NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94: The Truth III
"Not only Hatake Sakumo, but my own. clan was a victim of their schemes," Tsuna continued, her voice full of sorrow and anger.
"I am the last remaining member of the Senju clan. And as for the Uzumaki clan, once as powerful as the Senju, it was destroyed in one night by all five villages. You may not even know about them, because these four-Hiruzen, Danzo, and their allies-erased every record of their existence. There might be some remnants of the clan's history hidden in certain clan libraries, but the truth is almost lost."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. The villagers, once hopeful and eager, now seemed shaken, some fearful of what they were hearing.
"The Senju, the Uchiha, and the Uzumaki were the founding clans of Konoha," she went on. "These clans worked tirelessly to build the village you all now live in. But Hiruzen and Danzo manipulated everything to suppress any threat to their power. Anyone who stood in their way was eliminated-look at the Uchiha
massacre for proof."
The crowd was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension.
"Even those who didn't oppose them directly, but gained enough power to be a potential threat, were killed. Sakumo Hatake, a loyal shinobi, is a perfect example of that."
The villagers seemed to be absorbing the gravity of the situation. Her revelations were unraveling the very foundation of their understanding of the village's history.
"There are countless other things I can't reveal now," she said, shaking her head. "To expose everything would take at least an entire day, just to scratch the surface. But to help you understand, a book will be published soon, detailing everything these men did. The real truth about the village's history will be shared with you all."
She turned her gaze to the four traitors, who were visibly pale, their eyes darting nervously around the crowd.
"Now, I ask you," she continued, "What punishment should we give these four traitors?"
"Execute them immediately! They don't deserve to live!" several voices in the
crowd shouted, their anger boiling over.
I watched the faces of Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others, their expressions drained of color. It was clear they were beginning to realize the magnitude of the situation.
"I know your anger," she said, her voice steady. "I've already decided- these traitors will be executed. But not without suffering first. If we were to simply end their lives, it would be too easy for them. They will be tortured before their execution."
The crowd murmured in agreement, the tension now turning to a grim sense of justice.
"Also," she continued, "All of their clan members will lose their positions. They will be stripped of their power and forced to live as regular civilians. They will no longer be shinobi.
However, if a clan member is chosen as their new leader, they may hold a position, but their authority will be limited. But remember, do not take your anger out on the rest of the clan. If any of you attack them out of hatred, you will be no different from the traitors. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" the villagers responded in unison.
"Good," she said, her tone firm. "If anyone is caught attacking members of these clans, even if they are children, they will be detained. These rules must be followed."
The crowd fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. She had laid out her terms-harsh, but necessary-and now the village had to live with the consequences of what had been done in the shadows for so many years.
"Now, all of you can return to your daily routines," she said, her voice steady and authoritative. "As your Hokage, I will handle the rest." Slowly, the villagers began to disperse, the weight of the truth hanging over them, their minds still processing everything that had been revealed. The civilians filtered out, leaving only the clan leaders and their members, as well as the shinobi still present.
Her eyes swept over the gathered leaders, and she spoke again, her tone resolute. "You all know why you're still here."
"Yes, we know, Hokage-sama," they all responded in unison, their voices tinged with uncertainty.
"As you are all aware, the village is in need of major changes," she began. "First, all the elders of your clans must step down. It's time for the younger generation to take charge."
A murmur of disagreement rippled through the crowd.
"Hokage-sama, we—" several began to protest.
"No objections," she interjected, her voice firm. "This must be done within the week. You will report back to me by next week with the changes."
The Sarutobi and Shimura clan members exchanged uneasy glances as she continued. "As for the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, since both have close ties, you will combine to form one clan. Only one leader will remain as the head, and I believe Asuma will be the best choice to lead."
"Asuma, how can I lead?" Asuma spoke up, his voice filled with surprise and doubt.
"I know you have your reservations," she replied. "You distanced yourself from your father's schemes and chose to serve the daimyo, only to find their methods just as harsh. Now, I am giving you the power to change your clan and restore its honor. Under your leadership, the Sarutobi clan can rise again. But know this—if war comes, your clan will be the first to fight. You've enjoyed your privileges for far too long, and now you will bear the consequences. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Asuma and the other Sarutobi clan members shouted in unison, their voices resolute.
"From now on, you will work as normal civilians," she declared, her gaze stern. "Once ur clan changed, then you may return to your positions as shinobi."
With that, she gave a final glance to the gathered clans and shinobi, her voice ringing with finality. "That's all. Return to your roles."
As the last words of the Hokage hung in the air, the remaining clan members and shinobi slowly filed out, the weight of their new responsibilities settling upon them. Change was coming to Konoha, and no one would be spared from it.