Yes, Hiruzen

"Be careful. Don't let him die."

After opening the door and stepping outside the secret chamber, the Third Hokage gave a few instructions to Baku's squad stationed outside, then left the Anbu and returned home.

From beginning to end, neither the Third Hokage nor Inoichi Yamanaka had spoken a single word to the awakened Li Yao.

Because there was no need.

In their minds, anyone who entered an Anbu interrogation room had only one path: death.

Whether they obtained intelligence or not, Li Yao's fate would remain the same—death.

Unaware that he was doomed, Li Yao learned from the conversation between the Third Hokage and Inoichi Yamanaka that he had not been subjected to Genjutsu induction or had his memories examined with the Mind Disturbance Body Technique. He thought there was still a chance to salvage his identity, that he still had a sliver of hope.

This body did indeed belong to Kimura Yao.

And he did possess Kimura Yao's memories, though there were not many.

But Kimura Yao's former self had only been a six-year-old child. How many memories could he have accumulated in six years?

Though Li Yao had inherited few memories, they were already enough for him to convincingly pretend to be the real Kimura Yao.

As long as he firmly insisted that he was Kimura Yao, he still had a chance to live.

Li Yao gambled that the Third Hokage would show the kindness he had displayed in the original story, that he cared about the lives of villagers and would not casually kill a Konoha resident.

As long as the Third Hokage acknowledged him as Kimura Yao, he had a strong chance of surviving.

"Now it's time to put on a performance."

While carefully reviewing Kimura Yao's memories, Li Yao considered what expression he should wear if he got the chance to speak.

Given his sudden predicament, how should he react to fit Kimura Yao's character?

That night, Li Yao desperately thought of countermeasures, yearning for a chance to survive.

"Grandma, I'm off to school."

"Mm, walk slowly, little Minato. Don't fall."

"Got it."

The next morning, the same scene replayed outside the front gate of Minato's family residence.

Minato smiled and waved goodbye to his grandmother. He still carried a large lunchbox holding two portions, packed as always with the rice balls he and his good friend Kimura Yao liked.

The only difference from yesterday morning was that Minato was in even more of a hurry. He only gave hurried responses to his classmates' greetings before quickly passing by them.

A whole night had passed.

How was Yao doing?

Had Lord Hokage caught the bastard controlling Yao?

Had Yao already returned home safely and gone to sleep last night?

Would he see Yao when he got to school today?

Minato's heart was in turmoil. He was restless and anxious, with no idea what had ultimately happened to his friend.

Carrying that unease in his heart, Minato arrived at school early.

When he reached his classroom and pushed open the back door, Minato's eyes immediately turned to the window seat on the left side of the third row.

"Mm!"

Minato's gaze dimmed. His good friend Kimura Yao was not in his usual seat.

"Maybe... he just hasn't arrived yet?"

"Right, that must be it."

Minato thought of this, then went to their usual seats with a smile and sat down.

Time slowly passed.

More and more students gradually filled the classroom.

"Morning, Minato."

"Morning, Shota."

"Morning..."

While smiling and returning the greetings of classmates entering the room, Minato kept looking toward the back and front doors, hoping to see that familiar figure.

Yet even after the class bell rang and the teacher entered the room, his friend still had not come.

"Hmm, is that kid late, or did he not come at all?"

The ninja instructor glanced at the seat beside Minato's. He too noticed that Kimura Yao, who had attended class yesterday, was absent. His brow immediately furrowed as he wondered what had happened to the boy.

"You all..." Just as the ninja instructor was about to ask whether any students seated near Kimura Yao had seen him—

Crash!

Minato abruptly stood up, the anxiety on his face impossible to hide. Before he could turn and leave his seat, the teacher spoke.

"Minato, is something wrong?"

"Teacher, I..." Minato hesitated. After thinking it over, he ultimately did not mention his friend, because he did not know what was happening on Lord Hokage's side and did not dare speak carelessly.

"Then sit down. Class first—we'll talk about Yao after class."

The ninja instructor pressed his hand down, telling Minato to sit first. He assumed Minato was worried about Kimura Yao's absence.

In fact... he was right.

"Understood."

Interrupted by the ninja instructor, Minato calmed down and obediently sat back down.

