But Yukika ignored him, turning his gaze to Danzo.
Hiruzen was still worth cursing out.
But Danzo?
Danzo wasn't even worth cursing.
At least Hiruzen had some sliver of belief in sacrificing for the village—Danzo had none.
It had always been about power.
Across the entire ninja world, perhaps no one else was so beyond redemption.
Looking around.
Yukika took a deep breath.
"Everyone."
"You might not yet know what happened."
"But as the head of the Senju Clan, I guarantee you: what I'm about to say is the truth!"
"Shimura Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi betrayed Konoha, betrayed their own beliefs, betrayed the Will of Fire!"
"They repeatedly attacked the Senju Clan, even colluding with other villages to try and destroy us!"
"They betrayed the memory of Senju Tobirama, betrayed the founding of Konoha, betrayed the prosperity built by the Senju!"
"They betrayed everyone who trusted them!"
Shock rippled through the villagers.
Could it be true?
Their beloved Hokage, colluding with outsiders to attack Konoha's heroes?
The noisy crowd finally quieted.
But the way they looked at Hiruzen and Danzo had changed dramatically!
Now, they understood why Yukika had acted as he had.
If it were them, they might have been even more furious!
"And not just that."
"Their scheming against the Uzumaki Clan led to the destruction of the Uzumaki Kingdom."
"Their incompetence and internal backstabbing caused massive losses for Konoha."
"The corpses on the hills of the Rain Country are proof! Onoki, Chiyo, Raikage—they can all testify to their wolfish ambitions!"
"Today, I will put them on public trial—so you can all see the truth!"
"So you can see clearly the Hokage you once revered!"
Yukika swung his arm fiercely, glaring at Danzo.
In truth, he had long calculated that Danzo would try to mobilize enemy shinobi clans.
But he hadn't expected him to gather almost every hostile village in the Rain Country!
Danzo had to die!
Seizing Danzo by the throat, Yukika effortlessly lifted him into the air, his strength erupting.
Snap.
The tortured man didn't even have the strength to scream before his consciousness faded into darkness.
But that didn't lessen Yukika's anger.
He hurled Danzo's body straight at the Hokage Monument—specifically, at Hiruzen's face.
Death Throw!
Boom!
The entire monument trembled as Danzo's body splattered into a pool of blood, shattering Hiruzen's carved face!
The villagers cheered in their hearts.
No one mourned for Danzo.
He got what he deserved!
Seeing the blood-soaked Yukika, the villagers finally understood the pressure and pain he had endured.
Even if Yukika had executed the Hokage right there, they would have supported him.
After a while, a brave ninja knelt before Yukika.
"Senju Yukika-sama, grandson of the Second Hokage—please become our Fourth Hokage and lead Konoha back to glory!"
"Please, Yukika-sama, become Hokage!"
"Yes! Yukika-sama, only you can lead us through this dark time!"
...
At this point, everyone believed Yukika would become the next Hokage.
It seemed only natural.
Hiruzen was finished.
What awaited him was endless humiliation—a fate worse than death.
Suicide?
Yukika wouldn't give him that easy way out.
Everyone could see it—from now on, it was time for a new era.
Yukika's achievements and status were enough.
He had defeated a demigod and captured the Rain Village!
He had exposed the conspiracy of the high command!
Who else could lead Konoha?
Nearby, the lonely Hiruzen raised his head slightly.
Uzumaki Mito had said Yukika didn't want to be Hokage.
Could that be true?
In front of power, could anyone truly remain unmoved?
He didn't believe it.
Becoming Hokage—being revered by all—who could resist?
But Yukika merely looked around at the villagers and shook his head gently.
Hokage?
Glancing at Hiruzen, Yukika chuckled.
"Did you really think I still wanted to be Hokage?"
"To be honest, that title means nothing to me."
"If you stake your entire life on Konoha, then sure, it's the highest achievement."
"But what I want... isn't just a single leaf."
Pffft!
Hiruzen spat blood from his internal injuries.
What he had valued so highly...
Was nothing to Yukika.
"Everyone!"
Yukika raised his hand, stopping them.
"The Senju have protected Konoha for decades."
"The Senju are tired. I am tired."
"Forget the Hokage position."
Baring his teeth, he shocked the gathered ninja and villagers.
He didn't want to be Hokage?
"Yukika-sama doesn't want Konoha anymore?!"
"The Senju don't want Konoha anymore?!"
A villager cried out in despair.
"Exactly as you see."
Yukika spoke calmly.
"From now on, Konoha is Konoha. The Senju are the Senju."
"But since the Senju founded this village, some assets must be reclaimed."
"All Rain Village resources belong to the Senju."
"The Senju will request half the Land of Fire's resources from the Daimyo."
"We need to recover. We don't want to be disturbed."
His words plunged the villagers into despair.
Even Uchiha Fugaku, watching from afar, was stunned.
Looking at his confused father, Fugaku was incredulous.
"Father, I don't understand."
"Why wouldn't he become Hokage?"
"It's the perfect opportunity!"
His father shook his head.
For a moment, he didn't understand either.
But then… he realized something.
"Do you think it matters whether he becomes Hokage?"
"The two Hokage advisors—one from the Uchiha, one from the Uzumaki—are both close to him."
"Both women, both destined to become his wives."
The old clan leader sneered.
"Forget about Mikoto. Forget about the Hokage seat."
"If she stays by his side, the Uchiha will be safe—but Yukika will be unstoppable."
"Today's fall of Hiruzen—will be tomorrow's fall of anyone who stands against him!"
Yes.
Whether he was Hokage or not...
He already controlled everything.
Reclaiming the Senju's industry? It was just a tactic to harvest Konoha's resources.
Brilliantly executed.
"We'll wait for you to come back as Hokage, Yukika-sama! We'll always support you!"
Indeed.
Even if he refused now.
In their hearts, Yukika was already their true leader.
Konoha might be able to exist without the Senju.
But the Senju?
They had proven that Konoha could not survive without them.
Senju Yukika.
He had succeeded.
*To be continued...*Second Brother, what should we do next?"
Feeling a heavy burden finally lifted from his shoulders, Shougi carefully approached Yukika, voicing the question that had been weighing on his heart.
What should the Senju clan do now?
Wipe out the ninja world?
Slaughter them all, one by one?
Or maybe... find a few more sister-in-laws?
Shougi waited eagerly for Yukika's instructions.
But the young man only paused in thought for a moment before a firm idea took shape in his mind.
He already had everything planned out.
The first step.
He pointed to the open field he had mentioned earlier.
"We're going to build the Senju Snowfield Palace, cultivate the Ten Blades, and reshape the clan."
Yukika narrowed his eyes, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"Ōtsutsuki are all Six Paths-level beings."
"I need to make it clear to them that Earthlings..."
"Are not that easy to mess with!"