NARUTO: SECOND GOD OF SHINOBI

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Hiruzen soon continued, "Now then, there is the next issue. I have decided to build roads all over the Fire Nation.

The roads will be created by Konoha ninja, and as such, the Leaf Village will collect road tax from the merchants and people who use them.

Along with that, we will also provide safety on the routes to Konoha. This is a major project, and ninja can participate in it.

Based on the amount of road completed, they will be given salaries accordingly."

Kagami Uchiha spoke up, "But Hiruzen, wouldn't this increase the influx of enemy ninja infiltrating the village undercover?"

Hiruzen nodded and replied, "Well, it will, but it will boost Konoha's reputation and economy.

We also have the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Yamanaka clans for these kinds of interrogation tasks with visiting individuals."

Everyone nodded in agreement with the Konoha Police Force's capability.

Over the past months of war, they had successfully handled many criminals and spies across Konoha.

Hiruzen continued, "The next thing I want to talk about is the Hyuga clan." At this, everyone's eyes shifted toward the Hyuga ninja.

Hiruzen addressed them, "Hyuga leader and elders, you and your clan have supported the Kiri front flawlessly, along with the Hatake clan and Sakumo.

However, I want to say one thing: this village is a free village, and as such, I will not tolerate free men being reduced to mere slaves, which ultimately reduces Konoha's strength.

Therefore, I advise you to remove the Caged Bird Seal from your clan branch family."

As he spoke, murmurs erupted among those present. One of the jonin whispered, "Isn't it said that the Caged Bird Seal is for protecting the Hyuga kekkei genkai from theft?"

Another senior jonin replied, "Sssh, you don't know the truth. That's just what they say publicly. The real purpose is to control the branch family under the main family.

Even the byakugan of the branch family has been suppressed to only provide a 359-degree vision instead of 360."

The first jonin reacted with shock, "Is that true? How vicious—to limit their own ninja's prowess and reduce them to slaves.

I now understand why the Hyuga will always be beneath the Uchiha in terms of kekkei genkai if this continues."

The other jonin warned, "Shhh, keep quiet."

However, the jonin's last words were overheard by everyone, and they all nodded in understanding.

Seeing their clan being praised, the Uchiha swelled with pride. One of their jonin scoffed in disdain at the Hyuga and said, "Hmph! When did we ever take the Hyuga clan seriously as our equals?

We've always known they were beneath us, and now even more so. At least we're not vicious enough to reduce our own clan members to mere slaves."

The Uchiha jonin's loud words echoed across the room, and Setsuna Uchiha, the clan leader, smiled and nodded. Other Uchiha jonin smirked and chuckled in agreement.

Meanwhile, Hiashi Hyuga, the Hyuga leader, was first bewildered and then turned green with anger upon hearing the taunts against his clan.

His anger, as well as that of the other Hyuga elders, flared even more when the Uchiha jonin's venomous words reached their ears.

A Hyuga elder stood up and angrily spoke, "Forgive me, Hokage-sama, but this is our clan's matter, and we do not wish to allow others to give suggestions on the internal matters of our clan."

Another Hyuga elder also stood up. Addressing Hiashi, he said, "Hiashi, you are the clan leader." He nodded for him to take the lead in the conversation.

Hiashi rose to his feet and said, "We Hyuga would like to request the Hokage not to interfere in the internal matters of our clan." He reiterated the same sentiment.

Hiruzen responded in a plain tone, "Ah, I see. So this has become a clan internal matter. Very well.

I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, with the authority of the Hokage, hereby announce that from this moment onward, the village leader will have the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the village clans if needed.

The clans will also be required to follow the village rules. Therefore, Hyuga leader, by my order as the Hokage, you are to abolish the slavery system of the Hyuga branch family from this moment forward."

As he said this, his momentum surged forward. However, the clan leaders and their members had mixed reactions to the Third Hokage's decree.

At this moment, they all thought that the Hokage would gain too much power if he could interfere in a clan's internal affairs. 

Hiashi Hyuga voiced his thoughts, "Forgive me, Hokage-sama, but this is not acceptable. Even the First Hokage and the Second Hokage did not interfere in clan internal affairs.

We cannot accept this, or the villagers and clans will lose their voice entirely."

As he spoke, the atmosphere grew solemn. Other clan leaders also seemed uneasy, as the Hokage's decision to interfere in internal matters was giving the office too much authority.

But at this moment, a Sarutobi clan ninja voiced their support to Hiruzen:

"We will obey Hokage-sama's order, and even if the next Hokage arrives, he can also provide suggestions to the Sarutobi clan, but only reasonable suggestions."