Even if something had changed with his friend, it would be useless for him to seek out Lord Hokage now.

He might even cause some unforeseen trouble because of himself.

He might as well wait until after school, like yesterday, and ask Lord Hokage about Yao's situation then.

Deep down, Minato was unwilling—he did not want—to consider the possibility that his friend might already be gone.

Hokage Building.

Inside the office.

The Third Hokage had just sat down and had not yet had time to light the pipe clenched between his teeth when the door was forcefully pushed open.

"Hiruzen, I've already heard about what happened last night. The Uchiha Clan has gone too far."

Before the man himself came into view, Shimura Danzō's voice had already reached the Third Hokage's ears. He did not care in the slightest whether his hostile words toward the Uchiha Clan were overheard.

Looking at Danzo as he entered with a gloomy expression, the Third Hokage's brow faintly creased, and he felt somewhat displeased.

Did this guy really have to hold such a grudge?

He had inherited the position of Hokage so many years ago, yet Danzo still refused to call him Lord Hokage.

At the very least, he could call him Lord Hiruzen!

The Third Hokage grumbled inwardly before saying, "What are you here for?"

As he spoke, two more people entered behind Danzo.

"Yes, Hiruzen. The Uchiha have gone too far. They actually dared attack Anbu directly under the Hokage's command. They have absolutely no regard for law or discipline."

Mitokado Homura came to a stop beside Danzo, his expression equally grim.

Last night, two brats from the Uchiha Clan had confronted the Anbu. If Hiruzen had not stepped in, they might have even come to blows.

Even after Hiruzen stepped in, those two Uchiha brats had still dared to argue. They were far too arrogant.

After one night, the upper ranks of nearly every major Konoha clan had learned about this matter by morning.

Who had spread the news was obvious.

No one other than the Uchiha could have done it.

Their purpose was nothing more than to use this to undermine Hiruzen's authority as Hokage.

Once the Hokage's prestige fell to a certain point, the Uchiha could launch an impeachment and force Hiruzen from office.

Faced with such brazenly vile conduct, they, as Hokage advisors whose fortunes were bound to Hiruzen's, could no longer tolerate the Uchiha Clan's reckless behavior.

"Yes, Hiruzen." Utatane Koharu closed the door and walked over. Though she was a woman, her face was filled with ruthlessness as she said, "This cannot continue. The Uchiha Clan's arrogance must be crushed, at any cost."

"That's right, Hiruzen." Danzo followed with a suggestion. "Since it isn't convenient for you to act, let me establish a Root dedicated to eradicating the Uchiha. The Uchiha Clan absolutely cannot be allowed to continue unchecked."

Bang!

The moment Danzo finished speaking, the Third Hokage slammed his hand on the desk. He glared at the man and said righteously, "Watch your words, Danzo. The Uchiha Clan is also part of Konoha. Is 'eradicate' something you use on your own people?"

"Oh, come on, Hiruzen. There's no one else here, so stop maintaining that Hokage persona."

Danzo secretly curled his lip. Everyone here had inherited the will of Second Hokage Tobirama. They all knew perfectly well about the Second Hokage's Uchiha Extinction Plan.

Likewise, Danzo knew exactly how much Hiruzen wished for the Uchiha Clan to disappear.

If one had to say which of the four of them most wanted the Uchiha Clan gone, it was not him, nor Homura and Koharu, but Hiruzen himself.

Clearly, Hiruzen was the one who most wanted the Uchiha Clan gone, yet no matter when it was, he always put on the attitude of viewing matters from Konoha's perspective when criticizing him.

If they had not spent so many years together, Danzo might really have believed Hiruzen was a Hokage without selfish motives.

Unfortunately, one could act out an attitude, but not one's actions.

"In any case, I don't want to hear words like 'eradicate the Uchiha' again. Understood, Danzo?"

Some things could be done but not spoken of. He was the Hokage, and he especially could not tolerate others saying such things in front of him. Those words challenged his position as Hokage, and no matter who said them, Hiruzen would not let them off easily.

"Hiruzen, you..." Danzo still wanted to argue and make a few snide remarks, but in the end, he yielded beneath Hiruzen's stern gaze and responded, "I understand."

The Third Hokage nodded. Only then did he finally have time to light his pipe.