Konoha.
At this moment, the villagers and ninjas of Konoha stood still, eyes wide with disbelief.
Bai Ye, captain of the Guard, stood at the center of the Hokage Plaza, raising his voice for all to hear.
"The arrest of the suspect is complete."
Behind him, Uchiha Sanyo and Uchiha Cong held Sarutobi Hiruzen firmly by both arms.
The Hokage's hat had already been removed—its absence exposing the aged, solemn, but now tarnished face of the Third Hokage.
Yes.
It turns out that no one, no matter how lofty their status, could be exempt from justice—not even the Hokage.
That was the law of the new Guard.
And it was Bai Ye who had brought about this transformation—this long-overdue assertion of justice.
But what shocked the crowd even more was that Bai Ye didn't just arrest Sarutobi Hiruzen—he had announced that the former Hokage would stand trial in a public forum the following day.
A public trial, held monthly in Konoha, had always been reserved for high-profile transgressors—rarely even used. Petty crimes and simple misconduct were typically handled in private by the village administration.
But tomorrow...
Tomorrow would mark the first public trial of the year.
And the one standing at the center of the tribunal?
Not a petty thief.
Not a rogue ninja.
But the Third Hokage himself—Sarutobi Hiruzen!
The same man who had mentored the Legendary Sannin.
The same man who once carried the Will of Fire.
How ironic.
The same public platform that had been created to promote justice and trust in leadership...
...was now being used to judge the man who once embodied both.
And the one announcing his trial?
A shinobi of the Uchiha clan—long marginalized, long mistrusted.
A Guard leader who had once stood silently in the shadows.
No longer.
"Until a verdict is passed," Bai Ye declared, "Konoha's administrative operations will be overseen by Senju Tsunade."
He added, "Let it be known—one man's crimes will not disrupt the peace and structure of the village."
A wave of murmurs rose among the villagers—but there was a strange comfort in Bai Ye's words.
Tsunade.
Granddaughter of the First Hokage. Last known heir of the Senju clan.
Though the Senju were now but a shadow of their former glory, her name still held weight. With Jiraiya absent and Orochimaru a traitor, Tsunade was the only remaining Sannin who could bear the burden of leadership.
Still...
Why had Bai Ye not taken the role himself?
The people began whispering.
The Uchiha, especially, were filled with suppressed fury.
Power had finally been within their reach.
And yet, Bai Ye had handed it away—to a Senju, no less!
Once again, the Hokage's position fell to the descendants of the Senju clan.
First Hashirama.
Then Tobirama.
Now, Tsunade.
And the Uchiha? Co-founders of the village? Left with nothing but resentment and bitter pride.
Even the Guard—once Uchiha-dominated—was no longer theirs. Bai Ye had turned it into something else entirely. Something professional. Unbiased. Efficient.
But also... personal.
To many in the clan, it seemed as though the Guard was now Bai Ye's private army.
He no longer served the clan. He served justice—and only justice.
"Betrayal," some muttered. "He turned his back on the family."
Bai Ye met their hateful stares with icy disdain.
Life isn't fair—but it rewards those with strength.
He never asked for Uchiha's favor.
He never leaned on the clan.
He carved his own path, tooth and nail, relying on nothing but his own hands.
And he had offered them a chance—more than once.
The first time? At the clan meeting, when he personally showed up and urged them to reevaluate their role in the village.
But what did they do?
Scoffed at him. Challenged him. Clung to outdated rules and bloodline pride.
The second time? The chaos of New Year's Eve.
Sarutobi's staged disaster left the village vulnerable.
The Uchiha could have stepped in. Helped civilians. Restored their image.
But they stood back.
Watched.
Laughed.
Mocked the Hokage—but did nothing.
Hyuga Hiashi, of all people, saw the opportunity. He rallied his clan to help the wounded, guard civilians, and earned praise without even asking for it.
The Uchiha?
Too proud to act.
Too late to regret.
And now that Sarutobi had fallen, they crawled from the woodwork like vultures, hoping Bai Ye would toss them a piece of power.
Disgraceful.
Bai Ye didn't even hide his scorn.
Let them rebel.
He'd break them one by one.
Sarutobi Hiruzen?
He was only the beginning.
There was still much to do before this village could be clean again.
But first—tomorrow's public hearing.
The biggest show of all.
With a wave of his hand, Bai Ye ordered the Guard to move out.
Sarutobi was dragged away on a chakra-sealed motorcycle, bound tightly, watched by hundreds as he was paraded through the streets like a captured war criminal.
Today.
Everything Sarutobi had worked for—his reputation, his legacy, his illusions—was shattered.
He feared not death, but disgrace.
And Bai Ye would give him both.
The Guard Headquarters.
Tsunade and Kushina arrived swiftly, flanked by Anbu and medics.
Sarutobi's gaze flickered when he saw his former student.
She had grown.
Not just in strength—but in will.
Instead of bursting into his office to demand answers, she had joined hands with the Guard to pursue justice.
Smart.
Just like her grandfather.
A flicker of hope rose in Sarutobi's chest.
He knew Tsunade.
She was hot-tempered but sentimental. She might remember the bond they shared—the days of training with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, the moments he guided her like a father.
Maybe he could appeal to that.
A warm smile cracked across his wrinkled face.
"Tsunade... do you remember—"
CRACK!
Tsunade slapped him.
Hard.
The sound echoed through the corridor.
"Do you even dare bring that up?"
She glared at him—eyes brimming with fury and betrayal.
"You taught us about honor. About protecting the village. And all the while—you let Danzo slaughter my clan behind my back!"
Yes, Danzo pulled the strings.
But she knew. She knew Sarutobi had turned a blind eye.
"You were always good at pretending, sensei," she spat. "But I'm done pretending."
She signaled to the guards.
"Take him in."
Uchiha Satoshi and Cong didn't wait.
They shoved Sarutobi toward the interrogation room without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye brought Tsunade, Kushina, and Naruto to the lounge.
The boy looked confused—he barely understood what had happened.
But Bai Ye had a plan for him too.
He wouldn't let any other man step foot in his mansion—but Naruto needed to be nearby.
There was only one place that came to mind.
The Uchiha compound.
Sasuke had just turned four—and looked absolutely adorable in his ceremonial kimono yesterday.
Perhaps Naruto would like the company.
The Interrogation Room.
Uchiha Cong slammed his hand on the desk.
"WHO IS THIS IN THE CHAMBER? STATE YOUR NAME AND CRIME!"
Sarutobi blinked.
Was this a joke?
"You literally just arrested me—you don't know who I am?!"
Cong glared.
That was just how he was—hot-blooded and strangely disconnected.
Some said he'd taken one too many blows to the head.
Others said he was just born that way.
Either way, he was effective—and terrifyingly loyal.
"I said state your name!"
Sarutobi clenched his fists.
"You dare humiliate me?! I was Hokage!"
Cong sneered.
"Not anymore."
He barked again.
"Itachi! Get in here!"
Uchiha Itachi stepped in, stiff and pale.
He hadn't expected the trial to begin this fast.
And being called meant he had to take part.
"Captain…"
Cong tossed him a wooden practice sword.
"Slap him."
Itachi froze.
For a moment, the whole room fell into silence.
Even Sarutobi went cold.
He finally understood.
This wasn't just a trial.
This was dismantling everything he'd ever held sacred—piece by piece.
And it was just beginning.
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