Naruto: Limitless Sage

Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Third Hokage—stood alongside Shimura Danzō, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.

When Uchiha Sasuke suddenly stepped forward to intervene, their expressions shifted.

In that moment, it became clear to everyone: Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were working together.

And Sasuke's pointed questioning didn't just catch the elders off guard—it immediately drew the attention of the First and Second Hokage.

Especially…

When Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, turned to Hiruzen and asked his question—

The Third Hokage felt a chill crawl up his spine.

How… how was he going to explain this?

"Lord Tobirama…"

The Third hesitated, struggling to find the right words.

"The Uchiha clan was annihilated because…"

But before he could finish, Uchiha Sasuke interrupted—his voice cutting sharply through the tense atmosphere.

He spoke the truth on behalf of the Third Hokage, in front of everyone present.

"The Uchiha clan was exterminated because of your secret meddling behind the scenes!"

"You told me once that my brother, Uchiha Itachi, singlehandedly murdered our entire clan."

"I was young, naïve—and foolish enough to believe you old bastards!"

"But now I understand."

"No matter how strong my brother was…"

"It would've been impossible for him to take down the entire clan alone!"

"The only reason he could pull it off—"

"Was because he had the support of ANBU!"

Sasuke's words landed like a thunderclap.

A truth, heavy and inescapable, dropped on the room like a boulder.

The last known survivor of the Uchiha clan had just laid bare the dark secret before the entire village.

The crowd was stunned into silence.

And soon after, that shock rippled outward—to all of Konoha, and then throughout the entire shinobi world.

Could it be true?

Was the extermination of the Uchiha clan not the act of a lone shinobi, but an orchestrated massacre approved by Konoha's leadership?

"No... it can't be. The Third Hokage would never...!"

"That's right! The Hiruzen I know would never do something so monstrous!"

"Lies! That Uchiha brat is slandering Lord Hokage!"

"I knew it—there's no such thing as a good Uchiha!"

The villagers were shaken.

They couldn't accept it—not after decades of believing in the benevolence of the Third Hokage and his advisors.

To them, Hiruzen had always been a kind leader who loved the village above all else.

The idea that he and the others could have ordered a massacre…

It was unthinkable.

But that was the power of indoctrination.

The people of Konoha had been conditioned by the Third Hokage's propaganda for years.

Even Iruka and many of the Leaf shinobi couldn't believe it.

What reason could there possibly be for the Hokage to order the extermination of the Uchiha clan?

It didn't make sense—on the surface.

Shikamaru, Ino, and the other young shinobi were stunned.

They had never imagined that the fall of the Uchiha clan was the result of a secret conspiracy, not a tragic family tragedy.

That the Third Hokage himself had played a role behind the scenes…

From the sidelines, Orochimaru watched with an amused smirk.

Even he—who had seen much of Konoha's darkness—had underestimated the depths of his old teacher's ruthlessness.

For Sarutobi Hiruzen to approve something like this?

It was beyond even his expectations.

He had always suspected something was off about the Uchiha massacre.

A clan that powerful being wiped out within their own village?

There had to be hidden reasons—reasons that were only now coming to light.

At that moment, the clan leaders of the Hyūga, Nara, and Yamanaka clans—pillars of Konohagakure—watched the proceedings in silence.

As the truth surfaced…

That the Uchiha extermination had been sanctioned by the village's top leadership…

Their expressions grew increasingly grim.

Shock mingled with a reluctant sense of understanding.

Because when they thought back to how things were…

After the Nine-Tails' Attack, the atmosphere in the village had changed.

The Uchiha clan, already mistrusted, were marginalized and monitored.

Over time, tensions escalated.

Through their own intelligence networks, the other clan leaders had heard whispers—hints that the Uchiha were planning something.

That they were growing discontent… that a coup was on the horizon.

And from that perspective—

An "elimination order" from the leadership, including the Third Hokage, suddenly felt… plausible.

Terrifyingly so.

But still…

They were all clans of Konoha.

Hinata, along with the Nara and Yamanaka clan members, couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow for what had happened to the Uchiha.

After all, the once-mighty Uchiha Clan—one of the strongest in the village—had been wiped out…

Not by enemies or during war, but by orders from Konoha's own leadership.

And a chilling question echoed silently in their hearts:

What if it were us?

What if their clan was next?

They thought about it carefully.

Aside from the Hyūga Clan, which might have enough power to rival the Uchiha…

Clans like the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi knew they wouldn't stand a chance if the same fate befell them.

If the Uchiha could be purged so cleanly—what hope did any of them have?

Meanwhile, the ripple effect of Sasuke's revelations spread beyond Konoha.

The shinobi of Sunagakure, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, the Daimyō of the Wind Country, and even lords from smaller nations…

None of them had anticipated this.

To witness such explosive truth revealed so brazenly—

It was astonishing.

