Naruto stood frozen, his mind reeling as the truth crashed over him like a tidal wave. His entire life—the pain, the loneliness, the betrayals—had not been by chance. They had been orchestrated.

Mizuki, still standing a few feet away, sneered. "What's wrong, Naruto? Finally, realizing the truth? You were never meant to be anything more than a fool dancing on Konoha's strings!"

But something had changed. The moment Naruto had invoked the Edo Tensei, his chakra pulsing with desperation, the spirits of his ancestors had awakened—Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara, Izuna, Minato, Kushina, Mito, and Ashina. Each of them carried a weight that was far heavier than Naruto could comprehend, but in their eyes, he saw not just anger. He saw sorrow. He saw guilt.

Kushina moved first. She reached out, her fingers brushing Naruto's cheek as her red hair shimmered under the moonlight. "Oh, my baby…" Her voice broke. "They hurt you… they used you… And I wasn't there to stop it."

Minato clenched his fists at his sides, his usually calm eyes burning with an intensity Naruto had never seen before. "I trusted them. I trusted Hiruzen to protect you, trusted Jiraiya to guide you, and what did they do?" His voice hardened. "They stole your childhood. They used you as nothing more than a pawn, Naruto."

Naruto's throat was tight. His hands trembled. "I... I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be Hokage so people would stop looking at me like I was nothing. But they made sure I stayed weak, didn't they?" He looked down at his small hands, his knuckles white from clenching them. "They sealed my intelligence... they made sure I never questioned things…" His breath hitched. "All this time, I thought I was just stupid."

"No," Tobirama's deep voice cut through the air, sharp and unwavering. "You are not stupid, Naruto. You were shackled." His gaze flickered with the cold fury of a man who had seen war, who had spent his entire life protecting his village only to see it fall into the hands of cowards. "Hiruzen and Danzo took our dream, Hashirama's and mine, and twisted it into something monstrous. They manipulated Itachi, they destroyed the Senju, and they nearly wiped out the Uzumaki." He scoffed bitterly. "The Will of Fire? It is nothing more than an illusion to keep fools obedient."

Madara chuckled darkly. "For once, Tobirama, I agree with you." His crimson Sharingan glowed with ancient rage, his arms crossed over his chest. "But let's not forget the true depth of their sins. The Uchiha Massacre wasn't just Itachi's doing—it was crafted by Danzo's ambition and Hiruzen's spinelessness. And Jiraiya?" His smirk twisted into something vicious. "A man who claimed to be a sage, yet betrayed the very people he swore to protect."

Izuna's shoulders shook with fury. "To think Shisui and Itachi were nothing but pawns to them. They weren't given a choice—they were conditioned, controlled." His voice was filled with pain, but beneath it was an undeniable resolve. "But you, Naruto—you're different. You're awake now. They can't control you anymore."

Naruto swallowed, looking at each of them—his ancestors, his blood, his family. He had never known them before now, but somehow, it felt as though he had always carried a part of them inside him. Their pain was his pain. Their rage was his rage.

Mito stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder. "What will you do now, Naruto?" Her voice was warm, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "The truth is a heavy burden. But it is also a weapon. And right now, you hold it in your hands."

Naruto hesitated, his mind racing. The old him—the one who blindly trusted people—was breaking apart. In its place, something new was rising.

He turned back to Mizuki, who had been frozen in horror at the sight before him.

"You lied to me," Naruto said, his voice low, steady. There was no childish anger in his tone anymore—only certainty. "You wanted me to stay a fool. You wanted me to stay weak."

Mizuki sneered, masking his growing fear. "What does it matter? You're just a failure—"

CRACK.

Before Mizuki could finish, Naruto vanished in a blur of movement. A fist, glowing with raw chakra, collided with Mizuki's face, sending him flying into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch.

Naruto stared at his hand, breathing heavily. He wasn't afraid anymore.

Madara grinned, crossing his arms. "Not bad, brat. You might be worth something after all."

Kushina wiped away her tears, smiling softly. "That's my boy."

Naruto turned to them, his heart pounding. He didn't have all the answers yet. He didn't know exactly what came next. But he knew one thing for certain.

"I'm going to take back everything they stole from me." His blue eyes burned with new determination. "I'm going to make them pay."

And in the darkness of the night, surrounded by the spirits of legends, Naruto Uzumaki took his first step toward true freedom.

Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the scene with urgency, his ANBU guards flanking him. He had felt a massive surge of chakra—something unnatural, something impossible. The Forbidden Scroll had been stolen, and Mizuki's betrayal had been exposed, but none of that explained the overwhelming presence of power lingering in the air.

As he stepped into the clearing, his breath hitched.

Standing before him was Naruto, but not the same boy he had controlled for so long. This Naruto stood differently—his back was straight, his expression unreadable, his cerulean eyes no longer wide with naive trust, but cold. Calculating. And around him… ghosts of the past.

No. Not ghosts. The dead are brought back to life.

Hiruzen's eyes widened as he recognized them—Minato, Kushina, Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara, Izuna, Mito, and Ashina Uzumaki.

A chill ran down his spine.

"W-What… What is the meaning of this?" Hiruzen demanded, forcing composure into his voice. He had to regain control. "Naruto, what have you done?"

Naruto didn't answer right away. He merely stared at Hiruzen, unblinking, as if seeing him for the first time.

Then, Minato stepped forward.

"I should be asking you the same thing, Lord Third." Minato's voice was calm, but his usual warmth was gone. Instead, his piercing blue eyes bore into Hiruzen with quiet fury.

Kushina was less restrained. Her fists clenched at her sides, her red hair seeming to flicker like fire in the night. "You betrayed our son." Her voice trembled with rage. "You let him suffer. You let the village abuse him, starve him, beat him—and you did nothing."

Hiruzen took a cautious step back, his mind racing. How could they know? This wasn't possible! The Edo Tensei shouldn't have given them memories of events after their deaths.

He tried to mask his panic. "I did what I had to do for the good of the village. Naruto needed to grow strong, and hardship would—"

SMACK.

