Konoha Village.
Senju clan compound.
Hearing Chiba’s words, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression looked worse than if he had swallowed a kunai raw.
The age spots on his face trembled violently.
The Will of Fire he was so fond of preaching on ordinary days—at this moment, he couldn’t even choke out half a word of it.
Far too arrogant.
This wasn’t the tone of negotiation in the slightest.
This was a high-and-mighty interrogation!
The clan heads of the various major families around them all stood quiet as cicadas in winter.
A suffocating pressure hung heavy in the air.
These helmsmen of prestigious clans who were usually so full of pride were all struck mute right now.
Because from Chiba’s casual counterquestion, they detected a terrifying attitude.
This young man bearing the Senju name didn’t place the Konoha high command in his eyes at all!
Shikaku Nara stood at the back of the crowd.
His extraordinarily brilliant brain was spinning frantically right now.
Cold sweat slid down his sideburns, dripping into the dirt.
Shikaku Nara knew full well that the power Chiba had just displayed was enough to destroy the entire village.
But far more terrifying than that power was Chiba’s actions.
Rebuilding the Senju compound without the slightest reservation.
Even mocking the Hokage without holding back.
This wasn’t simply establishing authority—this was clearly declaring the return of a king!
Shikaku Nara cast a side glance at Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi beside him.
The bag of potato chips that Choza Akimichi never let go of had long since fallen to the ground.
Inoichi Yamanaka’s face was even paler, his eyes fixed dead on that majestic wooden structure.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always been staunch loyalists of the Hokage faction.
But now, Shikaku Nara hesitated.
The orthodox heir of the Senju clan had returned, carrying a terrifying majesty that even the First Hokage might not have possessed.
Konoha’s power structure was about to face a devastating earthquake.
Where on earth should Ino-Shika-Cho stand?
Once they chose wrong, it would mean absolute, irrecoverable ruin!
On the other side, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared dead at Chiba, desperately repressing the fear and rage inside his heart.
He couldn’t win.
Absolutely couldn’t win.
Just that several-hundred-meter-tall Wood Human earlier was enough to crush everyone present into minced meat!
He had to stabilize the situation.
As Hokage, he could never lose his authority in front of the major clans.
“Hehehe…”
“Chiba…”
“Since you are of the Senju clan’s bloodline, this was originally your home to begin with. Renovating your estate after coming home naturally doesn’t count as trespassing on a forbidden area.”
Soon enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying.
His voice was exceptionally dry, sounding like two rusty iron plates violently grinding against each other.
“What happened just now was merely a misunderstanding. The village harbors no ill intent toward you.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi backed down.
This Shinobi Hero who had ruled Konoha for decades lowered his head in front of everyone for the first time.
There was no choice.
The strength Chiba displayed far exceeded his wildest estimations.
The current Hiruzen Sarutobi had only one thought in his head: leave this place.
Leave immediately!
He needed to return to the Hokage’s Office to re-evaluate Chiba’s threat level.
Danzo, standing behind and to the side of Hiruzen Sarutobi, likewise spoke not a single word.
His sole remaining eye stared dead at the ground, not even daring to look Chiba’s way.
Malice.
Humiliation.
And deep, overwhelming greed.
The emotions inside Danzo churned like poisonous snakes.
Chiba’s Mokuton!
That was truly perfect Mokuton!
If he could capture Chiba into Root, drain his blood, and dissect his body, then he could absolutely obtain power surpassing even the First Hokage!
But Danzo was no fool.
He understood the current situation better than anyone.
Facing a monster who summoned a hundred-meter wooden giant at a moment’s notice, the Root he took such pride in wasn’t even worth a damn.
He could only endure.
Wait until Chiba revealed a flaw, then strike a fatal blow!
“Hiruzen is right. It was all a misunderstanding.”
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado chimed in repeatedly from the side.
These two high-and-mighty advisors were trembling so hard in their boots their calves were cramping.
They feared death more than anyone, and only wanted to hurry up and flee this place of trouble.
“Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, then we won’t disturb your rest. On another day, I shall formally host a welcome reception for you at the Hokage Residence.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the exit offered, preparing to turn around.
Seeing this, the clan heads of the various major families all let out a secret sigh of relief.
As long as a conflict didn’t break out, it was fine.
They also urgently needed to return to their respective clans to convene emergency meetings and discuss coping strategies.
“Did I say you could leave?”
Right at this moment, a calm yet overwhelmingly domineering voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
Everyone’s footsteps slammed to a halt.
Cold sweat broke out across Hiruzen Sarutobi’s back with a shhh.
He turned his head stiffly, meeting Chiba’s eyes, which were as unruffled as an ancient well.
“Hokage-sama may leave. The various clan heads may also leave.”
Chiba stood on the steps, looking down at this group of Konoha’s rulers.
He slowly raised his right hand, his finger bypassing Hiruzen Sarutobi to point directly at that dark old dog whose arm was wrapped in bandages.
“But he… must stay.”
Dead silence blanketed the entire area.
Everyone’s gazes instantly concentrated on Danzo Shimura.
Danzo’s sole eye snapped wide, his pupil shrinking violently.
To be publicly pointed out like a dog—such a humiliating insult instantly ignited the violent fury within Danzo’s heart.
“Impudent!”
“I am a senior elder of Konoha! I am the leader of Root!”
“You, a mere junior, dare to speak to me in such a tone?!”
“Senju Chiba, do you intend to defect from the village?!”
Danzo bellowed, taking a violent step forward.
His sole eye glared dead at Chiba, bloodshot.
The moment he opened his mouth, he slapped a massive treasonous label onto Chiba.
In this village, no one had ever dared to challenge his authority in public!
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed furiously in his heart out of anxiety.
Danzo, you fool!
Can’t you even read the situation?!
Enraging Chiba right now—do you want to drag everyone down to die with you?!
“Danzo! Shut your mouth!” Hiruzen Sarutobi barked sternly.
Immediately after, he put on a warm, kindly expression as he turned to look at Chiba.
“Chiba. Danzo’s temper is simply like this. He acts out of good intentions for the village as well. For my sake, let’s just leave today’s matter at that.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to smooth things over as usual.
However, Chiba paid no heed to Hiruzen Sarutobi at all.
His gaze was fixed firmly on Danzo’s bandage-wrapped right arm.
The ninjas of the various major clans around them all stepped back silently, forcibly clearing out an open circle.
Fugaku Uchiha stood among the crowd, looking coldly at Danzo.
He wished nothing more than for Chiba to kill this old bastard directly.
More than half of the grievances the Uchiha clan suffered over the years were thanks to Root.
Shibi Aburame pushed up his sunglasses.
The Kikaichū beneath his loose trench coat emitted an excited hum.
Tsume Inuzuka soothed her agitated ninken, her lips curling into a mocking arc.
No one cared whether Danzo lived or died.
Many even anticipated in their hearts that Chiba would thoroughly beat up this rat hiding in the gutter.
Chiba stepped down slowly from the stairs.
One step.
Another step.
With each footfall, it felt as though he were stomping directly on everyone’s hearts.
Thump.
Thump.
A heavy pressure crushed forward like something tangible.
Danzo subconsciously took half a step backward.
It was precisely this half-step that made him feel an unprecedented sense of humiliation.
He was actually afraid of a brat!
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Danzo barked, putting on a fierce front to hide his weakness.
Several Root ninjas lurking in the shadows instantly appeared in front of Danzo.
They drew their short blades one after another, aiming at Chiba as if facing a terrifying enemy.