REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 112: I Humbly Request You Abdicate
Kakashi's breathing grew heavy.
His vision fixed on that slightly aged face directly ahead. Though it looked no different from before, he no longer felt that kindly, benevolent impression—only felt the old man's eyes held ruthless coldness in their depths.
He stood frozen in place.
Motionless for a moment like a scarecrow.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention didn't linger even one second on the youth. His attention was almost entirely concentrated on another Hyuga youth only three years older than Kakashi.
This youth was the real great trouble.
"Clan Head Hyuga, thank you for your valiant fighting on the frontline battlefield, securing glorious victory for the village!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a man who knew appearances.
Regardless of how he truly viewed Ritsu, he maintained the dignity befitting a Hokage. He didn't immediately launch into fault-finding but praised Ritsu's battlefield contributions.
However, Ritsu didn't care about this so-called dignity.
"I should also thank a certain great personage who wanted me dead. If he hadn't sold my intelligence to the Mist ninja, I might not have had the opportunity to eliminate so many Mist elite jonin ."
This sarcastic answer made the formulaic polite smile vanish from Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.
But he didn't become angry.
He looked at Ritsu, explaining in a heavy voice: "Clan Head Hyuga, the matter of your and Team Kakashi's intelligence leak is still under investigation. Suikazan Fuguki's testimony isn't the truth. He was merely kept in the dark. That he didn't lie doesn't equal what he said being truth."
"So you're saying the intelligence wasn't sold to the Mist ninja by our own people?"
Ritsu countered.
"The intelligence was indeed leaked from our side, but the problem is—the 'ally' who sold the intelligence wasn't a true ally but a spy from a mysterious organization planted in Konoha. All the misfortunes you suffered were caused by this mysterious organization's spy."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stated decisively and confidently.
"Mysterious organization?"
A mocking smile appeared at Ritsu's lips. "Can Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo's Root be infiltrated, have spies planted in it? Very sorry, Hokage-sama, I cannot believe such absurd, ridiculous explanations. If Root members controlled by curse seals over life and death are all spies, how does Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo have the face to keep living? He should commit suicide in apology early!"
"Clan Head Hyuga, I didn't summon you to discuss this matter. Once the investigation into this mysterious organization makes progress, naturally I'll inform you. What urgently needs handling now is the Mist ninja's accusations against you and Jonin Hiruko."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't debate with Ritsu but relied on the Hokage's authority to forcibly shift the topic to the main point.
Hiruko and Ritsu exchanged glances. Neither teacher nor student felt surprised. This was a situation they'd already anticipated. The Third Hokage's summons most likely wasn't good news—nine out of ten times he was looking for trouble.
Well then, next they'd improvise and counter moves as they came.
"Accusations? Hokage-sama, since when does Konoha need to care about Mist ninja accusations? What qualifications do a bunch of defeated remnants have to accuse us?"
Hiruko voiced his doubt.
"Hiruko, don't be hasty. As Hokage, naturally I won't let you suffer any grievances. However, some matters truly need investigation before correct and reasonable decisions can be made."
After offering two sentences of comfort, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately ordered: "Someone, bring Ambassador Hyakubei here."
Hiruko frowned, his face full of displeasure.
In just over ten seconds, Hyakubei—who'd parted ways at the village gate earlier—appeared again in Ritsu's field of vision. Accompanying him were Advisors Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Hyakubei's expression was grim as water, his entire person radiating intense negative energy.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu similarly wore stiff faces. Anyone could see displeasure in their expressions, especially when their gazes contacted Ritsu and Hiruko—they looked as though viewing some filthy, disgusting thing.
"Ambassador Hyakubei, Clan Head Hyuga and Jonin Hiruko are both here. Repeat the accusations you made earlier. I'm sure Clan Head Hyuga and Hiruko will have reasonable answers to refute your accusations."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice wasn't loud.
He sounded like he was standing on Ritsu and Hiruko's side, yet he'd given Hyakubei the opportunity to accuse them face-to-face.
