Inside the Hokage's office.
Silence filled the room.
Nothing had changed since Elder Kiyo left.
Hiruzen still sat behind his desk without moving an inch. The pipe beside him had long gone cold, while his eyes remained fixed on the desk.
But he wasn't really looking at it.
Only one sentence kept repeating in his mind.
Remove your face from the Hokage Mountain.
Remove your face from the Hokage Mountain.
Hokage Mountain
face
Again and again.
The words refused to leave him.
Everything else had disappeared, every thought, each worry; nothing was there in his mind.
The footsteps outside the office, the voices in the hallway, even the breeze entering through the half-open window—none of it reached him.
For Hiruzen, time had stopped the moment Elder Kiyo unfolded that final scroll.
Creak...
The office door slowly opened.
"Hiruzen."
Koharu stepped inside first, followed by Homura. Tsunade and Orochimaru entered behind them.
The four of them stopped at the door.
Hiruzen hadn't moved at all.
He was still sitting in the same position, staring silently at his desk.
Koharu instinctively took a step forward.
"Hiru—"
Before she could finish, Homura gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
He quietly shook his head.
Koharu looked at Hiruzen once more before silently taking her seat. The others followed, and the office fell quiet again.
After several long moments, Homura finally spoke.
"Someone has to take responsibility."
His voice was calm but heavy.
He looked at Tsunade, Orochimaru, and finally Koharu.
"This time, we aren't dealing with another hidden village. We're dealing with every noble house in the Land of Fire."
"They care about authority."
"They care about profit."
"They won't accept simple excuses."
"If we fail to satisfy them, they'll only keep increasing the pressure on Konoha."
No one interrupted him.
Orochimaru quietly watched Hiruzen out of the corner of his eye.
A shinobi bows before strength.
A noble bows before authority.
Different worlds. Different rules.
He folded his arms.
"What explanation has Konoha prepared?"
His voice remained calm.
"From Elder Kiyo's attitude, I don't think the Daimyo intends to wait very long."
Homura slowly closed his eyes.
A tired sigh escaped him.
"There is no way we can agree to removing the Hokage's face from the mountain—"
"Agree to it."
The quiet voice interrupted him.
Everyone turned toward Hiruzen.
He slowly raised his head.
His eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles had formed beneath them. His hands rested on the desk, trembling ever so slightly.
Yet his voice remained steady.
"We'll agree to it."
The room fell silent once again.
Koharu stood up so quickly that her chair scraped loudly across the floor.
"Hiruzen!"
"You don't have to do this!"
"No, Hokage never suffered such humiliation."
Hiruzen didn't answer.
He simply closed his eyes and let out a long, tired breath.
When he opened them again...
They looked older than before.
"It is the whole village that will suffer if we don't agree."
Hiruzen's voice was quiet.
Almost a whisper.
He didn't look at anyone as he spoke.
"I can't let that happen."
A tired sigh escaped his lips.
"I already carry enough stains on my name."
"If I refuse now..."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"I'll be remembered as a sinner."
His voice remained calm.
But everyone in the room could hear how exhausted he was.
"I don't dare to carry a title like that."
Silence settled over the office.
Tsunade, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke.
"But agreeing to this means Konoha loses face."
She folded her arms across her chest.
"It'll become the greatest humiliation in the village's history."
Her eyes met Hiruzen's.
"No matter what happens..."
"This day will be remembered by future generations."
"Old man..."
"There isn't a good ending either."
"Tsunade!"
Koharu gritted her teeth.
She shot Tsunade an angry look.
Doesn't she understand the situation we're already in?
Before she could say anything else—
"Koharu."
Hiruzen stopped her.
He slowly shook his head.
"Tsunade is right."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"There isn't another choice."
The room fell silent once again.
After thinking for a moment, Orochimaru finally spoke.
"Sensei..."
"What if we place all the blame on Danzo?"
Everyone looked toward him.
Orochimaru leaned back slightly.
"As everyone knows, Root was under Danzo's command."
"If we declare that he acted without permission and punish him publicly..."
He paused for a moment.
"It would be the most reasonable solution."
Outwardly, his expression remained calm.
But inwardly, he couldn't ignore what he was seeing.
This will break him.
He looked at Hiruzen's pale face.
The empty eyes.
The shoulders that seemed heavier than ever.
No matter how complicated their relationship had become...
Hiruzen had still been his teacher.
There were some things even Orochimaru couldn't watch without feeling anything.
Hiruzen slowly shook his head.
"It was never about Danzo."
His voice was firm.
"They're using this incident to pressure Konoha."
"They want to remind everyone where the Daimyo's authority stands."
His gaze lowered toward the desk again.
They're testing Konoha.
They're testing how far we're willing to bend.
"But—"
Tsunade tried to speak.
Hiruzen gently raised his hand, stopping her.
A faint smile appeared on his tired face.
