If there was one person Sarutobi Hiruzen feared the most in his entire life, it was undoubtedly Senju Tobirama.
After all, during Tobirama's reign as the Second Hokage, his iron-fisted methods had left an indelible mark on all his disciples.
For Hiruzen, his teacher was someone he deeply respected, admired, and feared. But more than anything, it was fear.
And now, after doing so many things that went against Tobirama's teachings, after all the betrayals and compromises, he never expected that one day, the man who had been dead for over forty years would suddenly return—dragging him by the collar and slapping him senseless.
Hiruzen wanted to cry but had no tears. He could only wail internally:
I'm a sixty-something-year-old man! How can you treat me like this?!
—SLAP!
"You sent the Senju clan to die as cannon fodder, didn't you?!"
"Teacher, let me explain—"
—SLAP!
"You orchestrated the death of my clan's last male heir, Nawaki, didn't you?!"
"Teacher, I—"
—SLAP!
"You forced my granddaughter Tsunade and her teammates to leave Konoha, didn't you?!"
"Tsunade, she—"
—SLAP!
"You forced Hatake Sakumo to commit suicide, didn't you?!"
"I…!"
—SLAP!
"You plucked out the Sharingan from the corpses of the Uchiha, didn't you?!"
"No, that one I really—"
—SLAP!
…
After what felt like an eternity of relentless slaps, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was swollen beyond recognition.
Panting, he finally struggled out of Tobirama's grasp and shouted in a slurred voice:
"Enuff, teacherrr! Even tho I'm old, I'm still the Hokage! If you hit me again, I'll fight back!"
Tobirama narrowed his eyes coldly.
"You dare talk back?"
He raised his hand again—
"ENMA!"
Hiruzen roared, summoning the Monkey King, who transformed into the Adamantine Staff. Gripping his weapon, the Third Hokage lunged at Tobirama!
—Thirty minutes later…
Tobirama stood victorious.
The Adamantine Staff had been snapped in half and tossed out the window of the Hokage Tower.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen?
He lay on the floor, convulsing, blood spraying from his nose like a fountain.
Tobirama dusted off his hands and declared in a chilling tone:
"As the Second Hokage, I hereby strip Sarutobi Hiruzen of his title and sentence him to imprisonment in Konoha's detention facility. Effective immediately!"
Then, Tobirama glanced at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
"You two…"
Although they were involved in many of Hiruzen's schemes, their crimes were slightly lesser in severity.
"Get out of my sight and retire! If I see you in the Hokage office again, I'll break your legs myself!"
…
Two Hours Later
News of an unprecedented political earthquake shook Konoha to its core.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—who had been confirmed dead for over forty years—had miraculously returned!
Not only that, but he had spent time gathering irrefutable evidence of corruption among Konoha's leadership. And that very morning, in a single strike, he had purged the entire rotten system!
Sarutobi Hiruzen had been dethroned, beaten half to death, and locked away!
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had also been ousted!
Across Konoha, people flooded the streets in celebration.
"LONG LIVE LORD TOBIRAMA!"
Those who had suffered under the old regime—whether they were shinobi or civilians—rushed to the Hokage office to reveal even more hidden crimes to Tobirama.
With these additional testimonies, Homura and Koharu were also thrown into prison.
…
Konoha Detention Center
Inside a luxurious private cell, Danzo leisurely sipped tea.
Hiruzen had arranged for him to stay here. And honestly?
Aside from the fact that he couldn't leave, the accommodations were better than his own home.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Then, he heard footsteps approaching.
Turning his head, he saw two ANBU guards escorting Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The moment Danzo saw Hiruzen's bruised, swollen face, he burst into laughter.
"Well, well, look who it is! Tell me, old friend—did you finally deal with that brat, Shiro?"
But Hiruzen, still unconscious, could not respond.
The two ANBU dragged him to the smallest, filthiest cell and threw him inside.
Danzo's smile froze.
"What… what are you doing?!"
The two ANBU looked at each other.
"Hey, isn't this Danzo?"
"Yeah, looks like him."
"Should we just… throw him in the same cell?"
"…I think that's a great idea."
This bastard was living in a VIP suite while the rest of us were rotting in cells?
Absolutely not!
Before Danzo could react, the two ANBU grabbed him and tossed him into Hiruzen's tiny, damp, rat-infested cell.
—SLAM!
—CLICK! (Locking the door)
Danzo panicked.
"You fools! I am Konoha's official advisor!"
The ANBU snorted.
"Advisor? I spit on that!"
"Yeah, me too! Ptooey!"
Then they turned and left, slamming the iron door shut behind them.
Danzo rushed to Hiruzen's side and shook him awake.
"Hiruzen! Wake up! What happened?!"
Hiruzen groggily opened his bloodshot eyes.
"Danzo… he's back…"
Danzo frowned.
"Who's back?"
Hiruzen took a deep breath, then spat out a mouthful of blood. With his toothless mouth, he muttered:
"Teacher… is back."
Then he collapsed into unconsciousness again.
Danzo froze.
—Senju Tobirama… is back?!
Just as this horrifying realization dawned on him, he heard footsteps outside.
A few minutes later, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were thrown into their cell as well.
Homura looked at Danzo, his expression dark.
"Danzo… teacher is back."
Koharu nodded solemnly.
"It's true. I saw him. He was using the same jutsu he used to beat us as kids. It's really him."
Danzo's face turned pale.
For the first time in decades…
He felt fear.
But then he steadied himself.
"Don't panic! My ROOT agents will rescue us soon!"
And then…
ROOT operatives were led into the detention center—wearing shackles.
Every single ROOT member had been captured and imprisoned.
Danzo: "…"
"Don't worry! My clan will come for us!"
Shortly afterward, every single member of the Shimura clan—from the elders to the newborns—was marched into the prison.
Then came the Sarutobi clan, the Mitokado clan, and the Utatane clan.
Homura and Koharu turned to Danzo with murderous glares.
"You jinxed us, you bastard!"
And so, in the Konoha Detention Center…
The air was filled with the sound of fists landing, pained screams, and the faint scent of blood.
It was a beautiful day.