A loud, resounding slap echoed through the clearing as Kushina backhanded Hiruzen across the face.

He stumbled, his old bones barely keeping him upright. He looked up, stunned, as Kushina glared down at him with tears streaming down her face.

"You're lying," she spat. "You didn't want him strong—you wanted him weak! You sealed his intelligence, and made sure he stayed ignorant! You let Danzo plot against him—you let Jiraiya abandon him! You LET THEM USE OUR BABY LIKE A TOOL!"

Minato turned to Naruto then, his voice softer. "How much do you know, Naruto?"

Naruto exhaled slowly. "Everything."

A stunned silence followed.

Then…

Tobirama laughed.

A bitter, hollow sound.

"I should've known," Tobirama muttered, shaking his head. "Even after all these years, corruption still rots Konoha from within." He turned his sharp, crimson gaze toward Hiruzen. "Tell me, my so-called successor, did you think you could erase your sins? Did you think history would forget?"

Hiruzen gritted his teeth, but it was Hashirama who finally broke the fragile moment of silence.

"My clan," Hashirama whispered, his voice cracking. "My people… my dream… you destroyed it."

Hiruzen paled.

"You sent the Senju to their deaths," Hashirama continued, his fists shaking. "You let Danzo experiment on our children. And you—YOU LED THE UCHIHA TO SLAUGHTER!"

Madara chuckled darkly. "Imagine that," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I always thought Tobirama would be the death of my clan. Turns out, it was his so-called 'successor' who finished the job."

Tobirama clenched his jaw but didn't argue.

Hiruzen knew he was losing control. He needed to shift the narrative. He straightened, his voice regaining its authoritative tone.

"I did what was necessary," he said. "I made the hard choices to keep the village safe. The Will of Fire—"

"DO NOT SPEAK OF THE WILL OF FIRE TO ME."

The killing intent that flooded the area was suffocating.

It came not from Madara, not from Hashirama, but from Mito Uzumaki.

Her golden eyes burned as she stepped forward, her chakra flaring violently.

"The Will of Fire?" Mito hissed. "The very will that was meant to protect family? To protect our people? You let Jiraiya sabotage our Uzumaki barrier seals! You let Orochimaru sell out our hidden location! You enabled the massacre of my people!"

Hiruzen's breath hitched.

Mito's expression twisted into something mournful. "Ashina," she whispered, turning to the man standing beside her. "You died never knowing… but now you do."

Ashina Uzumaki—the last Clan Head of Uzushiogakure—had been silent until now. But his red eyes, so much like Kushina's, were locked onto Hiruzen.

"They slaughtered my people," Ashina murmured. "Because you let them find us."

His fists tightened, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"You are filth."

Naruto watched it all unfold, his heart pounding. The people he had only read about in books—the ones who had built this village with their blood and sacrifices—were shattering before his eyes.

Hiruzen's carefully crafted mask of wisdom was gone. In its place was a desperate old man, cornered like a rat.

"You are all looking at this the wrong way," Hiruzen said quickly. "Everything I did was for—"

"Enough."

Naruto spoke, and the world stilled.

Hiruzen turned to him, but Naruto wasn't looking at him anymore.

He was looking at his parents.

"…Mom. Dad." Naruto took a shaky breath. "What do I do?"

Minato exhaled slowly. "That's up to you, Naruto. But whatever you choose… we stand by you."

Kushina nodded, wiping away her tears. "You don't have to bear this alone anymore."

Naruto swallowed. He turned back to Hiruzen, his fingers curling into fists.

"For years," Naruto whispered, "I trusted you. I looked up to you." His voice grew stronger. "I called you 'Jiji.' I thought you cared about me."

His blue eyes burned.

"But you were just another one of them, weren't you?"

Hiruzen felt his heart pound in his chest.

Naruto took a step forward.

"Your time is over."

And for the first time in his life, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt true, paralyzing fear.

Danzo Shimura moved swiftly through the trees, his cane barely slowing him down. He had felt the crushing wave of killing intent from across the village.

At first, he had thought it was Kurama—perhaps Naruto had finally snapped, allowing the Nine-Tails to take over. If that were the case, he would put the boy down before he became a liability. An uncontrollable Jinchūriki was of no use to him.

But as he stepped into the clearing, his single exposed eye narrowed at the scene before him.

Hiruzen stood frozen, a rare sight. Surrounding him were ghosts—no, the dead returned to life.

Danzo's breath hitched as his gaze swept over the figures:

Minato Namikaze – the Fourth Hokage, whose glare held none of the warmth he was known for.Kushina Uzumaki – her fiery hair whipped around her as her chakra flared with raw hatred.Mito Uzumaki and Ashina Uzumaki – the legendary figures of the Uzumaki Clan, whose very presence sent a chill down his spine.Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju – the First and Second Hokage, standing side by side in judgment.Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha – their crimson Sharingan eyes glaring through him, their hands twitching as if ready to cut him down where he stood.

And in the center of it all… Naruto Uzumaki.

But it was not the weak, naive, bumbling fool of a boy Danzo had always seen as expendable. No, this Naruto stood with his back straight, his eyes sharp, and an air of something dangerous about him.

Danzo clicked his tongue in irritation. The situation had shifted.

Still, he had spent a lifetime controlling his emotions. He schooled his features into indifference and stepped forward, acting as if he had full command of the situation.

"I see we have an issue," Danzo stated, his voice calm but firm. He turned to Hiruzen, pointedly ignoring the resurrected dead. "Has the Nine-Tails gone berserk? Do I need to call for reinforcements?"

A bitter laugh came from Madara.

"Oh, you absolute fool."

Danzo's gaze snapped to the Uchiha warlord, his body tensing at the mockery in Madara's tone.

Tobirama scoffed. "So even now, you choose ignorance?"

It was then that Danzo realized something was very wrong.

The killing intent in the air—it was directed at him.

Not at Naruto. Not at the Nine-Tails.

At him.

Danzo felt a rare trickle of unease creeps up his spine.

"Danzo Shimura," Minato spoke, his voice eerily quiet, controlled. Too controlled. "Do you realize what's happening here?"

