The council chamber was suffused with tension.
The assembled clan heads were all seething.
To think that the Hokage—the very leader of Konoha—would betray the village out of personal grudges, sacrificing the safety of everyone else for the sake of his own ego and family… it was unthinkable. Disgraceful.
Even Hiashi Hyūga's heart burned with fury. Never had he imagined that the "traitor" hiding in the shadows of the village was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself. His actions had nearly cost the Hyūga clan their best shinobi on the battlefield. Had that happened, how would he ever have faced his ancestors?
Ryōsuke Uchiha smirked coldly. The Third had confessed. Now, who among the clan heads would still dare defend him?
Hiashi stood first:
"I vote for the death penalty."
The betrayal was unforgivable. Only execution could quench the rage in his chest.
Ryōsuke nodded in satisfaction and turned to the Ino–Shika–Chō trio and the Inuzuka head.
Nara Shikaku sighed heavily. He hadn't thought Sarutobi capable of this. But now, there was no way around it:
"Then… we must judge him according to Konoha's laws."
The others—Akimichi Chōza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Inuzuka Tsume—remained silent, but their silence meant agreement. None dared raise an objection. Anyone who did might look like Sarutobi's co-conspirator.
Hiruzen's crimes were beyond pardon. Killing Shisui alone, he might have escaped death by hiding behind his Hokage title. But conspiring with Kumogakure, leaking military secrets? That was treason. And treason demanded death.
Ryōsuke's voice cut through the silence:
"Third Hokage, do you yourself have any objections?"
Hiruzen's heart ached. This man would even force him to sentence himself. His fate was sealed. Perhaps, he thought, had he stepped down earlier, none of this would have come to pass. But regrets were useless now.
He only had one request left:
"All of this was my doing alone. I accept judgment. But I beg of you—do not involve my clan."
The clan heads exchanged silent looks. They could hardly believe it had come to this. Compared to the First, Second, and even the late Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's fall from grace was devastating. Not just a weak leader—but a betrayer of the Will of Fire itself.
Would the Uchiha truly spare the Sarutobi clan? Unlikely. The shame of Shisui's murder and near-clan extermination would not be easily forgiven. They recalled, too, how the Uchiha were scapegoated after the Nine-Tails' attack—wrongly accused, oppressed, forced into the shadows. Surely, the Sarutobi would face the same fate now.
But Ryōsuke surprised them:
"As long as the Sarutobi clan does not break Konoha's laws, I will not trouble them."
The Third stared at him in shock. Could it be true? Could his family be spared?
"Do you swear it?"
Ryōsuke sneered:
"Do you question my word?"
Unless the Sarutobi chose to self-destruct, he had no need to crush them further.
Uchiha Fugaku, listening quietly, nodded inwardly. This was a clever move. By sparing the Sarutobi, Ryōsuke would show restraint and keep the village from fracturing further.
For the first time, Hiruzen laughed—a hollow, broken laugh.
"Remember your words. And you clan heads, watch closely how the Uchiha lead this village in the days to come."
Then his expression hardened.
"I have betrayed the Second Hokage's trust. Let me settle this myself. No need for your hands to be stained."
His chakra surged wildly. Veins bulged across his body as he forcibly ruptured his own chakra pathways. With a final grimace, the Third Hokage committed suicide, severing his own life.
His corpse slumped to the floor.
The room was heavy with silence.
The Uchiha and Hyūga felt grim satisfaction—justice had been served. The other clans, however, were shaken. They had respected Hiruzen for so long. To see him fall, then die by his own hand, was crushing. At least, they thought, he had ended it with some small shred of dignity left.
Even Fugaku felt respect for that: at least the Uchiha would not bear the stain of killing a Hokage.
Now, with the Hokage seat empty, murmurs began:
"Should we not appoint a new Hokage? The Fire Daimyō will need to confirm, but the village cannot remain leaderless."
All eyes knew the truth: the next Hokage would be from the Uchiha. Who else had the strength, the prestige, the claim?
But Ryōsuke held back:
"There is no rush. Let one week pass. Then, at the next clan council, every clan may propose candidates. Together, we will choose a Hokage recognized by all."
The clan heads were stunned. Such patience? Surely, it was only a formality—the Uchiha would win regardless. But none dared oppose.
One by one, they spoke with uncharacteristic respect:
"As you say."
The meeting ended with Ryōsuke delegating interim village affairs to Nara Shikaku—a shock to many, but another calculated gesture of restraint.
The Uchiha had truly seized the reins of Konoha.
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