Only I can make Konoha Village great again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi believed that the anger of the villagers and ninja of Konoha was directed at Hyuga for being forced to compromise with Kumogakure.

At most, when dissatisfaction with Danzo's despicable actions was added, things had already taken an unpredictable turn.

Hyuga ignored the ban and activated his Byakugan in Konoha, thus obtaining irrefutable evidence that Root was spreading rumors.

This not only provided evidence against Danzo, putting the Third Hokage in an awkward position, but also caused an unprecedented crisis of trust for the entire Hokage group.

"You're saying that Root is spreading rumors about the Hyuga clan today, so are the rumors about Hatake Sakumo-sama six years ago also related to them?"

"?"

"!!"

Rumors are common in Konoha Village, but criticizing rumors is a taboo topic.

Because a ninja was once driven to suicide by rumors, but the matter was ultimately left unresolved.

Hatake Sakumo was no ordinary Konoha ninja; he carried the Hokage's half-sleeve and was officially appointed by the Hokage as the leader of the Jonin team.

He was closer to the Hokage position than anyone else, and was once considered the rightful successor to the Hokage by the Konoha ninjas, even more so than Orochimaru.

No one, including Yamanaka Hatsukyu, expected that when the Hyuga clan seized upon irrefutable evidence of Root spreading rumors, the first thing the Konoha ninja thought of was the suicide of Hatake Sakumo.

This is actually quite reasonable, considering that only six years have passed.

Many ninjas who personally witnessed Sakumo Hatake and obeyed his orders are still alive and well!

But to be honest, there aren't many elderly people left who are still alive.

Therefore, the Sakumo Hatake incident was unable to stir up a storm on its own; it could only serve as a catalyst for escalating emotions.

In any case, it's much better than just popping up once in twelve years.

In the plaza, Hiashi Hyuga also heard the news and casually brought up the topic of Sakumo Hatake, which aroused strong resonance among the Konoha ninjas.

His speeches attracted more and more villagers, and almost all the Konoha ninjas gathered in the square to support the Hyuga clan.

The Uchiha clan was the most audacious and the most naive; they actually publicly demanded that the Hokage come out and give an explanation, formally demanded that Shimura Danzo of Root be punished, and demanded that the Konoha leadership issue a public apology.

But no matter how much the Konoha ninjas made a fuss, the Third Hokage and his companions refused to show up.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used the same strategy he employed to deal with Sakumo Hatake's suicide: feigning death and not responding, letting time wear down the ninjas' emotions, allowing the matter to escalate and eventually fade away.

Just then, a small snake appeared at Hiashi Hyuga's feet, and the intense chakra fluctuations attracted the attention of all the Hyuga ninjas.

Before everyone's eyes, the small snake opened its mouth and spat out an even larger snake, and then the large snake spat out a scroll that emitted a special chakra fluctuation.

Many ninjas recognized him immediately.

"It's Lord Orochimaru's chakra!"

"No doubt about it, that sinister feeling...that's Lord Orochimaru!"

"Orochimaru-sama has sent a message!"

"Hyuga clan leader, take a look! What message did Orochimaru-sama send you?"

Hiashi Hyuga picked up the scroll, opened it, glanced at it, and stood there dumbfounded.

His stunned expression drove the Konoha ninjas in the square to their wits' end.

"Hyuga clan leader! Don't just stand there, is that a letter from Lord Orochimaru?"

"What exactly did Lord Orochimaru say?"

Hiashi Hyuga slowly raised his head and said incredulously, "Lord Orochimaru... he wrote me a letter from the Land of Lightning."

These words exploded like a thunderclap in the square.

Instantly, all the chatter ceased, and the villagers and ninjas of Konoha stood frozen in place, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

who am I?

where am I?

What did I hear?

Lord Orochimaru defeated the Cloud Village army in Sakurahara and forced the Cloud Village to send someone to sue for peace. How come he suddenly appeared in the Land of Lightning?

After a while, people seemed to suddenly wake up and shouted out all sorts of things.

"What? What did you say?"

"Lord Orochimaru has breached the Hidden Cloud Village?"

"Impossible, right? Although the Cloud Village army was defeated, it only failed in the offensive battle. The Cloud Village ninjas are still numerous and their strength remains formidable..."

"So what? That's Lord Orochimaru! He never lies to the ninjas of Konoha!"

"But in any case, there's no reason for Orochimaru to go to the Land of Lightning alone. That would be too irrational and unbelievable."

"Yes, it's unbelievable! How could that monster, the Fourth Raikage, just watch Orochimaru-sama run off to the Land of Lightning? Doesn't he fear his own country being turned upside down?"

Hiashi Hyuga shouted loudly, "You're all wrong! Lord Orochimaru isn't alone. He led four thousand Konoha ninja, fighting his way from Sakurahara all the way to the Land of Lightning!"

Is this true?

"Lord Hiashi Hyuga, you're not lying to us, are you?"

The Konoha ninjas shouted wildly, though they themselves didn't know what they were shouting, nor did they care; they were simply venting their excitement.

Hiashi Hyuga raised the scroll in his hand and said confidently, "It's real!"

"This is a letter written by Orochimaru himself. He said he heard that the Cloud Village ninja attacked the Hyuga clan's territory and caused a huge commotion in Konoha."

"The master said that he is the frontline commander of Konoha Village and cannot abandon his duty to return to Konoha Village to teach the Cloud Village ninja a lesson."

"Therefore, Lord Orochimaru ordered Yamanaka Hatsukyu to lead his troops to break through the Cloud Village army's blockade, sweeping through the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Clouds, and marching all the way into the Land of Lightning."

"So far, the Konoha army has fought three consecutive battles against the Kumogakure army, winning all three. They are not far from Kumogakure!"

"Lord Orochimaru said he would destroy Kumogakure and force the Fourth Raikage to bow his head and obediently sign a surrender treaty, submitting to Konoha!"

"As long as we completely defeat Kumogakure, even if the Kumogakure ninja of Konoha die, it will not affect the arrival of peace."

After Hiashi Hyuga finished speaking, the plaza fell silent once again.

Everyone's face was filled with shock, excitement, and unbelievable joy.

The tyrannical and domineering Hidden Cloud Village, which directly provoked the Hidden Leaf Village in two consecutive wars, and which the Third Hokage was willing to sacrifice the Hyuga clan to appease, is about to be defeated by Lord Orochimaru!

This is absolutely fantastic news! The shame of Konoha Village will soon be gone!

"That's great! That felt so satisfying!"

"Lord Orochimaru is amazing! He's almost reached Kumogakure!"

"Aren't the Cloud Village ninjas supposed to be arrogant? They came here to sue for peace, yet they still dare to cause so much trouble. Let's see how arrogant they are after Orochimaru-sama burns down their village!"

"Third Hokage, can you see this?"

"The Hidden Cloud Village, which you forced the Hyuga clan to sacrifice themselves, is about to be defeated by Lord Orochimaru!"

"Long live Lord Orochimaru!"

"Hokage! Orochimaru-sama becomes Hokage!"

"The Fifth Hokage, Lord Orochimaru!"