Danzo met Minato's piercing gaze and kept his face impassive. "It seems the Edo Tensei has been used. An unfortunate miscalculation, I'm sure. But this changes nothing."

He turned back to Hiruzen. "Order your ANBU to restrain them before—"

He didn't get to finish.

Because in a blur of motion, Tobirama was suddenly in front of him.

Danzo barely had time to react before he felt fingers clamp around his throat.

The world spun as he was lifted off the ground like a ragdoll.

He choked, his lone eye widening as he stared into Tobirama's crimson gaze.

"You are the reason my clan no longer exists."

Tobirama's voice was devoid of emotion, but his grip tightened.

Danzo wheezed, his hand instinctively reaching toward the bandages covering his stolen Sharingan—but a second later, his wrist was caught.

By Madara.

The Uchiha's smirk was cold. "What's the matter, Shimura? Weren't expecting ghosts to haunt you?"

Danzo struggled, but the two deadliest shinobi of the Warring States Era held him in place like a child.

For the first time in years, true fear began to settle in his bones.

He turned his gaze toward Hiruzen, expecting some kind of intervention.

But Hiruzen just stood there. Silent. Pale.

And then… Danzo realized.

Hiruzen wasn't intervening because Hiruzen was just as condemned as he was.

A slow, dawning horror crept over Danzo's face as he looked at the resurrected dead.

They knew.

They knew everything.

The Uzumaki Massacre.The Uchiha Massacre.The Senju's eradication.The experiments on children.The manipulation of Itachi and Shisui.The sealing of Naruto's intelligence.The abuse. The suffering. The betrayals.

They knew it all.

And they wanted retribution.

Danzo gritted his teeth. No. He refused to die here. He had contingencies. He had always had contingencies.

With a sharp jerk, he activated Izanagi.

Or at least… he tried to.

Nothing happened.

A sickening realization settled over him.

His stolen Sharingan wasn't responding.

His arm—his most powerful asset—felt numb.

Danzo's eyes darted downward, and for the first time, he noticed that Minato's hand was pressed against his forearm, glowing with golden seals.

Fuinjutsu.

Danzo gasped. "You—?!"

Minato's expression was utterly unforgiving.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice a cheat like Izanagi?"

Danzo felt cold.

Minato had sealed his Sharingan before he even realized it.

He was completely vulnerable.

No escape. No second chances.

And then, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Naruto."

Naruto blinked, looking toward Kushina.

His mother gazed at him, her voice trembling with barely contained fury.

"What do you want to do?"

Naruto stared at her. Then at his father. At Hashirama, at Tobirama, at Madara, Izuna, Ashina, and Mito.

And then… he turned back to Danzo.

The man who had tried to turn him into a mindless weapon.The man who had slaughtered the Senju and Uchiha.The man who had betrayed his clan, his people, his very soul for power.

Danzo saw the decision in Naruto's eyes before he even spoke.

"…I want justice."

Danzo opened his mouth to protest—

But before he could even utter a word…

Naruto raised his hand.

And Minato moved.

Fuinjutsu chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Danzo's body like unbreakable vines.

And in one swift motion, Minato sealed Danzo inside a barrier of pure chakra.

Danzo screamed, struggling violently, but the chains dragged him down—down—down—

Until he was gone.

Naruto exhaled. It was over.

For the first time in his life…

He was free.

Hiruzen stood frozen, his face pale as the weight of judgment pressed down upon him. The killing intent had not faded—it had simply shifted.

No longer focused on Danzo.

Now, it was directed at him.

Minato's gaze was sharp. "Call a council meeting. Now."

Hiruzen swallowed. "W-We should handle this matter privately—"

Tobirama scoffed, his red eyes narrowing in contempt. "This is not a suggestion."

Kushina's chakra flared like molten fire. "You still think you can control the situation? You have no power here."

Hiruzen's fingers trembled. He looked around at the gathered ancestors, at their unyielding expressions.

Hashirama—who had once loved Konoha more than anything—now looked at it with disappointment.Madara—who had despised the village—now stood, amused but not surprised.Tobirama—who had built Konoha's foundation—now glared at the rot that had taken hold.

And then there was Naruto.

The boy Hiruzen had once dismissed as a child, as a tool, as an expendable asset.

But there was no foolishness in his eyes now.

Only resolve.

Hiruzen felt something in his gut twist. There was no escape from this.

"…Very well," he finally said, voice hoarse. "I will summon the council."

The air was tense.

The entire Konoha Council was present—the civilian and shinobi sides. The clan heads sat on one side, while the Fire Daimyō and his representatives sat at the head.

Hiruzen stood at the front, his back stiff as he addressed the gathered leaders. "I have called this meeting due to… pressing circumstances."

Shikaku Nara leaned forward, his sharp mind already piecing things together. "We all felt that massive killing intent. What's going on, Hokage-sama?"

Before Hiruzen could respond—

The doors slammed open.

And the ancestors walked in.

A ripple of shock and disbelief spread through the council.

Minato Namikaze strode in with the presence of a king. Kushina Uzumaki walked beside him, red hair swaying like a storm-given form. Mito and Ashina Uzumaki followed, their eyes scanning the room as they saw through every lie. Hashirama and Tobirama Senju entered next, their mere presence making the shinobi tense. Madara and Izuna Uchiha came last, exuding an aura of absolute authority.

The Fire Daimyō's face paled. "T-This… This cannot be…!"

Madara's smirk was sharp. "What's wrong, Daimyō? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

The Fire Daimyō visibly flinched.

The clan heads stared in stunned silence.

It was Hiashi Hyūga who finally found his voice. "…This is not a transformation or Genjutsu?"

"No." Minato's voice was steady. "We have returned."

Shikaku's mind worked quickly, analyzing the implications. "…And why have you returned?"

It was Tobirama who answered, his cold eyes scanning the room.

"To remind you of something that has been forgotten."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Mito's voice was sharp. "You have all allowed Konoha to rot."

A ripple of tension spread through the council.

"Where were your voices when Danzo massacred the Uchiha?" Izuna's voice was laced with fury.

