Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious.
The man standing before him—Uchiha Chiba—
had first disregarded the authority of the Hokage and presumed to decide life and death, killing a civilian of Konoha.
Now he had gone even further and killed a shinobi of the Sarutobi clan.
It was as if the Hokage himself meant nothing to him.
Worse still, this had happened after Hiruzen had personally pressured the Police Force… after he had even sent Uchiha Shisui to warn him.
And instead of restraining himself—
Chiba had escalated the situation.
The one he killed was his own nephew.
As the Hokage arrived, the crowd gradually fell silent, waiting for judgment.
At least on the surface, Hiruzen's reputation remained spotless.
To most of Konoha's shinobi and civilians, he was benevolent and approachable—a fair and compassionate leader.
They believed he would handle the matter justly.
Even though the dead man was his own kin.
Without realizing it, many among the crowd had already accepted Chiba's action.
Because for the first time—
They understood that they were the murdered girl.
Not Sarutobi Jiro.
Sarutobi Hiyu, though drowning in grief, felt a flicker of relief when he saw Hiruzen arrive.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Uchiha Chiba murdered someone in broad daylight—everyone here witnessed it!"
"Please… please…"
"Grant justice to the Sarutobi clan!"
"My eldest son died on the battlefield defending the village."
"And now my only remaining son is dead as well…"
"How am I supposed to live on?"
Even some of the bystanders felt a trace of sympathy.
A villain, perhaps—
But still a father.
Chiba's expression remained unchanged.
At that moment, his subordinates Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamafū finally arrived.
One glance at the severed head.
At Hiyu's desperate cries.
At the Hokage's gaze—
Their hearts trembled.
"Aoki, I'll stay. Go inform the Clan Head!"
"Right!"
Aoki disappeared instantly, moving at full speed.
Hiruzen slowly stepped forward as the crowd parted for him.
He took a deep pull from his pipe.
Then exhaled.
"Chiba… what happened here?"
His voice was not loud.
Yet the pressure in the air felt suffocating.
Chiba answered calmly.
"Hokage-sama, you should ask them."
He gestured toward the girl's father and grandmother.
Hiruzen composed himself and approached the elderly woman, helping her to her feet.
"Please tell me what happened."
Through broken sobs, she recounted everything.
Hiruzen's face gradually darkened.
"Hiyu."
"Is this true?"
Hiyu clenched his fists tightly.
"Yes… but Jiro didn't mean to—"
"I am not asking about that."
Hiruzen's voice suddenly sharpened.
"I am asking whether you intended to shield him."
Hiyu's face turned pale.
"Hokage-sama, I—"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen's rebuke rang sharply through the compound.
"You knew he killed an innocent civilian."
"As both a father and a clan head, you should have punished him more severely than anyone!"
"Instead, you publicly shielded him!"
"What would the village think of the Sarutobi clan?"
"What would they think of me?"
Cold sweat poured down Hiyu's face.
The crowd watched in awe.
As expected of the Hokage.
So impartial.
So righteous.
Chiba remained silent.
Hiruzen turned toward the grieving family.
"The murderer has already been executed on the spot by Chiba."
"Justice has been served."
"As for Sarutobi Hiyu—shielding a criminal and abusing his authority—"
"From this day forward, he is no longer the head of the Sarutobi clan."
"As for further punishment…"
"I will personally provide a proper explanation."
Hiyu's face turned ashen.
The girl's family collapsed to their knees.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen sighed deeply.
"Do not thank me."
"As Hokage—and as his uncle—it is my failure that he was not properly guided."
"If you must thank someone…"
"Thank Chiba."
They turned immediately and bowed deeply toward him.
"Thank you, Chiba-sama!"
Chiba merely gave a small nod.
He glanced briefly at Hiruzen.
Compared to Hiyu—
The Hokage's performance was on an entirely different level.
Hiruzen stepped forward and patted Chiba firmly on the shoulder.
"Chiba…"
"You did well."
"Very well."
"Thank you for the praise, Hokage-sama," Chiba replied evenly.
"I will continue to uphold justice."
For a brief moment, a flicker of coldness passed through Hiruzen's eyes.
Then he smiled warmly again.
"Good… good."
He cast a sharp glance at Hiyu.
"Come with me."
Hiyu cast one last hollow look at his son's corpse before following behind the Hokage like an empty shell.
The crowd bowed respectfully.
"Farewell, Hokage-sama!"
Voices rose in admiration.
"The Hokage truly is fair…"
"A great leader…"
"He treats everyone equally…"
Chiba listened quietly.
For a moment, a trace of sorrow flickered across his face—before disappearing completely.
As he turned to leave, the girl's family hurried forward and surrounded him.
"Chiba-sama… thank you for avenging Daiko…"
"If not for you, the killer would have walked free…"
The grandmother suddenly snorted.
"The Hokage?"
"He wouldn't have killed that little beast."
"His performance may fool them…"
"But not these old eyes."
"Mother… what are you saying?"
She looked directly at Chiba, tears streaming down her face.
"I know this village is rotten to its core."
"But you…"
"Your heart is like your blade."
"Sharp."
"And it will never rust."
For the first time, something stirred faintly within Chiba's chest.
He had never sought praise.
Never sought understanding.
Yet those words—
He took her hand gently and nodded once.
Then he walked through the crowd and disappeared.
The old woman watched him leave, tears falling freely.
Then she spat at Sarutobi Jiro's headless corpse.