While Makoto went home to sleep, Hiruzen confirmed that Minato and his wife were safe. He then handed the remaining matters over to the jōnin class to clean up, while he himself returned to the Hokage Building together with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Although these two had rather poor combat strength now, they still possessed the strength of jōnin at the very least, and their concern for the village was not false, so naturally they participated as well.
Even the retired Akimichi Torifu, who had been living quietly at home, once again donned his armor and went into battle.
However, before anyone could contribute much, the situation had already been resolved by Minato and Makoto.
Seeing that the village's crisis had passed, old Master Torifu returned home. He had never been interested in the affairs of his old classmates and did not involve himself in them.
In any case, the three clans of Ino, Shika, and Cho were one body. Whoever became Hokage could not do without their support, so troublesome matters could simply be left to Nara Shikaku to handle.
Inside a small conference room in the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen and the other two gathered.
Koharu asked with concern, "Hiruzen, shouldn't you go back first and check on Biwako?"
The Third Hokage took a hard drag from his pipe. "Let the eldest at home handle the arrangements. Right now, the village's affairs are more important. I believe Biwako, in the Pure Land, will understand me."
"But Asuma already harbors a great deal of resentment toward you. If his mother dies and you still don't return, I'm afraid the relationship between you father and son will become even harder to mend."
"What does he understand? If one day he can understand me, that will be his true growth."
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance and said no more. That was enough of a reminder. After all, it was Monkey's family matter. At the same time, they admired how their old friend could work himself to such an extent for the sake of the village.
Not long afterward, a gloomy-faced Danzō also walked in.
The Konoha F4 had gathered and began discussing the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' rampage.
For small matters, hold a big meeting; for big matters, hold a small meeting. The ninja world followed the same routine.
Koharu immediately questioned him. "Danzō, something this big happened in the village—where did you and your Root ninja run off to?"
Danzō showed not the slightest trace of shame on his face. "I went to the Uchiha Clan and ordered Uchiha Fugaku to withdraw all members of the Police Force back to the clan compound. My Root and I were responsible for keeping watch over them. Is there a problem?"
Hearing this, Koharu said nothing more. Homura spoke instead, "Your actions weren't wrong. The Sharingan must absolutely not approach the Nine-Tails itself. It's far too dangerous."
The Third Hokage smoked his old pipe and did not think it improper either. Even though he knew Danzō could not suppress the Uchiha and was certainly acting under his name again, he still had no objection.
On the matter of dealing with the Uchiha, the four of them were consistent—only the attitude differed between moderation and radicalism.
Hiruzen and the other two belonged to the moderate faction. While guarding against the Uchiha in accordance with their teacher's last wishes, they still regarded them as part of the village.
Danzō, on the other hand, was a pure radical, wishing he could wipe out this "inherently evil" clan altogether.
Seeing the matter set aside, Danzō asked, "What exactly happened? Why did the Nine-Tails break free? What was the Fourth Hokage doing?"
As for this matter, Homura and Koharu did not know. Minato had only told the Third Hokage, so they all turned their eyes toward their old friend.
Hiruzen then relayed to the three of them what Minato had told him.
The moment the three old fogies heard Uchiha Madara's name, they immediately bristled like startled cats.
Koharu looked utterly disbelieving. "Impossible. How could it possibly be Madara? He died long ago, and the sensei's records never mentioned anything about him knowing space-time ninjutsu."
Homura did not believe it either. "It definitely couldn't be Madara, but it is certainly someone from the Uchiha Clan."
Unfortunately, Madara's corpse had been taken away by Tobirama back then, and afterward the matter had simply been left unresolved. Who knew where it had been hidden? Even if they wanted to dig up the grave to verify it, they could not even find the place.
Danzō's attitude, however, was extremely firm. "It must be a force secretly trained by the Uchiha Clan. I said long ago that this was an evil clan. Today's events prove that my judgment was correct."
The Third Hokage explained, "Minato believes that person did not come from the village. You all know that Madara left the village back then and disappeared for a period of time. Perhaps this is bloodline he left behind somewhere in the shinobi world."
Danzō retorted, "What does that brat Minato know? In my view, because of his relationship with Fugaku's family, he has even lost his most basic judgment."
"Monkey, leave this matter to me. I guarantee I'll drag those two mysterious people out from within the Uchiha Clan for you."
"Danzō, I trust Minato's judgment, and I also trust that the Uchiha Clan will not betray the village. Your methods will only truly force them onto Konoha's opposing side."
"The village has just gone through a great upheaval and cannot withstand more turmoil. Do you want to force them into rebellion and provoke a Konoha civil war?"
"Monkey, you are just too weak. If this continues, you will only harm Konoha."
"Danzō, you do not need to concern yourself with the village's internal affairs. I will investigate them. Send your Root ninja out and see whether they can find any clues outside."
Danzō was filled with anger, but in the end he held it in. Taking a step back, he said, "Fine. Just leave this matter to me. But for the reconstruction plan for the center of the village this time, I propose relocating the Uchiha Clan to the outskirts, to keep them farther away from the Nine-Tails."
