was actually the Third Hokage.
They had almost led the entire Hyuga clan to ruin. If all the Hyuga clan elites who went to battle had died on the battlefield, then what would become of the Hyuga clan?
How would he face the ancestors?
Ryosuke, seeing that the Third Hokage had admitted his crimes, felt a sense of satisfaction. 'This is good. Now, let's see who else would plead for him.'
At this moment, Hyuga Hiashi also spoke up. "I support the death penalty."
The Third Hokage's actions had completely enraged him. Only the death penalty could quench the fury in his heart.
Ryosuke was very satisfied with the Hyuga patriarch's answer and continued to ask the other clans. "And what about the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Inuzuka clan leaders?"
Shikaku sighed. He never expected that the Third Hokage would actually do such a thing. Since that was the case, there was no other choice.
"Let's judge according to Konoha's laws."
The other three said nothing. They agreed with Shikaku's statement.
The other clan leaders also remained silent. That meant they had no objections. How could they possibly object? If they did, wouldn't they be suspected of being accomplices?
This time, the Third Hokage had gone too far. Killing Shisui alone wouldn't have necessarily led to the death penalty. But leaking military secrets to Kumogakure? That was already an act of treason against the village.
Such a grave crime could never be forgiven.
Seeing that no one objected, Ryosuke finally asked, "Third Hokage, do you have any objections?"
The Third Hokage felt wronged. What a ruthless person—he was actually making him judge himself.
At this point, his life was already forfeit. He even felt some regret. Perhaps if he had stepped down earlier, things would have been better.
But there was no medicine for regret. Yet he still had his clan to protect.
"Everything was done by me alone. I accept the judgment. But this has nothing to do with my clan. Please, do not implicate them."
The clan leaders present looked at the Third Hokage accepting his judgment, all feeling helpless.
This Hokage was simply too disappointing. Compared to the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage, he wasn't just incompetent—he had outright betrayed the village and the Will of Fire.
As for sparing the Sarutobi clan? Would the Uchiha let them go? Definitely not.
The Third Hokage's betrayal nearly led to the annihilation of two clans. Even if the other clans spared the Sarutobi clan, the Uchiha would certainly crush them.
Just like how, after the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha clan was wrongly accused of being involved and was oppressed so badly that they couldn't even lift their heads in the village.
The Sarutobi clan would face the same fate.
At this thought, the gathered clan leaders felt guilty. Not only had they wronged the Uchiha, but they had also nearly caused a massive catastrophe.
Uchiha Hachiyo sneered inwardly. 'Given the humiliation their clan had suffered, did they think the Uchiha would let the Sarutobi clan off so easily?'
At this moment, however, Ryosuke spoke up, "As long as the Sarutobi clan has not violated Konoha's laws, I won't go out of my way to trouble them."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage was a bit stunned. 'Did Ryosuke really mean it?'
"You mean what you say?"
Ryosuke sneered. "Are you questioning my word?"
Unless the Sarutobi clan sought their own destruction, he had no reason to waste time on such a minor clan.
Uchiha Hachiyo was surprised. 'Ryosuke actually made such a decision? Had he forgotten their past humiliation?'
Fugaku, however, agreed with this decision. Later, he would make sure the Uchiha didn't go looking for trouble with the Sarutobi. If Ryosuke did this, there had to be a deeper reason.
The Third Hokage laughed loudly. "Remember what you've said. And I ask all the clan leaders here to bear witness to how the Uchiha act in the future."
"I have failed the Second Hokage's expectations. I will deal with myself—there is no need for you to do it."
After speaking, his entire body convulsed. His face twisted. Chakra surged violently within him, and he severed his own meridians, dying instantly.
Thus, the Third Hokage fell.
Aside from the Uchiha and the Hyuga, everyone else was filled with sorrow. Though he had committed great crimes, by taking his own life, he at least preserved the last shred of his dignity.
They had not yet fully changed their view of the Third Hokage. This had simply been too much of a blow.
Compared to them, Fugaku felt a surge of excitement. The Third Hokage actually had the courage to take his own life. For that, he had some respect.
At least it spared the Uchiha from dirtying their hands. Now, the position of Hokage was vacant. But there was no need to rush. He would wait and see Ryosuke's next move.
Ryosuke, at this moment, felt refreshed. The Third Hokage was dead, and he had taken his own life, atoning for his sins. This was the best outcome for the Uchiha.
There was no need to bear the stain of killing a Kage, even if that Kage was a traitor.
"Give the Third Hokage a proper burial. Let him explain himself to the Second Hokage in the afterlife."
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