And in the middle of it all stood Sasuke Uchiha, casting his accusations directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen and the village elders.

The First and Second Hokage, summoned back into this world, watched with heavy expressions.

Even they hadn't imagined…

That the methods Hiruzen and the council employed could be so cold and merciless.

"Sarutobi… Sarutobi…"

Senju Tobirama shook his head slowly, voice tinged with bitter disappointment.

He began to wonder:

Had he made a mistake entrusting the Hokage title to Hiruzen?

Even Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, was taken aback.

To return to the world of the living, only to learn that the clan of his closest friend, Madara Uchiha, had been wiped out…

And not by some enemy force, but under the command of Sarutobi's generation?

He was at a loss for words.

Beside them stood Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

Faced with the scrutiny of the crowd…

Faced with the silent condemnation in the eyes of the First and Second Hokage…

For once,

They had nothing to say.

Their silence spoke louder than any defense.

And seeing that, Naruto Uzumaki wasted no time.

He glanced toward Kakashi, giving him a silent signal—

It was time to move on to the next step.

Then, Kakashi Hatake scanned the room, his gaze landing on everyone present. He wasted no time and got straight to the point.

"Now," he began, his voice clear and commanding, "the impeachment matter has entered the formal voting stage. All the Jonin of Konoha Village are invited to cast their votes."

"As per the rules of impeachment…"

He paused, making sure everyone was listening.

"The decision will be based on the votes. As long as the impeaching party—in this case, Uzumaki Naruto's side—receives more votes than the impeached party, the impeachment will succeed."

"Now, please proceed with the voting."

Kakashi spoke firmly, using the towering walls surrounding the examination area as a makeshift voting board.

He pulled out a shuriken, using it to carve a long line across the wall, dividing it into two sections: one for Naruto's side and the other for the Third Hokage.

Each Jonin would now come up and mark their vote, writing their name on the wall to show which side they supported.

As Kakashi finished drawing the lines, he was the first to step forward.

He wrote his name under Naruto's side—the first vote in favor of the young Uzumaki.

It was official: the voting had begun.

The room was tense, and every pair of eyes focused on the wall as the names slowly began to fill in.

Sasuke and Sakura, standing close by, knew this moment was pivotal. The outcome of the vote would determine everything.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, who had seen the village change over the years, knew this was the beginning of a new chapter for Konoha.

Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi, all of whom had waited for this opportunity, knew this moment would shape the future.

The clan leaders—the Hyūga, Nara, and Yamanaka—stood ready to make their choices.

And, of course, the First and Second Hokage, along with the Daimyōs of the Land of Fire and Wind, were also watching closely.

Everyone understood that the number of Jonin supporting the Third Hokage would decide his fate today.

As Kakashi wrote his name, the Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu anxiously awaited the results.

The Konoha ninjas in attendance felt the weight of this vote—many of them already having chosen their side.

Iruka, an unwavering supporter of the Third Hokage, stood up with firm conviction.

He knew he couldn't cast an official vote—he was only a Chūnin—but he couldn't stay silent. He turned to face the assembly, his voice full of emotion as he addressed his comrades.

"Everyone… have you forgotten the years the Third Hokage dedicated to Konoha?"

"I believe in the Third Hokage!"

"No, he might not be perfect, but he would never fall so low as to deserve this!"

Iruka's words rang through the room.

"Have you forgotten the sacrifices he made for this village?"

"I, Konoha Chūnin Iruka, stand here to say—I fully support the Third Hokage without hesitation!"

Iruka's declaration was heartfelt, and even though he had no official vote, his words carried weight.

As he spoke, many of the Konoha ninjas around him began to reflect on their own experiences with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

They wondered whether what Naruto Uzumaki said was true, but more importantly, they thought about all the moments the Third Hokage had been there for them personally.

In that moment, many began to feel a swell of loyalty toward him.

One by one, Jonin began to step forward, writing their names under Sarutobi Hiruzen's side.

In a short time, the names on Naruto's side—just Kakashi's—seemed small in comparison to the growing list on the Third Hokage's side.

As the wall filled up with supporters of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

He had believed in the village. And today, that belief was being reaffirmed.

Even though Uzumaki Naruto's side had undeniable momentum…

There was still a key issue:

Reputation and authority within the village.

And when it came to that—

The support of the Jonin Corps was crucial.

But Naruto…

He was still too young.

Sensing an opportunity, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stepped forward to regain the advantage.

He spoke up, not only to counter Naruto's accusations, but to sway the hearts of the onlookers and Jonin still undecided.

"Naruto, I understand your anger. I know you're hurting. You feel betrayed, and now you're lashing out at the village—at us."

"But have you ever truly considered this?"

"What you believe is the truth… may just be your version of it. A truth distorted by your pain."

"When you look at the world through anger and resentment, you blind yourself to reality."

"And in that state… how can you claim to know the truth?"

