Sarutobi Hiruzen was practically going mad with anger.
The man before him, Uchiha Yagami...
First, disregarding his authority as Lord Hokage, he arbitrarily wielded the power of life and death, first killing a Konoha Village civilian, then a Sarutobi Clan ninja. He clearly didn't put him in his eyes at all!
Especially after he had personally gone to the Police Force to pressure him, and even sent Uchiha Shisui, a loyal confidant, to warn him!
He didn't expect that not only did he show no intention of restraining himself, but instead...
He escalated the situation!
And the person he killed was his own nephew!
Seeing Lord Hokage arrive, the entire crowd immediately quieted down, waiting for him to handle the matter impartially.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's reputation, at least on the surface, was quite good.
The vast majority of Konoha ninjas and villagers considered him benevolent and kind, an approachable leader.
Naturally, they also believed that Lord Hokage would handle the matter fairly and justly.
Even if the person who died was a member of the Sarutobi Clan, the nephew of Lord Hokage.
Unconsciously, these onlookers, both ninjas and villagers, had actually come to agree with Yagami's actions.
Because...
The vast majority of them finally understood...
They were the innocent girl who was killed, not Sarutobi Jiro.
When Sarutobi Hiro saw Sarutobi Hiruzen arrive, although his heart was still filled with immense grief and indignation, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Uchiha Chiyu killed someone in the street, everyone saw it with their own eyes..."
"Please... please..."
"Render justice for our Sarutobi Clan!"
"My eldest son died on the battlefield defending the village, and now even my only second son has died for no reason like this. How... how can I go on living..."
Sarutobi Hiro also couldn't help but shed tears.
Even the surrounding ninjas and villagers couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy.
Although he was an evil person, he was indeed a father.
But Yagami's expression remained completely unruffled.
At this moment, Yagami's two subordinates, Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamakaze, also finally arrived late.
Seeing that head, seeing Sarutobi Hiro's weeping, seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze...
Their hearts instantly trembled violently!
"Aoki, I'll stay here, you quickly go and inform the Clan Leader!"
"Alright!"
Uchiha Aoki ran away with all his might.
...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's steps were slow and heavy as he walked through the crowd and entered the circle that was surrounded layer upon layer.
He took a deep puff from his pipe.
Then, he slowly exhaled the smoke rings.
"Yagami, what is going on?"
His tone was not intense, and even trembled slightly due to his age and anger.
However, everyone felt an extreme sense of terrifying pressure.
Yagami, however, said calmly, "Lord Hokage, you should be asking them."
He pointed to the victim girl's father and grandmother.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the two of them, took a breath, and calmed himself down.
He walked forward and supported the tottering old woman.
"Old lady, what exactly happened?"
The old woman was still immersed in extremely agitated emotions, and managed to speak the truth with great difficulty and intermittently.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face instantly became extremely grim.
"Hiro, is this true?"
Sarutobi Hixiong's body trembled as he clenched his fists, but his head involuntarily lowered.
"Yes..."
"But, Jiro didn't do it on purpose, this, this was just an accident!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly, "I'm not talking about that!"
"I'm saying, are you really planning to shield your son?"
Sarutobi Hiro was greatly alarmed.
"Lord... Lord Hokage... I..."
"Idiot!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him and said in a deep voice, "You clearly knew that Jiro had killed an innocent villager, and as a father and Clan Leader, you should have dealt with him more severely. Yet you openly shielded and protected him like this!"
"What will the ninjas and villagers in the village think of our Sarutobi Clan?!"
"What will they think of my relatives and clansmen as Hokage?!"
Sarutobi Hiro immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
"Lord Hokage, I..."
"Shut up!"
When everyone saw Lord Hokage reprimanding Sarutobi Hiro, their hearts couldn't help but feel admiration.
As expected of Lord Hokage...
He is indeed so impartial and selfless!
Compared to Sarutobi Hiro, this is a leader who truly has the support of the people...
Yagami remained silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer paid attention to Sarutobi Hiro, but turned around and said to the victim girl's father and grandmother with a sigh.
"The murderer, Yagamk has killed him on the spot, executing him on the spot. This can be considered as giving you justice."
"As for Sarutobi Hiro, shielding a criminal, protecting a relative, and perverting justice..."
"From today onwards, he is no longer the Clan Leader of the Sarutobi Clan!"
"As for the subsequent punishment, I will definitely give everyone an explanation!"
Sarutobi Hiro's face immediately turned as pale as paper.
And the victim girl's relatives were immediately moved to tears of gratitude, and they knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Th- thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and sighed, "Don't thank me. As Hokage and a member of the Sarutobi Clan, as Jiro's uncle, I failed to teach him to be a good person. This is my sin..."
"If you want to thank someone, thank Yagamk."
Only then did these relatives turn around and repeatedly kneel and kowtow to Yagami.
"Thank you, Yagami-sama, for upholding justice!"
Yagamk just nodded lightly.
He glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose old face showed such a look of deep remorse...
Compared to Sarutobi Hiro, his level was simply too much higher...
Sarutobi Hiruzen also walked forward and heavily patted Qianyu on the shoulder.
"Yagami..."
"You did well..."
"Well done."
Yagami said calmly, "Thank you for the compliment, Lord Hokage."
"I will continue to work hard and live up to everyone's expectations."
A cold glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes and then disappeared.
Then his pipe lit up slightly, and he instead showed a smile of encouragement.
"Good, good..."
He glared fiercely at Sarutobi Hiro: "You come with me!"
Sarutobi Hiro glanced at his son's headless body on the ground, let out a tearful, bitter laugh, and followed Sarutobi Hiruzen like a walking corpse.
Many ninjas and villagers, especially the victims' relatives, respectfully called out.
"Farewell, Lord Hokage!"
Within the crowd, there was a lot of discussion.
"Lord Hokage is indeed still so just..."
"Truly worthy of being Lord Hokage, this is a truly good leader..."
"Lord Hokage has always treated all villagers as his own family, treating everyone equally..."
Yagami listened to the discussions of the crowd, and a hint of sadness flashed across his face.
But he quickly shook his head and didn't take it to heart.
Just as he was about to leave, the victims' relatives suddenly surrounded him.
"Yagami, th- thank you for upholding justice for Daizi!"
"If it weren't for Yagami-sama, that murderer would probably still be at large and would never receive a just trial, even if it were Lord Hokage..."
The old woman suddenly snorted coldly.
"Lord Hokage? He wouldn't have killed that little beast either..."
"His performance might fool you, but it can't fool these eyes of mine..."
"Mother, what, what are you saying?"
The old woman looked at Yagami, tears streaming down her face, "I know, this Konoha Village is completely rotten, but..."
"Only Yagamk-sama, your heart, is like the sword in your hand..."
"Sharp and never rusting or corroding!"
Yagami's heart stirred slightly.
He never expected others to understand everything he did, much less did he expect anyone to thank him.
Even when he saw everyone praising Sarutobi Hiruzen's kindness, he remained unperturbed.
But now, to hear these two sentences from the old woman, it was still good after all...
He held the old woman's hand, nodded, then walked through the crowd and strode away, quickly disappearing from sight.
The old woman was still waving her hand, tears flowing down her wrinkled old cheeks, filled with gratitude.
Then, she spat at Sarutobi Jiro's headless body with disgust.
(End of the Chapter)