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The Third Hokage looked steadily at Uchiha Haru but said nothing at first.
Then his gaze shifted to the group of Uchiha clan members standing behind Haru. "What about all of you?" he asked.
"Are you also going to follow Uchiha Haru and leave?"
"For those who wish to stay, come to my side. I promise forgiveness, safety, and proper treatment."
"What I do not want is for any of you to become enemies of Konoha and of me."
"You have a choice—don't be stubborn."
Though his voice was calm, the words were laced with an unmistakable murderous intent.
A chill ran through the hearts of the Uchiha clan members.
The Third Hokage and Danzo were both exceptional shinobi of the older generation, their strength nearly unfathomable.
Orochimaru and the others also recognized the Third Hokage.
He was one of the legendary "Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha" in their time.
Years ago, his power rivaled even that of his own teacher, the Second Hokage.
Now, after decades of honing his skills, his strength was immeasurable.
And then there was the masked man.
None had ever seen him before, but his presence radiated formidable power.
If he was allied with Danzo, the man standing beside Orochimaru could not be underestimated.
In other words, the opposing side wielded four super-strong warriors.
Could Uchiha Haru truly hold out against them?
Though—the core loyalists—had witnessed Haru's extraordinary abilities firsthand, doubt lingered in their hearts when facing such overwhelming foes.
After all, the enemy before them was terrifyingly strong.
Tonight was indeed perilous enough to be called the night of the Uchiha clan's extermination.
Yet that did not mean they should surrender and submit to the Third Hokage's terms.
If this had been before, they might have been fooled by the Third Hokage's benign appearance.
But now that Haru had exposed the Third Hokage's true nature, how could they be deceived again?
Since the worst outcome was death regardless of choice, why not take a gamble?
This resolve slowly solidified in the minds of the Uchiha.
"We will never submit! Stop dreaming!"
"He planned to exterminate the Uchiha clan from the start, and now he claims to protect us? Don't believe his lies!"
The Uchiha spoke with fierce conviction.
Throughout this exchange, Haru remained silent, watching carefully.
He refused to interfere with their decision.
If they couldn't see through such simple rhetoric, they were too foolish to save.
He had no use for fools.
If they died, they died.
Fortunately, it seemed these Uchiha made the right choice.
The Third Hokage's expression grew colder.
"It seems you truly desire to become Konoha's enemy."
"You want to leave that badly? That depends on whether you have the power to do so."
His usual kind and gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, deadly aura.
Danzo positioned himself behind the Third Hokage just then.
The masked man and Orochimaru stood with arms crossed, looking on like amused spectators.
Konoha's relationship with these men was complicated—mutually beneficial but more like uneasy enemies than friends.
On the other side, the Uchiha clan stood resolute with Haru.
They were ready to fight to the death.
"You don't need to join this battle," Haru said calmly, his voice brimming with unshakable confidence.
He planned to take on the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and Root's leader Danzo alone.
The Uchiha were about to protest, but Haru cut them off sharply.
"At this level of combat, you are more a liability than help. You'll only increase casualties."
With that, he immediately formed a Wood Release: Tree Wall, creating a barrier to isolate the clan members and keep them safe from the upcoming battle.
Then, Haru stepped forward.
"Danzo, can you recognize the ninjutsu Uchiha Haru is using?"
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, a flicker of light gleaming in them.
"Yes," Danzo replied gravely.
"It's Wood Release, the legendary Kekkei Genkai of the First Hokage!"
"I never imagined someone from the Uchiha clan would master Wood Release to such an extent!"
When the entire Uchiha settlement suddenly transformed into a dense forest, Danzo immediately recognized the technique.
He hadn't seen it firsthand before but now was certain: it was definitely Wood Release.
He had studied Wood Release for decades; no one understood it better than he did.
There was no way he could be mistaken.
The Third Hokage's expression shifted as well.
He slowly exhaled and spoke in a deep voice.
"Since ancient times, there has never been one who possesses both Wood Release and the Sharingan."
Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, had swept through the ninja world with his Wood Release, becoming known as the "God of Shinobi."
The Uchiha clan's Sharingan was no less remarkable, producing countless legendary heroes throughout history.
Yet to combine both powerhouses—this was unheard of.
Haru's dual mastery was a threat beyond measure.
