Hiss!
Almost… in an instant.
Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi's faces changed dramatically; they knew the worst had finally happened.
The Uchiha camp had finally made a new move!
Yet neither of them said another word; they wrapped up their research at top speed and headed straight for the Hokage Office.
But this time—
Hiruzen and the two Elders sat to one side, while Jiraiya perched on the Hokage desk. Through an Anbu they received a piece of shocking news.
Uchiha Jin was founding New Konoha—and had become Hokage that very day!
What the hell… The instant the office heard it, everyone inside blew up!
"Outrageous—damn it!"
"How dare the Uchiha do this? Do they want to split the Village outright?"
"We must stop that madman—no matter the cost, even war!"
Utatane Koharu slammed the table and roared.
However…
terror flickered in the depths of her eyes.
She knew that if this wasn't handled properly, the Konoha High Command was finished; Jiraiya's ascension would become a joke, their so-called power a laughing-stock.
Of course!
Once the other side proclaims New Konoha, right or wrong, you can't touch them anymore.
Worse still… nearly all of the Village's elite were now on that side.
With only the Sarutobi and three other clans, some civilian-born Ninja, and the fence-sitting Hyuga, they might look impressive, but they couldn't compare to the Uchiha at all.
Homura Mitokado's voice trembled yet was grave: "Hiruzen, Jiraiya—no more hesitation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was ugly.
Clearly…
he had imagined countless possibilities, but never this one—Uchiha Jin simply flipping the table and walking away.
"Let's go—to the Uchiha Compound," he said icily.
With that…
he strode out of the Hokage Office, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado right behind him.
Jiraiya: "…"
Right now he looked utterly dumbfounded.
What the heck!
Wasn't he the Hokage now?
But… whatever.
He agreed with Hiruzen's decision and couldn't be bothered with trifles; throwing the Hokage Robe over his shoulders, he followed them out.
Immediately afterward…
the group, a troop of Anbu in tow, marched toward the Uchiha Compound in force.
Villagers lining the streets wore strange expressions, their hearts sinking; even without details they could smell the gunpowder in the air.
Obviously!
If nothing big were happening, they wouldn't be hunting trouble with the Uchiha on the very day Jiraiya took office.
In a teahouse…
Hiashi Hyuga and company, sipping tea, naturally spotted the scene.
"Something's happened!"
"Just as I expected—the Uchiha camp has made its move."
"No idea what exactly, but it's enraged the top brass."
Hiashi Hyuga set down his teacup.
His tone turned serious; activating his Byakugan, veins bulged around his eyes—yet in the end he saw nothing.
No choice!
The Uchiha Compound was blanketed by Sealing Jutsu; even his Byakugan couldn't pierce them.
The others paled.
They admired their clan head's foresight, yet grew more anxious by the second.
Yes…
judging by Hiruzen's party, they looked ready to fight for their lives—so what should the Hyuga do next?
"Clan head, what now?"
"We can't stay neutral, can we? They're clearly about to clash."
"Right, even neutrality might drag us in!"
"…"
Everyone present spoke up at once.
And Hiashi Hyuga began to hesitate.
Finally…
he rose: "We return to our compound and seal it completely; we'll wait until the situation clears."
Yes!
He chose to play turtle and lock the Hyuga away.
Care about nothing, think about nothing.
Everything would be decided once the dust settled; for now he wanted to hear and see nothing.
Other Hyuga wanted to speak, but in the end they shut up; unlike other clans, the Bird in a Cage seal meant ordinary members had almost no say—Meanwhile…
compared to the frightened, self-isolating Hyuga, Hiruzen's group arrived at the Uchiha Compound; faced with the suddenly appearing Uchiha patrol blocking them, Hiruzen coldly declared,
"Step aside!"
"I want to see Uchiha Jin—he owes me an explanation."
"Otherwise—war it is!"
Hiruzen's voice was ice.
He had already changed into combat gear, summoned Enma, and turned him into the nyūdō he gripped in his hand.
Yes!
In his fury he had forgotten he had abdicated; the current Hokage was Jiraiya.
Of course…
in this situation Jiraiya said nothing, his face dark and unreadable.
Seeing this, the Uchiha patrol didn't yield but drew their weapons, ready for battle.
Still…
after launching a signal flare, one of them broke off and rushed inside the compound.
Jiraiya stepped forward.
"Teacher, calm down!"
"Let Uchiha Jin come out first; we'll hear what they have to say."
Clearly…
he was trying to avoid civil war; win or lose, either way defending against other Villages later would be troublesome.
Hiruzen trembled all over.
Though nearly mad with rage, meeting Jiraiya's firm gaze, he eased slightly and waited in silence.
Five minutes later…
Uchiha Jin likewise wore the Hokage Robe, elite of every clan right behind him—even Senju Tsunade, Kakashi, and Might Guy among them—standing directly opposite Hiruzen.
"Yo, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"Heard you already abdicated? Over there your Hokage is Jiraiya now, right?"
"But judging by your stance, looks like you're still the one in charge?"
"Well, understandable!"
"Back when Namikaze Minato took office, you Hiruzen did the exact same thing."
"Planning a second abdication so you can pull the strings from backstage again?"
"I gotta say, at your age, if you're gonna retire, then retire clean."
"Why bother?"