The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi took the document from Hikaru's hand, a bad feeling immediately rose in his chest.
But when he actually saw the names and clans written on the list, his entire body went cold, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
What was this?
The file was titled Great Purge Plan.
In Hiruzen's eyes, it shouldn't have been called a purge at all.
It should have been called a massacre.
If he truly carried out everything written on that list, Konoha would lose at least a thousand people.
Ever since his former supporters had united to oppose Hikaru during the reform meeting, Hiruzen had already guessed their ending would not be pleasant.
But Hikaru's retaliation had come too quickly.
And far too ruthlessly.
It was as if Hikaru had no intention whatsoever of holding back.
Did he not care how much damage this would do to Konoha?
Even though Hiruzen was no longer Hokage, he still cared deeply about the village.
The reason he had chosen to yield and gradually side with Hikaru was precisely because he did not want Konoha to fall into internal chaos again.
The reason he had convinced the Sarutobi Clan to support Hikaru was not only because his political instincts had seen through the true nature of Hikaru's reforms, but also because he wanted to minimize unrest within the village.
And yet Hikaru's current approach—
while certainly capable of eliminating unstable elements inside Konoha—
was still far too extreme.
Hiruzen understood very well what his former followers were likely planning.
But in his view, this was not a situation beyond negotiation or compromise.
Politics itself was the art of dialogue and compromise.
If Hikaru had allowed him to negotiate with them, and offered some real concessions, the matter could still have been resolved peacefully.
Of course, Hikaru had every right to take harsher measures if he wished.
The problem was—
Konoha no longer had enough people left to sustain that kind of purge.
In terms of combat personnel, the village had no shortage whatsoever.
Konoha was, after all, a military state.
More accurately, the entire village itself was a colossal war machine.
But administrative talent?
That was another matter entirely.
Hiruzen had spent decades cultivating those kinds of people.
They might not have been brilliant, but at the very least they could reliably execute orders from above.
But after Hikaru's reforms, Konoha's reserve talent pool had practically been emptied out.
He had driven out a massive number of people in one sweep, then immediately used up nearly all remaining reserve personnel during the restructuring.
At first, removing those people had not been a fatal issue.
After all, they were still alive. If necessary, they could potentially be brought back in the future.
But once Hikaru raised the butcher's knife—
Konoha would truly lose its remaining administrative reserves.
"Lord… Hokage…"
Hiruzen spoke with difficulty, but he quickly steadied himself and forced his emotions back under control.
"I hope you can reconsider this carefully. Konoha's current situation—"
"Don't worry."
Hikaru naturally knew what Hiruzen wanted to say, but he had no intention of giving anyone another chance.
"Konoha may struggle for a while afterward, but at least there won't be any unstable elements left."
"Third Hokage, I'm leaving this matter to you."
"I hope you won't disappoint me."
Hikaru didn't give Hiruzen an opening to continue.
Keeping the old man around had always served this exact purpose.
Originally, Hikaru had still intended to restrain himself somewhat.
But now?
He no longer planned to hold back at all.
Besides—
if Hiruzen was the one swinging the blade, what did it have to do with him?
"Minister Shikaku, there are two matters I need to discuss with you."
Without even glancing at Hiruzen's pale face, Hikaru turned toward Shikaku Nara and spoke calmly.
"First—the negotiations with Kumogakure."
"I want them to hand over the Two-Tails' chakra."
"The Two-Tails?"
Shikaku nodded immediately.
Truthfully, his own scalp was tingling right now.
Even without seeing the list Hikaru had handed Hiruzen, just from the expressions and conversation alone, he could already tell something enormous was about to happen.
And a great many people were going to die.
Anyone would feel uncomfortable facing something like that.
Still, he also understood that those people had crossed Hikaru's bottom line.
And he understood even more clearly that many of them were almost certainly preparing to act.
But making the Third Hokage personally deal with his former followers…
That level of psychological retaliation was honestly terrifying.
"I understand."
"I'll add that demand during negotiations, and I'll make sure they agree."
