As Sarutobi Hiruzen kneeled before him, pleading for mercy, Uchiha Madara's expression darkened. His Sharingan spun slightly as he stared down at the so-called "Professor" of Konoha. The sight of this groveling old man, once revered as the Third Hokage, only filled him with disdain.
"Young and ignorant?" Madara scoffed, his voice laced with mockery. "You ruled Konoha for decades, yet you still call yourself young? How pathetic."
Madara turned away, as if losing interest. Sarutobi Hiruzen, still kneeling on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had just survived a second death sentence.
"Thank goodness... I don't have to die again!"
His near-death experiences had drained him completely. Even though he had been revived through the mysterious psychic contract, the pain of being crushed by Senju Hashirama's attack still lingered in his bones. He had experienced death twice in such a short span. Now, he understood something very clearly—being dead was far better than being targeted by these legendary figures.
As Hiruzen struggled to stand, Senju Hashirama chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Ahahaha... Sorry, little monkey, I guess I got a little carried away."
Hiruzen forced a stiff smile but dared not say anything. Even if he wanted to complain, he wouldn't dare voice his thoughts in front of the First Hokage.
Meanwhile, Souta Kazuki, the orchestrator behind this entire situation, silently observed the revived Sarutobi Hiruzen. His mind was already calculating the cost of this whole ordeal.
"One hundred fifty million ryo…" Souta muttered under his breath, his expression darkening. "That damn old man actually cost me that much. He'd better make himself useful!"
Still, the knowledge gained from this experiment was invaluable. Now, he fully understood the mechanics of revival through psychic summoning. The moment a summoned soul perished, their body dissolved into pure soul fire. This meant that any death in the psychic space wouldn't leave behind a corpse—only a flickering white flame that represented their existence.
Souta glanced at Hashirama and smirked.
"Shodai-sama, be prepared to repay this debt tenfold."
But while the psychic space had calmed, the real world was in absolute chaos.
Konoha in Crisis: The Fallout of Hiruzen's Death
Sarutobi Hiruzen's sudden death sent shockwaves throughout Konoha. The village, already on high alert due to recent disturbances, erupted into chaos as news of the Third Hokage's demise spread like wildfire.
Emergency messages were dispatched immediately.
All Konoha shinobi, regardless of their current missions, were summoned back to the village. The chain of command had collapsed overnight, and with no acting Hokage, the village was teetering on the edge of instability.
Even the civilian population, typically insulated from the inner workings of Konoha's military leadership, sensed that something was terribly wrong. People whispered anxiously in the streets, and shopkeepers closed their stores earlier than usual. The entire village seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would happen next.
But while the ordinary citizens worried about their future, another battle was taking place behind closed doors—one far more dangerous than any battlefield skirmish.
The Hokage's Office: The Struggle for Leadership
Inside the Hokage's office, three figures sat in tense silence.
Danzo Shimura.Utatane Koharu.Mitokado Homura.
The elders of Konoha.
In the center of the room, Sarutobi Hiruzen's possessions were laid out neatly—the Hokage's hat, his crystal ball, and his old smoking pipe. They were reminders of the man who had led Konoha for decades… and the void he had left behind.
Danzo sat behind the Hokage's desk, his fingers tracing the surface of the polished wood. His single visible eye, sharp and calculating, was fixed on Hiruzen's pipe.
He remembered their youth—the days when he and Hiruzen had stood side by side as disciples of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. He remembered the countless missions they had undertaken together.
And he remembered the day Hiruzen was chosen as Hokage… while he, Danzo Shimura, was cast aside.
His hands clenched into fists beneath the desk.
"Sarutobi… you were too weak."
His voice broke the silence in the room.
"The Third Hokage is dead. Konoha must select a new leader immediately. And I am the most suitable candidate for the position. My strength, experience, and dedication to the village are unmatched. Therefore…"
Danzo's lone eye gleamed coldly.
"I will become the Fifth Hokage."
His words were met with an icy silence.
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances. They had known Danzo for a long time, and they had expected this.
But even knowing his ambitions, they weren't about to let him claim the Hokage seat without opposition.
Koharu's voice was sharp.
"Danzo! The village is in chaos! This is not the time for political struggles! Hiruzen's body hasn't even been buried yet, and you're already trying to seize power?"
Homura nodded in agreement.
"Our first priority should be stabilizing Konoha. The people need reassurance, not more division. We must prepare for a funeral and ensure the village remains secure."
Danzo scoffed.
"Do not try to delay the inevitable."
He could see through their schemes.
Koharu wanted to stall for time. No doubt, she intended to bring back either Jiraiya or Tsunade—both former students of Hiruzen and strong candidates for Hokage. If they returned, Danzo's chances of taking power would plummet.
Homura, on the other hand, was eyeing the Hokage seat himself. His words about stability were merely a cover for his own ambitions.
Danzo slowly rose to his feet, his gaze cold as he stared them down.
"You two are clinging to a failed past. Konoha is vulnerable. Our enemies are watching, waiting for a moment of weakness. If we hesitate now, we invite disaster."
He stepped forward, voice heavy with authority.
"I am not here to discuss with you. I am informing you."
A dangerous silence filled the room.
Koharu's expression darkened.
"Danzo…" she warned.
But Danzo was unmoved.
"You can support me, or you can step aside. Either way, I will become Hokage."
Koharu and Homura exchanged another glance. They weren't fools—they knew Danzo wouldn't hesitate to eliminate obstacles standing in his way.
This was no longer a simple political dispute.
This was a battle for Konoha's future.
And Danzo Shimura had just made the first move.