Mito knew everything.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others instantly realized it.
And the current situation…
The First Hokage's wife—the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki of Konoha, was about to kill the Hokage himself.
The extermination of the Senju, the destruction of Uzushiogakure, the pain of her grandson's death, and now the attempt to turn the last of her bloodline into a weapon completely loyal to Konoha…
At this moment, even if Hashirama Senju were standing here, Uzumaki Mito would have lashed out at him with her chains.
"Hiruzen, you understand, don't you?!" Homura Mitokado shouted.
None of this could be allowed to leak.
Hiruzen understood. Even if he hadn't personally done these things, he would still have to take responsibility as Hokage.
If Mito revealed everything, even the Hokage would be dragged to the gallows.
This was the First Hokage's wife. If her words spread—
How would the clans he had worked so hard to pacify react?
Will the next Senju be us?
Especially the Uchiha and the Hyūga.
The Uchiha were one of Konoha's founding clans—alongside the Senju. If even the Senju had been suppressed to the point that the First Hokage's wife rebelled, what future awaited the Uchiha?
And the Hyūga and the smaller clans—if the strongest clan could be treated like this, what chance did they have?
At best, he would be impeached—the first Hokage in history to suffer such disgrace.
And that was the best outcome.
Add the assault on their ally Uzushiogakure and the secret elimination of Senju ninja… Even if he pushed the blame onto Danzō, his fate would be grim. The Sarutobi clan would be dragged down with him.
Mito must not speak.
Even if she was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki—she had to die here today.
Yet remembering Mito's strength, Hiruzen clenched his teeth.
"A force this powerful existed in the village, and I never knew… If she'd fought on the Ame front back then…"
Mito herself likely never imagined that after marrying into the Senju, the first person she would ever fight would be Konoha's Hokage.
Hiruzen had no choice now. Win or lose—he had to fight.
If he won, the matter would end here. Konoha would only lose the Nine-Tails—and they could capture it again later.
If he lost, he would die in disgrace—and Konoha's reputation would be ruined forever.
"Even if I die, I cannot allow her to reveal the truth."
Hiruzen did not fear death—but he refused to be nailed to history's pillar of shame.
"How did she learn all this…?"
But now was not the time.
"Lady Mito… forgive me. I must act," Hiruzen said, forcing himself to stand firm. "Stop this!"
"Even you cannot attack Konoha's shinobi without being branded a rogue ninja. That crime warrants death."
"Oh?" Mito smiled coldly.
"Then the greatest traitor is you."
"You wiped out the Senju and preyed upon your own ally."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi—don't you think you deserve to die?"
"Forgive me, Lady Mito. You've been misled. I must stop you."
Her words struck straight into his heart.
"I do not possess Lord Hashirama's strength, nor Lord Tobirama's wisdom and courage. For the peace of Konoha, I had to act."
"The Senju were too powerful. Their ambition toward the Hokage position was too strong. They had prestige and strength as a founding clan."
"Teacher Tobirama's policy was to integrate the clans into the village. Weakening the great clans led by the Senju was the first step. But I am not a Senju, nor Tobirama. They would never obey me."
"Uzushiogakure's destruction was the same. Our control of the Nine-Tails depended on sealing techniques—and on Uzumaki Mito. The Uzumaki were the perfect jinchūriki."
"When Uzushiogakure was attacked by Kumogakure and Kirigakure, even with our support only thirty percent would survive."
"They would rebuild, only to become targets again. A bloodline handed to our enemies."
"The jinchūriki is Konoha's advantage. We could not allow that. During the First Shinobi War, Konoha lacked resources. Sacrificing Uzushiogakure was the most rational choice."
"I did nothing wrong!"
After forcing himself to believe it, he charged.
He was met by the Nine Masked Beasts and a storm of golden chains.
"Summoning Jutsu: Enma!"
The chains reminded him of another terrifying enemy.
"Enma, transform!"
In a cloud of smoke, Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff.
Clang!
Staff and chain collided.
The indestructible staff trembled—and lost the exchange.
Even worse, his chakra was partially sealed through the contact.
If those chains bound him directly…
Death.
"So this is the Uzumaki clan's ultimate sealing art… Adamantine Sealing Chains."
Terrifying.
Even the Nine-Tails could be bound helplessly by this technique.
A flash of white light cut toward him—the same attack that had drained the ANBU moments ago. It ignored physical defense.
He leapt aside, only for the ground to tremble as a serpent-like beast erupted beneath him.
Nine Masks – Golden Snake.
Fire Style jutsu struck it—without effect.
Suzaku and Byakko attacked from above.
"Enma!"
The staff extended, anchoring him to the ground.
Nine against one. A crushing disadvantage.
More chains erupted from Mito's body.
Then black chakra gathered in her hand—forming a sphere like a Tailed Beast Ball.
Rasengan: Rinne Orb.
The beasts charged. Chains closed like a net.
Hiruzen struggled desperately, unable to form hand seals.
That attack would kill him.
"South" and "North" slammed their staffs into the ground, forming a massive purple array beneath him.
No escape.
He forced out four Shadow Clones.
Five Style Massive Combo Jutsu
The array shattered.
Using the opening, he charged Mito.
"The chains are diverted—you can't defend!"
The staff swung—
—and was caught by a golden chakra arm from her chest.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi… is this all?"
She crushed the staff's movement with ease.
Another chain wrapped Enma, sealing him. The Monkey King reverted, completely bound and drained of chakra.
Chains formed a cage around Hiruzen.
Mito struck with the Rinne Orb—
A blinding explosion shook all of Konoha.
Smoke cleared.
Mito clenched her teeth.
"That barrier… the one I gave Nawaki…"
"This was from Danzō," Hiruzen said weakly. "A sealing barrier he asked me to study."
He stood pale and exhausted. The ANBU were half dead. The two advisors lay bleeding.
The barrier collapsed.
Shinobi from across Konoha rushed in.
Some protected Hiruzen.
Others moved behind Mito.
The Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara, Hyūga, Uchiha—and many smaller clans.
Akimichi Torifu and several elders knelt.
"Lady Mito… we pay our respects."
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