Naraku looked calmly at the Third Hokage as he arrived—not the least bit surprised.
After attempting to kill him twice and failing both times, it was only natural for Hiruzen to try a different method now.
Given Naraku's status as a member of the Hyūga branch family, it wasn't difficult to guess—the Hokage would attempt to use the clan's authority to finish what he couldn't do directly.
"I made a mistake," Naraku said mockingly. "How could the Hokage himself send someone to attack me? Yesterday, I killed a bunch of useless spies just outside the village."
Hiruzen's expression stretched into a tight frown.
The anger he had barely suppressed last night threatened to erupt again. But he held it in.
It didn't matter. Let Naraku act arrogant now. Soon, once the Caged Bird Seal was activated, he wanted to see if this tone would remain.
"Hokage-sama?" Hiashi looked toward Hiruzen, confused by his sudden appearance.
Why had the Third Hokage arrived without warning?
Something was wrong. He could feel it—events were spiraling out of his control.
"What's the Hokage doing here?" Hiashi asked warily.
"The Great Elder invited me today—as a witness," Hiruzen said with layered meaning.
"A witness?" Hiashi was stunned.
Why would the Great Elder need to invite the Hokage as a witness?
"Hokage-sama sure travels in style," Naraku said coldly, tossing the elder he had been holding aside. "Bringing along a dozen ANBU just for show?"
The ANBU weren't here as witnesses—they were here as muscle.
"Kh—Kha… Haa…" The Great Elder, now collapsed on the ground, finally caught his breath. His eyes glared at Naraku with venom.
Once this was over, he swore to torment Naraku with the seal until life was worse than death.
"The Hokage was invited by me," the elder rasped bitterly.
"Today isn't only about Naraku's trial. There's another matter we elders must address!"
"We've come to strip Hyūga Hiashi of his position as clan head!"
Boom!
The entire crowd erupted in shock.
"Strip me?" Hiashi's eyes narrowed.
He had expected this assembly to focus on punishing Naraku. But now… they were turning it into a power grab?
"Removing Hiashi-sama?" Fugaku's mind went blank for a moment.
How had everything escalated so suddenly?
"The Uchiha clan head is here as well?" Hiruzen glanced at Fugaku, then noticed Shisui and Itachi standing nearby.
His expression darkened. All the people he wished weren't here were present.
"Lord Hokage," Fugaku said sternly, "is this even allowed? According to the founding laws laid by the First Hokage, the acting Hokage has no authority to interfere in the internal affairs of ninja clans."
Those were the original laws agreed upon by the major clans during the founding of Konoha—to preserve autonomy and limit Hokage influence.
Even the First Hokage hadn't dared interfere with the Caged Bird Seal of the Hyūga clan.
"I'm here only as a witness. Nothing more," Hiruzen said with a faint smile. "How could that be considered interference?"
He had his legal loophole prepared. But Fugaku's unexpected presence was a problem.
Hiashi's face paled.
He looked to the Great Elder, whose expression had become even darker. So this was their true plan—he and the Hokage had colluded to oust him!
"Why do the elders wish to remove me?" Hiashi asked coldly.
"Because as head of the clan, you've allowed Naraku to violate tradition," the elder thundered.
"Hyūga Naraku refuses to follow the Gentle Fist. He practices dangerous ninjutsu and even corrupts others into doing the same!"
"The Gentle Fist is the most sacred taijutsu style passed down through our clan. What he's doing undermines everything we stand for!"
"And you—you—have done nothing to stop him!"
Naraku chuckled, eyes full of disdain.
The same old excuse again.
To protect the main family's dominance, these fossilized elders hated anything that threatened their traditions. Especially anything that questioned the Gentle Fist.
Because if you could question the Gentle Fist, what was next?
Questioning the branch family system?
That, they would never allow.
"Hyūga Naraku! What are you laughing at?" the Great Elder snapped.
"As shinobi, we should learn anything useful. That's the right mindset," Naraku replied calmly. "The Gentle Fist isn't perfect. It's not the strongest form of combat."
"True taijutsu should be the perfect harmony of speed, strength, and technique."
"But the Gentle Fist is confined to rigid forms and narrow philosophy."
"Disgraceful!" the elder roared, hearing murmurs of agreement among the crowd.
"Hiashi, do you see it now?! He's rejecting the teachings of our ancestors!"
If this continued, more and more people would begin to question the Gentle Fist—and with it, everything the main family stood for.
"This traitor must be punished severely!"
He formed hand seals.
Boom!
One second passed.
Two seconds.
Three seconds…
"Impossible…" the elder muttered in disbelief.
Naraku wasn't writhing in pain. He wasn't even fazed.
Instead, he stepped forward slowly, a grin forming at the corner of his mouth.
"So," he said softly, "now that the Caged Bird Seal has no effect—what power do you really have left?"