UTBW: Ch. 59

What should I do?

Hiruzen's mind was racing. He also noticed that Guy's gaze was filled with anger and disappointment. This made him even more anxious.

Should he protect Danzō? If he forced it, his position as Hokage would definitely become unstable.

But if he didn't protect him?

Impossible!

Almost instantly, Hiruzen rejected that thought. Danzō was his right-hand man, an essential pillar of support for maintaining his rule. If he lost Danzō, even if he remained Hokage, he would become nothing more than a figurehead.

So Danzō absolutely had to be protected!

There's only one plan left. Hiruzen sighed deeply in his heart. Although it will allow me to maintain my influence, I'll lose the moral high ground.

But after making up his mind, his gaze turned firm.

"If you make a mistake, you must accept your punishment," Junichi said, finally speaking after watching the spectacle for a while.

He looked at Danzō mockingly. "Did you really think that some actions come without consequences?"

As an elder, he had rarely faced any consequences before. But seeing the fierce and hostile stares from the elite ninja clans, Danzō couldn't help but swallow nervously.

"In my opinion, he should surrender voluntarily and let everyone decide his fate. It would also spare the Hokage from embarrassment."

Surrender? Absolutely not!

Danzō gritted his teeth secretly and forced himself to respond, "Everything I did researching the bloodline limits was for the sake of Konoha!"

As soon as he said that, the fury in the eyes of both the ninja clans and the civilians grew even stronger. The Uchiha were especially enraged, nearly ready to draw their blades and cut this old bastard down. Even Fugaku looked astonished, not understanding how Danzō could say something so shameless.

Even Koharu and Homura couldn't help but glance at Danzō sideways.

"Oh," Junichi simply smiled, nodding slightly. "So you admit that you secretly abducted members of the village's ninja clans, conducted forbidden experiments, and tried to seize their bloodline limit?"

Danzō's face twitched as he realized he had fallen into a verbal trap. He glared furiously at Junichi.

"According to village regulations, secretly murdering comrades, conducting forbidden experiments, and attempting to seize the bloodlines of the ninja clans, how should he be punished?" Junichi asked casually, ignoring Danzō.

At that moment, everyone's eyes fell on Hiruzen. Danzō also turned to his old friend, his eyes full of pleading.

"Root is under the jurisdiction of the ANBU. If Danzō made mistakes, as Hokage, I am ultimately responsible," Hiruzen said calmly.

As soon as these words fell, many people raised their eyebrows in surprise.

"?!" The Uchiha clan members widened their eyes in shock, looking stunned. Fugaku couldn't help but glance at Junichi.

"What do you mean by that?" Junichi asked.

"I'm getting old," Hiruzen said with a slight smile, his gaze sweeping over the gathered elite ninja and civilian upper ranks. "The position of Hokage has become too much for me. So, I plan to step down. Just now, I've already sent word to Tsunade and Jiraiya, asking them to return... The Fifth Hokage will be chosen between the two."

Hearing this, the assembled jonin showed looks of shock. The Third Hokage, who had tightly clung to power, was actually willing to let go? Since he had returned to the Hokage seat, eight years had passed, and in that time, he had firmly held onto authority.

Now, he was stepping down so decisively.

After the shock faded, the jonin quickly became excited.

Hiruzen's resignation meant a major reshuffling of the upper ranks and core positions.

They had been suppressed for so many years, now, they could finally rise!

"Hokage-sama, are you serious?" a jonin couldn't help but ask.

"Of course," Hiruzen smiled and nodded, replying, "This is a decision I've made after much deliberation."

He paused for a moment, glanced at Danzō, and added, "As for him, he will be left to the Fifth Hokage to deal with."

As his words fell, a barely concealed look of joy appeared on Danzō's face. And the surrounding jonin also started to lose their anger, their eyes flickering with calculation.

They were certainly furious that their clan members had been kidnapped by Danzō and their bloodline limits researched, but if proper compensation was offered, it wasn't something that couldn't be negotiated.

After all, the only true principle in this world was interests or profits.

Besides, for them, whether Tsunade or Jiraiya became the Fifth Hokage, both were acceptable outcomes.

"..."

Only a few among the Uchiha still kept cold, stiff faces, as if enduring something deep inside.

Fugaku wore a blank expression, silently staring deeply at Hiruzen.

"What do you think of this decision?" Hiruzen smiled amiably at Junichi, his gaze calm and confident.

The tide of the situation had shifted again. By voluntarily stepping down, he had once more regained the jonin's support. This was his last resort, a move to pull the rug out from under their feet.

If he hadn't been pushed so hard, he wouldn't have used it now.

I hadn't noticed before… how did such a monster emerge from the this clan? He stared at Junichi and marveled inwardly, Not only is he powerful, but he's also skilled in strategy and scheming... just like Tobirama-sensei.

While he was deep in thought, everyone's attention shifted from Hiruzen to Junichi. Everyone was waiting to hear the new Uchiha clan leader's stance.

"To casually say you're stepping down, that's too insincere," a faint smile flickered through Junichi's eyes, but his face turned cold.

Hiruzen smiled calmly and asked, "What do you find unacceptable?"

Junichi shook his head, "Everyone knows that neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade have any interest in becoming Hokage. Even as their teacher, you might not be able to call them back, right? And even if they return, it's uncertain whether they would actually accept the position. If, by then, both Jiraiya and Tsunade refuse the Fifth Hokage role, won't you continue running things behind the scenes?"

As he spoke, his gaze sharpened like blades, slashing straight toward Hiruzen, who immediately shifted his eyes away, avoiding direct eye contact with the Sharingan.

Even so, he still felt a stinging pain in his eyes, as if Junichi's gaze had pierced into them.

How strange.

Although surprised, he didn't dwell on it. He slowly smiled and said, "Oh, that's what you're worried about. No problem. I'll give you a guarantee right now."

He smiled, then raised his hand and removed the Hokage's hat from his head. Under everyone's stunned gaze, he solemnly handed the Hokage hat to Genma among the crowd and said seriously, "From this moment on, I am no longer Hokage!"

For a moment, all the jonin stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

They could hardly believe it, the Third Hokage had so decisively given up his position on the spot.

"Hiruzen!" Koharu cried out in shock, staring at him with disbelief.

"Have you really thought this through?" Homura asked urgently.

Even Danzō was stunned, never expecting that his old friend would go so far, sacrificing so much just to protect him. For a moment, a rare trace of guilt and shame rose in his heart.