The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

A loud explosion echoed in the sky as Senju Tobirama made a grand entrance.

As the white mist cleared, the Second Hokage appeared with his arms crossed over his chest. He scanned the area, his gaze briefly pausing on Hyuga Hitoshi before finally settling on Uchiha Fugaku.

However, to his disappointment, Fugaku didn't show any signs of panic at his sudden appearance. Instead, he calmly met Tobirama's gaze for a moment before shifting his eyes to the figure behind Tobirama, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

His genius son, who had graduated early and had always been his pride, had for some reason been making one wrong decision after another.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

The succession ceremony, which was about to conclude, was now filled with murmurs and whispers from the crowd due to the sudden appearance of a man long thought dead.

After the reconstruction of Konohagakure, many of the old-timers had passed away, but that didn't mean everyone had forgotten the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. His iconic armor, forehead protector, and the aura he exuded perfectly matched the legendary figure.

Fugaku, in preparation for the succession ceremony, had made sure to educate the villagers about the previous Hokages. So, with the help of the older generation, the crowd quickly confirmed the identity of the man before them.

Senju Tobirama!

The younger brother of Senju Hashirama, the Second Hokage of Konohagakure.

"It's him! The inherently evil Senju old man that the Fifth Hokage mentioned!"

"Pfft! You really have the guts to say that. That's the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama! During his reign, he turned Konohagakure into an unshakable fortress. Even the Uchiha didn't dare to oppose him!"

"Nonsense! If Madara-sama were alive, do you think he'd let Tobirama get away with it?"

"But Madara-sama is dead, isn't he?"

"So is the Second Hokage! Looks like the Third Hokage brought him back to life? But why would he do that?"

"Isn't it obvious? He probably doesn't want the Fifth Hokage to succeed. But since he doesn't have the influence or authority to convince everyone to reject the Fifth, he brought out his teacher instead."

"Huh? If the Third Hokage doesn't have the influence, does the Second? I mean, the guy who chose Sarutobi as the Third Hokage might not be the best judge of character either."

"...Good point. Just look at the kind of people Tobirama-sama taught—Sarutobi Hiruzen, the so-called 'strongest Hokage,' Shimura Danzo with his 'brilliant' schemes, and those two advisors who always drag everyone down... Hmph, in a way, Tobirama-sama is indeed impressive."

"...."

Whispers spread through the crowd.

The leaders of the other villages, seated in the VIP section, exchanged glances. Oonoki looked back and forth between the Second Hokage and Uchiha Fugaku, unsure whether this was a planned part of Konohagakure's ceremony or an actual attempt to disrupt the succession.

To be honest, if it was the former, it was fine. But if it was the latter, whether Fugaku succeeded or not, Konohagakure would become a laughingstock.

Was it really worth it?

Ohnoki was confused—there wasn't anything wrong with Uchiha Fugaku being Hokage. What right did the Second Hokage have to impeach him? 

"Does Senju Tobirama still think Konohagakure is the same as before? That it's still the number one village in the ninja world like it was when he was in power? That just because he raises his arm and calls out, countless people will stand behind him?" 

Terumi Mei shook her head, leaning into Hyuga Hitoshi's embrace, completely lost. 

"Probably. Some people are still living in a dream, and no one has told them that times have changed." 

Hyuga Hitoshi smiled slightly, then casually slapped Rasa across the face. 

"Am I right, Kazekage-sama?" 

Feeling completely humiliated, Rasa quickly nodded, not even daring to glare at Hyuga Hitoshi. 

After kneeling for so long, he finally understood why the Tsuchikage and Raikage hadn't dared to provoke Hyuga Hitoshi. If they weren't acting together as the Five Great Nations, and if their target wasn't the Hyuga clan, they probably wouldn't have gotten involved at all. 

He carefully glanced at Hyuga Hitoshi. 

Rasa suddenly remembered a joke the Raikage had made earlier. 

As arrogant as ever, Hyuga Hitoshi didn't care about anyone when he came to challenge them. 

Even when representing the Sun God Kingdom, he remained terrifyingly unyielding. This wasn't an act—he truly had absolute confidence in his clan. It was as if he believed sheer power could break any rule, looking down on the world itself. 

What a bastard. 

Even with the full force of the Five Great Nations gathered against him, he acted as if they didn't exist. 

Where did he get that kind of confidence? 

**Slap!** 

Before Rasa could process his thoughts, Hyuga Hitoshi slapped him again, knocking him to the ground. 

Struggling to get up, Rasa looked at him with a face full of grievance, completely clueless as to why he was being hit. 

"Were you just cursing me in your head?" 

"Even in my mind, I can't?" 

"Nope. Kneel down, stay quiet, and watch Fugaku put on a show." 