Hiruzen's words weren't aimed solely at Naruto—they were meant for the crowd.

They painted Naruto as an impulsive, emotionally compromised child—unable to separate facts from feelings.

And for many, it worked.

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

"He's right. Naruto's just a kid… he's angry and confused."

"I knew it! The Third Hokage would never do what Naruto's accusing him of!"

"Apologize, Naruto!"

"Yeah! Apologize to the Third Hokage!"

"Apologize! Apologize!"

In a flash, public opinion had shifted.

The crowd turned on Naruto, their loyalty to the Hokage years in the making, reinforced by his calm, grandfatherly image.

Watching the tide turn, Danzō Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane let out subtle sighs of relief.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

The prestige and authority they had built over decades in power—

Even under scrutiny, it was holding strong.

And thanks to Hiruzen's clever deflection, many of the wavering Jonin—those who had been hesitant to choose—now stepped forward.

One after another, they went to the wall.

Under "Sarutobi Hiruzen", they wrote their names.

They had cast their votes.

In contrast, on Naruto's side, only a single name remained:

Hatake Kakashi.

A lone figure standing against the tide.

But just then—

Kakashi's eye narrowed.

He looked toward the Third Hokage and let out a cold, sharp scoff.

"Really?"

"Then, Third Hokage—can you explain something for us?"

The room fell silent.

Kakashi stepped forward, his tone no longer passive but cutting, almost accusing.

"Where is the inheritance left behind by the Fourth Hokage and his wife?"

"Why was Naruto—their only son—forced to survive on expired instant noodles as a child?"

Gasps echoed through the chamber.

But Kakashi didn't stop there.

He turned slightly, nodding toward Sasuke in the crowd.

"And what about the Uchiha Clan?"

"A once-powerful family, with vast wealth and history—completely wiped out."

"So where is their inheritance?"

"Who decided what happened to it?"

"Can you explain that, Third Hokage?"

His voice echoed through the room like a blade cutting through mist.

And suddenly, the silence was suffocating.

All eyes turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen—

No longer with reverence or nostalgia.

But with questions.

And suspicion.

The Third Hokage and Danzō, who had just been basking in a moment of pride, were instantly rendered speechless.

Kakashi's question struck too close to the truth.

How were they supposed to answer that?

Were they supposed to admit that the inheritance left by the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and the Uchiha Clan's vast wealth, had mysteriously disappeared—possibly into their own pockets?

If they said that out loud, they might as well set the whole village on fire.

But…

He was the Third Hokage—a master politician and veteran manipulator.

Within seconds, he composed himself and gave a smooth, calculated reply:

"Naruto and Sasuke are both still young. I was safeguarding their inheritance for when they were ready."

"You see, Naruto… this is all just a misunderstanding born from a lack of communication."

"If only you had come to talk to me earlier, none of this would've happened."

With that, he deftly turned the accusation on its head.

Instead of answering the question, he subtly implied that Naruto and Kakashi were to blame—for not speaking with him first, for jumping to conclusions.

Naruto, standing silently, let out a low, cold chuckle.

He really is shameless…

To come up with such an excuse on the spot.

But he didn't argue.

There was no point in words now. They had already entered the voting phase.

It was time to let the results speak for themselves.

Once again, Hiruzen offered a cleverly worded, seemingly reasonable answer.

And once again, it worked.

Some of the remaining undecided Jonin, swayed by his calm demeanor and legacy of leadership, made their decision.

They stepped forward—one by one—and signed their names beneath "Sarutobi Hiruzen" on the wall.

Compared to a brash teenager with ideals, many of them still placed their faith in the seasoned Hokage who had led the village for decades.

In no time at all, the wall beneath Hiruzen's name was filled with names.

According to Kakashi's count, there were 373 Konoha Jonin present.

All of them had now voted.

And all of them had voted…

For the Third Hokage.

On Naruto's side, only one name remained.

Hatake Kakashi.

The difference in numbers was staggering.

No one had expected the gap to be this wide.

Even after all of Naruto's powerful accusations…

Even after his confrontation with Konoha's elders and exposure of the Uchiha massacre…

The overwhelming majority had still chosen Sarutobi Hiruzen.

So what if you're strong?

Without the trust of the village…

You can never become Hokage.

As the votes were counted and the results laid bare for all to see, many of the villagers and loyal shinobi began to gloat.

Iruka and others who supported the Third Hokage felt a swell of pride.

Meanwhile, mocking voices started to rise from the crowd:

"Go home, kid! You really thought you could be Hokage?"

"Yeah, go back to playing ninja! The Third Hokage is the only real leader of Konoha!"

"Hahaha! Only one person voted for him! How pathetic!"

"Seriously, he tried to impeach the Third Hokage over something like that? What a joke!"

...

TN:

Can't wait for the votes to be tallied. 😏

...

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