"Strip me of the Hokage's title? Him? He thinks he's worthy? "
The Third Hokage's face twisted with rage, and he let out a cold laugh.
"To deprive me of the Hokage's position with nothing more than a piece of paper—does the Daimyō really think himself fit to do so?
A mere Daimyō, daring to appoint or dismiss me? Ridiculous.
He is only what I acknowledge him to be. If I do not, then he is nothing."
"Third Hokage, watch your words! The Daimyō is the ruler of the Land of Fire—the highest authority in this nation. Even you must submit to his oversight."
The Daimyō's envoys, angered by Hiruzen's open disrespect, raised their voices sharply.
Though they had long known the Hokage treated the Daimyō with disdain, witnessing it firsthand still roused their fury.
"He has no control over me."
The Third Hokage sneered, his expression filled with contempt.
Though in theory the Daimyō had the authority to restrain him, the reality was that as Hokage, holding command over ninety percent of the Land of Fire's military strength, he was the true sovereign of the nation.
His stance toward the Daimyō's orders had always been simple: if they suited him, he obeyed; if not, he ignored them as though they never existed.
"Third Hokage, the Daimyō is the true lord of the Land of Fire. Even a village shadow must yield to his authority. Do you mean to defy his decree? "
Uchiha Fugaku rose to his feet, his voice cold and unyielding.
"Fugaku, this is all your doing, isn't it? "
The Third Hokage turned toward him, his tone venomous.
He did not believe the envoys' arrival at this exact council meeting was mere coincidence.
No—the explanation was clear. They had already entered the village beforehand, concealed by the Uchiha clan, who controlled the village gates, and only revealed now to strike at the perfect moment.
Forcing him to convene the council yesterday must have been to ensure their timing aligned.
This "discussion" about Uzumaki Naruto's mistreatment was nothing but a pretext. The true aim was to force him from power.
"Schemes? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Fugaku smirked.
"The Daimyō chose to strip you of the Hokage's title because you are unworthy of it. Everything you have done—was it my hand that guided you? "
His cold laugh cut deeper than words.
"I will ask one last time, Third Hokage—do you intend to disobey the Daimyō's order? "
"And if I do? "
The Third Hokage's gaze sharpened, his voice icy.
"Then you will leave us no choice but to seize you and await the Daimyō's judgment."
Fugaku's reply was equally cold.
"Good. Very good! "
Hiruzen laughed in fury, then barked an order to the shinobi present.
"All of you, hear me! Uchiha Fugaku is attempting a coup. Join me—together we will bring him down! "
"By order of the Daimyō, the Third Hokage has been deposed. Until a new Hokage is chosen, I will serve as acting Hokage. And now, as the Third Hokage resists and rebels, I call upon you—stand with me, and seize him! "
Almost simultaneously, Fugaku's own command rang out.
Faces across the chamber tightened with conflict.
On one side stood the Third Hokage. On the other, Fugaku represents the Daimyō's authority. Both had the right to command them. Whose orders should they follow?
Yet not all hesitated.
The Sarutobi clan head, the Shimura clan head, the Koharu clan, and the Mitokado clan gathered around Hiruzen.
Meanwhile, the Hyūga clan head, the Hatake clan head, and the dozen clan leaders who had followed Fugaku to the Hokage's office the day before all moved to his side.
Among them also stood several elite jōnin of civilian origin.
Clearly, the Third Hokage's treatment of the Fourth Hokage's orphan had pushed them beyond endurance—enough to oppose him outright.
The chamber split into three camps.
One aligned with Hiruzen.
One with Fugaku.
And a third remained neutral—hesitant, unwilling to be dragged in. Among them were the Ino-Shika-Chō clans.
"…"
The Third Hokage swept his gaze over the factions. His expression darkened.
The number gathered to his side was far fewer than those who had rallied to Fugaku.
Though he had expected his influence to wane after his reputation's recent collapse, he had not imagined so few would still answer his call.
The only solace he took was the location. This was the Hokage's office. Directly below lay the ANBU headquarters.
The ANBU stationed there must already know of the situation. Surely, they would soon arrive to reinforce him.
"Third Hokage, you have no chance of victory. Surrender is your only option."
Fugaku's cold voice cut through the chamber.
"Is that so? I wouldn't be so sure."
Hiruzen sneered, confident in the ANBU's imminent arrival.
But Fugaku saw straight through him.
"If your reliance is on the ANBU, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. At this moment, they are occupied—'conversing' with Shisui. I doubt they'll have time to come."
Fugaku smiled faintly.
If he had chosen this council meeting to depose the Hokage, he had naturally made thorough preparations.
The ANBU—Hiruzen's direct power—was his primary concern.
And so, he had already ordered a spore clone to disguise itself as Uchiha Shisui, leading a squad of Uchiha elites to intercept the ANBU.
The streets around the Hokage's building had also been sealed off.
"Shisui… with the ANBU? "
Hiruzen's face turned grim.
On one hand, it meant his ANBU would likely never arrive.
On the other, Shisui—who had always obeyed his command—had now betrayed him.
"So, the Third Hokage refuses to surrender. Very well. Leave him to me. The rest are yours. Seize them! "
Whoosh!
Fugaku launched himself at Hiruzen, while his allies surged toward the Hokage's supporters.
"Susanoo—!"
Dark chakra erupted around Fugaku, forming a colossal black skeletal hand that swung down at the Hokage.
"Enma—!"
Hiruzen summoned the Monkey King. Enma transformed into the indestructible staff, extending to meet the oncoming blow.
BOOM!
The staff collided with the massive skeletal hand, sending Hiruzen flying. He smashed through the council chamber wall and crashed outside the Hokage's building.
Shff!
Fugaku flickered through the opening in an instant, chasing after the Third Hokage.