Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Inside the Hokage Building.

Akamichi Chōza stood quietly, gazing out the window as the sirens wailed across the village. A crimson flare burst into the sky not far from the village walls.

Moments later, an Anbu agent knelt before him.

"Lord Chōza, Sarutobi Hiruzen has returned—with a battalion of Mist Shinobi. They attempted to breach the perception barrier but were intercepted.

Our estimate places the enemy strength at around a thousand. It's unclear if any hidden forces are in reserve."

Chōza nodded solemnly.

This was the moment Hyūga Naraku had prepared him for. Though there was little need for him to act on most days, Naraku had entrusted Chōza to oversee the village's affairs in his absence—anticipating just such a crisis.

Unlike the corrupted elders, Chōza, once a disciple of the Second Hokage, had long since retreated from the hunger for power. It was that very humility that earned the trust of the remaining clan heads.

"Issue an immediate alert to all villagers," Chōza ordered. "Evacuation protocols. Guide them to shelter. And summon the major clans. Tell them—we defend our home now."

Once the Anbu vanished into the corridors, Chōza reached into the drawer and retrieved a kunai.

Its hilt bore the emblem of the Uchiha: a red and white paper fan.

It was a Flying Thunder God Kunai—imbued by Uchiha Shisui before the expedition began. If trouble arose, Chōza was to channel chakra into the kunai, signaling Shisui across space itself.

He wasn't sure how many Shisui could bring back... or if they were even alive.

But he had no choice. Hyūga Naraku had foreseen this betrayal.

Chōza pressed his chakra into the kunai.

Konoha Prison

The air twisted violently. Reality warped.

Uchiha Obito stepped through space, the swirling vortex beside him spitting out a grim-faced Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Immediately alert, Hiruzen scanned his surroundings—but there was no ambush, no guards.

"No resistance?"

"Likely reassigned during the external breach," Obito said, his voice cold behind the orange mask.

They moved cell by cell, searching.

Until Hiruzen stopped dead.

There, in a dimly lit cell, lay a withered figure—slumped, pale, defeated.

Mitokado Homura.

"Homura!" Hiruzen called, smashing open the cell with a swift jutsu.

Homura stirred, eyes slowly recognizing the voice.

"H-Hiruzen...? Am I dreaming...?"

"You're not. I've come to liberate you. I have the backing of Kirigakure. With their help, I will reclaim the Hokage seat. This time, we eliminate every obstacle!"

Homura's eyes sharpened. Rage surged up like a wave crashing through his wasted body.

"You came back...? You brought war for us...?"

He stood shakily, eyes blazing with hatred.

"They'll pay. Every one of them will pay tenfold."

A raspy voice called from another cell.

"Hiruzen!"

Utatane Koharu.

Her hands clutched the bars as she peered through, wild hope lighting her face.

"You mean... we're taking back what's ours?!"

"Yes," Hiruzen growled, blasting open her door. "But first, we must rally our people. The Sarutobi, the Shimura, the Mitokado, and the Utatane clans—we rise again."

Koharu stepped out, eyes burning.

"Good. But it's not enough to reclaim our power. We must punish them. Crush them. Especially that cursed Hyūga Naraku!"

Homura spat, hatred dripping from every word.

"That monster humiliated us. We lost everything because of him!"

"He's probably already dead," Hiruzen smirked. "He stayed behind in Kumogakure after their defeat, too proud to retreat. Rumor has it the Cloud built a Chakra Cannon just for him. He may already be a pile of ash."

Koharu scoffed.

"Even if he's dead, someone must suffer in his place."

"Exactly," Homura hissed. "The Hyūga clan should burn for producing him."

Obito stepped forward, speaking for the first time in minutes.

"We don't have time. Gather your clans and seize the village. I'll take the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki as agreed."

Then, in a twist of space, he vanished.

Homura glanced sideways.

"You traded the Jinchūriki…?"

"We had nothing left," Hiruzen replied without remorse. "All that matters is restoring control. No cost is too high."

Homura and Koharu exchanged a look—and nodded.

They would burn down the village if it meant ruling over the ashes.

Sarutobi Clan Compound

"Father!" Sarutobi Asuma's voice cracked with emotion.

His father had returned.

His pride—his rage—all mixed into one volatile surge. Once a proud Anbu captain, now a shunned pariah, Asuma had lived under the scorn of the people.

He hadn't forgotten who caused that shame.

"No time for tears," Hiruzen barked. "Mobilize everyone. Tonight—we take back what belongs to us."

"Yes!" Asuma growled, fists clenched. "Let's end this!"

In a short time, the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans gathered.

They shared a hatred, a purpose—and a target.

"We're killing that damn Hyūga Naraku, right?!" someone called.

"He's likely already dead," Hiruzen said calmly. "But his clan remains. And they must be destroyed."

"If we destroy the Hyūga first," Homura added, "the other clans will fall in line."

"It must be done," Koharu agreed. "There can be no second Naraku."

Hiruzen recalled every humiliation—the air strike, the Hyūga compound confrontation, the sheer absurd might Naraku displayed in Cloud.

He remembered Naraku lifting a mountain and obliterating Kumogakure.

Never again.

"Then we march," Hiruzen commanded. "Tonight, the Hyūga fall."