"Where was your resistance when the Uzumaki were slaughtered?" Kushina's fists clenched.

"Where was your honor when Naruto was abused and cast aside?" Minato's blue eyes darkened.

The clan heads lowered their gazes.

None of them had spoken out. None of them had resisted.

They had simply followed Hiruzen and Danzo blindly.

Madara's eyes gleamed with an almost savage amusement. "You fools. You allowed a senile old man and a power-hungry coward to rule you without question."

His words were a direct insult.

But no one could refute them.

The Fire Daimyō straightened, regaining some of his composure. "With all due respect, this is a matter for the Hokage and the Konoha Council—"

Hashirama's chakra flared.

And suddenly, the entire room felt crushed by an overwhelming force.

"Do not forget yourself, Fire Daimyō."

The Daimyō choked as he felt pure, unrestrained power wash over him.

"Konoha was never your dog."

Mito stepped forward, her voice laced with authority.

"You treat this village as if it is merely an extension of your throne," she said, her crimson eyes narrowing. "But Konoha was founded as an equal. As an alliance of clans that chose to work together—not as your army."

The Fire Daimyō's hands trembled.

He had never been challenged like this.

Tobirama's voice was ice. "This village will no longer be a tool for your political games."

The clan heads shifted uncomfortably.

The room was already heavy with tension, but what happened next shattered any illusions of control the clans still had.

The air crackled.

The ancestors—Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara, Izuna, Mito, Ashina, Minato, and Kushina—stared down at the gathered council with expressions ranging from disappointment to barely concealed rage.

They had expected cowardice.

They had expected denial.

But what they had not expected was the sheer audacity of these so-called noble clans.

The Hyūga's Sin

Tobirama's fury was the first to explode. His piercing red eyes zeroed in on Hiashi Hyūga, who sat stiffly, though his hands were hidden beneath his robes—trembling.

Tobirama's voice was cold as death.

"You dare to take the Uzumaki Clan's sacred Dojutsu Protection Seal and corrupt it into a slave mark?"

The room froze.

Hiashi flinched. "T-That is not true, Lord Second—"

"Do not lie to me." Tobirama's voice was sharp as a blade. "I created the original Caged Bird Seal to protect your clan's eyes upon death, not to bind your kin in slavery."

Mito's gaze was filled with betrayal. "The Uzumaki clan shared our knowledge with you in trust. And you… twisted our Fuinjutsu to subjugate your flesh and blood."

Minato's eyes darkened, chakra rising in a dangerous wave. "The Hyūga clan could have forged a new legacy, one of strength and unity. Instead, you chose chains."

Hiashi clenched his fists but said nothing. There was no excuse he could give.

But they were not finished.

Madara's gaze swept over the entire council, and his smirk was mocking.

"When Mikoto Uchiha, a woman of the highest standing, offered to adopt Naruto—her godson—you refused."

The clan heads visibly stiffened.

Kushina's voice shook with suppressed rage. "You denied my son a loving home and then let him rot in an orphanage."

Tobirama's glare could have turned them to ice. "And why, I wonder? Because you feared his bloodline? Because you feared he would become a threat?"

Madara's smirk widened. "Or was it simply jealousy that a Uchiha would raise the son of the Fourth Hokage?"

The truth hung in the air.

None of the clans spoke.

Because they knew. They knew.

They had been selfish. They had been greedy. They had been cowards.

And the ancestors would not let them forget it.

True Warriors of the Clans Return

Then, it happened.

The air shifted.

The already immense pressure in the chamber doubled as the very fabric of reality bent.

A swirl of energy erupted beside each clan's representative, and suddenly…

They appeared.

The greatest warriors of each clan, summoned from beyond the grave—not as puppets, not as Edo Tensei slaves—but as the very embodiment of their clan's true legacy.

The weight of the ancestors' gazes crushed the arrogance of the present clan heads. The room was silent, but the air was thick with expectation. Each resurrected warrior turned to their respective clan, their presence radiating something primal—something that made their descendants feel small in comparison.

It was time to face judgment.

The Nara Clan – Yukino Nara: "You Let the Web Rot."

Shikaku Nara had always prided himself on his intelligence, but under Yukino Nara's piercing golden eyes, he felt like a fool.

"You were the clan's greatest strategist in this generation, Shikaku," Yukino said, her voice calm yet carrying a razor-sharp edge. "And yet, you allowed the village to be poisoned by incompetence."

Shikaku exhaled, his fingers steepled as he met her gaze. "I kept my family safe."

Yukino's disappointed sigh cut deeper than any blade.

"You kept your family comfortable. You sacrificed the future of Konoha because it was easier to let the foolish rule." She tilted her head. "Tell me, does your brilliance only extend to playing shogi while your allies suffer?"

Shikaku tensed. "We had to survive."

Yukino scoffed. "And at what cost? The Nara were once a clan of wisdom and insight, but all I see now are apathetic cowards."

Shikamaru clenched his fists at her words, his mind racing. Was she right?

The Yamanaka Clan – Ino Yamanaka: "You Betrayed Your Mind."

Inoichi Yamanaka had never expected to see the legendary kunoichi whose name he had given his only daughter.

"Do you even understand what it means to be a Yamanaka?" Ino Yamanaka asked, her violet eyes burning into his. "Our strength has never been in just spying, Inoichi. We are the keepers of the soul."

Inoichi swallowed hard. "I have protected our clan's legacy—"

"By serving fools. By allowing corruption to run rampant in the minds you should have purified."

Her voice dropped into something sharper.

"You could have exposed Danzo's treachery. You could have safeguarded Naruto's memories and kept him from being manipulated. Instead, you let him suffer."

Ino, the younger Ino, looked at her father in shock. "Dad… is that true?"

Inoichi looked away, ashamed.

Ino Yamanaka's expression hardened.

"The mind is meant to be free, yet you have allowed yourself to be shackled."

The Hyūga Clan – Toneri Hyūga: "You are Butchers, Not Guardians."

Hiashi Hyūga had spent decades perfecting his mask of stoicism, but when Toneri Hyūga stood before him, it cracked.