"…" 

Finally, the chaos caused by Senju Tobirama's return began to settle. 

At this moment, all eyes—whether from Konohagakure's high-ranking officials, the representatives of the major clans, or the village leaders who had come to watch—were fixed on the stage, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. 

Jiraiya, on the other hand, was restless. 

A moment ago, he had accidentally locked eyes with his former student, Konan. 

In her calm gaze, he saw nothing but disdain and mockery for this village. 

And why wouldn't she feel that way? 

This was the village he had once spoken of as warm, united, and full of love. 

Yet here it was, with the teacher he had once respected making a fool of himself, tearing off Konohagakure's facade, and exposing its ugliest side for all to see. 

Did his teacher really think that reviving the Second Hokage would be enough to bring Uchiha Fugaku down?

His desire for power had reached a sickening level. Instead of using his useless will to contribute to the village, he remained obsessed with practicing internal martial arts. 

This village was beyond saving. 

Suddenly, Jiraiya glanced at Hyuga Hitoshi in the VIP seats. In that moment, it seemed he understood why that man had taken his clan and left. 

It was also the first time he began to question the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. 

Konan's words had snapped him out of his narrow perspective. He had indeed overlooked the many strengths of the Sun God Kingdom, and now he realized those were just his own biases. 

The same went for Hyuga Hitoshi. If it weren't for the disaster he caused before leaving, Jiraiya might have chosen to understand him. 

Was I wrong all along? 

Witnessing his teacher causing trouble once again, Jiraiya finally realized that his own thinking might be flawed. 

A true gentleman judges actions, not intentions. 

Jiraiya had to admit that, if you ignored how Fugaku came to power and how he obtained the funds to build the village, Konohagakure was actually being managed quite well under his leadership. The relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village had also improved under his guidance. 

Of course, this wasn't really Uchiha Fugaku's doing—it was Hyuga Hitoshi's. 

But it was only because Fugaku was the Hokage that Hyuga Hitoshi helped. You had to acknowledge that. 

After all, not everyone had the courage to send three wives at once. At the very least, Jiraiya admired Fugaku for that. 

It was also an objective fact that Uchiha Fugaku had done a better job than Sarutobi Hiruzen. 

So... 

"Why bother?" 

Jiraiya let out a bitter laugh. He had finally made up his mind. No matter the outcome today, he wouldn't stay in this village any longer. Unless Konohagakure faced a life-or-death crisis, he really didn't want to come back. 

"Uchiha Fugaku is unworthy of his position. I oppose him becoming the Fifth Hokage." 

On the stage, Senju Tobirama's voice was firm and forceful, as if he was convinced he was on the side of justice. Beside him, Sarutobi Hiruzen also straightened his back with a sense of pride. 

"Second Hokage." 

But the next moment, Nara Shikaku, who was nearby, suddenly spoke up. 

He gave Senju Tobirama a subtle look and then made his suggestion: 

"I propose we discuss this matter in a meeting. For now, we should continue with the Fifth Hokage's inauguration ceremony." 

In the end, this was Konohagakure's own problem. 

His way of thinking was different from the Second Hokage's. As the village's strategist, Nara Shikaku was certain that Senju Tobirama was severely lacking in information. This might have been due to his recent resurrection, as those who brought him back might have fed him some distorted ideas. 

After all, someone who had been dead for so long couldn't think as independently as they did in life. Their mindset was still somewhat limited. 

The most important point was this: 

Anyone who knew the current state of Konohagakure shouldn't oppose Uchiha Fugaku taking the position! 

The reason was simple.

First, after a series of major battles, Konohagakure had been weakened to its lowest point in history. Among those who could step up and take charge, with strength truly at the Kage level and unafraid of the other villages' leaders, there were only two candidates: Jiraiya and Uchiha Fugaku.

Originally, Nara Shikaku had planned to support Jiraiya. But after spending most of the year observing him, it became clear that Jiraiya's personality made it questionable whether he could even stay in the village consistently. Could you really expect a man who wrote adult novels to handle administrative duties?

So, the answer was obvious. Uchiha Fugaku, already the leader of his clan, was a far more suitable candidate than Jiraiya. Over the past six months, Fugaku had proven himself to be extremely diligent and disciplined—so much so that he didn't even indulge in women. He even set aside a beautiful Uchiha girl with long black hair for his friend Hyuga Hitoshi. Such self-discipline in a Hokage was worthy of respect.

Second, although Uchiha Fugaku's rise to power had elevated the Uchiha clan's status in the village to the point where they practically looked down on everyone, you had to admit their formidable combat strength. In times of crisis, they were reliable allies. As long as you ignored their arrogant behavior, they were trustworthy.

