Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe

For Konoha's two elder advisors, simply waiting to be overthrown wasn't an option, but directly opposing Akatsuki was out of the question as well. After all, Konoha's elite forces had largely been wiped out in the previous assault on Amegakure, and if the other Great Ninja Villages had failed against Akatsuki, a direct confrontation would only end in more casualties. They saw only one viable path forward: dragging all of Konoha into the conflict with them.

The damage this plan could bring to Konoha didn't faze them. Unlike the Third Hokage, who was ready to sacrifice himself for Konoha's safety, these two elder advisors prioritized their own power above the village's survival. They saw this as a last chance to negotiate a role for themselves in Konoha's future under Akatsuki's rule. To them, this wasn't an issue of integrity but a strategic move to leverage any remaining influence.

Caught up in their political games, they overlooked one critical truth: in the ninja world, raw power still reigned supreme. Political strategy could only influence matters when the power balance was somewhat even. If Hatake Sakumo had possessed the strength of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, no amount of political maneuvering could have affected his fate.

Sasuke sneered as he glanced at Tsunade and her group, disregarding them as he made his way to the Hokage's office building. Behind him followed a squad of Edo Tensei reanimated elites, their red Sharingan eyes glinting from behind their ANBU masks. Tsunade and her group exchanged troubled looks but followed at a distance.

"Sasuke." Sasuke had barely taken a few steps when he came face-to-face with a familiar figure—Sakura Haruno, who stood in his path, unable to mask her emotions.

"Move." Sasuke's tone was ice-cold. He had always known about Sakura's feelings, but it had never truly mattered to him. As one of the most admired students at the Ninja Academy, Sasuke had garnered the attention of many, especially from female classmates. Sakura was simply one of many who had fixated on him as though he were a celebrity. Just as men are drawn to beautiful women, women are drawn to handsome men, and Sasuke, with his striking looks and top academic scores, was their shining star.

Unrequited admiration rarely lasts forever. Most of Sasuke's admirers had eventually moved on, even Ino, who had redirected her affections, leaving only Sakura steadfast in her loyalty. Despite her devotion, Sasuke's feelings had never reciprocated beyond a sense of camaraderie as a teammate. Ironically, Sasuke's bond with Karin had deepened more naturally, especially after she had joined his journey of vengeance and self-discovery.

As Sakura stood frozen, visibly hurt by Sasuke's indifference, he let his Sharingan activate, and with a mere glance, she collapsed, sinking slowly to the ground.

Unlike the Rinnegan that had been forcibly awakened by the Sage of Six Paths, Sasuke's Rinnegan could freely switch back to his Mangekyo Sharingan or even deactivate, thanks to his unique lineage. Original Sasuke, who could not deactivate his Rinnegan, had resorted to covering it with his hair, a far cry from his current capability.

"Sasuke, stop!" A figure moved swiftly to Sakura's side—Ino, who caught her friend as she fell. Ino, more attuned to Konoha's situation than Sakura, knew that her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, was still a prisoner in Amegakure. With her family and other allied clans all greatly impacted by the war, she wasn't going to oppose Sasuke needlessly.

"Move." Sasuke's command to Ino was much colder than before, but she quickly complied, supporting Sakura as she retreated. Other members of Konoha's younger generation stood nearby, including Chōji and several others from their group, but not Shikamaru, Naruto, or Lee. Lee was preoccupied with caring for his hospitalized teacher, Guy, who had been severely injured during the battle with Akatsuki and saved only due to Tsunade's medical intervention.

"I would never have imagined this—Sasuke in the Hokage's robes." Kiba said, shaking his head. The Inuzuka clan had suffered great losses in the recent battle, though, fortunately, both his mother and sister had survived.

"Everyone, return home. Wait for the next orders," Neji instructed. After exchanging looks, the others dispersed, knowing that their own clans needed them now more than ever.

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office, Sasuke took his seat at the Hokage's desk, ignoring the indignant stares of those around him. Tsunade had relented, and while she observed in silence, other Konoha figures were less restrained.

"No one here will ever acknowledge you as Hokage," said Koharu Utatane defiantly, as her comrade Homura Mitokado nodded beside her.

Sasuke looked at Koharu with a faint, scornful smile. "Is that so?" he replied with a cold glint in his eye. Before she could react, a masked figure appeared at her side, blood-red Sharingan swirling as he severed her arm in a swift, ruthless motion.

"You seem to have forgotten, Koharu, that I don't need your approval. And you…" Sasuke looked down at her witheringly. "You were there when my clan was annihilated. Did you think I'd forget that?"

Koharu, shocked and in agony, turned to Tsunade. "Tsunade, will you abandon Konoha, the legacy of the First Hokage? Are you willing to let these Uchiha destroy the village?"

Her words were met with a cold rebuke as Madara and the resurrected former Hokage made their entrance. "Enough," Madara sneered. "Spare us the hypocrisy. Tobirama, your disciples have lost sight of reality."

Seeing Madara with Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen, Koharu and Homura felt a flicker of hope.

"First Hokage, Second Hokage, please!" they pleaded, desperate for any chance to resist Akatsuki.

"Don't humiliate yourselves further," Tobirama said, his expression steely. The two elders' inability to read the situation made him sigh in disappointment.

Unlike his rigid disciples, Tobirama understood the futility of further resistance. Recognizing that Konoha's defeat was inevitable, he had agreed to support Sasuke's transition to power. With the former Hokage stepping forward to endorse Sasuke, Konoha's citizens would have little reason to oppose him.

As expected, the smooth transition of power was met with minimal backlash. With the former Hokage endorsing Sasuke, the people's anxieties were eased, and the resistance quickly faded. Konoha's ninja clans, like political dynasties, wielded considerable influence, and their alignment with Akatsuki's rule only reinforced the populace's acceptance.

In secret, however, Akatsuki continued to face opposition from the remnants of Root. Led by Danzo, this faction was loyal only to him. As the de facto ruler of Konoha, Sasuke couldn't permit such a splinter group to persist. But rather than a total purge, they spared a select few while obliterating Danzo's core following.

Soon after, the faces of all but the First Hokage were removed from the Hokage Rock. Madara's face was added next to Hashirama's, a symbol of the recognition long denied to the Uchiha clan. The scapegoats for Konoha's darker deeds fell upon the Third Hokage and Danzo.

"Kneel." Out in the wild, in the secluded Uchiha burial grounds, Danzo and the two advisors were thrown before the tombstone of Fugaku Uchiha, forced to bow in submission. The Third Hokage would have suffered the same fate if not for Madara's reluctant respect for his former rival, Hashirama.

Danzo and the elders struggled in vain, as their chakra was bound. Sasuke uttered no speeches or explanations as he solemnly paid his respects to his fallen clan members, executing Danzo and the advisors in silence.

Konoha's citizens had initially shown no strong reaction to Sasuke's installation as Hokage, and this acceptance turned to approval as Akatsuki introduced new policies and technologies. For the average civilian and the lower-ranking shinobi, the changes meant an improved quality of life, more opportunities, and higher income.

With the transition secured, Daniel's focus shifted back to his own plans, confident that Konoha's reformation would proceed without issues under Sasuke's leadership. However, as he prepared to move forward, a sudden development disrupted his plans.

"Sunagakure has been attacked by an unknown enemy." Gaara's grim expression on the monitor startled Daniel. Given the current political climate, it was puzzling who would target Suna, even with their recent losses.

"It's an enemy from the sea. They don't resemble shinobi," Gaara said, sending a series of images of the assailants.

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]

[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]