"Escort me out of Konoha!?"
Asuma hesitated, then nearly blurted out, "I won't go!"
"What will happen to the rest of the clan if I leave?!"
"The clan has already suffered heavy casualties. Our fighting strength is crippled!"
"Father, are you planning to abandon them? Abandon the rest of the clan?!"
Faced with Asuma's outburst, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew cold. "Keep shouting," he hissed, "Make sure the entire settlement hears you! Let our Sarutobi clan fall into internal strife first. Then our heads will become pledges of allegiance in the hands of others!"
He roared the last part, but Asuma refused to back down.
"I'm talking about evacuation!" Asuma shot back. "As a Konoha ninja and a member of the Sarutobi clan, I have my beliefs and my honor. I won't flee like a stray dog! Even if I die, I'll die with honor, at the hands of the enemies who invaded the village!"
He paused, his gaze locked on Hiruzen. "And isn't all of this your fault? Why should innocent clansmen bear the burden of your mistakes? Why can your descendants escape, but theirs cannot?"
"You bastard! I—cough, cough, cough!"
Asuma's words hit the old Hokage like a physical blow. He coughed violently, his body convulsing. In his shame and anger, he even coughed up blood.
Asuma realized he'd gone too far. He stepped forward and gently patted Hiruzen's back to help him breathe.
After a long moment, the coughing subsided, but Hiruzen no longer had his previous complexion. His face was ashen, his breathing shallow. He looked weak and on the verge of death.
Hiruzen's health had already been deteriorating due to his disability and the decline of his family. Now, crushed by his son's accusations and the immense pressure from Menma, his body finally gave way.
He had no energy left to argue; his voice was weak and hoarse.
"I'm sending you to evacuate to protect the future of the Sarutobi clan," he rasped, "not to let you run away. You must understand: you are now the strongest ninja of the clan and its young leader. You have the obligation to protect these future seeds."
"Therefore, this evacuation mission isn't a discussion. It's an order."
Asuma clenched his fists, but finally sighed and lowered his head. "I understand."
Hiruzen's grim expression softened. "Once Danzo and the others have safely reached the outside, I'll have someone lead you along that route."
Although the surrender ultimatum had only arrived in Konoha today, and the village likely wasn't surrounded yet, Hiruzen adhered to caution. He would send Danzo and the other elders ahead to scout. If real danger struck, it would be the perfect excuse to get rid of his three treacherous old friends.
Hopefully, Hiruzen thought, that wolf cub Menma won't act too quickly...
Just as he finished the thought, a panicked Sarutobi ninja burst in.
"It's terrible! Something horrible!"
"It failed! They're all hanging at the gate!"
The ninja was so flustered he could barely speak. Asuma quickly stepped forward. "Slow down. What do you mean 'failed'? And what do you mean 'hanged'?"
"It's... it's the evacuation plan!" the man stammered. "Danzo and the others, and the three clansmen escorting them—they're all hanging from the Gates of Konoha!"
"What?!"
Asuma and Hiruzen were both shocked. Asuma immediately bolted out the door. Hiruzen spun his wheelchair toward the ninja, barking, "Take me there now!"
"Yes!"
The ninja slung the wheelchair over his shoulder and sprinted.
Konoha Gate
A large crowd had gathered. They stared up at the gate, their expressions a mix of anger, wariness, and fear.
Asuma and Hiruzen arrived one after the other. They immediately saw the top of the massive wooden gate.
Six members of Danzo's group—covered in blood and unconscious—were hung from the gate, their hands and shoulder blades nailed together with black rods. Blood flowed freely from their bodies, soaking the wood in a dark crimson stain.
"Damn it!" Asuma cursed.
"Don't be impulsive!" Hiruzen shouted, trying to stop him.
But Asuma had already leapt up, intending to rescue the six. However, just as he was about to land on top of the gate, a dark figure appeared and kicked out.
Asuma was sent flying back like a missile, crashing heavily into the ground.
"Lord Asuma!" The Sarutobi ninja put down Hiruzen and ran to him.
Asuma was unharmed despite the ambush. He looked up at the figure standing atop the gate with a complicated expression.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke Uchiha stood cold and disdainful, his right hand resting on his sword. His voice was filled with killing intent.
"Menma has ordered: those who flee will be killed without mercy. These six are the example."
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Sasuke drew his sword and stabbed downward, one strike after another. Each pierced from the top of the head to the chin.
But when he reached Danzo, Sasuke didn't give him a quick death. Instead, he swung his blade, slashing several gashes into Danzo's body. Blood gushed out.
Danzo was awakened by the agony, letting out a low groan. He couldn't shout; he was too injured.
"Damn it!" Asuma stopped moving when only Danzo remained.
Then Hiruzen spoke, addressing Sasuke above the gate.
"Sasuke," he called out. "It seems you don't know the truth behind your brother Itachi Uchiha's actions, do you?"
Hiruzen shook his head sadly. "What a pity. Your actions today have completely trampled on all his efforts."
"The truth? Efforts?" Sasuke's gaze was chilling. "You mean he killed his entire clan for Konoha's so-called stability? Or perhaps he infiltrated Akatsuki to spy for you?"
"You knew all of this?" Hiruzen was surprised, then understood. Menma must have told him.
"What you know is only the surface," the old Hokage said quickly. "In reality, Itachi Uchiha did all this to protect Konoha—to protect you. He deeply loved you, his younger brother, and he deeply loved the village. Your actions now, destroying the village, are tantamount to trampling on everything he fought for."
"Heh..." Sasuke laughed angrily. "Just as Menma said, you rotten and filthy creatures shouldn't even exist..."
As he spoke, a purple half-body Susanoo emerged from his body. It appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The enormous Susanoo hand slammed down as if swatting a fly.
"Die!"
---
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