Toneri's white eyes glowed ominously as he gazed at the head of the Hyūga clan.

"Our clan was meant to be the guiding eye of Konoha," Toneri said, his voice like steel. "Instead, we have become butchers of our kin."

Hiashi's jaw tightened. "We maintain order—"

"You enforce slavery!" Toneri's voice boomed, shaking the very foundation of the council chambers.

Hizashi, Hiashi's long-lost brother, clenched his fists beside him, his face unreadable.

Toneri's gaze swept over the rest of the Hyūga. "You all stood by and let this abomination of a seal be used on children. On your blood."

Neji, standing silently in the back, felt his heart pound. His fists shook at his sides.

Toneri's next words were like a dagger.

"We are supposed to be the eyes that see beyond the darkness. But now, the Hyūga are blind."

Hiashi looked away, but the weight of his ancestors' scorn settled on his shoulders like chains.

The Akimichi Clan – Torifu Akimichi: "Kindness is Not Weakness."

Chōza Akimichi's large frame seemed to shrink under Torifu Akimichi's gaze.

"The Akimichi were once warriors feared and respected," Torifu said, voice calm but firm. "We were strong because we knew when to be kind and when to be merciless."

Chōza's face twisted. "I only wanted peace."

Torifu shook his head. "Peace without strength is an invitation to exploitation. You let the Akimichi be used as mere pawns instead of standing up for what was right."

Chōji, watching quietly, bit his lip. "Dad…"

Torifu's gaze softened just slightly as he looked at Chōji. "The next generation can be better."

The Inuzuka Clan – Yashamaru Inuzuka: "Dogs Do Not Bow to Snakes."

Tsume Inuzuka was a fierce woman, but under Yashamaru Inuzuka's piercing golden gaze, she felt like a scolded pup.

"The Inuzuka were once the wild guardians of Konoha," Yashamaru growled. "Now? You are lapdogs to men like Hiruzen and Danzo."

Tsume bristled. "That's not true!"

Yashamaru took a step forward, his massive wolfhound companion snarling beside him.

"Isn't it? You let Naruto suffer. You let corruption thrive. The Inuzuka were once a free clan, but now you are nothing but domesticated pets."

Kiba flinched, his fists clenching.

Tsume gritted her teeth but did not speak.

Because she knew. He was right.

The Aburame Clan – Tatsuma Aburame: "We Were the Hidden Blade."

Shibi Aburame remained still, but his chakra trembled as Tatsuma Aburame approached.

"The Aburame were never meant to be silent observers." Tatsuma's voice was as quiet as the whispering insects that surrounded him.

Shibi tilted his head. "We have survived."

Tatsuma's red-lensed goggles gleamed ominously. "At what cost?"

Shino watched, his mind racing.

"The Aburame should have been the hidden dagger that cut out Konoha's disease." Tatsuma's voice dropped. "Instead, we became the shadows that feared to act."

Shibi finally looked away.

And from the Sarutobi Clan, Sasuke Sarutobi, Hiruzen's father—one of the most revered leaders of the Sarutobi family—was revived, his wrath palpable as he took in the scene before him.

As the room stood in stunned silence, the ancestral spirits of Konoha began to speak once more, their voices reverberating with the weight of history and betrayal. They were not just avenging their fallen clans and loved ones—they were also here to confront Hiruzen's father, Sasuke Sarutobi, who now stood among the resurrected ancestors.

The ancestors turned their gaze towards Sasuke Sarutobi, whose eyes had never faltered as he watched his son's fall from grace. He stood silent for a moment, feeling the full weight of what had transpired—the actions of his son had torn apart everything he had fought to protect.

Hashirama's voice broke the silence, his tone soft but filled with fury.

"Sasuke Sarutobi..." Hashirama began, the gentleness of his voice contrasting with the harshness of his words. "**You, who had once been a beacon of hope for the people of Konoha. You, who fought beside us to create a village for all. Your son, Hiruzen, allowed Konoha to become a place where betrayal and corruption festered."

Tobirama's voice cut in next, sharper and colder. "He betrayed not just his family, but the very village he was meant to lead. He betrayed the trust we placed in him. And worse, he allowed his greed and fear to consume him, leading Konoha to the brink of ruin."

Sasuke's eyes glinted with both anger and pain. His gaze moved over to the corpse of his son, lying lifeless and defeated. He had trusted Hiruzen—his son, the child he had raised, the future he had hoped would restore the greatness of the Sarutobi name.

But now... the truth had come out.

"Sasuke..." Kushina Uzumaki spoke with a deep sense of sorrow in her voice, "You're not just the father of a traitor—you're a grandfather, too. Your great-grandson, Konohamaru, still has a chance to redeem the Sarutobi legacy."

Because he did not argue.

For the first time in decades, the leaders of Konoha's greatest clans felt something they had long forgotten.

Shame.

They had fallen.

They had betrayed everything their ancestors had stood for.

And now, those very ancestors stood before them.

Watching. Judging.

And waiting for an answer.

The tension in the air was thick. The resurrected warriors stood before the assembled clans, their gazes sharp and unyielding.

"You have failed," Madara Uchiha declared, his crimson Sharingan glowing in the dim light of the council chamber. "But your children do not have to."

The clan heirs stood rigid, their hearts pounding. Their ancestors—the legends of their clans—were offering them something unprecedented: a year of training, a chance to rebuild what had been lost.

The clan heads hesitated, but Hashirama Senju's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

"This is not a request," he said, his usual warmth replaced by something stern. "This is your last chance to make things right."

One by one, the ancestors stepped forward, their chosen heirs facing them with a mix of awe and apprehension.

As the ancestors of the great clans took their chosen heirs under their wing, Konoha felt a shift—a tremor in its very foundation. The old ways, built on corruption, stagnation, and blind obedience, were about to be torn apart.

Each heir stood before their mentor, some nervous, some excited, but all aware that this was an opportunity they could not afford to waste.

Sasuke looked at Konohamaru, who was standing nearby, watching the confrontation with wide eyes. His young face was filled with confusion, hurt, and a quiet sense of disbelief. But Sasuke could see something else in him too—potential.

