The moment Homura Mitokado finished speaking, the venue erupted into controversy.
Many elderly villagers changed their expressions as they looked toward Uchiha Ran.
Homura's words were viciously precise.
For the people of Konoha, their greatest pride was not the village itself, but the man who founded it—Senju Hashirama, the legendary God of Shinobi.
He established Konoha, brought order to the warring clans, and ushered in an era of stability and prosperity. His status in the Ninja World was absolute and unquestionable.
Now, however, Homura deliberately seized upon one fact: Uchiha Madara once fought Senju Hashirama in a battle to the death.
Although Madara was ultimately defeated, Hashirama soon left the world afterward as well.
Madara was long dead, so the anger of the crowd had only one place to go—the Uchiha, his descendants.
"That's right! The First Hokage united the clans, founded Konoha, and spent his entire life exhausting himself for the village!"
"He even hid his Senju identity and lived among civilians. Such a selfless and great man died because of Uchiha Madara!"
"The Uchiha are guilty!"
"They are not fit to be Hokage! Uchiha—get out of Konoha!"
It was obvious that these voices did not come naturally.
They were either unruly villagers stirred up on purpose, or hired agitators prepared in advance by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu.
Ran sneered and glanced at Homura.
His lips moved soundlessly.
Homura read them clearly:
Lackey. You'll die miserably—especially the old ones.
Homura's face turned livid. Veins bulged as he glared at Ran with hatred.
Ran raised a hand, signaling for silence.
But the agitators had no intention of letting him regain control. They opened their mouths again, ready to incite the crowd further.
They never got the chance.
Uchiha and Hyūga ninja had already closed in behind them.
Uchiha sword techniques flashed.
Eight Trigrams Empty Palm struck.
In an instant, the agitators were either killed on the spot or blasted off the platform.
Blood spilled.
Bodies fell.
Compared to force, words meant nothing.
The crowd's faces went pale.
The entire venue fell into deathly silence.
Even Utatane Koharu and Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected Ran to act so decisively. A chill crept up their spines.
"Homura Mitokado," Ran said calmly, his gaze sweeping the crowd, "next time, hide the people you arrange better."
"Everyone saw it clearly. These were nothing but rats hiding in the shadows—despicable instigators deliberately provoking hatred against the Uchiha."
"I won't bother naming who sent them."
"But since you insist on saying the Uchiha betrayed Konoha… then watch carefully what comes next."
His chakra surged outward like a tidal wave.
His eyes transformed into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yin chakra poured into the Mangekyō, and in the blink of an eye, everyone present—including Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi—was dragged into a genjutsu.
They became mere observers, watching history unfold from the outside.
---
"I thought this day would remain a dream," Uchiha Madara murmured, holding a leaf riddled with holes. "I didn't expect it to truly arrive… and by our own hands."
"Who's to say it isn't a dream?" Senju Hashirama laughed. "From our fathers to our grandfathers, generation after generation—endless war, endless bloodshed. Too many innocents died."
"Madara, thank you. If you hadn't brought the Uchiha to stand with me, this day would never have come."
Hashirama stood atop the Hokage Rock, overlooking the village under construction.
"Don't say foolish things," Madara replied with a faint smile. "We've both longed for this day."
Hashirama blinked, then stared.
"Madara… you smiled? You're actually pretty handsome when you do. You should smile more. You're always so fierce."
Only when facing Madara did a genuine smile ever appear on Hashirama's face.
"Hmph."
Madara's smile faded as he lifted the leaf to his eye, gazing toward the horizon.
Hashirama looked at his profile and suddenly said, serious and earnest:
"How about calling the village leader who protects the Land of Fire from the shadows… Hokage?"
The onlookers were stunned.
So that was how the title Hokage was born.
Anyone could see it clearly—Hashirama named it for Madara.
Protect the Land of Fire?
Other than Hashirama himself, who had truly done so? Later generations reduced it to mere employment. By Hiruzen's era, it was even worse.
Danzo Shimura had once threatened the Fire Daimyō with a kunai outright.
The vision continued.
"I want you to be the village leader," Hashirama said. "Be the Hokage."
The crowd exploded.
"What?! The First Hokage originally wanted Uchiha Madara to be Hokage?"
"Then why wasn't Madara the First Hokage?!"
Confusion swept through the villagers.
Ran watched with folded arms, sneering coldly.
The Uchiha ninja's eyes turned red.
Who understood their pain?
The Uchiha should have been the Hokage clan. Not traitors. Not outcasts.
Madara was still stunned when Hashirama's voice rang out again.
"No time to space out! The Sarutobi and Shimura clans nearby are already preparing to join us!"
"Really?" Madara's pupils shrank.
"Hahaha!" Hashirama laughed loudly, hands on his hips.
"We should also think of a name for the village," Hashirama said suddenly. "Madara, what do you think?"
Madara stared at the leaf, then raised it to his eye.
"How about Konoha? The Hidden Leaf Village."
Hashirama's face fell.
"Konoha? That's way too simple. No depth at all—just copying directly…"
The scene shattered everyone's expectations.
Why did Senju Hashirama look like he was acting spoiled?
And worse—he was doing it in front of Uchiha Madara, the legendary Asura of the Shinobi World.
The image of the First Hokage… had completely collapsed.