I Am the Fourth Hokage

Uchiha Yun had not even graduated yet; he was merely a student who had just entered his third year at the Ninja Academy a little over a month ago.

Students at the Ninja Academy are not yet ninjas; one must understand that neither ninja registration numbers nor headbands are issued until one has officially graduated from the academy.

If they are not ninjas, the Root Division does not hold such extensive authority over civilians. Perhaps some things can be done behind closed doors, but on the surface, the Root Division has no basis for taking Konoha villagers to the Root Division for interrogation.

"The identity of the Root Division has always been known to very few people in the village, and the Root Division does not have the right to take away ordinary villagers."

Minato said this while looking at Shisui: "If I remember correctly, the internal management of the village should be a function belonging to the Konoha Military Police Force of the Uchiha."

"Bang!"

The cane struck the ground heavily once more. Danzō raised his head and looked at the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, with a dangerous gaze: "A ninja from the Root Division is dead! Two are severely injured!"

"Swish, swish..."

The words had barely fallen when several members of the Medical Team rushed in, and several of them immediately began emergency treatment on the two severely injured Root Division members.

The leader bowed to Minato and asked: "We came as soon as we received the news, Lord Fourth."

Minato nodded: "Take them back immediately for emergency surgery; their injuries are quite severe."

As he spoke, he also glanced at Yun.

This scene infuriated Danzō, who directly raised his cane to block the medical ninjas carrying the stretchers: "Someone will come to collect them in a moment."

Minato frowned slightly and said: "As the only two survivors, I believe the memories in their minds should be able to reconstruct the entire sequence of events."

Danzō's gaze sharpened as he stared at Minato and said: "No one can search the minds of the Root Division at will... and does the Fourth think he can unlock their memories?"

These words reminded Minato of certain things; the members of the Root Division were all branded with special cursed seals, so while they could die, they would never reveal any secrets.

But no one can search them at will?

The Root Division, as expected, had long since become the direct subordinate of this man.

In Konoha, the direct Anbu has always been something only the Hokage could possess, such as the Third and himself at present.

But Danzō...

"Fourth, the survivors on the scene are not just the two from the Root Division. I believe it is necessary to hand this Uchiha brat over to the Root Division to have his memories searched," Danzō's gloomy voice rang out again.

But Minato shook his head, unmoved: "The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal is not without a solution; I think I can still manage it when it comes to Sealing Jutsu."

"Furthermore, the Root Division does not have the right to interrogate Konoha villagers. If I remember correctly, the function of the Root Division is merely to cultivate direct Anbu for the Hokage. And the direct Anbu belonging to the Hokage should obey my orders!"

"I! Namikaze Minato am the Fourth Hokage!"

As the final words fell, Danzō stared fixedly at the young Fourth Hokage before him.

This statement truly provoked him significantly, and this was also the most assertive the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had ever been.

Gripping his cane tightly, Danzō thought of the past...

If...

If it hadn't been for Hiruzen back then, how could he have been so humiliated?

Fourth Hokage...

If I had spoken those words earlier back then, then the current Hokage should be me, Shimura Danzō. Only I, Shimura Danzō, can make Konoha more prosperous and powerful!

"I will leave those two Root Division ninjas to you. I hope you can give this old man an explanation in the end. This brat killed Root Division ninjas, and the Root Division requires someone to pay the price!"

"Bang!"

The cane landed heavily on the ground, and Danzō regained his composure, leading his group away.

As his figure gradually disappeared, Danzō's voice rang out once more: "Fourth, you don't understand the evil of the Uchiha at all. One day, you will regret this. And everything this old man does is truly for the sake of Konoha."

The figures gradually vanished, but Minato's expression remained grave.

Shisui, standing to the side, looked at Minato and said: "The Root Division, which has existed since the time of the Third, has nominally always been a place to cultivate the Hokage's direct Anbu, but that group of people just now..."

Minato understood the implication without Shisui needing to finish; the ninjas of the Root Division held no respect for him as the Hokage.

This situation had already turned the Root Division into Danzō's own direct Anbu, but that authority belonged to the Hokage...

"Shisui..."

"What is it, Lord Fourth?"

"You have grown a lot over these past two years..."

Shisui, standing to the side, scratched his head and replied with a smile: "I have indeed learned a lot from following Lord Fourth over these two years, so it is only natural that I have grown."

Minato smiled but did not respond, instead looking at the composed Yun: "I heard Shisui mention you a long time ago, and I have become increasingly curious about you. Uchiha Yun, can you tell me how you managed to do it?"

With Shisui acting as the bridge, the Uchiha and the Fourth Hokage had already been in the same camp for two years, so it would not be appropriate to play dumb at this point.

However, there was no need for excessive explanation; Namikaze Minato naturally knew whether or not he had recognized them as Root Division members.

What he wanted to ask about was simply his strength.

Thus, Yun raised his head slightly, his Sharingan instantly activating. The three tomoe rotated slowly, and the pattern of a three-bladed shuriken appeared within Yun's eye sockets.

"A second pair of Mangekyō Sharingan? With eyes like these, it is indeed easy for you to deal with two Root Division ninjas."

Minato was slightly surprised; although he often heard Shisui mention this clansman, the power of the Mangekyō was far too young.

"It would be best for you to stay within the Uchiha Compound for the next few days. Shisui tells me you mastered the Shadow Clone Technique quite some time ago. In that case, just use a shadow clone to attend school."

Yun nodded and replied, "Will there be any trouble following this?"

Minato frowned slightly. "In principle, the killing of a Root Division ninja is a major incident. Fortunately, thanks to Shisui's efforts over the past two years, many in the Jonin Squad are his friends. Therefore..."

Minato, who had only ever heard of Yun through others, would not speak so bluntly, but Shisui, standing to the side, placed great trust in Yun.

Thus, Shisui spoke up: "There will be plenty of subsequent trouble, but it mainly stems from two aspects: the attitude of the various clans in Konoha, and the attitude of the Third. If either of these sides stands with us, we can suppress the other."

"Hoo..."

Minato exhaled and offered a wry smile. "Shisui, putting it that way makes me, the Fourth, seem quite useless."

Shisui bowed slightly. "How could that be, Lord Fourth? We hold the majority in the Jonin Squad. Besides, Lord Third has always trusted you."

These words made Minato smile unnaturally.

Lord Third—that man's trust was not reserved for him alone...

Just as Uzumaki Sora had said back then, the Third's trust in his old comrade Danzo and his disciple Orochimaru had long since curdled into indulgence.

If things continued this way...

There would be no choice but to...

I will upload another chapter after twelve o'clock; it seems the new book rankings have climbed a bit higher. Hehe...