Chapter 42: Closing the Net
The Third Hokage looked at Naruto who had suddenly appeared, and in that instant, as if realizing something, he cried out in shock.
"Masaka!"
"Naruto! That rumor about imprisoning the Konoha villagers… did you spread it yourself?!"
By now the tea was ready. Naruto slowly poured himself a cup.
He took a small sip.
Then spat it back into the cup.
"What the hell is this? Bitter and astringent. Even the Hokage's tea is this rough?" Naruto complained, completely ignoring the question.
The Third's expression was extremely grave as he waited for Naruto's answer.
Naruto raised his hand and shook his index finger.
The Third had just breathed a slight sigh of relief when Naruto slowly spoke.
"Not only did I spread the rumor, I was the one who started the march as well."
"Surprised?"
"And besides, imprisoning them is a fact. How can it be called a rumor?"
The Third's face completely collapsed.
So that's how it was. So that's how it was!
No wonder he said he would give the list in three days — he was waiting for these villagers to jump out and deliver themselves!
First spreading the rumor on purpose, then inciting the march, and now predicting that he would try to stop it and coming here to prevent him.
This mindset… this terrifying way of thinking…
The more the Third thought about it, the more terrified he became. Cold sweat broke out on his back.
He could no longer see through the boy standing in front of him with that sunny smile.
Without the Third's orders, more and more people joined the march. The scale grew larger and larger.
Their faces were full of determination.
They were furious and impassioned.
They were filled with righteous indignation.
The slogans were shouted so loudly that they shook the heavens. Their right fists punched toward the sky with powerful swings. Almost the entire village of Konoha could hear them.
Three days later, the Third sat powerlessly slumped in his chair.
Outside the window, the deafening slogans still poured into his ears.
Today was the deadline of the three-day period, and these Konoha villagers were working even harder.
Listening to the endless slogans, the Third painfully closed his old eyes, his heart filled with despair.
In this situation, he no longer even had a reason to persuade Naruto.
Even he felt that these villagers, who were roaring with all their might and wearing expressions of righteous indignation, were about to die yet still had the faces of victors.
They were truly stupid beyond belief!
On the Hokage Rock, Naruto appeared out of thin air, still stepping on the head of the statue belonging to the Third.
His clear blue eyes looked down at the dense crowd of marchers below.
The entire village of Konoha was in his sight, like a giant net.
And today, Naruto — the one who cast the net — was destined for a bountiful harvest!
He used Flying Thunder God again and arrived at the Hokage's office.
The Third was still sitting in his chair, his eyes full of despair. He looked much older, as if he was on the verge of death.
Seeing Naruto casually barge into his office like he was coming home, the Third wasn't surprised at all. It was as if he had already gotten used to it.
Naruto looked at the Third in this state and said slowly,
"Everyone who participated in the march is on the list I gave you. Begin. Arrest them all."
The Third painfully closed his eyes, as if doing so would allow him to avoid facing this reality.
"If you don't give the order, I'll be happy to take action myself," Naruto said, giving the Third no chance to regret.
Upon hearing this, the Third indeed opened his eyes. His cloudy pupils were bloodshot.
Anyone who didn't know better would think the old man had awakened the Sharingan.
"Naruto, why go this far? Why go this far?!"
The Third muttered.
"I've heard enough nonsense. I'll give you half an hour. If the Anbu still haven't acted by then, I'll do it myself!" Naruto said with a resolute expression.
After speaking, Naruto's figure instantly disappeared.
The Third clutched his forehead in pain and summoned his subordinate shadow guard.
These past few days, although the Anbu had been blocked by Naruto and hadn't stopped the march, they had still been keeping count of the numbers.
"Lord Hokage! A total of 83,848 people participated in the march. Among them, 5,438 are registered ninjas and 78,710 are civilians."
Eighty thousand… over eighty thousand people…
Why are you all so stupid!
"Draw personnel from the major clans and arrest every single registered person…"
After issuing this order, the Third seemed to have used up all his strength. Even his breathing became weaker.
"This…" The shadow guard, who had always been loyal and never questioned any mission, was now filled with hesitation.
A forced arrest on this scale would inevitably plunge the entire village of Konoha into unimaginable turmoil.
Even the shadow guard found it difficult to accept such an order.
The shadow guard's hesitation didn't surprise the Third. He didn't blame him and only spoke in a tired voice,
"Go. Neither I nor Konoha has any other choice. This is the only way for Konoha to survive."
"Yes… yes!" The shadow guard could only accept the order.
Soon, all the Anbu and the elites summoned from the major clans began to act.
"Arresting over eighty thousand Konoha residents?"
When they received this absurd mission, they were also confused. How could the Hokage issue such an unrealistic order?
Thus, a group of high-ranking people formed a small faction and aggressively rushed toward the Hokage Building.
Leading them were two white-haired elders — one man and one woman.
They were Konoha's two Hokage Advisors: Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Behind them followed the clan heads of various families.
Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Aburame…
Almost all the major clan heads had been forcefully brought to the Hokage Building by these two advisors.
As soon as they entered the Hokage's office, Utatane Koharu put on airs. Her old face was full of doubt.
"Hiruzen! Have you gone senile?! As Hokage, how can you make such a cruel and inhumane decision! Imprisoning over eighty thousand residents on a deserted island for twelve years? If this gets out, the other ninja villages will laugh their teeth off!"
"At that time, the entire Konoha, including you and me, will be nailed to the pillar of shame!"
Mitokado Homura also adjusted his glasses with a serious expression.
"Hiruzen, this matter is indeed too ridiculous. Withdraw the order immediately. Let everyone here discuss it together and find another way!"
Find another way?
"Then tell me, what other way is there?! Who can withstand that kind of Tailed Beast Bomb from a few days ago? Who can withstand that kind of sword-style tornado? You? Or you?!"
The Third, who had held back a bellyful of fire for several days and nights without sleep, completely exploded at this moment. He no longer had his usual kindness and composure. He looked exactly like a crazy old man.
Everyone in the room was very familiar with this old Hokage. It was the first time they had seen him disregard his image and lose his temper like this.
It was completely different from his usual self.
Utatane Koharu even pointed at the Third with suspicion in her eyes and said sharply,
"You… are you really Hiruzen?!"
"Hiashi! Use your Byakugan to check if the Hokage has been replaced!"
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