Hearing this, other clan leaders scoffed in their mind while maintaining calm demeanour. "Yeah, you have the Hokage as your leader; why wouldn't you?"

Soon another voice rang out as Shuzaku Nara spoke:

"The Nara clan will also support the Hokage's sama suggestion, but only reasonable ones."

Seeing the Nara clan voice their support, the Yamanaka clan also followed. Inosuke spoke:

"The Yamanaka clan will also support the Hokage's decision."

The Akimichi clan chimed in as well, with Torifu voicing his thoughts. As the Ino-Shika-Cho trio showed their support, other clans soon followed suit.

The Hatake clan, newly formed Gekko clan, Uzuki clan, Kurama clan, Inuzuka clan, Aburame clan, Lee clan, Onikuma clan, Izuno clan, and Uzumaki Kazuki with the Uzumaki clan all expressed their support.

Seeing this, the civilian ninja remained silent. However, the remaining clans, such as the Senju and Uchiha, didn't speak up as they were not ready to do so due to their high prestige and pride.

Hiruzen, observing this, nodded at the Inuzuka clan, Aburame clan, Lee clan, Onikuma clan, and Izuno clan, as he hadn't done much for these clans.

Yet they still supported him, and being a man who repaid gratitude, he would not forget such gestures. He even considered strengthening these smaller families after seeing their loyalty.

As for the Fūma clan, they were relatives of the Uchiha clan, so they couldn't betray them. The Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans also didn't voice support, as they were already against Hiruzen.

Seeing this, Hiruzen nodded and reflected:

'Even during the time of Hokage succession, the Senju head, due to the Second Hokage being his uncle, respected his choice, but Senju ninja were reluctant.

They didn't voice opposition then, but now that their clan numbers have reached 1,000, plus it seems they have gained enough confidence to resist openly.

Even the Uchiha, who I understand have received far fewer benefits compared to the Senju, are reluctant. But the Senju, now having power at their command, seem to have become more arrogant.

I understand now, Sarutobi Hiruzen, why you took such actions against the Senju and the Uchiha. It seems they view ninjas outside these two clans as beneath them. Someone being royalty.

Here I was, considering whether to grant them more power or the ability to enhance mental energy and wood release, but this behavior...'

After a moment of contemplation, the arrogant Senju leader also voiced support, albeit reluctantly, along with the Uchiha.

This left only the Hyūga clan, who remained silent as they observed the situation unfold while the other clans showed their support for the Hokage.

Hiruzen, seeing the Senju and Uchiha, glanced at them for a moment before he straightened his gaze.

He placed his back against the chair and supported his chin with right hand while placed his right leg over left. 

His aura began to surged. Chakra flowed out of him materializing in the real world, and pressure reminiscent of the First Hokage's aura erupted, though this one bore a red hue.

"It seems Hokage's authority is too low compared to Familie's standing in Konoha." hiruzen said in a icy tone.

As he tapped his left hand index finger on the table before him lightly, it disintegrated into dust. Then, increasing his aura tenfold, the chairs in the hall cracked and burst apart.

All the present ninja were jonin-level, yet they struggled to maintain their posture. Soon, lower-level jonin began to kneel under the immense pressure.

The pressure didn't stop there and increased tenfold again. Even elite jonin and kage-level ninja buckled and were brought to their knees.

The Uchiha and Senju, trying to preserve their pride, couldn't withstand it and knelt as well along with their leader Setsuna and Hanaku.

Only Mito Uzumaki and Kagami Uchiha were struggling to hold on. They glanced at Hiruzen, who remained seated with his right leg crossed over his left and his chin resting on his right hand.

His eyes, with no pupils visible and glowing blue entirely, stared straight ahead, paying them no mind.

The pressure increased yet again, and Kagami Uchiha finally couldn't bear and knelt.

Mito Uzumaki, still struggling, kept her composure for a moment longer before her knees hit the ground with a thud.

Not even three seconds had passed, yet the hall fell silent. The air distorted under the density of Hiruzen's chakra.

All the jonin were on all fours, struggling even to lift their heads. No one could speak a word as though their throats were being clutched.

Mito Uzumaki attempted to release Kurama's chakra to resist but could only manage a slight defense as Hiruzen Yin-Yang chakra's sealing properties, sealed her chakra negating it entirely.

Inside, Kurama watched in terror and spoke to Mito:

"Who is he, Mito? This person... He isn't a ninja anymore. He.... has transcended, his life level comparable to Sage of Six paths, He has become a God."

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