Chapter 45 – Destroying Hiruzen Sarutobi
In the world of shinobi, Genjutsu is an art that invades the five senses, dragging the victim into an illusionary realm.
Among master users, it goes beyond that—they can manipulate the flow of chakra directly within the nervous system of their enemies, creating a battle style that requires both intelligence and precision beyond compare.
There are a few ways to break free from Genjutsu. One common method is to block out all five senses one by one, cutting off the illusion's connection to the body. But that technique only works on certain kinds of illusions.
When even that fails, there's a final option—disrupt the chakra flow inside your own body. A chaotic chakra stream is incompatible with Genjutsu; illusions collapse under unstable energy.
Of course, the downside is obvious: if your chakra is unstable, you can't use any Ninjutsu. It's a desperate gamble.
As the so-called "Professor of Ninjutsu," Hiruzen Sarutobi knew all of this.
He clasped his hands together and formed a seal to focus his mind, then began systematically severing each of his senses, one after another…
But nothing changed.
A weight settled in Hiruzen's chest.
He still didn't know the identity or power of the one who trapped him. And if he recklessly disrupted his chakra now, he'd be limited to Taijutsu—not ideal for a man in his seventies.
Still… did he really have a choice?
Just as he was about to act—
His body froze.
He couldn't move. Not even a thread of chakra would respond.
What... does this mean?
If even his chakra couldn't circulate, then he was already completely swallowed by the enemy's Genjutsu.
Just how terrifying was this shinobi?
How immense was the Yin Release chakra behind this illusion?
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, once hailed as the strongest Hokage in history, couldn't resist.
The Third Hokage—rendered helpless by pure illusion.
— — —
So, who possessed a Yin-based chakra strong enough to suppress him completely?
There was only one answer—Hatake Kyūjō.
He had just arrived in the Land of Fire's capital.
— — —
In chakra theory, Yin represents spiritual energy. Yang represents physical life force.
In ancient times, the eldest son of the Sage of Six Paths—Indra Ōtsutsuki—inherited Yin: the power of the mind. That power became the foundation of the Uchiha Clan, along with the Sharingan, awakened through deep spiritual strength.
Over generations, with bloodlines intermingling, Yin chakra spread beyond the Uchiha and gave rise to many clans' hidden techniques.
Meanwhile, Yang—the physical force—was inherited by the Sage's younger son, Ashura, and passed down through the Senju Clan, gifting them immense stamina, vitality, and healing.
The Uzumaki Clan, a distant branch of Ashura's lineage, inherited the same vitality and life force.
However, through generations of mixed blood and dwindling inheritances, the vitality of these clans faded.
Yin and Yang—spirit and body—are the two foundational forces of chakra.
Before the Ōtsutsuki arrived on this planet, no human knew how to train them.
The Sage of Six Paths, with Ōtsutsuki blood in his veins, inherited both in immense quantities—and thus birthed a line of descendants with overwhelming spiritual and physical potential.
And now, after traveling through multiple worlds and gathering power from across the multiverse, Hatake Kyūjō stood above even that mythic origin.
If he were to leave behind children in this world, they might just become the next reincarnations of Indra and Ashura.
— — —
Inside the dimension of illusion, Kyūjō floated down gently before landing in front of Hiruzen's frozen spiritual form.
"The Third Hokage... You understand now, don't you?" Kyūjō said calmly. "The difference in power between us. So tell me... all your plans for the future—don't they seem foolish now?"
He stepped closer, eyes sharp.
"The title of Hokage? If I truly wanted it, I could claim more than just Konoha. The entire shinobi world could fall under my control."
He hovered just above the floor as he approached Hiruzen.
"Sigh…" Hiruzen exhaled softly, closing his eyes for a moment—before opening them again, gaze steady.
"You're… not ordinary," Hiruzen admitted. "In truth… I've known that since the day you were born."
"And yes… the incident with your brother, Hatake Sakumo, that was my failure. He lost his arm on that mission because of me. But you have my word, Kyūjō… once we return to the village, I'll see to it that justice is served. The ones responsible—"
"—will be punished," Hiruzen added. "Danzo, Koharu, and Homura... Their actions were selfish and shameful. I see now… there was no 'Will of Fire' in what they did. I should have acted sooner."