Konohamaru didn't know it yet, but he would be the one to change the fate of the Sarutobi clan, of Konoha itself. And it was Sasuke's duty to guide him—to right the wrongs his son had made. It was the only way he could find peace, the only way he could repent for the mistakes Hiruzen had made.

Sasuke stepped forward, his voice trembling with restrained disappointment as he looked at the spirit of his son lying lifeless.

"Hiruzen..." Sasuke muttered under his breath, the word full of resentment. "You were once the hope of this village, my son. But you have failed us all."

He turned away from Hiruzen's body, his eyes now fixed on his great-grandson.

"Konohamaru, come here." Sasuke's voice was commanding but gentle, a reflection of a leader who had seen many battles but was now facing a very personal one. "It is time you learned the truth. The mistakes of your great-grandfather will not define you, but you must know the path that was chosen for you and the village you carry the legacy of."

Konohamaru hesitated for a moment but then stepped forward, looking up at his great-grandfather with a mix of reverence and confusion. Sasuke gazed down at him, his stern expression softening as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I will train you." Sasuke's voice was low and filled with resolve. "I will teach you not just the ways of the Sarutobi, but of honor, duty, and sacrifice. You will be the one to bring back the true meaning of the Will of Fire."

The ancestors looked on, silent and approving. The weight of the moment wasn't lost on any of them. Sasuke Sarutobi, the once-proud head of the Sarutobi clan, was now taking up the mantle of leadership again—not for himself, but for the sake of the future.

Sasuke turned to the clan heads and the assembled council, his eyes burning with quiet fury.

"As for all of you—those who stood by, too blind to see the corruption in your midst—this is your final warning. Konoha will no longer bow to its so-called leaders. The Sarutobi clan will be rebuilt, and we will start with Konohamaru."

He looked back at the ancestors. "I will not let my son's mistakes define the legacy of our clan. And I will see that the truth of what happened here is known."

Kushina, Minato, and the other ancestors nodded in silent agreement. They had witnessed the rise of Konoha, its beauty, and its strength, but they had also seen it fall to the corruption of men like Hiruzen and Danzo.

Sasuke's resolve was clear: he would not allow the sins of his son to taint the future of Konoha.

With a final nod, Sasuke turned to Konohamaru once again. "Let us begin."

The Hyuga Clan – Toneri Trains Hinata, Neji, and Hanabi

Toneri Hyuga, a name whispered in ancient Hyuga history, stood before the three heirs of his bloodline. His pale, unearthly gaze swept over them.

"The Hyuga Clan has fallen into decay," he declared coldly. "Your so-called 'traditions' have turned proud warriors into shackled servants."

Hinata, Neji, and Hanabi stiffened, but Neji's fists clenched the tightest.

"We are strong," he argued.

Toneri's gaze pierced him. "Then why do you wear the seal of a slave?"

Neji's jaw locked, but he said nothing.

Toneri turned to Hinata. "You are the heir, yet you let others dictate your strength. You hesitate."

Hinata flinched but forced herself to meet his gaze. "I... I will change."

Hanabi, the youngest, narrowed her eyes. "What do you expect from us?"

Toneri smirked. "I will unleash the true potential of the Byakugan. You will not be bound by the limits set by your weak elders."

He gestured for them to follow. "By the end of this year, you will stand above the Hyuga—not as its prisoners, but as its rulers."

Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi exchanged glances. Then, they followed him.

The Nara Clan – Yukino Nara & Shikamaru

Yukino sat across from Shikamaru, a Go board between them.

"Tell me, boy," she said, lazily placing a piece. "What is a leader?"

Shikamaru yawned. "Someone who gets things done without doing much."

Click.

Yukino slammed a piece onto the board, and Shikamaru barely had time to react as shadows surged from it, wrapping around his wrists.

His eyes widened.

"That's where you're wrong," Yukino said, her smirk sharp. "A leader is someone who moves all the pieces while making the enemy think it was their idea."

She released him.

"Now, let's begin again. Try to keep up this time."

Shikamaru grinned despite himself.

The Yamanaka Clan – Ino Yamanaka & Ino

Ino stood before her ancestor, a woman whose name she had always carried proudly.

"Your clan is weak," Ino Yamanaka said bluntly.

Ino bristled. "We—"

Ino Yamanaka silenced her with a single glance. "You call yourself mind-walkers, but you lack vision. A Yamanaka isn't just a spy. We are the ones who decide the battlefield before the first strike is thrown."

Ino swallowed, feeling a chill down her spine.

"Come, child," Ino Yamanaka murmured, her golden hair glinting under the light. "Let me teach you how to truly own someone's mind."

The Akimichi Clan – Torifu & Chōji

Chōji stared up at his massive ancestor, who crossed his arms.

"The Akimichi are feared for their strength," Torifu said. "But you…" His eyes narrowed. "You are still hesitant to embrace it."

Chōji frowned. "I—"

Torifu suddenly rushed forward, faster than a man his size should be able to move. Before Chōji could react, Torifu's palm struck his chest, sending him skidding back.

Chōji gasped.

"Power is not something to be ashamed of," Torifu said. "It is something to be wielded. Again."

Chōji gritted his teeth and charged.

The Inuzuka Clan – Yashamaru & Kiba

Yashamaru towered over Kiba, his golden eyes glowing like a predator's.

"Your senses are dulled," Yashamaru said. "Your instincts? Clouded."

Kiba growled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Akamaru barked in agreement.

Yashamaru smirked. "Your bond with your ninken is nothing compared to what it could be."

Kiba's eyes flashed with challenge. "Prove it."

Yashamaru's grin widened. "Fine."

In a blur, he disappeared. Kiba barely had time to turn before a massive clawed hand slammed him into the dirt.

"Too slow."

Kiba coughed, but instead of anger, his blood burned with excitement.

This… this was the kind of training he had always craved.

The Aburame Clan – Tatsuma & Shino

Tatsuma Aburame was silent as he observed Shino.

Shino waited, patient as ever.