And even if Uchiha Fugaku were to lose his mind, wasn't there Nara Shikaku to step in? And if Shikaku couldn't handle it, there was always Hyuga Hitoshi!

That's right—Hyuga Hitoshi.

Nara Shikaku had lived through the incident when the Hyuga clan left Konohagakure. At the time, he had thought that Hyuga Hitoshi was trying to force the Third Hokage to step down and take the position himself. Given the level of strength Hitoshi had displayed later, he certainly had the ability to become Hokage and lead the Hyuga clan to defeat Iwagakure and Kumogakure.

The truth was, both Kumogakure and Iwagakure had been too exhausted to continue fighting at the time. Their attempts to pressure Konohagakure into handing over the Byakugan and Sharingan were nothing but bluffs.

The peaceful days that followed made everyone in Konohagakure realize this. They understood that the Third Hokage was incompetent. If he had been even slightly more assertive back then, Konohagakure wouldn't have lost the Hyuga clan.

The Third Hokage had proven with his actions that he was a failure. The past couldn't be changed, and the Hyuga clan had left the village. But the friendship between Hyuga Hitoshi and Uchiha Fugaku, as well as the bond between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, still remained.

From his intelligence, it was clear—the final summoned statue was meant to push Fugaku onto the Hokage seat. And Fugaku had already proven he could do the job. A six-month trial period was more than enough. 

On top of that, Uchiha Fugaku was on good terms with Hyuga Hitoshi, which meant Konohagakure had gained a powerful ally! 

Even if their friendship wasn't that deep, would Hyuga Hitoshi ignore Uchiha Fugaku? Maybe. But would he ignore Uchiha Sasuke? Definitely not. 

And now, with Hyuga Hitoshi completely unbothered by the Five Great Nations targeting him, even a fool could tell he was confident in his position. 

As long as Uchiha Fugaku remained Hokage, there was even a chance that Konohagakure could form an alliance with the Sun God Kingdom! 

That would be a huge advantage for Konohagakure. 

There are no eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests. So what if they had been beaten up by a powerful ally before forming an alliance? 

You can't refuse friendship just because someone once defeated you—especially when they did it so effortlessly. 

Even blood-related brothers fight sometimes. 

So, no matter what, Uchiha Fugaku's succession ceremony had to go smoothly! 

"I suggest that Second Hokage-sama reconsider his decision carefully." 

That was already a blatant warning. 

Because no matter whether Uchiha Fugaku became the Fifth Hokage or not, if Senju Tobirama insisted on going against him, there would only be one outcome—he would end up as a laughingstock. 

This was the best way to save face for the Second Hokage. No one wanted to see the Iron-Blooded Hokage turn into the Clown Hokage. 

"I have thought it through. I am not a narrow-minded man. If the Uchiha were truly trustworthy, I would never interfere in the village's affairs as a dead man." 

Senju Tobirama's expression was solemn, as if there was some reason he had no choice but to step forward. 

"Heh, at least he knows he's dead. Too bad that didn't stop him from playing the clown." 

Hyuga Hitoshi chuckled and turned to Terumi Mei. 

"This is what you call double standards, my dear." 

Terumi Mei, knowing her role well, followed his lead. 

Senju Tobirama, unfazed by the mockery, turned coldly and said: 

"I would say that a traitor who abandoned Konohagakure has even less right to speak about the village." 

A traitor to Konohagakure?!

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone turned to look at Senju Tobirama in shock. 

What kind of outdated nonsense was this? 

Back when Uchiha Fugaku became the acting Hokage, he had openly criticized the useless Third Hokage, showing complete disdain for his weak stance toward outsiders. He had also made it clear that the Hyuga Clan leaving was Konohagakure's fault and that they should try to understand the reasons behind it. 

At first, many people rejected this idea. 

But after the Sun God Kingdom was established, and after those two massive trenches connected to the one outside Konohagakure, all the opposition fell silent.

No matter why the Hyuga clan left, the question is: Would you be afraid of someone with that kind of power? 

Would you rather make an enemy of such a person, or, as the acting Hokage suggested, let go of the hatred and build a friendly relationship with them? 

The answer is obvious. 

When someone's strength is powerful enough to reshape the map, they themselves represent authority. 

Even if Hyuga Hitoshi had overestimated his clan's ability to withstand the backlash from the Five Great Nations, it would only mean that the Hyuga clan without him wasn't strong enough—not that Hyuga Hitoshi himself wasn't strong! 

Strong individuals deserve respect. That's why, even when Uzuki Yugao was treated as a public relations kunoichi, she could only complain a little. When Hyuga Hitoshi hugged her, she had to smile and play along. And for the sake of the village, she even let him hold her hand while touring Konohagakure. 

This is the harsh reality. 