"Hokage-sama, I accuse your village's jonin Hiruko and Hyuga Ritsu of coveting our Hidden Mist Village's Kekkei Genkai, secretly kidnapping our villagers to conduct inhumane human experimentation, causing panic throughout our village at the time. To stabilize people's hearts, we had no choice but to seek justice through war. Though we were defeated, if your village cannot justly handle this matter, I believe peace between our villages can never arrive!"
Without looking at Ritsu and Hiruko, Hyakubei took a deep breath, then voiced his blatant false accusations.
Ritsu's mouth twitched.
They were still planning to use such crude excuses against him. It seemed the Third Hokage didn't plan to play with technique anymore but was prepared to use the Hokage's authority to overwhelm through sheer force.
So how should he respond?
He lowered his gaze slightly, his mind considering the best response method.
Beside him, the scarecrow-like Kakashi's eyes widened, looking incredulously at Hyakubei lying to the Hokage's face.
"Nonsense!!!"
Hiruko erupted in fury, roaring loudly: "When did I ever go to Hidden Mist Village? Moreover, according to your statement, I ran to your Mist Village to kidnap people before the war started. Konoha and Mist Village are separated by over a thousand miles. What ability do I have to do such things?"
"Hiruko-san, you even managed to obtain the nearly extinct Yuki clan's Ice Style Kekkei Genkai from our Hidden Mist Village. Who knows whether you possess abilities similar to Yellow Flash?"
Hyakubei answered coldly.
"Hyakubei, you'd better truly understand what you're doing. You perhaps think you're gambling with your own life, but if you lose this bet, just your lives won't even count as interest!"
Hiruko stared hard at Hyakubei.
Hyakubei's eyes became especially fierce for an instant but quickly returned to coldness. "Hokage-sama, this is my position. I hope your village can give us an explanation. Otherwise, the flames of war between our villages will ignite again before long."
He'd already stood at the gambling table. Aside from following this path to the end, there was no other road to walk.
At this moment, he could only pray he wouldn't lose!
"Arrogant!"
Mitokado Homura shouted angrily, rebuking Hyakubei's rudeness. But after just this rebuke, he took no further action.
Utatane Koharu looked at Hiruko, slowly saying: "Hiruko, since you say you didn't do it, then where did your Ice Style Kekkei Genkai come from? Don't tell me you still have Yuki clan blood flowing through you. You need to provide a reasonable explanation."
"Explanation?"
Hiruko's mouth twisted, revealing a mocking smile as he countered: "Advisor Utatane, what do I need to explain? If I don't explain, will you determine that my student and I triggered the war between the village and Mist ninja?"
"Hiruko, I already said—clarifying the truth enables correct decisions. War's outbreak naturally resulted from multiple combined causes, not any single person's responsibility. However... the village now needs recuperation. Continuing to fight the Mist ninja has no benefits whatsoever. Therefore, you must explain where your Ice Style Kekkei Genkai and Clan Head Hyuga's Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai came from and how they fell into your hands."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Ritsu and Hiruko seriously. "Doing this isn't just to clarify truth but also to protect you. I suspect you used some forbidden technique to seize Mist ninja Kekkei Genkai. Once news spreads that you teacher and student possess such a terrifying forbidden technique, countless ambitious people will move against you. Konoha and even the entire shinobi world will plunge into tremendous turmoil..."
"So what?"
Ritsu rudely interrupted the Hokage's words. He declared loudly: "Hokage-sama, you're too weak. You fear this, fear that, yet never consider why we can't make those ambitious people fear Konoha!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen froze.
The two advisor elders looked at Ritsu as though seeing a ghost.
But Ritsu didn't care about their shock. He stated bluntly: "I'm sick of this long-winded, meaningless arguing. In my view, there's nothing to argue about. If the Mist ninja want war, give them war!"
"Hyakubei, do you think residing overseas makes the Land of Water safe and secure? Back then, the First Hokage didn't erase Hidden Mist Village from the map not because he couldn't but because of his mercy. Yet you vermin mistook the First Hokage's mercy for weakness and repeatedly came to make trouble for us!!!"
"Though I'm not as formidable as the First Hokage, sweeping away Hidden Mist Village is absolutely no difficult matter for us teacher and student!"
