One had to admit—Danzo's final performance with the Reverse Tetragram Sealing Jutsu really was… impressive.
Even his last feint and switch tactic was decently executed.
If Kabuto hadn't shouted that warning at the critical moment, no one might've noticed that one of the Uchiha in the crowd had been swapped for Danzo himself.
But in the end—Danzo lost by a single move.
His final scheme was exposed.
Even worse, the "Fourth Hokage" he tried to drag into death with him?
Just a Shadow Clone.
Homelander had only recently learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu, but he'd already mastered its flexible use.
The moment Danzo lunged at him, he instantly split off a clone, which took to the skies, dragging Danzo along.
In that desperate moment, Danzo had no time to react.
And even if he had—there was nothing he could do.
A sky burial—that was the best possible ending Danzo could give himself.
"Hahaha…"
Homelander's true nature was laid bare.
Watching Danzo hug a clone and self-destruct was like watching a line of pigs voluntarily leap into a ditch.
Absolutely pathetic.
And the best part?
He didn't even lift a finger.
It was all just "emergency self-preservation."
From the start, he had never intended to kill Danzo.
All he wanted was to frame the man for the Nine-Tails incident.
Worst case?
If Danzo refused to confess, he'd just get a good scolding from the crowd and maybe end up imprisoned.
As the Fourth Hokage, Homelander knew his own image.
He couldn't be seen publicly executing a respected elder like Danzo.
But what he hadn't expected… was for Danzo himself to mentally collapse.
He couldn't outfight Homelander.
He couldn't outplay him.
He couldn't even outscheme him.
In the end, Danzo lost everything—his power, his influence, even his reputation.
The people forgot all his decades of service.
What else could he say?
"L plus ratio."
Homelander shrugged and watched Danzo ascend to the afterlife with a smile.
The people around him were in awe.
"It's the Fourth! Hokage-sama saved us!"
"Long live Hokage-sama!"
"So cool!"
"So it was all part of his plan!"
"Thank goodness he acted in time—Danzo could've caused even more destruction."
"Hard to believe… an elder who worked for the village for decades would undo himself like that."
"Jealousy changes people… Danzo had been eyeing the Hokage seat since his youth. Maybe he just couldn't let go."
"So it really wasn't the Uchiha's fault after all…"
"Yeah, we really owe them an apology."
One by one, the villagers lowered their heads and bowed deeply to the Uchiha gathered beside Homelander.
"We're sorry!"
Their voices rang out in unison.
At that moment, memories of the Uchiha clan resurfaced.
Yes, they were talented and a bit arrogant—
But when it came to life-or-death situations, when the village was truly threatened?
They had never faltered.
Say what you will, but any clan whose members would avenge their fallen comrades by wiping out the enemy's entire family—
That's a clan you could count on.
Maybe a little extreme…
But definitely loyal.
The Uchiha, seeing the entire village bowing in apology, were stunned.
A mixture of pride and vindication welled up within them.
Fugaku and Shisui both teared up.
Was this really happening?
They had dreamed of such a scene—of acceptance, of peace.
And it had come true.
All because of the Fourth Hokage.
They turned to see him—arms crossed, back straight, heroic and tall—and their hearts surged with admiration.
"Lord Fourth!"
Fugaku dropped to his knees, leading the entire Uchiha clan in a deep bow.
Tears shimmered in his eyes as he made a solemn vow.
"From this day forward, the entire Uchiha clan will serve you, obey your commands, and defend the village with our lives!"
SWOOSH—
A wave of villagers followed suit, kneeling in reverence.
Even the Third Hokage had never seen such unity.
An entire village, bowing to the Fourth.
Not to him.
Despite working tirelessly for decades, sacrificing so much…
In the end, his own students had turned on him.
The villagers rejected him.
No one spoke for him when Danzo proposed replacing the Hokage.
Now this… pretender, this manipulator—had won over the masses?
"Tch."
He scoffed, bitter but silent.
He knew the tide had turned.
No matter what he said now, the people wouldn't listen.
And just when he thought the ceremony was finally over, Homelander raised his arms high and shouted:
"Let us stand united!"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns brightly!"
The people erupted in cheers again, like they'd been hypnotized.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
At this rate… the Fourth Great Ninja War might be just around the corner.
Though he had lost power, he still didn't want to see war.
Having lived through the Third Shinobi World War, he knew what came next—a whole generation lost, the village set back decades, its elites buried.
And now, with Danzo dead and Root soon to be disbanded…
Konoha was losing one of its biggest players in the great game among the Five Great Nations.
Hiruzen felt a creeping sorrow.
A bitter taste of mortality.
Is this still the same Konoha I once knew?
But just then, Homelander started rambling again—and somehow, everyone's eyes turned toward the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen blinked, confused.
"These principles…" Homelander said dramatically,
"Were taught to me by Lord Third himself.
I've remembered them ever since I was a child."
"And now—on this glorious day—let's invite Lord Third to recite the Will of Fire once more!"
"Everyone, give him a round of applause!"
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
The villagers exploded into enthusiastic applause.
Suddenly, Sarutobi was the center of attention again.
He beamed, basking in the spotlight.
All that previous bitterness vanished.
Waving modestly to the crowd, he cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"The Fourth was… mostly right." he said.
"But there are still a few points he missed—
Let me fill in the rest…"