Misunderstandings are like seeds—when they are first planted, no one notices. By the time you realize they exist, they have already taken root and begun to sprout.
What the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had done made the Konoha villagers watching the genjutsu gasp in shock. All this time, they had only ever known that the First Hokage was Senju Hashirama. No one had ever told them about any of this.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood frozen, his mouth slightly open.
So that was how it was.
Back then, his own father had actually participated in the struggle over the Hokage position.
A chill ran through his entire body.
Could it be… that his teacher had chosen him as the Third Hokage because of his father's influence?
So that was the truth.
He had always wondered why Tobirama had favored him so much.
At that moment, the remnant soul of Senju Hashirama clenched his fists tightly.
"What a good little brother you are, Tobirama," he muttered bitterly.
"If it weren't for you, Madara and I might never have been forced onto that path."
"Konoha wouldn't have declined to this point… how foolish."
Tears actually formed in the eyes of the First Hokage's remnant soul.
---
Pure Land
Senju Tobirama suddenly shivered.
He felt uneasy, as if a cold wind had brushed down his spine.
Hashirama opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Tobirama, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Tobirama relaxed slightly and shook his head.
"I'm fine, Brother. Probably just my imagination."
Hashirama nodded, then sighed softly.
"I wonder where Madara is in the Pure Land. I haven't seen him in twenty years… I really miss him."
Tobirama's expression stiffened.
He said nothing.
He knew Madara had become an obsession for his brother. It was always Madara, Madara, Madara.
He truly couldn't understand it. Wasn't Uzumaki Mito enough?
At the same time, unease rose in his heart.
Madara's departure back then had been orchestrated by him.
If his brother ever found out…
Tobirama didn't dare imagine whether Hashirama would sacrifice even his own family for the sake of justice.
---
Konoha
The Uchiha clan exploded in rage.
"Damn it! That Tobirama brat!"
"Originally, the relationship between our clan and Lord Hashirama was closer than blood!"
"And yet, for his own selfish ambitions, he forged public opinion and drove a wedge between them!"
"So this is why Konoha's top combat strength has only declined over the years, while the Hokage's authority keeps growing!"
"Like father, like disciple! Leaving Konoha in their hands is nothing but a waste!"
"Down with Tobirama's lineage!"
"Down with Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
The Uchiha no longer held back. All pretenses of civility were torn away as they openly cursed the Third Hokage and the Second Hokage's legacy.
Hiashi Hyūga seized the moment and led the Hyūga Clan forward, openly siding with the Uchiha and condemning Hiruzen.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans followed as well.
Once a side was chosen, neutrality no longer existed.
Seventy percent of the ninja clans were now openly denouncing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen's face turned deathly pale.
He didn't know whether his father had manipulated public opinion back then—but he knew one thing clearly:
Public opinion was completely against him now.
Jiraiya remained silent the entire time.
A single thought echoed in his mind:
Could it be that even the Second Hokage, the man who created countless forbidden jutsu and claimed to protect the village, had such a dark side?
Uchiha Ran raised his hand.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
After witnessing his decisive killings and realizing he controlled the genjutsu broadcast, no one dared ignore him.
Hiruzen watched this scene with a heavy heart.
He also realized something else—
From this moment on, he would never again be able to use the Uchiha's identity to suppress them.
Ran ended the genjutsu.
Everyone returned to reality in a daze. After confirming they were unharmed, countless burning gazes locked onto Ran.
Just how many trump cards did this man still have?
To drag thousands of people into a genjutsu at once was already terrifying enough.
And he clearly knew far more of Konoha's secrets.
As spectators, they were deeply invested.
Ran spoke calmly, his voice steady.
"Everyone, calm down. Now is the time to settle matters."
He turned his gaze to Homura Mitokado.
"Old thing, you say the Uchiha are unworthy?"
"Then tell me—are the Uchiha worthy of the Hokage position, or not?"
Homura's face flushed red.
If he said no, he would be denying the First Hokage himself.
If he said yes, everything he had done earlier would become a joke—a slap to his own face.
He was trapped.
He looked to Ran, who stared back coldly, offering no escape.
He then looked to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen lowered his head, refusing to meet his eyes.
The message was clear.
You're on your own.
Homura suddenly laughed bitterly.
"Hah… hahaha… I never imagined that I, Homura Mitokado, would be so unlucky—surrounded by companions who would watch me die without lifting a finger."
Panting heavily, he pulled out a kunai and slashed it toward his own throat.
Fast. Precise. Ruthless.
No one had time to react—
"Itachi!" Ran shouted.
"Understood!"
Uchiha Itachi appeared in an instant, seizing Homura's wrist. At the same time, Tsukuyomi activated.
Homura's pupils shrank.
His body went limp.
The kunai clattered to the ground.
Itachi exhaled in relief.
This was his clan's ascension ceremony—and his brother's future.
He couldn't allow this old man to ruin it.
Ran nodded.
"Good work."
Itachi said nothing, lifted Homura onto his shoulder, and carried him back to the Mitokado clan.
Homura was never the true mastermind—just a disposable pawn.
And now, that pawn had lost all value.
Some clan members praised Ran's handling of the situation—decisive, yet restrained.
Others thought he was too soft, letting an enemy live.
But that was the reality of power.
Every move was being watched. Every decision judged.
Ran looked out at the crowd.
"After everything you've seen today, does anyone still dare say the Uchiha cannot be Hokage?"
"Who says the Uchiha are traitors?"
"Today, I will clear the Uchiha name."
"We are the original clan. The original shareholders."
"And we have the right to inherit everything—"
"—including the position of Hokage."
His chakra surged outward like a tide.