Words couldn't capture the disappointment boiling inside Naruto's chest.
Every time he replayed the video, his anger grew stronger.
Deep love turns to deep hate.
The scene of Sarutobi Hiruzen standing tall on his so-called moral high ground—pressuring the Hyuga clan with "justice" and "duty"—was a sharp contrast to how small and submissive he appeared when facing the Cloud Village.
"I act for the peace of Konoha and its people. My conscience is clear. This is my duty as Hokage!"
"Forcing the Hyuga clan leader to sacrifice himself in exchange for a peace treaty… yes, I admit, I feel shame toward the Hyuga. But this is the only solution. Only through this can war be avoided."
"I will live my life without regret!"
With his gray hair and beard, Hiruzen's voice carried with authority, echoing through the air.
Many villagers and shinobi lifted their heads, their eyes regaining a spark of belief.
They didn't need much—just a reason, any reason, to keep trusting their Hokage.
And Sarutobi's words gave them that reason.
"Lord Hokage is right! Sacrifice is necessary for the village's peace. If it's for Konoha, I would give my life too!"
"Exactly! Today's treaty should've been signed already. Causing trouble now could lead to war—and if it does, the Hyuga clan will be to blame!"
More and more voices rose up, heated with emotion, rallying behind Hiruzen.
The Hyuga clan's shinobi were furious, veins swelling as they activated their Byakugan in outrage.
Hiruzen felt a flicker of relief. Decades in power had given him unmatched prestige—enough to sway the hearts of Konoha's people with ease.
Besides, he told himself, he had no selfish motives. He was acting for the public good. Of course the villagers supported him.
Naruto laughed bitterly.
"What a sham. Look carefully—do you really think you're worthy of your own conscience?"
The big screen shifted. The scene changed to the reception hall where Cloud shinobi were
"Lord Leizu's death won't be wasted. Konoha must hand over the Hyuga clan head. We will win this."
"Before coming here, Lord Leizu was prepared to die. If he could capture the Hyuga princess, perfect. If not, he'd let himself be killed by the Hyuga, giving us an excuse to attack them."
"What if Konoha refuses us? What if Raikage isn't ready to fight?"
"Don't worry. The Third Hokage is a pushover. As long as we threaten to tear up the treaty and start a war, he'll fold. He'll never dare to be firm with us."
Their faces were clear, every one of them recognizable to the audience.
The entire village fell silent, as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over their heads.
It was that simple. That blatant.
The Cloud hadn't come seeking peace—they came to steal the Hyuga's Byakugan, even at the cost of their leader's life.
Their contempt for Konoha, their open mockery of the Hokage—it was a slap across every villager's face. Burning. Stinging.
Naruto's voice exploded with fury:
"Did you hear that, Sarutobi Hiruzen? They see you as weak—soft and easy to crush. They say you bend the second anyone pushes you. And you proved them right!"
"To the Hyuga, you act high and mighty. But to the enemy, you bow your head and swallow the shame. You've forgotten—you're the Hokage of Konoha, not the lapdog of the Cloud!"
"A Hokage acting like this—it's disgraceful!"
His words lashed out like a whip, his voice almost roaring straight at Hiruzen's face.
The Third Hokage's expression went pale. His hands trembled.
As the saying goes, *the respect of your enemy is the highest honor of a warrior.*
And the scorn of your enemy—the deepest humiliation.
*Have I truly… done wrong?*
Hiruzen's mind spun. His legs wavered.
"Third Hokage is a pushover…"
"A soft Hokage…"
"Soft persimmon…"
Shimura Danzō quickly grabbed his arm.
"Hiruzen, don't listen to him. These are illusions, enemy tricks meant to shake your mind—"
But Naruto cut him off, venom in his voice.
"And you! You one-eyed bastard. You call yourself an elder of Konoha, yet you spend all your energy scheming against your own people instead of facing the enemy!"
"You say it's for the good of Konoha? Bullshit! People like you are the real cancers of this village. If you actually cared about Konoha, you'd do the right thing—take that blade and slit your own throat!"
"Because you're the biggest tumor eating Konoha alive!"
Naruto's words hit Danzo like a hammer, his body trembling with rage, blood surging.
Naruto's disgust only grew. Just looking at Danzo filled him with loathing.
He turned back to the villagers, voice sharp like a blade:
"Look at them! These are the so-called leaders of the strongest Hidden Village—weak, corrupt, rotten to the core, turning their blades against their own people! Have you ever asked yourselves—why has Konoha, once the strongest of the Five Great Villages, fallen so far?"
"You just sit there, confused, watching your beloved village slide deeper into decline. But think—where does this rot truly come from?"
His fury spent, Naruto let out a breath, finally feeling a wave of relief.
He glanced down at the Cloud ninja pinned under his foot.
He pressed harder.
*Crack.*
A sharp hiss escaped.
And for the first time, Naruto felt something close to satisfaction.
Truly cathartic.
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