He didn't dare mention Tobirama's son directly.
Insinuating an affair was less dangerous.
Otherwise, it would be accusing Tobirama of being cuckolded!
Shameless!
Mito couldn't stand it anymore and slapped Hiruzen hard across the face!
Even so, Hiruzen still thought he made sense.
But he was utterly wrong.
Yukika might not have Tobirama's soul, but he carried Senju blood.
He loved the family that raised him.
Mito understood this better than anyone.
Hiruzen's words were pure insult!
Anyone with eyes could see—Yukika's resemblance to his grandfather was uncanny.
Yet Hiruzen still dared to slander him!
Where was his shame?
Mito slapped him repeatedly, the rhythmic sound echoing through the Hokage's office.
Then she brought out a box filled with golden needles.
When the needles pierced Hiruzen's body, his face twisted in pain.
"No one understands sealing arts better than the Uzumaki," Mito said coldly.
"And no one knows better how to destroy your chakra, to turn you into a cripple."
"Everything you have came from Tobirama, from the Senju."
"Honestly, the Senju clan head should handle this, but here we are!"
Golden needles sunk into Hiruzen's flesh, powered by Mito's chakra.
He trembled, trying to speak.
Only incoherent sounds came out.
"This is your punishment."
Seeing Yukika arrive, Mito smiled and leaned close to Hiruzen.
"And about the Hokage…"
"You should know—Yukika…"
"He's not even interested!"
Hiruzen froze.
He sat weakly on the ground.
Did he hear that right?
The kid wasn't aiming for Hokage at all?
Then why had he struggled so much?
Mito's anger dissipated.
Yes.
It was Hiruzen who should feel miserable.
"What does he want… then?" Hiruzen gasped, trembling.
"Go ask him yourself," Mito said, shaking her head.
Only Yukika knew Yukika's goals.
Looking toward Konoha's gates, she felt a familiar presence.
As the once-proud princess of Uzushiogakure, her sensory skills were unparalleled.
Yukika had returned.
Representing the Senju.
Mito sighed in relief.
The final stage had come.
Expose everything.
She opened the Hokage office door.
At the doorway, two Anbu stood in shock.
They heard everything inside.
As Anbu, they should protect the Hokage in danger.
But after hearing those words…
Even the so-called "beloved Hokage" turned out to be such a man.
Seeing Hiruzen dragged out, one young Anbu angrily lifted his mask and spat at him.
"Serves you right!"
"Well done, Lady Mito!"
"This guy isn't fit to be Hokage!"
The young ninja almost kicked Hiruzen but hesitated.
"Go ahead," Mito said calmly. "He's just a useless cripple now."
"Line up if you want to hit him."
The young ninja grinned viciously and kicked Hiruzen in the face.
His idol had always been the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Hiruzen had insulted Tobirama's family—unforgivable!
Konoha remained quiet.
Then shock hit.
Two shocking sights appeared.
First, at the village gates, countless bloodstained Senju warriors, led by the Black-Winged Overlord, Yukika, marched toward the village.
Heroes who had achieved great victories on the battlefield.
Yet, when they arrived, they said nothing, accepted no gifts.
They simply stared silently.
Their sharp eyes turned toward Hokage Rock, where the statues of the First and Second Hokages stood.
Second, outside the Hokage Tower—
Mito, dragging the disgraced Hiruzen calmly toward the village gates.
Every step she took, more villagers gathered.
Everyone sensed something monumental was about to happen.
Ninjas, clan heads, civilians—all followed silently.
No one dared to stop Mito.
She was the First Hokage's wife, the Black-Winged Demon's grandmother!
Even if she looked young again, even if she had lost the Nine Tails, her authority was absolute.
They knew—the events to follow would determine Konoha's future.
Finally.
At Konoha's gates, the two sides met.
Mito spoke calmly.
"Sorry, Yukika. I lost my temper."
"I crippled him."
Everyone turned to stare at the pitiful Hiruzen.
No wonder the former Hokage looked like a dead dog.
"It's fine," Yukika said, shaking his head.
Turning to the unconscious Danzo cradled by Shikuro,
Yukika slapped Danzo awake.
The first thing Danzo saw was Hiruzen.
Despite losing his limbs, Danzo tried to crawl toward him.
They had reunited.
"Hiruzen! Kill them!"
"These traitors…"
"They've wiped out our people!"
No one recognized Danzo's mutilated figure.
Until a ninja said,
"That's Shimura Danzo! The worthless fool who kept losing battles for a whole month!"
"Who dared say that?!"
Danzo roared furiously, but now—he could do nothing.
Could he not see the situation clearly?
Hiruzen's face was pale as death.
He shook his head at Danzo and, with his last strength, whispered,
"Konoha… the sky has changed."