"Good."
Hikaru nodded.
"The second matter is this: during the next few days, ANBU will release information gathered regarding suspicious activities from certain individuals. The newspaper office will cooperate in publishing it."
"As Minister of Government Affairs, I'll need your cooperation as well."
"I know what you're worried about."
"But I'm not Danzō."
"I won't kill people indiscriminately."
"But neither will I show mercy."
Those words seemed directed at Shikaku—
but also at Hiruzen.
Hikaru truly was different from Danzo Shimura.
Even when he chose violence, he would still provide justification.
He understood human nature extremely well.
Years spent inside ANBU had taught him more than enough.
Because of that, Hikaru always paid attention to method, appearance, and public reasoning.
And since he had carefully cultivated the image of a calm, reasonable leader, he naturally wouldn't allow that image to collapse without purpose.
Power alone already gave him absolute control over Konoha.
But the gentler he appeared outwardly, the easier many things became.
If he acted like a tyrant and ruled only through naked force, instinctive resistance would inevitably rise everywhere.
Hikaru had no way home.
As long as he remained trapped in this world, he couldn't afford to act recklessly.
What he needed was a thriving Konoha capable of supporting his system objectives—
not a lifeless dictatorship where everyone had been crushed into obedience.
If that were the case, he might as well imitate the Ōtsutsuki and hang the entire world from the Divine Tree.
At least that would be more efficient.
And who knew?
Maybe he'd harvest even more seeds that way.
"I understand."
Sure enough, Shikaku visibly relaxed after hearing Hikaru's explanation.
The extreme caution in his eyes faded considerably.
"I'll cooperate fully, Lord Hokage."
"Excellent."
Hikaru nodded lightly before looking at both men.
"The final matter will require cooperation from both of you."
"Although the jōnin reforms have only recently concluded, and we're still waiting to see the long-term results…"
"I believe both of you already understand that these reforms are beneficial to Konoha."
"And personally, I don't believe they can fail."
Neither Hiruzen nor Shikaku refuted him.
Because Hikaru was right.
The reforms had granted enormous benefits and authority to Konoha's jōnin.
From a military standpoint alone, the effects would be extraordinary.
Jōnin were the true elite backbone of the village.
In theory, every single one of them was a potential Hokage candidate.
Of course, everyone knew that was mostly symbolic.
Ordinary jōnin were rarely chosen for the position.
But symbolism did not diminish their importance.
A village's strength depended on several factors.
First and foremost—
top-tier combat power.
Ignoring monsters like Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Hikaru himself, Konoha's traditional strategic-level combatants had once been figures like the Sannin and Sakumo Hatake.
Individuals capable of turning the tide of war alone.
Below them came the jōnin.
They led troops, commanded operations, stabilized morale, and formed the irreplaceable core of any military conflict.
The stronger the jōnin became, the stronger Konoha itself became.
And Hikaru's reforms—
opening Konoha's vast ninjutsu archives to all jōnin—
would massively elevate their overall strength.
At the same time, the new political authority granted to them would ignite their ambition even further.
The future strength of Konoha's jōnin corps would be terrifying.
And while Hikaru's reforms did weaken hereditary clan authority in the short term, the major clans supporting him all understood one crucial fact:
This was not a revolution from below.
It was reform directed from above.
The clans still possessed deeper foundations than ordinary shinobi.
As long as they adapted, they would continue thriving in the future.
Even if one generation declined, another could rise again later under the new system.
That was why the major clans had supported Hikaru from the very beginning.
As for those still resisting?
The list Hiruzen held in his hands would soon become their lesson.
"So the jōnin reforms only need continued supervision for now," Hikaru said calmly.
"Our next priority is addressing Konoha's talent shortage."
He looked toward Hiruzen.
"I understand your concerns, Third Hokage."
"You're worried Konoha no longer has enough administrative personnel, correct?"
Hiruzen silently nodded.
Hikaru tapped the table lightly.
"That's why the next stage of reform must begin with the chūnin and genin systems."
"Especially education."
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