Chapter 107: The Fall of the Third Hokage

When Gin promised to make nutritious pills part of the daily benefits for all Konoha ninjas, even the seasoned jōnin couldn't restrain their delight:

"Is that true, Gin-sama?"

"All right! Just for this, I fully support Gin-sama's candidacy for the position of Fourth Hokage!"

"I agree! As expected from Gin-sama—a real leader! Not like those who care only for their clan's profit while ignoring the village's well-being."

"Exactly! We'll always support Gin-sama!"

Even veteran shinobi couldn't maintain their composure after hearing the promise. Shouts of support echoed through the command tent. If anyone dared to oppose Gin's rise to Hokage now, they'd likely be drowned in spit.

After that, everyone bent over the strategic map, discussing the attack on Amegakure scheduled for the next day. The meeting continued late into the night.

During the briefing, Gin used his spatial communication technique to contact Uchiha Hikari and Uzumaki Mito, slipping through time-space channels linked to the branded remains of Danzo and Hanzo, emerging directly into Hikari's vault. He updated them on the situation at the front.

"We'll push forward with the momentum of public opinion, take care of the Third, and deal with the Sarutobi, Shimura, and other aligned clans tomorrow morning."

"Good!" Mito nodded. She had been orchestrating the flow of public sentiment within the village. "The control of public opinion is going even better than I expected."

Perhaps because Danzo and Hiruzen had been too focused on the front, they hadn't curbed the rising tide of dissent. And as for Koharu and Homura—they must have caught wind of this, but they'd taken no retaliatory action. They didn't even warn the old man. Apparently, they'd decided to stay neutral.

That was good—less trouble for them.

"Naïve fools," Hikari scoffed coldly. "They bathed in the privileges given to them under Hiruzen's rule. Now they want to sit on the fence? They'll have to pay back every inch of what they took... and surrender all their power."

"No one respects those who try to ride two horses," Mito said, eyes glinting.

With that, they accelerated their plan.

The next morning, from the forward Konoha camp, Gin and Tsunade led various ninja battalions to attack Amegakure.

Uchiha and allied clan members remained in the rear under Orochimaru's command, prepared to repel possible incursions from Suna or Iwa and to ensure camp security. The other purpose was clear—allowing the ordinary ninjas to witness Gin's terrifying power firsthand. It would elevate his standing even higher.

Meanwhile, deep within the ruins of Root, the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—had managed to dismantle a third of the intricate barrier seals surrounding Danzo's core research wing.

Just then, a breathless ANBU agent rushed in with a report.

"Hokage-sama! Urgent news! Compromising evidence about you and Danzo-sama has spread throughout the entire village! Civilians are gathering at the Hokage residence, demanding answers!"

"What?!" Hiruzen's face turned pale. "The entire village? Demanding answers about... my actions?"

That was when the realization struck.

"Damn it!" he snarled. "They used reinforced seals to stall me here while shaping public opinion outside. I let my guard down... I haven't monitored the village for days!"

He stomped his foot and gave a sharp order, gathering the ANBU and his loyalists before rushing toward the Hokage Residence.

As he approached, he was greeted by a sea of angry civilians and shinobi, their faces contorted with grief and rage.

From the crowd came cries:

"Hokage-sama! What did Danzo do to our family?!"

"You stole the village's resources to strengthen your own clan, ranking the Sarutobi above commoners!"

"Give me back my husband... my son!"

"You are not worthy of the Hokage's seat!"

Hiruzen froze, unable to answer. His lips trembled, but no words came.

Then came the arrival of Uchiha Hikari and Uzumaki Mito, flanked by elite forces from the Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki, Hyūga, and the Ino-Shika-Chō trinity. Their presence alone silenced the crowd.

Hikari activated the fourth stage of his Susanoo, a colossal armored warrior of seething chakra. Mito entered her Nine-Tails Mode, her golden aura flaring like the sun. The combined power of these titans dwarfed even Hiruzen's own strength.

Even the Third broke into cold sweat. They're in a different league entirely…

Mito amplified her voice with chakra and addressed the crowd:

"Citizens of Konoha. Fellow shinobi. Your anger is righteous. Please, place your trust in me—Uzumaki Mito—and the clans of Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki!"

The crowd fell silent.

"We will investigate all your grievances. For now, we ask that you step aside. We will arrest the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—and take him into custody to investigate the crimes committed under his rule."

The words struck like thunder.

Hiruzen's knees weakened. He had received word en route: Danzo was dead. Four major clans had been nearly annihilated on the front. And now... this?

He looked at the people—holding up the original documents from Root's archives. His last doubt vanished.

He'd been checkmated.

Mito's voice thundered again:

"We are still at war with Amegakure. Yesterday, Uchiha Gin slew Hanzo of the Salamander, eliminated 2,000 elite Ame ninja, and executed Danzo for treason."

A gasp rose from the crowd.

"But this war isn't over. Suna or Iwa may still enter the conflict. Thus, the trial of Sarutobi Hiruzen and his co-conspirators must be postponed until the frontlines return victorious. For now, we take him—and the clans that supported his crimes—into custody. To preserve village stability, I, Uchiha Hikari, and several clan leaders will assume temporary control of Konoha's government."

Dozens of glowing chakra chains erupted from Mito, aimed at Hiruzen.

"Hokage-sama!" shouted a loyal ANBU, moving to intercept.

But—

"Enough!" Hiruzen roared. "Don't throw your lives away for an old sinner like me!"

He turned to Mito and bowed deeply. "Lady Mito… I admit my guilt and surrender. Please, for the sake of Konoha, show mercy to the Sarutobi clan!"

He knelt.

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight—he couldn't. Mito's presence reminded him of Madara and Hashirama at their peaks. She was a super-Kage. And Hikari beside her—another monster.

He had no hope of winning. Only surrender could preserve the bloodline of his clan.

As for the Shimura clan…

He never planned to defend them. There always had to be a scapegoat. Like Naruto after the Nine-Tails attack. Shimura was perfect for that role.

Mito, still wrapped in her golden aura, nodded.

"It's good that you admit guilt. As for your clan… the villagers will decide. But because of your past contributions, we promise—the Sarutobi clan will not be annihilated."

That was the truth.

Hiruzen was guilty, yes—but eradicating his entire clan would seem too extreme. Public sympathy could shift. This way, the line was preserved, but under strict watch.

The remaining members would either be ideologically re-educated and bound to Gin—or… quietly removed.

As for the Shimura clan, both Mito and Hikari had already agreed—they would be sacrificed to pacify the people. They had few friends left anyway.

Hiruzen lowered his head in silent gratitude.

He had lost everything, but at least… the blood of the Sarutobi would survive.

Hiruzen was taken into custody. Several ANBU were also detained for questioning.

When reinforcements from other clans arrived and saw the situation, they immediately joined the suppression of the Shimura clan's resistance.

The skirmishes lasted over an hour. Hundreds of Shimura loyalists died. The rest had their chakra sealed and were gathered under tight guard.

Soon after, elite squads reported back to Hokage's office:

"The Sarutobi, Shimura, Koharu, and Homura clans have all been subdued. Their chakra is sealed. They're under full surveillance. Over 100 Sarutobi resisted before surrender. The Shimura lost 563 men before they fell. Koharu and Homura's clans offered no resistance and surrendered immediately under the advisement of the elders."

The purge was complete.

Konoha was now under new leadership—and the old order had fallen.