By the time Ryujin summoned Susanoo, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind had already gone numb.
His hands trembled uncontrollably, no longer able to respond as they once had. The chakra within his body was nearly exhausted, drained to the very last drop. Even the Adamantine Staff—his most reliable companion—had developed visible cracks.
The Monkey King Enma… the being said to possess an indestructible body…
Had been injured.
That alone was enough to shatter everything Hiruzen believed in.
When Ryujin's Susanoo drew its blade and pointed it directly at him—when that calm, almost indifferent voice declared his unfitness to remain Hokage—
Hiruzen felt something inside him collapse.
In that instant, he seemed to age decades.
He looked up at Ryujin, his expression filled with exhaustion and quiet resignation. A bitter smile slowly formed on his lips.
"So… this is the end of my path."
For years, he had clung to his idea of balance—his so-called justice.
Suppressing the great clans.
Maintaining equilibrium through control.
He had always known… deep down…
That one day, there would be consequences.
That his choices would invite backlash.
But he never imagined it would come this soon.
Before Konoha could truly flourish under his leadership—
The reckoning had already arrived.
He raised his gaze again.
Toward the towering, water-blue Susanoo.
Toward the overwhelming power that stood like a god above the battlefield.
And finally—
Toward the man within it.
Uchiha Ryujin.
Hiruzen understood.
If he refused—
That blade would fall.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
And when it did—
Everything would end.
With the amplification of Susanoo's chakra, Ryujin's voice echoed across the entire village.
It spread far beyond the battlefield, reaching every corner of Konoha.
Villagers stepped out of their homes, confused and alarmed, searching for the source of the voice.
And then—
They saw it.
A colossal humanoid giant, standing tall against the sky, radiating divine authority.
A being that looked like a god descending upon the mortal world.
Fear spread instantly.
Confusion followed.
And then awe.
Among them were spies from other nations.
The moment they witnessed the Susanoo, their expressions changed drastically.
Without hesitation, they began transmitting urgent reports back to their homelands.
Elsewhere—
Tsunade stood quietly, dressed in her wedding attire.
She had just finished preparing, waiting for the moment Ryujin would arrive to take her to the ceremony.
A gentle smile rested on her face.
For once, she allowed herself to simply feel happiness.
But then—
A voice echoed across the village.
Her expression froze.
"…That voice…"
Her heart skipped a beat.
"That's… Ryujin!"
She would never mistake his voice.
It was etched into her very soul.
Without hesitation, she rushed out the door, ignoring the startled cries of the attendants behind her.
The moment she stepped outside—
She saw it.
The towering Susanoo that pierced the heavens.
And instinctively—
She knew.
"That's… him."
Her mind began racing.
What had happened?
What was going on at the Uchiha compound?
Why had Ryujin mentioned the Third Hokage?
Tsunade wasn't foolish.
Her earlier excitement had clouded her judgment, filling her thoughts with nothing but the upcoming wedding.
But now—
Everything became clear.
This wedding…
Had never been just a wedding.
It was a stage.
A perfect opportunity.
A moment Ryujin had chosen—
To force a confrontation.
"逼宫… (Forcing the Hokage to step down…)"
Her teeth clenched.
Hiruzen was her teacher.
Ryujin was her husband.
No matter which side was harmed—
She would suffer.
But deep down…
She already knew the answer.
If she had to choose—
She would choose Ryujin.
Not because she wanted to…
But because she couldn't bear to lose him.
"Please… be safe…"
Channeling chakra into her feet, Tsunade shot forward, racing toward the battlefield at full speed.
Back at the Uchiha compound—
Silence fell.
A suffocating silence.
The Sarutobi clan.
The Shimura clan.
The Hyūga clan.
The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance.
Every clan leader present stood frozen.
They had expected rebellion.
They had expected conflict.
But they had never imagined—
That Uchiha Ryujin's goal was this bold.
To force the Third Hokage to step down—
And claim the position himself.
On the opposite side—
The Uchiha and Senju clans were filled with excitement.
This…
This was what they had been fighting for.
No more suppression.
No more slow death.
No more being used as expendable tools.
With Tsunade's marriage to Ryujin, the Senju clan had already tied its fate to the Uchiha.
Their alliance was no longer symbolic.
It was absolute.
Shared glory.
Shared destruction.
And then—
A voice rang out.
"Request the Third Hokage to step down! Re-elect the Fourth Hokage!"
No one knew who started it.
But in the next moment—
Dozens of voices followed.
Then hundreds.
Then all at once—
The entire Uchiha and Senju forces stepped forward.
They bowed in unison, their voices merging into a thunderous declaration.
"Request the Third Hokage to step down! Re-elect the Fourth Hokage!"
"Request the Third Hokage to step down! Re-elect the Fourth Hokage!"
"REQUEST THE THIRD HOKAGE TO STEP DOWN!!!"
Each shout struck Hiruzen like a hammer.
With every echo—
He seemed to grow older.
More fragile.
More worn.
Until finally—
All color drained from his face.
Under the overwhelming pressure of Ryujin's power…
Not a single clan dared to speak in Hiruzen's defense.
They all understood.
This was inevitable.
The tide had already turned.
No one could stop it.
Even if every clan united—
Uchiha Ryujin would simply crush them all.
Unless—
Senju Tobirama himself returned from the dead.
But that…
Was impossible.
After a long silence—
Hiruzen slowly nodded.
"I understand."
His voice was hoarse.
Weak.
Yet strangely calm.
He released his grip on the Adamantine Staff.
It fell to the ground with a sharp metallic clang—
A sound that felt like a final lament.
"Three days from now… the position of Hokage will be re-evaluated."
"I will step down… at that time."
He lifted his gaze, looking directly at Ryujin.
"Uchiha Ryujin… are you satisfied now?"
As the words left his mouth—
Something inside him finally let go.
He coughed softly.
A mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
On the surface, it seemed like he had merely endured the earlier attack.
But in truth—
Only he and Enma knew.
That strike had already gravely injured him.
He had only endured—
For the sake of Konoha.
And now—
There was no need to continue.
The battle…
Was already over.