Friday, on the third floor of the Hokage Tower, Konoha held its high-level meeting as scheduled.
Because most of the ninjas from the northeastern border had returned to Konoha, the usually sparse meeting room now had a bit more liveliness.
"Huangyi, long time no see!"
"Kuojie, you're finally back? It looks like your fight against Hidden Cloud brought great gains—you've even gained some muscle!"
"Qianwu, what happened to leave that scar on your face? Who hurt you?"
"..."
Before the meeting began, everyone caught up with old friends they hadn't seen in a while, swapping stories about how the war ended.
Amidst the laughter and chatter, Hiashi entered the meeting room with his aide Hiaza, instantly causing all to suppress their smiles. Obviously, most of Konoha's leadership still had an intuitive understanding of the Hyūga's grievances.
Soon after, Kintai also walked in cold-faced alongside Hachidai, further thickening the tense atmosphere in the room.
Thankfully, this oppressive ambiance didn't last long. Hiruzen Sarutobi entered, closely followed by the four Elders, with Jiraiya bringing up the rear.
Once everyone was seated and noticing it was time, Hiruzen announced, "The high-level meeting of Konoha begins now."
This meeting proceeded without disruptions, running smoothly and orderly.
Hiruzen fully acknowledged Jiraiya's critical role in resisting Hidden Cloud and gave full praise to the returning frontline ninjas, filling the room once again with cheerful laughter.
"Thanks to every ninja's efforts, the war has finally ended! We've driven away the darkness of war and death, and are now facing a brighter future. Next, please join me in building a better future for Konoha."
After summarizing the meeting, Hiruzen was about to announce its conclusion when suddenly Hiashi stood up from the front row.
Though coldness flickered in his eyes, Hiruzen's face stayed kind and warm as he asked softly, "Hiashi, do you have anything important to say?"
"Of course!"
Hiashi nodded, then spoke slowly but firmly, "On behalf of every ninja of the Hyūga Clan, I hereby impeach the Third Hokage and initiate a vote of confidence..."
Before Hiashi could finish speaking, murmurs erupted throughout the hall. Everyone turned to look at him in shock—then shifted their eyes curiously toward Hiruzen.
Jiraiya couldn't contain his anger anymore and stood up to interrupt him, saying, "Hiashi, do you know what you're doing?"
Meeting his gaze fearlessly, Hiashi replied, "Jiraiya, the Third Hokage is too old and muddled-minded. Ever since regaining power after the Fourth died, he's made mistake after mistake, bringing significant harm to Konoha."
Jiraiya stared at him, speechless, exclaiming, "How can that be true? The old man did so much for Konoha!"
Hiashi snorted in disdain but said nothing.
Looking directly at Hiruzen, Hiashi questioned, "May I ask, Lord Hokage, whether you bear responsibility for shielding or inadequately supervising Orochimaru and Danzō's defection?"
Hiruzen said nothing, but Koharu Utatane responded instead, "Shielding is too strong a word, but yes, there might've been inadequate supervision."
Unwilling to get bogged down, Hiashi continued, "The truth behind my daughter's kidnapping by Hidden Cloud is obvious, and your eldest son Nobusuke was even present at the scene. Why would you protect Hidden Cloud?"
"You think we wouldn't notice?" he continued. "You recalled the ninja stationed at the Northeast border back to Konoha, and now you expect us Hyuga to take the blame for your mismanagement? You've even pinned us to the pillar of shame!"
Nobusuke quickly defended himself: "No! Don't make up nonsense like that!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly, "I believe Nobusuke wasn't even present at the scene."
"Hmph," Hiashi snorted coldly. "Still refusing to admit it. How utterly hypocritical."
Jiraiya angrily retorted, "Hiashi, teacher would never do something like that!"
Koharu Utatane coldly warned, "Hyuga Hiashi, watch your language."
Homura Mitokado declared, "Hyuga Hiashi, the Hokage's reputation must not be defamed!"
Facing accusations from multiple higher-ups, Hiashi remained expressionless and replied coldly, "Since Hizashi has already given his life for Konoha, why would I have any reason to lie about this?"
After thinking it over, most people in the room found his words made sense.
"Since Hizashi is gone and Kumogakure has already retreated, Hiashi truly has no reason to fabricate such claims."