The tension in the air thickened as the two sides prepared to clash under the night sky, the weight of history and fate pressing down on them all.
Especially Uchiha Madara, who rivals even Hashirama Senju!
But now, these two extraordinarily powerful bloodline limits coexist in one person, which is truly astonishing.
"So we must kill him before he becomes a threat!" Danzo's eyes flashed with ruthless killing intent, fierce and predatory like a wild beast.
"We cannot allow him to continue growing. Otherwise, he will become an unbearable thorn in Konoha's side!"
The Third Hokage said little but clearly agreed with Danzo's words.
Behind them, the masked man and Orochimaru also observed closely, their interest piqued by Uchiha Haru's use of Wood Release.
After all, this was the kekkei genkai of the God of Shinobi himself!
Haru stepped forward before the Third Hokage and Danzo.
The Third Hokage fixed him with a serious gaze. "Are you truly so stubborn?"
"It's not too late to change your mind. You have great talent—the future of Konoha depends on young shinobi like you."
"Stay, and I will not hand you over to the Sand Village, nor will I wage war against them. I will do everything to help you reach new heights."
"I am old, and soon Konoha will need promising young ninjas to shoulder its burdens. With your skills, it is not impossible for you to sit in my place one day."
His voice was deep, genuine, and persuasive.
He dangled the possibility of Haru becoming Hokage as bait, hoping to sway him.
To this, Haru could only laugh quietly.
If he were an ordinary teen, the Third Hokage's words might have deceived him.
But who was Uchiha Haru?
A time traveler with a mind far beyond his years.
He knew all the Hokage's history intimately and was well aware that it was impossible for an Uchiha clan member to become Hokage...
It wasn't just about surface words.
Not even Haru's strength alone could change the deep-seated prejudice Konoha held against the Uchiha—an ingrained hatred hard to uproot.
Even if he were as powerful as Uchiha Madara, what then?
Could he become Hokage?
If the Third Hokage wanted to deceive Haru, he would need a much more convincing lie.
Besides, Haru wasn't interested in the position. Sure, Konoha was the top ninja village, but it came with endless trouble—and Haru hated trouble.
Seeing no response, the Third Hokage's face grew colder.
"If you refuse to obey, I will kill you here and now!"
Danzo's cold voice came from behind the Third Hokage.
Two men—one radiant, one shadowed.
One represented Konoha's glory; the other, its darkest underbelly.
One was hypocritical; the other, unscrupulous.
"Kill me?" Haru chuckled, crossing his arms. "Is it just you guys?"
His words dripped with contempt.
Danzo snorted coldly.
In all his years, this was the first time someone openly looked down on him.
In a flash, Danzo vanished from sight.
He reappeared directly in front of Haru, wielding a kunai.
With brutal speed and force, he lunged, aiming to stab Haru's throat.
The cold steel gleamed with pure killing intent.
The ferocity and lightning speed of the attack were shocking—hard to imagine from a man of Danzo's age.
Orochimaru, watching intently, narrowed his eyes and murmured in disbelief, "I never expected this old man to still possess such..."
He stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening.
The Third Hokage stared with shock.
Though the masked man maintained his usual calm, his clenched fists betrayed his astonishment.
In the battlefield's center, Uchiha Haru grabbed Danzo's neck and lifted him high as if he were a mere chicken.
Without reaching a certain level of skill, no one could have even registered what just happened.
Most saw only that Danzo appeared and was immediately seized by Haru.
Only a few Kage-level shinobi clearly understood the details.
What Haru did was deceptively simple—an ordinary motion.
The key was one word: speed.
Danzo's attack and speed were already terrifying, placing him among first-class Kage-level fighters.
But against Haru, it wasn't enough.
Danzo had initiated the assault, hoping to seize the advantage.
But it was like an egg striking a rock.
Haru's face was calm, almost smiling.
Reflecting on his earlier bold words, even a thick-skinned man like Danzo felt a sting of embarrassment.
After witnessing Haru's mastery of Wood Release, Danzo knew he couldn't win in ninjutsu.
So he chose to rely on taijutsu instead.
He remembered that Kuroki Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, had fallen to Haru's taijutsu.
Yet, he still dared to try.
After all, his taijutsu was formidable.
But now, it seemed he had only humiliated himself.
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