The Third Hokage's heart sank.
He hadn't expected that the Fourth Raikage had actually leaked this out.
Damn it… if he admitted to such a thing, there was no doubt the punishment would be death, not just imprisonment.
Still, there was hope—he'd noticed a few clan heads hesitating on delivering the death penalty.
Even if he could no longer remain Hokage, surviving would be enough.
So he immediately denied it:
"I never did such a thing. That's the Fourth Raikage's trick—he just wants to sow discord inside Konoha. Such deceit is a common ploy in the shinobi world!
And even if there was such a thing… it was Danzō's doing, not mine. I knew nothing of it."
He tried to shift the blame onto Danzō, knowing full well that it really had been Danzō pulling the strings.
But Hiashi Hyūga wasn't buying it. He turned toward Ryōsuke Uchiha:
"Ryōsuke, has there been any progress on uncovering the spy, with the cooperation of the Cloud captives?"
Ryōsuke was caught off guard. He hadn't actually pursued the spy angle seriously—his original interest in Mabui had been personal, not political.
But now, this was the perfect opportunity to crush the Third once and for all.
He shifted the question toward the Ino–Shika–Chō trio:
"Pig, Deer, and Butterfly clan heads—you searched Danzō's laboratories. Did you find proof of him dispatching spies?"
The three shook their heads.
"No. Spies don't usually leave hard evidence—just coded messages, dead drops, or word of mouth."
Hiashi sighed—his own investigation of another of Danzō's sites had also turned up nothing.
Hiruzen quietly exhaled in relief.
Danzō was too experienced to leave evidence lying around.
Ryōsuke clicked his tongue. It was a pity—such evidence would have been the perfect weapon against Hiruzen.
But then an idea struck him, and he smiled:
"Isn't the Third Hokage right here? If we want to know the truth, it's simple—let's use Yamanaka Clan's Mind Reading jutsu on him."
The Third's face went pale.
"You can't! I'm the Hokage!"
Ryōsuke sneered:
"You're nothing more than a prisoner now.
We could use the Uchiha's Sharingan genjutsu to rip the truth out of you—but that risks turning you into a vegetable, or even killing you.
We're not monsters. So instead, we'll ask Yamanaka Clan Head to perform the mind-reading."
Inoichi Yamanaka stood immediately:
"Very well. If he's innocent, I'll be the first to plead for leniency on his behalf."
Hiruzen's chest tightened. He knew how accurate the Yamanaka's jutsu was.
Not just the spy issue—all his secrets could be exposed.
He tried to stop it:
"Yamanaka! Don't forget how much I've done for the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. Without my support, would your clans enjoy today's power?"
Inoichi sighed.
"We owe you much, Hokage-sama. But conspiring with outsiders, putting our own clans and the entire village at risk—that crosses every line. Forgive me."
He stepped forward.
Hiruzen panicked:
"Stay away! You ungrateful traitor!"
Bound by two Uchiha guards, he struggled, but couldn't break free.
Inoichi raised his hand, ready to press his jutsu.
Suddenly, Hiruzen broke.
"Don't! Don't use it—I admit it! It was me who sent the spies!"
Gasps echoed in the chamber.
Even the clan heads who had still supported Hiruzen looked at him with despair.
The once-respected "Professor" Hokage now looked like a petty schemer.
Inoichi's eyes darkened with grief.
"Why? Why would you do this?"
It wasn't just his question—it was everyone's.
Hiruzen's face twisted with resentment:
"You still ask why? Ryōsuke Uchiha dared to throw my son into prison, humiliating me! You think I'd let the Uchiha go unpunished?
As for the Cloud, they're pathetic. Even with their whole village, they couldn't wipe out just two clans."
Inoichi's hands trembled with anger:
"And what if those two clans had fallen? What if Kumo had demanded massive reparations—or worse, Fire Country land itself?"
Hiruzen waved it off.
"So we'd pay some money. Big deal. Kumo would bleed heavily too, and they'd think twice before warring again. If they dared push further, we'd fight back."
The room went cold.
Inoichi sat back down, his heart heavy. He realized that Ryōsuke's earlier claims—that Hiruzen bore responsibility for Sakumo's suicide, Minato's death, and even past tragedies—suddenly didn't sound exaggerated.
The Third had never truly cared for the village's heroes or talents—only his own pride, and his foolish son Asuma.
And speaking of Asuma… the whole village already knew about him drunkenly burning down an entire street, injuring civilians, yet escaping punishment.
So this was their Hokage.
The clan heads sat in silence, bitter disappointment etched on their faces.
The "beloved Hokage," had confessed—he was nothing more than a selfish, scheming traitor.
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