"Hokage-sama! Stop delaying!"
"The fox demon clan is clearly planning a rebellion!"
"That's right! The entire fox demon family deserves to die!"
The villagers in the spectator stands roared in unison.
The Konoha villagers who had been screened out were pushed aside by a group of radicals and forced into the stands. Surrounded by hateful glares, they clung to one another, seeking solace in their shared isolation. However, upon seeing the Hokage standing above them, a flicker of security returned.
"Die, fox demon!"
"..."
At that moment, years of pent-up anger and resentment erupted like a volcano.
For as long as they could remember, these people had been fed the same rhetoric—fear and hatred toward the so-called "fox demon." Their minds were shaped by stories that cast the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as an omnipotent guardian. At the same time, an endless stream of vitriol was directed at Naruto.
Damn you, fox demon!
Long live Hokage-sama!
Kushina's fury exploded.
Minato quickly wrapped his arms around her—not to stop her, but to prevent her from doing something reckless. He was just as enraged. But looking at Kushina's state, he feared that Kurama's chakra might overwhelm her if she lost control.
"Kushina, don't act rashly. Look at their faces carefully."
"Death is not the worst punishment."
"They'll regret this soon enough."
Tears welled up in Kushina's eyes, her rage boiling over.
Seeing Minato gently wipe them away, she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
"Minato, these people are ungrateful bastards!"
"I really want to kill them!"
Minato patted her back soothingly. "If you kill them, you won't get to see them suffer."
Their conversation, relayed telepathically by Yamanaka Inoichi and Ino, sent a chilling silence over the crowd.
The Konoha villagers and shinobi fell quiet.
The Suna nin watching from the side crossed their arms, smirking at the spectacle before them.
Meanwhile, those bathed in the red light were still celebrating their supposed new beginning, oblivious to what was happening elsewhere.
A clone in Sage Mode raised his hand and let out a low command.
Countless saplings sprouted amidst Konoha's shattered buildings, covering the ruins left by war.
Boom! Boom!
Even the high walls of Konoha, battered by battle, were reconstructed through the power of Wood Release.
Konoha must expand. The current village is too small to house so many people. In the future, more blood will flow into Konoha.
All of this was accomplished with ease.
After finishing his task, the Sage Mode clone looked down at the crowd with burning intensity. Taking a deep breath, he declared:
"This is the monument to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the revolution!"
Closing his eyes, the clone's back shimmered as he entered full elementalization. A surge of chakra erupted from his body, and in an instant, a towering tree grew, its trunk engraved with the names of those who had perished in battle.
"Long live!"
"Long live Hokage-sama!"
The clone raised his hands and called out, "Long live humanity!"
Meanwhile, the tension on Naruto's side was reaching its peak.
Countless Konoha villagers and shinobi glared up at him with seething hatred.
"Damn fox demon!"
"Damn you, Minato!"
"My father was killed by your clan!"
"If I had the chance to start over, I would've killed you the moment I recognized what you were!"
"..."
Kunai and stones flew through the air, hurled with blind fury, but the Four Purple Flame Formation blocked them all.
Senju Hashirama watched the chaos below, his face dark with an expression unseen before—one so grim it seemed water might drip from his features.
At the same time, he heard the deafening cheers from the other side and noticed something strange.
"Tobirama... where is the Uchiha clan?"
Senju Tobirama's frown deepened. He had never been fond of the Uchiha, but this wasn't a matter of personal bias anymore.
Closing his eyes, he spread his senses throughout the village.
Where the Uchiha once stood, there was nothing but ruins.
His expression darkened further.
There was no trace of Uchiha chakra. Even the clan emblem had vanished without a trace.
Expanding his range of perception, he finally found what he was looking for—the remnants of the Uchiha, now relocated to the outskirts of Konoha.
After a long moment, Tobirama opened his eyes, his face grim.
"Brother... I don't know."
He wasn't one to lament the exclusion or suppression of others. That wasn't what angered him.
What enraged him was the complete extermination of the Uchiha.
And worse yet—the erasure of the Senju bloodline he had left behind.
After scanning the entire village, he could find no trace of them.
Not even Rope Tree's presence remained.
"What a ruthless move..."
On the other side, Hashirama also extended his senses, confirming what Tobirama had discovered.
His fists clenched.
He could no longer laugh.
At that moment, a civilian shouted from below:
"The whole fox demon family should die!"
"You're just like the Uchiha—evil monsters!"
"Get out of Konoha!!"
Boom—!
Senju Tobirama took an involuntary step back, his expression shifting ever so slightly.
Hashirama lowered his head, his shoulders tense.
Neither of them was foolish.