Finally, Tatsuma raised a hand. A swarm of kikaichū burst from his sleeve, merging into an almost liquid shape.

Shino's eyes widened. "That's…"

Tatsuma nodded. "You have only scratched the surface of what our symbiosis can achieve."

The kikaichū twisted, forming a sword, then a shield, then a massive beast.

Shino adjusted his glasses. "Teach me."

Tatsuma smirked. "Good answer."

Uchiha Clan – Madara & Izuna with Sasuke and the Uchiha Children

Madara surveyed the gathered Uchiha children, his eyes glowing like molten fire.

"You were spared from death," he said. "Itachi—for all his sins—defied the leash placed on him."

Sasuke's fists clenched at the mention of Itachi.

Izuna stepped forward. "We will not waste what remains of our clan."

He turned to Sasuke. "You will become our sword."

Madara's grin was sharp as a blade. "And together, we will forge the Uchiha into something that will make the world tremble."

Sasuke met his gaze without fear. "I'm ready."

Madara chuckled. "We shall see."

Naruto's Training Under Minato, Kushina, Tobirama, and Ashina

Naruto gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain the Wood Release clone.

Tobirama watched him, arms crossed. "Pathetic."

Naruto growled. "Shut up, old man—!"

Suddenly, seals glowed on Naruto's arms, and his body was flooded with chakra.

Ashina nodded approvingly. "Fuinjutsu enhances everything. Your Uzumaki blood is potent—use it."

Naruto's hands flashed through seals, and this time, his Wood Release clone held firm.

Kushina grinned. "That's my boy!"

Minato placed a hand on Naruto's head. "You're making us proud."

Naruto grinned back.

For the first time in his life, he felt unstoppable.

With each heir undergoing training beyond what any of their ancestors had dreamed of, Konoha was no longer a place of stagnation.

The clans would regret their failures.

The world would feel their wrath.

And the future belonged to them.

Hashirama and Mito Meet Tsunade

Tsunade was in a dimly lit bar, nursing a sake bottle with Shizune beside her. She had long abandoned any ties to Konoha, drowning herself in her grief.

The door creaked open, and before Tsunade could even glance up, she froze.

The chakra in the air was unmistakable.

Shizune's eyes widened in shock as two figures stepped inside—one a tall, broad-shouldered man with wild brown hair and a deep, kind smile, and the other a regal woman with piercing red eyes.

"Tsunade," Hashirama Senju's voice was warm, yet firm.

Mito Uzumaki smiled at her granddaughter, but there was an undeniable sharpness in her gaze.

Tsunade stared, her hands tightening around the sake bottle. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

"You… You're dead," she whispered.

Hashirama chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, not anymore."

Mito's gaze softened as she stepped forward. "We came to take you home."

Tsunade scoffed, slamming the bottle down. "Home? I don't have a home. Konoha destroyed my family, my dreams, and my—"

Her words died in her throat as Hashirama placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Tsunade, I failed you," he said, his usual boisterousness gone. "I left a legacy of peace… but I see now that it was a lie. The village I built became a prison."

Mito knelt beside her, placing a hand over Tsunade's. "You are our pride. Come back, my child. Help us fix what was broken."

Tsunade swallowed thickly, her hands trembling.

She looked at Shizune, who gave her a small nod.

Finally, she took a deep breath.

"…Fine."

But her eyes burned with new determination.

"If I go back, I won't be the same woman they remember."

Hashirama grinned. "Good. Because Konoha won't be the same village either."

Jiraiya Returns to Konoha

Jiraiya strode into Konoha, expecting to report to Hiruzen as usual. But the moment he stepped past the gates, he felt something was wrong.

The ANBU presence was scattered.

Danzo's Root was missing.

And worst of all—he couldn't find Hiruzen.

His gut twisted. Something huge had happened.

Deciding to investigate, he concealed his presence and leaped across rooftops, making his way toward the training grounds.

What he saw froze him in place.

There, under the shade of a great tree, was Naruto.

But he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him were Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

Jiraiya's breath caught. Impossible.

Minato was correcting Naruto's stance, while Kushina was guiding his chakra flow.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. This wasn't an illusion.

Something unnatural had revived them.

What the hell happened while I was gone?

Lowering his chakra signature, he crept closer.

If Minato and Kushina were alive, then perhaps they had also seen the prophecy. Perhaps he could still manipulate—

"You reek of deception, toad."

Jiraiya barely had time to react before chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around his limbs with crushing force.

His vision blurred as another force seized his throat—water binding him like a noose.

With a violent yank, he was thrown to the ground, coughing as two figures loomed over him.

Ashina Uzumaki and Tobirama Senju.

Their gazes were cold. Unforgiving.

The Torture Begins

Jiraiya struggled against the chains, but the Uzumaki seals burned against his skin, disrupting his chakra.

"You dismantled our clan's barrier seals," Ashina said calmly.

Jiraiya gritted his teeth. "It was—"

CRACK.

A seal activated, sending pure agony through Jiraiya's body. He screamed as it felt like his very cells were being unraveled.

"You are the reason Uzushiogakure burned," Ashina continued, his voice eerily calm.

Tobirama's gaze was just as cold. "Your selfish desire for Tsunade cost the life of her fiancé."

Jiraiya froze.

Tobirama leaned down, his silver hair shadowing his sharp gaze.

"Kato Dan would have lived if you weren't so obsessed with hoarding Tsunade for yourself."

Jiraiya snarled. "I didn't—"

BAM.

Tobirama buried his fist into Jiraiya's ribs, breaking them instantly.

"You are no better than the corruption we are burning from this village."

Blood dripped from Jiraiya's lips.

"But your greatest sin," Ashina murmured, tightening the chains, "is what you did to Minato's son."

Jiraiya's body stiffened as two shadows loomed over him.

Minato and Kushina stood above him, their expressions filled with rage.

Kushina's hair flared, her chains glowing ominously.

"You… neglected my son," she said, voice trembling with anger. "You let him rot in that village."

Minato's blue eyes, usually so gentle, were ice cold. "And you dared to try to use him as a pawn for your toad's prophecy?"

