At first, there was only one person. But as time passed, more and more people gathered.
Some of them were driven by a sense of justice, some were just naturally nosy, and some had experienced the beatings from Root.
Regardless of the reasons, these strangers, wearing different kinds of Clothing, formed a long and imposing line behind Tomomi Koki.
They filled the streets, moving slowly but firmly, like a giant dragon surging forward (a metaphor for a mighty and unstoppable force), heading towards the Hokage Building.
Hyuga Satsu swiftly glided across the rooftops.
Due to the unprecedented scene, almost all the Ninja rushed towards the center of the event.
And no one noticed him.
Hyuga Satsu took a distant look at the huge crowd, and a sense of fear welled up in his heart.
He wondered how Haruki had managed to achieve this.
He had never witnessed such a sight in person, only read in past records that only the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had such prestige when he founded the village.
One call rallied thousands of responses; surrounded by thousands of people.
Hyuga Satsu couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and longing.
If one day he could gain the support of people along a long street, he would be willing to die.
"Who's there?"
Hyuga Satsu landed in the courtyard of the Hyuga clan. He didn't hide his figure and was soon discovered.
"Are you... Hyuga Satsu?"
The middle - aged man who found him was utterly shocked.
Had a dead man come back to life?
Or was he under an illusion?
"What on earth is going on? Weren't you dead?"
"It was just a fake death."
Hyuga Satsu patted him on the shoulder with his left hand. "It's all part of the clan leader's far - reaching plan. Take me to see the clan leader, and you'll understand."
"Okay! Follow me!"
After the initial shock, the middle - aged man showed a smile. The loss of forty Ninja was almost the most severe blow to the Hyuga clan in recent times. Now, learning that they weren't dead was truly a pleasant surprise.
Before they even reached Hyuga Kazushi's room, the news that Hyuga Satsu and the others were alive spread like wildfire.
"What's all this ruckus about?"
Hearing the noise, Hyuga Kazushi opened the door and immediately saw Hyuga Satsu surrounded by the crowd and his right arm that seemed to have grown anew like a sprout in spring.
"Hyuga Satsu?"
"Clan leader!"
Hyuga Satsu quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said excitedly, "We've been lying in wait for months as you commanded. Now the time has come. Please lead us to the Hokage Building and overthrow Tanzo Shimura and his Root once and for all!"
"???"
Hyuga Kazushi stood there, stunned.
What are you talking about?
I don't understand a word.
My command?
Didn't I just see you today?
But just as he was about to ask, the clan members around him burst into cheers, looking at him with excited and adoring eyes.
"The clan leader is truly far - sighted!"
"I even resented the clan leader before. I never thought things would be like this. From now on, I'll follow the clan leader's lead!"
"Overthrowing Tanzo Shimura. Who would have thought the clan leader had such courage!"
Hyuga Kazushi twitched the corner of his mouth and swallowed back the questions he was about to ask.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "What's wrong with your arm?"
"It's Lord Haruki's intention. He said it would make Tanzo Shimura's sins more obvious. He not only conducted Experiments on the prisoners in Konoha's maximum - security prison but also secretly abducted forty of our Hyuga ninjas for Wood Release implantations."
"..."
Hyuga Kazushi, after reading today's [i]Konoha Daily[/i], instantly understood the cause and effect.
No, it should be said that he understood everything Haruki had done.
First, he made forty members of the branch family disappear to force the main family to remove the Cage Bird jutsu, even at the cost of an elder's life. Then, he framed Tanzo Shimura with these forty ninjas and even forced him into a situation where he couldn't refuse.
Yes, he couldn't refuse now.
Because his stage had been set up.
Once he refused, he would lose the trust and support of the surrounding clan members.
Hyuga Kazushi looked at Hyuga Satsu. He didn't even realize he had been taken advantage of and was still doing Haruki's bidding.
Then he let out a soft sigh. What was he any different from?
What a good scheme!
After a brief moment of silence, Hyuga Kazushi raised his hand and exclaimed, "Although Tanzo Shimura is the assistant to the Hokage and the leader of Root, he openly violated the rules of Konoha and even conducted Experiments on our clan members. The Hyuga clan will never tolerate any form of insult! Hyuga Satsu, come with me to see the Hokage - sama! I will definitely seek justice for you!"
"Yes!" Hyuga Satsu immediately replied loudly.
A few seconds later, the Hyuga clan ninjas nearby shouted in unison.
"Justice! Justice! Justice!"
Hyuga Kazushi stared blankly at the scene. A chill ran through his heart, and suddenly a sense of suffocation and helplessness, as if facing an endless ocean, welled up within him.
What on earth is wrong with this world?
In the adoring looks of his clan members, he flew towards the Hokage Building with Hyuga Satsu.
...
At this moment, neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Tanzo Shimura in the Hokage's office was aware of the uproar outside.
"Hiiruzen, the rebellion in Konoha's maximum - security prison will be over in no more than three days."
Tanzo Shimura came to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi. He concealed the Wood Release Experiment and briefly recounted what had happened, and finally promised it would be over in three days.
"Okay, Tanzo. I'll leave this matter to you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and warned him, "Don't make such a big fuss next time."
"Today's incident was an accident."
Tanzo Shimura felt relieved. Humph, as expected of Hiruzen Sarutobi's character.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door.
"Hokage - sama, there are nearly ten thousand villagers on the street outside the building."
"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stood up and asked in shock.
Oh, no!
Nearly ten thousand people? Are they staging a revolt?
He subconsciously looked at Tanzo Shimura.
"I have no idea about this." Tanzo Shimura immediately shook his head. "Let's go out and have a look."
"I hope so."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put away his pipe, opened the door, and came to the railing. Looking out, he saw a dense mass of people.
His heart skipped a beat. What's going on?
Around him, all the Anbu had taken up positions in the Hokage Building. They were on high alert, yet their hands were slightly trembling.
The crowd before them consisted of the people they usually protected.
"Hokage - sama!"
Tomomi Koki shouted loudly, attracting Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.
"Are you... Tomomi Koki?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully recognized his appearance and immediately recalled the relevant information he had read.
Meanwhile, Tanzo Shimura beside him suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.
Could this bruised and swollen face be the doing of Takeshi?
Damn it! Didn't he know that Haruki and the Sannin were behind the New Konoha Bookstore?
Who gave him the courage to do it?!
"Hokage - sama! Please uphold justice for us!"
Tomomi Koki immediately knelt on both knees and loudly told what Takeshi had done.
Finally, he added, "All the neighbors behind me can testify for me! Please, Hokage - sama, make a fair judgment!"
Suddenly, a voice sounded in the quiet crowd.
"I testify!"
As if a chain reaction had occurred, one voice after another rose and fell.
Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously took half a step back, his face a little pale.
"Tanzo! I believe I need an explanation!"
<><><><><><><><>
~ 80+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
p-atreon.com/Tansnovel
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~ Every 50 Powerstones = 4 Bonus Chapters on the weekend!