More than a month passed quietly amidst the clamor and discussions of the Ninja World.
The novel "The Legend of Madara and Hashirama" had all three volumes released, and the manga began serialization.
The entire Ninja World seemed to be swept by a "Madara-Hashirama craze."
Students at the Land of Fire's Academy would gather during breaks, arguing, "Who is stronger, Madara or Hashirama?"
Inside the Land of Water's royal palace, Tetsu held the latest public opinion report, his face filled with excitement.
"Your Highness, novel sales have surpassed 360 million copies, and the premium edition of the manga was snatched up immediately. The net profit from the novel alone is estimated to be over 39 billion ryo."
Shun flipped through the report, his fingertip pausing on the item "Student discussions unified," a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The seeds of cultural infiltration had begun to sprout.
Shikaku stood to the side, adding, "However, the situation in the Land of Fire is the most peculiar. The common people are discussing it enthusiastically, but the aristocratic circles are unusually quiet, as if deliberately avoiding it."
Before he could finish speaking, urgent footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the hall.
An Uchiha Anbu suddenly appeared and said, "Your Excellency! Something has happened in the Land of Fire! Hiruzen... he killed First Prince Yuanichi Kyu's entire family and has proclaimed himself the new Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"
These words were like a clap of thunder, instantly freezing everyone in the hall.
"The Sarutobi clan has already moved into the Land of Fire's royal palace! Now the Land of Fire is in chaos, and the nobles are all shouting 'Execute the traitor!'"
Shun activated his Eternal Mangekyo, using Divine Eye.
He first saw several fleeing Sarutobi clan members being caught by bounty hunters in the mountains, their struggle staining the grass red with blood.
At the same time, in the Land of Fire's royal palace.
Many ninjas who followed Hiruzen in his rebellion were indulging in the harem.
Deep within the royal palace, the lights in several courtyards stayed on all night.
Some Sarutobi clan members discussed whether to flee together, believing Hiruzen had gone mad.
A certain elder of the Sarutobi clan said, "The clan head is mad. Killing a prince and proclaiming himself Daimyo is a crime worthy of clan extermination. If we don't leave now, we'll all be buried with him."
Upon hearing this, several middle-aged Sarutobi immediately nodded.
"Elder, I've felt something was wrong for a long time. A few days ago, the clan head told us to secretly monitor the princes and said he wanted to 'cleanse the Land of Fire of its parasites.' Now that I think about it, he was completely blinded by power."
The several of them no longer hesitated. They quickly packed their valuables and took off their clan robes symbolizing the Sarutobi clan. They changed into the coarse clothes of commoners, and slipped out of the clan territory through the back gate under the cover of night.
They didn't dare to take the main roads, specifically choosing mountain trails, only hoping to leave the Land of Fire as quickly as possible and escape to a place where no one recognized the Sarutobi clan.
But they didn't know that as soon as the news of Hiruzen proclaiming himself Daimyo spread, the Ninja World's underground bounty stations had already updated their bounty orders.
A list hung in the center of the black market, with scarlet ink writing: "All Sarutobi clan members, regardless of age, heads starting at 500,000 ryo, with an upper limit of 35 million ryo."
The list was surrounded by ninjas and mercenaries from various countries. Some were eager, while others frowned and discussed.
"Even children are bountied? This is an attempt to wipe them out completely."
But no one dared to question it. Hiruzen's rebellion had touched the inverse scales of all powers, and eradicating the roots became the unspoken rule of the Ninja World.
Deep within the Land of Fire's royal palace, Hiruzen was embracing two concubines, enjoying himself on the Daimyo's throne.
A strange smile hung on his lips. He paid no mind to the crisis within his clan or the bounty from the outside world.
—
Shikaku said in a deep voice, "Treason is the inverse scale of the nobility. The power dynamic of the Land of Fire is about to change, and the Sarutobi clan will find it even harder to escape. Once the black market bounty is out, even if Hiruzen dies, his clan members will be hunted down to the end."
Shun pondered for three seconds before saying, "Pass on my order, contact the Land of Fire's Fifth Prince Yuanichi Ko. Have him deliver a message to the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince. Hiruzen killing the First Prince and proclaiming himself Daimyo is a grave crime. Now is a good opportunity to divide the First Prince's forces. Also, quickly have Kakashi come to see me."
A moment later, Minato appeared in the hall with Kakashi.
"Your Highness, you called for me?"
Shun looked at him, seemingly reminiscing about an old friend and said, "You should already know about the events in the Land of Fire. Hiruzen's rebellion and regicide have made him an enemy of the Ninja World. And he was also the culprit who forced your father, Hatake Sakumo, to his death."
Kakashi's body stiffened abruptly. That year, his father was criticized for his choice between "mission and comrades."
It was later found that because his father's achievements overshadowed the Hokage's, Hiruzen manipulated public opinion, ultimately using his life to threaten his father, forcing him to commit suicide. He had never forgotten this matter.
Shun's voice carried a hint of killing intent. "I will give you an opportunity to go to the Land of Fire and personally kill Hiruzen to avenge your father."
Kakashi slowly raised his head, his eyes firm. "Understood, Your Highness, I will definitely complete the mission."
Not long after, the message reached the four princes.
When they learned that the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind all approved of their plan, the joy in their hearts was simply inexpressible.
Then, they immediately began to act. Leading their respective armies, they surged like a mighty torrent towards the former territory of the First Prince.
Along the way, the garrisons and officers of many cities, seeing the armies of the four princes, surrendered without a fight.
In less than a few days, the allied forces, as if divinely aided, arrived at the capital's Daimyo Mansion in the Land of Fire.
At this time, the situation inside the royal palace was baffling. There was no tension whatsoever. Instead, an atmosphere of decay and decadence permeated the air.
Hiruzen seemed to completely disregard the enemy outside the city and the crisis within his clan.
The hall reeked of alcohol, and he laid disheveled on the throne. He was still embracing two royal concubines, a sickly smile on his face.
"My three sons are all dead... you don't deserve to live either... Unification? It's just a conspiracy of the Land of Water... you will all die eventually... all die!"
The royal concubines trembled with fear but dared not resist.
Hiruzen's temperament had drastically changed these past few days. He would kill people at the slightest displeasure. The area outside the hall was already piled with corpses.
In the corridor outside the hall, several Sarutobi guards were pacing anxiously. They had just received news from the clan, knowing that the entire clan had been bountied, but no one dared to go in and advise Hiruzen.
The previous clan member who tried to advise him had been burned to charcoal by Hiruzen's Fire Release.
Outside the city, the Second Prince looked at the tightly shut city gates and sneered, "Is Hiruzen just giving up? Not even sending people to guard the city gates?"
The Third Prince frowned. "The crazier he gets, the less he can be allowed to live. We must break into the royal palace today, execute this traitor, and then we can discuss how to divide the territory."