"Yeah, if this came out earlier, it might've dragged Nobusuke down too, but now it only makes the Sarutobi clan look bad."
"If speaking out brings nothing but loss, then this must be the truth."
"…"
Hiashi didn't dwell on Nobusuke's involvement further as he continued, "Putting aside Nobusuke's matter, how do you explain recalling those Northeast border ninja, Lord Third Hokage?
By recalling our frontline forces prematurely, when Kumogakure suddenly turned against us, Konoha was forced into a defensive position — leaving Hizashi with no choice but to sacrifice himself for Konoha."
Upon hearing these words, neither Hiruzen nor Jiraiya could find a reply — this was an undeniable major mistake.
With a heavy sigh, the Third Hokage finally admitted, "It was indeed my mistake as commander..."
"Mistake as commander... how ridiculous!" Hiashi persisted without pause. "We had just suffered betrayal from Kumo, yet immediately after their retreat, you eagerly recalled our frontline ninja protecting against Kumogakure. What exactly was your purpose?"
This time Kintai cut in before Hiashi could continue monologuing, "What other purpose could there be? Obviously trying to boost Jiraiya's influence while undermining our clan head, thus securing the next Hokage succession!"
With Kintai's statement, the meeting room exploded with voices.
"Exactly, Kumo had barely finished breaking their promises before recalling our frontline commander..."
"The Northwest border situation stabilized long ago, yet still hesitating to recall Fugaku... sigh..."
"Has the Third truly become senile?"
"Holding such a grand welcome ceremony for Jiraiya makes the intention too obvious..."
Listening to the cacophony of discussions filling the chamber, Hiruzen knew he could no longer delay his retirement.
He understood that with the war concluding, he inevitably needed to step down from the Hokage seat.
Therefore, deliberately delaying Fugaku's return was simply an attempt to delay his retirement a little longer — giving him more time to prepare for the transition of power.
What he hadn't expected was that the Hyuga had become the vanguard paving the way for the Uchiha.
Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi stood up to clarify, "Recalling ninja from the Kumo border was intended to demonstrate Konoha's sincerity toward peace negotiations..."
Before others could contemplate further, Kintai chuckled, "So this is how Konoha displays sincerity — by showing weakness to our enemies!"
Hachidai said, "Open defenses just to show sincerity? Weakness is a fatal flaw in itself. Doesn't the Hokage understand this?"
After the two Uchiha spoke, everyone realized that Hiruzen Sarutobi's justification no longer held water.
Hiruzen abandoned his defense at last, saying, "I had wanted to resign last year, but others convinced me to stay on reluctantly. However, I never expected my energy would run out, leading to many mistakes in decision-making. For this, I sincerely apologize."
With those words, he bent deeply in solemn bow, his spine curving with age and sorrow, then took off his Hokage hat and placed it on the table.
"Hokage-sama, please don't do this!"
"Hokage-sama, Konoha cannot do without you!"
Two isolated voices rang out from the crowd, after which a heavy silence settled over the chamber. Hiruzen's face immediately turned pitch black.
These pleas for him to stay were worse than none at all!
Most of the ninja present had already grown tired of his repeated errors.
Danzo's betrayal, Aozora's resignation, Hizashi's sacrifice...
One bad decision after another had completely eroded the trust the village's upper echelons had in him. Now that the war was over and there was no longer any need for him to maintain stability, nobody felt inclined to prevent his resignation.
Hiruzen forcefully controlled his facial expression before speaking again, "There's no need for a vote of confidence either. I will resign from the Hokage seat myself."
Judging from the crowd's reaction just now, Hiruzen already knew that holding a vote of confidence would only bring him further humiliation. If that were the case, he might as well step down gracefully instead.
Witnessing this, Hiashi and Kingtai both sat back down. This wasn't the appropriate time to launch an assault on the Third Hokage.
After all, regardless of anything else, the Third had governed for several decades, and many still carried a flicker of respect for him somewhere inside.
To continue pressing harshly against such an elderly man would only provoke resentment and hostility from others.
As Hiashi and Kingtai fell silent, the meeting room fell into quiet contemplation.
Though their faces remained composed, turmoil churned within every heart. After all, with the Third stepping down, Konoha was standing on the edge of a new dawn.
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