The instant his words fell, Ritsu raised his hand and swung violently. A forty-centimeter wooden spike whistled out, grazing Hyakubei's face and slamming hard into the wall behind him.
"This is... Wood Style?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't become angry because Ritsu attacked in his office.
At this moment, shock overwhelmed fury.
Because Ritsu had used Wood Style Kekkei Genkai. The First Hokage had swept nearly the entire shinobi world relying on Wood Style. But after the First Hokage, few Senju clan members awakened Wood Style, and even those who did were often weak and lacked practical combat value.
He truly hadn't expected to see Wood Style Kekkei Genkai on Ritsu's body. He'd never heard of any connections between the Senju and Hyuga clans. But if the two clans had no connections, where did Ritsu's Wood Style come from?
Seized? But even seizing required a target!
This was simply, simply absurd like a dream.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stared hard at that wooden spike embedded in the wall, their eyeballs nearly bulging out.
Hyakubei felt the stinging pain on his scraped cheek. His hands trembled uncontrollably. Inexplicable panic arose in his heart. He, he... had perhaps truly made a wrong decision?
Ritsu waved his hand, not even glancing at the four Anbu collapsed at his feet. The corners of his mouth lifted, his face revealing a brilliant smile.
He was sick of this circuitous, long-winded scheming. Moreover, Sarutobi Hiruzen had clearly planned to use the Mist ninja to smear him and pin blame. At this moment, he had only two choices—either temporarily yield and seek another opportunity to turn things around, or hold firm to the end and clash head-on with real blades and genuine weapons.
If his strength was insufficient, Ritsu naturally understood the principle of enduring humiliation and bearing burdens.
But he wasn't weak, nor was he isolated and helpless. Therefore... let's go straight to head-on confrontation! Though this wasn't the most perfect choice and would inevitably have various aftereffects, it was absolutely the most satisfying choice!
"Hokage-sama, let's speak plainly! Though I'm not certain why you view me unfavorably, since matters have developed to this point, there's no need to pursue causes. Already senile enough to believe Mist ninja slander, I can only humbly request you abdicate. If you're sensible, abdicate yourself. Otherwise..."
"Hyuga Ritsu, you're presumptuous!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared furiously.
He stared hard at Ritsu, his aged face full of violent killing intent. "What do you want to do? You, you... truly are a rebel who overthrows superiors. When you slaughtered Hyuga Main Family members, we should have captured and executed you on the spot!"
"Haha! Provided you had the ability to do so."
Ritsu sneered coldly.
"Someone! Capture this brat for me!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared furiously.
In the next instant, four Anbu appeared, rushing to Ritsu's side. The blades in their hands unhesitatingly thrust toward Ritsu's neck and other positions—no killing intent, only restraint.
But before the blades could touch Ritsu's skin, suddenly emerging white bones knocked them aside. Simultaneously, Ritsu raised his hand lightning-fast, striking all four in succession. Using Gentle Fist, he directly sealed these four Anbu's chakra. The four collapsed limply like noodles.
Immediately after—
"Wood Style: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Ritsu formed hand seals, unleashing this technique he'd secretly practiced a few times and already mastered thoroughly. In an instant, he spawned hundreds of trees. Their branches and leaves intertwined, connecting into sheets. Thick, hard trunks easily tore through walls and ceiling.
In the blink of an eye, the Hokage building's rooftop was overturned by forest. Everyone on this top floor was forced to scatter and evade, lest they be swept into the trees and ground into fertilizer nutrients.
Standing on a treetop, Ritsu shouted loudly:
"Arima!"
"Clan Head."
Hyuga Arima came running across the treetops.
"Contact the clan. Have the clan's jonin and special jonin prepare for battle and rush to the Hokage building at maximum speed. Also, tell the Uchiha clan—the operation to set things right has begun. Let them decide for themselves."
Ritsu issued orders.
"Yes, Clan Head."
Hyuga Arima decisively responded.
Forming hand seals, he used Shadow Clone Jutsu. Shadow clones scattered in all directions.
***
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