"At least..."
He looked at Tsunade and Orochimaru.
"You two still think of me as your teacher."
"For me..."
"That's enough."
For a brief moment, his expression softened.
There had been a time when he believed neither of them would ever acknowledge him again.
Yet now...
Both of them were trying to protect him in their own way.
That alone eased a small part of the burden in his heart.
He slowly reached for the Hokage's hat resting on the desk.
Then placed it back on his head.
"This fight..."
He stood up from his chair.
"...is mine."
"I can't run away from my responsibility."
He adjusted the Hokage's hat before walking toward the door.
No one tried to stop him.
The room fell silent.
Outside the Uchiha Clan.
A small group slowly walked through the streets.
At the front were Elder Kiyo and several samurai.
Toyoma, Kohaku, and Jiraiya walked beside them.
After a few moments of silence, Elder Kiyo suddenly spoke.
"I've heard quite a lot about you, Uchiha Toyoma."
Toyoma simply smiled.
Elder Kiyo continued.
"I never imagined someone could convince an entire shinobi clan to become merchants."
He shook his head lightly.
"That couldn't have been easy."
As he spoke, he looked toward the samurai walking beside him.
"Geto."
The samurai immediately straightened his posture.
"Shinobi and samurai..."
Elder Kiyo smiled faintly.
"They're both people who would rather die than abandon their profession."
"Wouldn't you agree?"
Geto nodded without hesitation.
"A samurai's pride lies in his katana."
His hand lightly rested on the sword hanging from his waist.
"To abandon it..."
"...is no different from abandoning his life."
His tone was calm.
But the pride in his voice was obvious.
Toyoma also noticed something else.
The samurai's eyes carried a trace of contempt.
Not toward him.
But toward the idea of leaving one's profession.
"Haha."
Elder Kiyo laughed.
"Well said."
Toyoma smiled as well.
"We may have put down our swords for a better future."
He glanced at Elder Kiyo.
"But that doesn't mean we've forgotten how to use them."
"If the day comes when they're needed..."
"We'll still know how to draw them."
The words made Geto unconsciously slow his steps.
Even Elder Kiyo looked at Toyoma with greater interest.
His expression became thoughtful.
"Does that mean..."
He asked carefully.
"...the Uchiha plan to become a shinobi clan again in the future?"
The question immediately changed the atmosphere.
Kohaku's expression tightened.
Even Jiraiya looked toward Toyoma.
Both of them understood what Elder Kiyo was really asking.
This wasn't simple curiosity.
It was a test.
If Toyoma answered carelessly...
Even the Daimyo might begin doubting the Uchiha's intentions.
Toyoma laughed softly.
"Elder Kiyo..."
He looked at the old man.
"You know swordsmanship, don't you?"
Elder Kiyo raised an eyebrow.
Toyoma smiled.
"Does that make you a samurai?"
For a brief moment...
Elder Kiyo was silent.
Toyoma continued before he could answer.
"Knowing how to protect yourself..."
"And choosing it as your livelihood..."
"They're two different things."
He looked ahead as they continued walking.
"Tell me..."
"What benefit is there in remaining shinobi..."
"When becoming merchants can earn us ten times more?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And honestly..."
He looked back at Elder Kiyo.
"Who wishes for their descendants to spend their lives surrounded by blood?"
Silence.
Elder Kiyo quietly repeated those words in his mind.
Who wishes for their descendants to spend their lives surrounded by blood...?
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Who indeed...
He nodded to himself.
"That..."
He looked at Toyoma with new appreciation.
"...was a good choice of words."
Now he finally understood.
How this young man had managed to convince so many Uchiha to follow him.
They soon arrived at the entrance of the Uchiha Clan.
The guards standing at the gate immediately straightened when they saw the group approaching.
Toyoma stopped walking.
He turned toward Jiraiya and smiled politely.
"Jiraiya-sama."
"I believe Elder Kiyo has safely reached his destination."
His words were polite.
But everyone present understood the meaning behind them.
From here... the Uchiha will take over.
Jiraiya met Toyoma's eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"As one of Konoha's elders..."
He looked toward Elder Kiyo.
"Ensuring the Daimyo's envoy returns safely is also my responsibility."
His tone remained calm.
"But I appreciate your concern."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Both men simply looked at each other.
Neither was willing to take a step back.
Toyoma chuckled softly.
"I see."
"Then please."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the clan gate.
"After you."
Letting the Daimyo's envoy stay with the Uchiha alone?
Not happening.
Jiraiya smiled inwardly as he walked forward.
***********************************************************************************
If anyone wants to join P@treon, they're welcome to.
Right now, P@treon chapters are available up to (Chapter 152: The Fire Times).
One more fanfic started there: Twil*ght one.
P@treon - Hear_tteeth [18 +]
Thank you for the support and patience.
*************************************************************************************