Hiruzen Sarutobi had witnessed everything Senju Haruto had done—but he didn't offer any response on the spot.
For one, the current situation wasn't suitable for an open confrontation.
And more importantly, he was still overwhelmed by the joy of regaining access to the Wood Release.
Unlike Yamato, whose abilities were the result of human experimentation, Haruto had truly inherited the First Hokage's power.
Especially the way he had unleashed Deep Forest Emergence...
His breathing was steady, his technique precise, and his awareness sharp. He handled the attack with perfect control—disabling the Hyūga clan's movements without causing them any harm.
From Hiruzen's perspective, Haruto's mastery over Wood Release was as natural and fluid as breathing.
It was hard to believe this was a newly awakened kekkei genkai.
Could it be…?
Had Haruto been secretly training with Wood Release over the past five years while hiding at the Senju compound?
But how was that even possible?
Even if Hiruzen's sensory abilities weren't as sharp as Tobirama's had been, the use of Wood Release would produce a massive chakra signature.
If not him, then surely Danzō would've noticed something.
"Danzō…"
Hiruzen furrowed his brows, a troubling thought surfacing.
Was Danzō planning to mold Haruto the same way he had molded Yamato?
Was it because Haruto had chosen to inherit the Will of Fire, just like Yamato, that you sent Root operatives to assassinate him?
Danzō… just how much have you been doing behind my back?
"We'll head back for now," Hiruzen finally said in a calm voice, making it clear this matter needed careful consideration.
After all, this wasn't some childish squabble—it was a matter of geopolitical significance.
He would return to the village and convene a meeting with the Konoha leadership before making any final decisions.
With that, Hiruzen turned without waiting for the Hyūga clan's reaction and walked toward the wrecked entry hall.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances and silently followed behind him.
"Senju," Hiruzen called just as he reached the doorway.
"Yes," Haruto replied, still hoping the situation would pressure Hiruzen into supporting him.
But to his surprise, the Hokage chose to withdraw.
Worse yet, his sign-in system hadn't triggered anything new.
Apparently, the system hadn't judged Hiashi Hyūga's survival as confirmed.
To prevent the main branch from playing any tricks behind his back, Haruto paused at the door, looked back, and warned:
"The next time I come here, I expect to see Hiashi alive."
Then, he suddenly unleashed a surge of chakra.
Boom!
A shockwave rang out—shattering the ceiling, walls, and floor in an instant.
Even the Hyūga elders were startled by the force of it.
To cause this much destruction with just a burst of chakra… what would happen if Haruto actually fought at full power?
Especially with the sheer scale of chakra flowing from his body—it was comparable to a tailed beast!
This man…
Was unfathomable.
Seeing the stunned expressions on the faces of the Hyūga clan, Haruto finally turned and disappeared from view.
But the ones bearing the brunt of that pressure had all been from the main branch.
To the branch family, Haruto wasn't frightening—in fact, many admired him.
Because of the Caged Bird Seal and the main family's superiority complex, few among the branch family ever submitted to the main house willingly.
Most obeyed simply out of fear of the deadly seal, not out of loyalty or belief.
Some even secretly wondered if they were just slaves to the main branch.
Now, Haruto's actions might have seemed like he was protecting Hiashi—but to them, it felt more like he was challenging the Hyūga clan's entire system.
And until now, even the Konoha leadership had always turned a blind eye to this injustice—never once taking their side.
Some among them had begun to think:
If Haruto one day became Hokage, maybe—just maybe—he could change the fate of the Hyūga clan.
Hiashi stood frozen in place, staring in the direction Haruto had gone.
Yes… if Haruto could one day succeed as the Fifth Hokage…
Maybe the Caged Bird Seal could finally be abolished.
Neji…
I hope that day comes soon.
Meanwhile, Haruto himself was oblivious to these thoughts.
"The Hyūga clan must hate me now," he muttered to himself. "I didn't leave them even a shred of dignity."
"But man, it felt so damn good. I wish I could do it all over again."
No wonder protagonists in web novels love to act cool.
"Haruto,"
As they left the Hyūga compound, Hiruzen suddenly called him over.
Koharu and Homura followed silently behind, eyeing Haruto like they were sizing him up.
To reach the village's main street, they needed to pass through a narrow path.
It was usually deserted.
Hiruzen lowered his voice.
"How did you know the Hyūga clan was planning to sacrifice Hiashi?"
This was a critical question.
Even if Hiashi was from the branch family, he was still a ninja.
And for shinobi, collecting and protecting intelligence were equally vital.
If Haruto had been a spy from the Hidden Cloud, Hiashi's decision could've amounted to treason.
It was a serious accusation.
But Haruto had anticipated this question.
Though he looked like a thirteen-year-old boy on the outside, he actually knew everything about Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was kind, yes—and truly loved Konoha.
But he also fiercely guarded his political reputation.
At the end of the day, Hiruzen was human.
Take his grandson, Konohamaru, for example. Ebisu had once claimed that his own training methods were the fast track to making Konohamaru Hokage.
And what about Asuma's students—Shikamaru, Chōji, Ino?
Each of them was an heir to a powerful clan.
When Naruto eventually became the Seventh Hokage, weren't those same students now among Konoha's new leadership?
Would someone as calculating as Hiruzen really leave such decisions to chance?
Haruto didn't believe that for a second.
If anything, this was how it had always been.
Becoming Hokage wasn't just about strength—it was also about politics.
And during his tenure, Hiruzen had kept Koharu, Homura, and even Danzō in check with ease—claiming the glory while they took the blame.
Could a man like that have no tricks up his sleeve?
Was it just kindness and talk of the Will of Fire that held the village together?
What a joke.
"It was just a hunch," Haruto said after a deep breath. "But when I saw the expression on the Hyūga elder's face, I knew I was right."
"A hunch?" Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"