Jiraiya tried to justify himself. "The prophecy—"

CRACK.

Kushina's fist collided with his jaw, sending his head snapping to the side.

Minato was next.

A Rasengan formed in his palm.

"You never saw Naruto as a boy," Minato whispered.

SLAM.

The Rasengan crashed into Jiraiya's stomach, sending him skidding across the dirt, coughing up blood.

Ashina turned to Tobirama.

"How long should we keep him alive?"

Tobirama smirked. "Until he wishes he weren't."

Jiraiya screamed as the torture began anew.

Jiraiya's Mark of Justice

Jiraiya lay battered on the cold ground, his body broken from the relentless punishment he had endured. His mind was barely functioning, his vision blurred with blood and pain. He thought it was over—that they would kill him or simply cast him out.

But as he struggled to lift his head, he felt a burning sensation sear into his very skin.

He screamed as a seal began to etch itself into his flesh, wrapping around his shoulder and back like a brand.

"This will ensure you are not lost," Ashina Uzumaki murmured, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Jiraiya gritted his teeth, gasping as he felt his chakra being forcefully linked to something far greater.

Tobirama watched impassively. "You took much from Tsunade. It is only fair that she decides what to do with you."

Jiraiya's blood ran cold.

They weren't just letting him go.

They were offering him up.

The Hunt Begins

Far away, in a secluded clearing where Hashirama, Mito, Tsunade, and Shizune had gathered, a faint pulse flickered in Mito's palm.

A sealing formula glowed bright red, pulsing with coordinates.

Hashirama frowned as he looked at Tsunade. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Tsunade's fists tightened, her nails digging into her palm hard enough to draw blood.

"He stole my future," she whispered. "He stole Dan from me."

Shizune looked at her mentor, uncertainty in her eyes, but she knew this was something Tsunade had to do.

Mito placed a gentle hand on Tsunade's shoulder. "Then let's make sure he understands what it means to take from a Senju."

Hashirama's normally kind expression darkened.

"…Let's go."

With a single flash of chakra, the hunt began.

Jiraiya's Realization

Jiraiya stumbled through the woods, his legs barely supporting his weight. He could still feel the burning of the tracking seal, but his body was too weak to dispel it.

He just needed to get away. He needed to find a safe place and—

A shadow loomed over him.

Jiraiya barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his gut, launching him backward. He crashed against a tree, blood spilling from his lips.

His heart stopped as he looked up.

There she stood.

Tsunade.

Beside her, were Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama Senju, and Shizune.

Jiraiya felt a deep dread settle in his bones.

Tsunade stepped forward, cracking her knuckles. "You cost me the love of my life, you selfish bastard."

Jiraiya choked on his breath. "Tsunade, I—"

Her fist caved in his ribs before he could finish.

CRACK.

Jiraiya screamed as he felt bones shatter.

Tsunade didn't stop.

For every ounce of pain he had inflicted—on her, on Naruto, on her clan—she repaid it tenfold.

His screams echoed through the forest.

And no one came to save him.

Not this time.

The Dawn of a New Konoha

Tsunade stood atop the Hokage Monument, gazing down at the village that had once been rotting under the weight of corruption. The past year had been one of reckoning—the once-mighty figures of Konoha, Hiruzen, and Danzo, had fallen, and the village's clans had been forced to confront their sins.

The ancestors had trained their heirs, stripping away the rot that had allowed the corruption to flourish. The Hyuga, Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Inuzuka clans had reformed, no longer mere sheep following the commands of self-serving leaders. The Uchiha Clan, once reduced to near extinction, had begun rebuilding under Madara and Izuna's guidance.

And Naruto…

Tsunade smiled softly as she glanced toward the training field.

Naruto had blossomed into a warrior unlike any before him—the true heir of both Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines. Under Minato, Kushina, Tobirama, and Ashina's training, he had awakened Wood Release and Storm Release, a combination that made him unstoppable.

But now, it was time for the past to rest.

The Farewell of the Ancestors

As the final night of their year came, the golden glow of Edo Tensei began to flicker. The revived souls could feel it—the pull of the afterlife calling them back.

Standing before their heirs, they smiled one last time.

Madara Uchiha placed a firm hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Do not let this village control you, Sasuke. It is yours to shape, not the other way around."

Izuna Uchiha grinned at the younger Uchiha children who had survived the massacre. "Live freely, without regret."

Tobirama Senju gave Naruto one last calculating look. "Do not be reckless with the power you now wield. Use it wisely."

Ashina Uzumaki clasped Naruto's forearm. "You are the Uzumaki Clan's last legacy, Naruto. Never forget your roots."

Mito Uzumaki smiled at Tsunade, brushing a strand of hair from her granddaughter's face. "You have made me proud, Tsunade. Lead with both strength and heart."

Hashirama Senju gave a hearty laugh as he ruffled Naruto's hair. "I know you will do great things, kid. Maybe even surpass me!"

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki kneeled before Naruto, their eyes filled with pride.

"We love you, Naruto," Kushina whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"And we always will," Minato added, his eyes glistening.

Naruto clenched his fists, trying to hold back his tears, but it was futile.

"I won't waste what you gave me!" Naruto swore, his voice shaking with emotion. "I'll become strong enough to protect everyone!"

As the golden glow intensified, the resurrected spirits slowly dissolved into light, their souls finally at peace.

The wind carried their last whispers.

"Live well."

The Heir of Two Great Clans

The next day, Tsunade formally announced Naruto's adoption.

Before the gathered clans, shinobi, and civilians, she stood tall in her Hokage robes, Naruto beside her.

"Naruto Uzumaki is no longer just a nameless orphan," Tsunade declared, her voice booming across the village. "From this day forward, he is Naruto Senju-Uzumaki, the heir to both the Senju and Uzumaki clans!"

Murmurs and shocked gasps spread through the crowd. The blood of both clans is in a single heir.

Naruto stood firm, his blue eyes burning with determination. He was no longer the neglected child Konoha had once scorned.

He was their future.

And Konoha… was about to change forever.