Sarutobi Hiruzen's side was clearly well-prepared, the Sarutobi clan's members, along with the Anbu, were all gathered.
Members of the Koharu clan, the Mitokado clan, and the Shimura clan kept arriving, gathering one after another behind Hiruzen.
Rengoku restrained the enraged Tsunade and said quietly, "I told you, brute force won't solve this."
Tsunade exhaled a long breath, her eyes cold as she swept her gaze over Hiruzen and Jiraiya, the look one would give to a dead man.
Especially when she saw the shadows behind Hiruzen, all those Sarutobi clansmen, her heart ached even more.
If the Senju clan were still here… they would've had this many people too.
The Sarutobi clan, all of them deserve to die.
As the flames engulfing the Hokage building grew stronger and brighter, more and more villagers and shinobi were drawn to the scene.
No one knew what was going on.
But it was obvious that the Third Hokage and Tsunade had clashed, and were now even facing off in public.
Hiruzen said coldly, "Tsunade, are you really going to fight me over baseless accusations?"
Tsunade glared back icily, "No need for nonsense. My only regret is that Second Grandpa misjudged you."
"To think he let a heartless, treacherous thing like you become Hokage of Konoha."
When Tsunade said that, the onlookers started whispering among themselves.
"What's going on? Why are they fighting?"
"Isn't that Lady Tsunade?"
"The Third Hokage's side has so many people too…"
"What does Lady Tsunade mean by this?"
That reaction was exactly what Rengoku wanted. He beckoned with his hand, and Fugaku pulled out a loudspeaker and handed it to him.
The sight was a bit strange, but loudspeakers were common enough.
Rengoku turned it on and spoke to the crowd, "I, Uchiha Rengoku, and Akimichi Torifu, acting in the name of the village's senior advisors, have officially dismissed Sarutobi Hiruzen from his position as Hokage."
"Wha?"
Rengoku's words instantly caused an uproar among the villagers.
Because Hiruzen had always maintained a good public image, most villagers thought of him as a fine Hokage.
Rengoku knew what kind of reaction that would cause, so he continued, "Sarutobi Hiruzen conspired with Shimura Danzo, framed and drove to death Hatake Sakumo, framed the Senju heir Nawaki, and caused the death of Dan Kato."
"He plotted the annihilation of the Senju clan and sought to destroy the Uchiha clan."
"He embezzled the Fourth Hokage's estate and seized control of the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki…"
While Rengoku was shouting through the loudspeaker, the Third Hokage didn't just stand by and watch.
He ordered the Anbu to start dispersing the crowd of ordinary villagers.
After all, Rengoku was strong, and with that loudspeaker, no one could stop him from being heard.
The villagers, who associated the Anbu with assassins and executioners, were terrified.
None dared stay to listen, they fled in fear.
Those Anbu, even after hearing Rengoku declare Hiruzen's dismissal, didn't react at all and continued following his orders.
But that was exactly the effect Rengoku wanted.
Though everyone had escaped the Hokage building in a panic earlier, none of the elders had died, they were all now standing around the area.
Once the villagers were gone, Rengoku didn't repeat himself.
Instead, he shifted his tone, "All of you elders, you've seen it with your own eyes."
"Our Konoha Anbu is now entirely under the control of the Third Hokage."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, who should have been suspended and investigated, still holds absolute power over the Anbu."
The Konoha Council, the so-called "village leadership", was meant to maintain the balance and function of the Konoha.
But once one of them broke the rules, the rest were bound to turn against him.
The elders present, understanding Rengoku's meaning, quickly spoke up.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, you should submit to investigation immediately!"
"Hiruzen, remove your Hokage hat at once!"
"Utatane Koharu, as Hokage's advisor, you should know the rules of the Konoha!"
"Mitokado Homura, Shimura Miyosuke (Shimura clan head), are you really going to side with Hiruzen's corruption?"
These elders had little real loyalty to the Third Hokage, they'd just been along for the ride all these years.
After all, Hiruzen had ruled for three or four decades. Their positions had long since stagnated.
But now things were different. Anyone could see that Konoha's upper ranks were about to reshuffle.
If they sided with Uchiha Rengoku, maybe they wouldn't gain power, but they could at least get some benefits.
Being the first to pledge allegiance to the new regime, they'd lose nothing.
Hiruzen's faction, of course, didn't take this lying down.
Koharu snorted, "That Danzo you summoned with dark forbidden jutsu, who knows if it's even real?"
"These so-called pieces of evidence are completely unreliable."
Mitokado Homura added, "Uchiha Rengoku, your attempt to frame the Third Hokage is pathetically low-level."
Shimura Miyosuke chimed in, "If the Third Hokage were to accept your investigation, who knows how many false charges you'd fabricate?"
And so the two elder groups began hurling accusations back and forth, neither willing to yield.
The situation had now escalated into a full standoff: Hiruzen's faction refused to accept any investigation, nor would they surrender their power.
Even the majority of the Anbu were now entirely under Hiruzen's control.
But Rengoku had foreseen all of this.
So he stepped forward and interrupted the shouting match.
Among the elders, the strongest were from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, as well as the Inuzuka and Aburame clans.
Everyone looked to Rengoku, waiting to see how he would handle things.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi," Rengoku said, fixing him with a cold stare, "do you still intend to resist?"
At this point, Hiruzen held control of the Nine-Tails and commanded a large number of Anbu.
He also had the support of the Koharu, Mitokado, and Shimura clans, his power wasn't insignificant.
He didn't believe Rengoku could really do anything to him.
Hiruzen said, "Uchiha Rengoku, your so-called evidence is nothing but a fabrication."
"If there must be an investigation, it should be carried out by the Anbu."
"Not by you or by the puppets controlled by Orochimaru."
Rengoku gave a cold laugh. No matter what Hiruzen chose today, the outcome would be the same.
All of this was merely to show the other elders how deeply Hiruzen and his faction had entrenched their control over Konoha.
Rengoku didn't argue further. Instead, he glanced back at Tsunade, signaling her.
"Very well. Since you refuse to abide by the rules of Konoha, then Konoha no longer has room for you."
Hiruzen's heart tightened, thinking Rengoku was about to attack. Jiraiya and Sarutobi Ishishu immediately stepped in front of him.
Ishishu's face remained calm, but Jiraiya's was full of pain and hesitation.
Rengoku stood beside Tsunade, and the two spoke in unison, loud and clear.
"I, Uchiha Rengoku, as clan head of the Uchiha, the founding clan of Konoha, hereby declare: Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, Shimura… and all of your Anbu, are banished from the Konoha!"
Tsunade followed, "I, Tsunade, as granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, the founding father of Konoha, hereby declare: Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, Shimura… and all of your Anbu — are banished from the Konoha!"
Everyone on Hiruzen's side turned pale.
Rengoku and Tsunade had recited the full list of clans and elders supporting Hiruzen.
The meaning was clear—
This is our home. If you refuse to follow our rules, then get out.
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