Naruto's identity was obvious—he was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
But the words of that villager revealed far more.
Now, they understood why the Uchiha clan had been wiped out.
"Tobirama... your student has done well."
Tobirama let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "Brother, don't say that... I never expected to be so wrong."
"You know, despite my distrust of the Uchiha... they should never have been completely exterminated."
Senju Hashirama gave a bitter smile, his gaze lingering on the Third Hokage's ruined Hokage Rock and the barely recognizable remnants of the First and Second Hokage's monuments.
"The Senju clan merged into Konoha... The Senju name will live on, but without the Uchiha, will the Kage of Konoha still be the Hokage? Will it still be called Hokage?"
The Hokage stood silent, as still as a statue.
Orochimaru watched the scene unfold in Konoha, his golden eyes widening. He let out a laugh—part amusement, part sorrow.
The Legendary Sannin had been cast out of the village in much the same way.
He had made many mistakes, yet he had contributed greatly. His merits did not outweigh his faults, but his crimes were not so great that many had the right to condemn him.
"Sarutobi-sensei, it seems I can't let you die as a hero protecting Konoha after all."
"The good news is, you don't have to die. The bad news... Heh. Uzumaki Naruto? Konoha may never be the same again."
At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly shuddered and turned his sharp gaze toward Naruto, his expression one of shock.
"I see! I see!!"
"Hahaha—!"
"I finally understand... Even me... No, even Konoha's collapse plan was part of your design!"
Naruto met Orochimaru's gaze and chuckled. "Thanks, Aunt Snake."
Orochimaru: "..."
What kind of title was that?
Naruto glanced at the Hokage, whose head was bowed low.
Death was not a punishment for the Hokage.
If anything, it would be a release.
Retribution meant repaying others in kind—not just words, but action.
Lowering his gaze, he took in the sight of the Konoha villagers and shinobi who had been selected like slaves.
Naruto smiled.
Whoosh—
At that moment, the Twelve Little Warriors and the leaders of the shinobi clans appeared outside the Four Purple Flame Formation.
They looked at Naruto, about to kneel, but he stopped them with a glance.
Shikamaru stepped forward, straightened his posture, and raised his right hand in salute—fingers together, arm firm. The others quickly followed his lead.
The clan leaders hesitated before mirroring the gesture, acknowledging Naruto's authority.
Not far away, Gaara arrived with Temari, Kankuro, and Maki.
Gazing at Naruto's figure, Gaara murmured, "Uzumaki Naruto... What would you do in this situation?"
Kankuro frowned. "Do we step in?"
Maki rested a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "We can't interfere. Just watch and trust him."
Temari's expression was laced with concern, her gaze burning with silent fury toward the villagers.
Kakashi, carrying a battered Jiraiya in one arm and a pale Might Guy in the other, landed in the stands with a soft thud.
"Kai, eat something. It'll be our turn soon."
Meanwhile, Kurenai and Anko comforted the trembling Yugao.
"Yugao, don't be sad."
"Sigh... That idiot... cough, I mean, he brought it on himself."
Kurenai glared at Anko, who stuck out her tongue and fell silent.
"Alright, Yugao, the plan has begun. We should go."
"Yes... Konoha's new future is hard-won. I will protect its future with conviction."
Anko, ever suspicious, frowned at her. "Yugao, you're crying, but there are no tears."
"Protect the future? What do you mean?"
Whoosh—
Yugao said nothing. She donned her mask and vanished.
Anko was left with questions.
Kurenai furrowed her brow. "Future... Konoha's future... Uzumaki's future..."
"Let's go. Catch up!" Anko interrupted, grabbing her arm.
The trial of the Hokage had begun.
Senju Tobirama stepped forward first.
He glanced at Naruto, who remained calm, then at the assembled clan leaders of Konoha.
He sighed.
He already had a vague idea of Naruto's intentions.
His gaze fell on the Hokage, filled with a flicker of pity.
But soon, memories flooded his mind.
"You all disappoint me so much."
He thought to himself, "Perhaps I shouldn't have been so hasty to burn myself."
"That monkey... even at his age, he still hasn't burned himself... Konoha must have burned many promising saplings over the years."
Tobirama sighed again before stepping forward, his expression cold.
"Monkey, tell me everything you've done over the years!"
"My brother and I are not fools. The current situation reeks of something unnatural."
"Before making choices, you should consider the consequences. If you ignore the first consequence, all the consequences will pile up."
"Speak. Say it all, in front of everyone!"
After his sharp reprimand, Tobirama swept his gaze over the gathered villagers and shinobi, whom he now viewed as fools.
Finally, he turned to Naruto.
"Uzumaki kid, are you satisfied?"