Naturally, the Hyuga clan's defection became a taboo topic in Konohagakure. Even Jiraiya no longer brought it up, at least not openly. 

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Senju Tobirama, with his sharp senses, frowned, realizing that things weren't as he had imagined. 

Whether it was the leaders of other villages, Konohagakure's high-ranking officials, or the ninjas below, everyone was looking at him with a sense of distance. 

What's going on? 

Wasn't he speaking the truth? 

"This is the first time." 

Suddenly, Hyuga Hitoshi raised a finger toward Senju Tobirama, pointing at the Hokage Monument in the distance. 

"And it's only out of respect for your granddaughter." 

*Whoosh!* 

A golden light flashed, and chakra condensed from his fingertip, aimed directly at the face of the Second Hokage on the monument. 

In the next moment, the stone face of the Second Hokage was instantly disintegrated. The golden light continued upward, piercing the sky and leaving a visible black void, as if it had torn a hole in the heavens! 

All eyes turned to Hyuga Hitoshi in shock. 

That attack, which seemed capable of destroying an entire nation, was just a casual flick of his finger? 

"Next time, make sure you know the facts before you speak." 

Hyuga Hitoshi calmly looked at Senju Tobirama and spoke slowly. 

"But since you've been revived, let me make this clear again, out of respect for Tsunade." 

"The Hyuga clan's departure from Konohagakure was a result of the village's betrayal. The Hyuga clan upheld the original alliance. We did not defect—this village doesn't deserve us." 

"Remember my words. If you speak wrongly again, I will revive every Senju clansman who died because of you and your brother's schemes, and then kill them in front of you. And I'll repeat this process endlessly!"

The chilling words made the Second Hokage's face freeze in shock, but what Hyuga Hitoshi did next shook him even more. 

As if it were the simplest thing, Hyuga Hitoshi grabbed Rasa, who was kneeling on the ground, and snapped his fingers. In an instant, Rasa's body exploded into a cloud of blood. 

But the very next moment, golden light flashed, and his shattered body reassembled itself instantly—he was alive again! 

Having experienced death and rebirth with no way to resist, Rasa opened his mouth, trembling in terror as he knelt on the ground, trying to say something. 

Yet when he met Hyuga Hitoshi's gaze, he didn't dare make a sound. He just shivered in place, too afraid to even breathe too loudly. 

This was the difference in power! 

Hyuga Hitoshi's godlike strength—the power to control life and death itself—was something only a true god should possess! 

Genjutsu? No. Their chakra hadn't been affected at all. When countless people tried to dispel an illusion but saw no change, their eyes shifted toward Hyuga Hitoshi in a completely different way. 

Even Senju Tobirama, who had looked ready to explode with anger a moment ago, now hesitated, a rare look of caution on his face. He didn't argue back. 

But— 

He had just heard something that deeply confused him. 

What did that man mean when he mentioned the clan members he and his brother had "trapped to their deaths"? 

What was he even talking about? 

And what exactly was going on with the Hyuga Clan? 

Senju Tobirama furrowed his brows, giving Hyuga Hitoshi a long, searching look before glancing at Danzo and Sarutobi's faces. 

Hmm… His disciple's expression hadn't changed at all. He didn't look guilty. 

So where had things gone wrong? 

Finally, out of the corner of his eye, Tobirama caught sight of Uchiha Itachi's unwavering expression, which gave him a small sense of reassurance. 

His trump card was still in play. 

There was nothing to worry about! 

If his final trump card had given him this information, then it had to be real. 

"So, Second Hokage, what exactly is your reason for impeaching me?" 

Fugaku turned his gaze away from Hyuga Hitoshi and finally stopped getting distracted by the mental process of selecting the most beautiful, long-haired, black-haired Uchiha women who had died in battle. 

That's right. 

If someone had the power to control life and death, then there was no need to pick a bride for Hitoshi from the living, was there? 

There were plenty of single, deceased Uchiha women, after all. 

Wait—

That meant they could skip the whole "meet the wife's family" stage entirely. Wouldn't it be better to just marry her off to Hitoshi? This was the perfect alliance between Uchiha and the Sun God Kingdom! 

Besides, there was no shortage of long-haired, black-haired Uchiha women! And Hitoshi definitely had a thing for that type! 

On stage, Fugaku was clearly lost in thought. 

His absent-mindedness made the Second Hokage feel like a complete joke. 

They weren't even taking him seriously! 

Enough! 

Time to use his trump card! 

With cold determination, the Iron-Blooded Hokage pulled out a scroll and placed Uchiha Itachi in front of him. 

And the ever-perceptive Itachi, after glancing at the title, instantly became serious. 

At the exact same time, he and Tobirama spoke in unison: 

"These are the Seven Deadly Sins of the Uchiha!" 

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