"Agreed!" Homura and Koharu both voted in favor.
Hiruzen said nothing, expressing tacit consent.
Danzō was secretly delighted. Since he was unwilling to tear off the roof, opening a window first was acceptable too. He immediately raised another topic. "How are the Fourth Hokage and the jinchūriki doing?"
Hiruzen did not hide anything. "Their condition is not very good. Both of them suffered severe injuries, and the medical team believes they will need a long period of recuperation."
Danzō felt that the opportunity had arrived. "See? I said long ago that this young man Minato is unreliable. He simply does not possess the awareness required of a Kage. I propose removing him from the position of Fourth Hokage and selecting someone else. Your disciple Orochimaru would be quite suitable."
Suitable my foot. I sent him to monitor you, yet he has already fallen to the point of fooling around with you. Where is the Will of Fire in his heart?
The Third Hokage immediately opposed it. "Danzō, do you know what you are saying? Minato is the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, recognized by all Konoha ninja and approved by the Daimyō. If we remove him, do you want us to become the biggest joke in the entire shinobi world?"
"But he is already unable to perform the duties of Hokage now. Are we supposed to simply wait for him to recover? How long will that take? The other ninja villages will not miss such an opportunity."
"I, the Third Hokage, will temporarily act as Hokage. That is not something you need to concern yourself with."
Danzō was almost laughing from anger. You can even do it like this? You already stepped down, and now you can just climb back up again? If you will not consider Orochimaru, could you not at least consider me?
"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
"Danzō, right now I am still the Hokage. Just go and complete the task I assigned to you."
Danzō had nothing left to say. He slammed the door in anger and left.
Koharu and Homura were not nervous at all about the quarrel between the two old comrades. There was no helping it—after seeing it so many times, they had long since become numb.
At the same time, this time they did not stand on Danzō's side either. Re-selecting a Hokage was simply too outrageous. Minato had done a fairly good job.
Now that he was injured, letting Hiruzen temporarily act as Hokage was acceptable as well. After serving as Hokage for decades, he did not need to familiarize himself with the work and could restore everything in Konoha to normal as quickly as possible.
...
Danzō returned to the Root base filled with anger and went straight to where Orochimaru was.
Then he saw Orochimaru, completely absorbed in the laboratory and paying no attention at all to the Nine-Tails incident outside. His anger suddenly grew even greater.
"You really can keep your composure. The Nine-Tails came out outside, yet you still have the leisure to conduct experiments here."
Orochimaru could not even be bothered to turn his head. In his signature hoarse voice, he said, "Hehe, is this not exactly what you hoped to see? Besides, the matter has already been resolved. What would I go out for?"
Danzō was not surprised at all that Orochimaru, holed up in the laboratory, could still learn about what was happening outside.
This snake had many methods. Even now, there were still many ninja in the village who were absolutely loyal to him; plenty of people were secretly passing intelligence to him.
"That brat Minato has temporarily withdrawn due to severe injuries. This is our opportunity. Do you have no thoughts at all about the position of Hokage?"
"No. And, Danzō, do you really think Minato-kun has withdrawn because of severe injuries?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying it's fake?"
Orochimaru had never thought much of Danzō. He only knew how to play some shady tricks and lacked the necessary sensitivity to normal responses that operated in the open.
If he did not need Root's help to obtain resources for many forbidden experiments, he would not even bother speaking with him.
"You and I both know that, as Hokage, Minato-kun cannot fully control power. He is my sensei's puppet. Of course, my sensei would certainly not agree with that."
"But what he thinks is not important. What matters is what the reality is. I think that, with Minato-kun's intelligence, he must have already discovered the problem. What he is doing now is forcing my respected sensei to make a choice. Hehe… how very interesting."
After thinking about it carefully, Danzō realized it was indeed very possible. Why do these Hokage always have so many schemes?
The methods they used were all things everyone understood, yet would not openly tear apart.
Danzō could not use such methods. He was used to being direct. "It seems I need to send someone to test the situation."
"There is no need. Doing that would have no meaning at all. And have you considered what consequences such a test would bring if my guess is correct?"
"You… what would you use to deal with a Hokage, a jinchūriki, and Higashino Makoto—a genius who, at eleven years old, can forcibly control the Nine-Tails and has also learned the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Danzō once again had nothing to say. What the hell would I use to deal with that?
At this moment, Danzō felt completely broken inside: I'm such an idiot. Truly. I knew that brat Makoto was a genius, but how could I have known he was this kind of genius?
A genius who can solo the Nine-Tails before even turning eleven—have you ever seen something like that? If I had known earlier, who would have cared whether there was darkness in his heart or not? I should have used every method to pull him to my side.
And now? If I handle things badly, he could treat me—and the entire Root—as if we were the Nine-Tails and wipe us out the same way.
His heart ached.
After thinking it over again and again, Danzō felt that the Uchiha were still easier targets.
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