Before he could finish his sentence, Kyūjō raised a hand and silenced him.
Expressionless, his voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Oh? So you didn't know what really happened on Nii-san's final mission?"
"Then answer me this…"
"What will you do to the true culprits—Shimura Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado?"
Hiruzen hesitated. He looked at Kyūjō's unreadable face, then finally replied with caution:
"I... I will punish them harshly. But Kyūjō, they once served the village with dedication. They're elderly now. Perhaps… you could show a bit of leniency—"
"Heh…"
Kyūjō chuckled bitterly.
Leniency? Dedication?
Hadn't every shinobi in Konoha risked their lives for the village?
If anyone deserved recognition, it was Sakumo. Not those three fossils clinging to power.
Over forty S-Rank missions completed.
Thousands of A, B, and C-ranked tasks.
His Nii-san held one of the highest records in shinobi history.
And now Hiruzen dared to compare him to those old relics?
Even you, Hiruzen, don't measure up.
Kyūjō no longer felt like wasting time.
With a flick of his hand, Hiruzen's spiritual body was forced into submission—unable to speak or move.
"You have one week," Kyūjō said coldly. "Return to Konoha and step down as Hokage."
"Pass the mantle to Nii-san. And as for those three... You don't need to interfere."
"Because soon, you won't be able to."
A sudden surge of mental energy burst from Kyūjō's body, slamming into Hiruzen's spirit like a hurricane. Tiny cracks spread across Hiruzen's spiritual form, his eyes dulling—
—and then fading to black.
— — —
After stabilizing his own spirit, Kyūjō gently returned Hiruzen's body to the real world.
He didn't kill him.
As corrupted and power-hungry as Hiruzen had become, his sins weren't enough to warrant death.
But a man like him—still able to use chakra—would never let go of power willingly.
So Kyūjō made the decision for him.
He used a burst of his Conqueror's Haki, targeting and shattering Hiruzen's Yin chakra, the key to producing mixed chakra.
His body was still intact, still healthy.
But without spiritual energy, he was no longer a shinobi.
A brutal method… but necessary.
Even Kyūjō's own spirit ached from the strain.
Still, when facing a man like Hiruzen Sarutobi, it was worth it.
— — —
Near midnight, Kyūjō finally returned home and fell into a deep sleep.
— — —
The next morning, around 9 AM, three elite Jōnin from the Hokage's guard detail stood outside Hiruzen's room in the capital.
They came from different clans—Sarutobi, Aburame, and Nara.
One of them leaned in, pressing his ear against the door.
"He's still breathing... but hasn't moved at all," he muttered. "What time did he go to sleep last night?"
The Nara shinobi replied, "I saw his lights go out around midnight."
The Sarutobi sighed.
"Hokage-sama must've worked too hard again. Let's just let him rest a little longer…"
— — —
But that "rest" was anything but peaceful.
Hiruzen's body ached. His limbs felt like they were pinned by boulders. Every breath was labor.
By midday, the guards began to worry.
They burst into the room—
And found the Third Hokage slumped over his desk, face pale and wrinkled with exhaustion.
"Hokage-sama!"
They called out over and over, panic rising with every unanswered shout.
But none of them dared to alert the Daimyō or spread the news. If word got out… other villages might move.
Thankfully, moments later… Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes.
He felt the chakra fading from his body and could only force a bitter smile.
"Hokage-sama, are you alright? Should we return to the village?" the Sarutobi guard asked.
Hiruzen nodded weakly, eyes closed.
Without informing the Daimyō, they quietly arranged transport and left the capital that same day.
— — —
Meanwhile, Kyūjō had just woken up.
Refreshed and alert.
After washing up and eating a quick meal, he launched himself southeast toward a quiet forest outside the village.
There, deep in the trees, stood the hidden base of Root—Shimura Danzo's shadow organization.
— — —
Without hesitation, Kyūjō shattered the massive tree guarding the entrance with a single kick and dove into the underground passage.
"Who's there?!"
A Root shinobi appeared in the darkness and hurled a kunai with deadly force.
Danzo had made it clear: if someone entered without giving the correct passcode, they were to be killed on sight—no questions asked.
But Kyūjō didn't bother answering.
He raised his hand—
And with a single strike, the enemy's body shattered.
The corridor walls were suddenly painted with blood and flesh.
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