The World Where Only Danzo and Hiruzen Were Injured Was Achieved

"Fourth Hokage, I truly didn't expect Danzō to be so bold."

"To think he would dare incite rumors against the ninja clans within the village!"

"Rest assured, I will immediately dispatch men to put a stop to him!"

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking without a blush or a change in his breathing, he picked up the teacup on his desk and took a sip.

It was as if he intended to simply turn the page on this matter so lightly.

But Minato Namikaze would not let the case close just like that.

"Third Hokage, have you not heard these rumors recently?"

Once these words were out, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a twinge of embarrassment.

Because he truly had not heard these rumors.

He had been having conflicts with Biwako lately.

Every day, after finishing his administrative duties at the Hokage Building, he would head straight home.

He had not heard any of these rumors.

"The things Elder Shimura Danzō has done cannot be handled so lightly!"

"He must be severely punished!"

Minato Namikaze's resolute tone had already set the nature of this matter!

Shimura Danzō had to provide an explanation.

"Fourth Hokage, no matter what, Danzō has rendered service to Konoha; dealing with him directly might not be appropriate."

"How about we just criticize him this time, give him a slap on the wrist, and make him promise never to repeat it?"

Hearing the demand for severe punishment, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly spoke up to plead for Shimura Danzō.

Clearly, Minato Namikaze no longer wished to endure it.

He had already been humiliated by Shimura Danzō in the office last time, and now that he had the chance to settle old and new scores together, how could he let him go?

"Third Hokage, what Elder Shimura Danzō has done is no small matter."

"This affair involves the Uchiha Clan."

"After all, you know what the situation is with the Uchiha right now."

"If he is not severely punished, I fear it will not satisfy the public."

Seeing that Minato Namikaze was determined to punish Shimura Danzō, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to give up.

"Then, what is your proposed course of action, Fourth Hokage?"

"It is simple: strip Shimura Danzō of his position as Elder, and cut the personnel and funding of Root by half."

This strike hit Shimura Danzō right in his vital spot.

The Elder position was gone, and Root's personnel and funding were halved.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could only tentatively say: "I don't object to removing his position, but Root still serves a great purpose; is cutting it in half directly not a bit too much?"

Knowing that the Third Hokage was testing his bottom line, Minato Namikaze had long detested the way Root operated.

Treating comrades in the village as puppets.

Extinguishing their humanity just to make them easier to control.

Using any means necessary to complete a mission.

Such a Root should not exist within the Konoha that he led as Hokage.

Therefore, he flatly refused Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"No, there are already enough ninjas in Root."

"It is time to let some of those Root ninjas bathe in the sunlight."

This is what I, as Hokage, can do for them right now, Minato Namikaze thought to himself.

"Very well, I agree with this proposal; I will be the one to announce this order shortly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said helplessly.

He was mainly afraid that Shimura Danzō would go mad upon hearing this order.

It will be better if I am present to restrain him.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was lost in his own thoughts, Minato Namikaze spoke again.

"By the way, Third Hokage, I have just dug up the case file on White Fang."

"There are some very intriguing things inside."

"Would you like to take a look?"

A document was placed directly in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Accepting it would be problematic, but refusing it would be just as difficult.

The death of the White Fang of Konoha was suspicious from the very beginning.

If he were to reopen the case, there was no telling what kind of chaos might ensue.

Sigh.

It would be better to let Danzo take the fall.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly, knowing that today would not end easily.

Minato Namikaze had learned some dirty tricks.

His little combos were coming one after another.

However, he still had to pretend he was unaware, so he feigned surprise while taking the file.

"Sakumo's file?"

The White Fang of Konoha, also known as the father of Hatake Kakashi.

Hatake Sakumo.

He had carved out the title of "White Fang" on the battlefield.

If ninjas from other nations encountered him during a mission, they were permitted to abandon it without penalty.

One could only imagine just how formidable the White Fang was.

Yet, such a powerful ninja had died by suicide.

Or rather, one could say he was forced to commit suicide.

The waters here ran deep.

The mere thought of it sent a chill down his spine.

Pretending to flip through the file, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked doubtfully, "Everything here seems normal, doesn't it?"

Minato Namikaze felt a wave of regret.

Third Hokage, you truly are a master of playing dumb.

I felt there was a problem back then.

The rumors regarding the senior White Fang grew increasingly vicious, yet the Hokage Building never issued an order to stop them.

This ultimately led to the White Fang taking his own life.

To say there was no conspiracy involved—not even a ghost would believe that.

The method of spreading the rumors was nearly identical to what was happening now.

"Perhaps you didn't look closely enough, Third Hokage. Senior White Fang was slandered by rumors back then, which is why he took his own life to prove his innocence."

"Furthermore, the way those rumors were spread is exactly the same as it is now."

"Therefore, I have reason to suspect that Senior White Fang was killed by certain people using those rumors."

This final sentence struck Sarutobi Hiruzen's chest like a heavy hammer.

His eyes narrowed involuntarily as he frantically searched his mind for a solution.

"Therefore, I intend to reopen the investigation into the death of the White Fang."

"This is not just for Hatake Kakashi, but also for the Will of Fire!"

Indeed, the Will of Fire, Sarutobi Hiruzen mocked himself internally.

At the time, he never intended for him to die, but in the end...

Sigh.

He hadn't expected that after retiring, he would nearly lose his reputation; it seemed he really was getting old.

Minato had grown up, too.

With Konoha having such capable successors, he could at least justify his teacher's guidance.

Very well, let's speak openly and honestly.

Let's see what he wants.

"Speak, what are your conditions?" Sarutobi Hiruzen set aside his relaxed expression and said, stone-faced.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen be so straightforward, Minato Namikaze was momentarily taken aback, but he proceeded to state his prepared terms.

"I want the Administration Department."

Knowing he wasn't yet familiar with the operational flow of Konoha's systems, Minato Namikaze wasn't greedy; he wanted to secure the most important department first.

Originally, the Anbu was the first thing he wanted to get his hands on, but after the Uchiha Clan joined the fold, the Anbu was no longer an urgent priority.

The most important thing right now was the Administration Department.

The Administration Department was the branch that assisted the Hokage in issuing administrative orders, assigning missions, liaising with the Land of Fire, and managing Konoha's finances.

If the Anbu was the brain, then the Administration Department was the heart.

Therefore, taking control of the Administration Department was a matter of extreme urgency.

The other departments could wait a while longer.

Exhaling a thick cloud of smoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment before saying, "I cannot give you the entire Administration Department. It is a complex entity with a vast number of personnel, so I will grant you half for now."

Having said that, fearing that Minato Namikaze might misunderstand, he immediately added:

"It is not that I am clinging to power; you have only just taken office, and you do not yet have enough capable people under your command."

"Let your people gain some experience within it first."

"In a few months, I will gradually hand over the remaining departments to you."

At this, Third Hokage offered a self-deprecating smile. "I am a retired old man, yet I am still here helping you handle administrative affairs, to the point where I cannot even attend to my own home."

Hearing him say this, Minato Namikaze recalled how Third Hokage had been assisting him for the past few months; otherwise, he would have been completely overwhelmed.

Not to mention finding time to be at home with Kushina.

Thinking of this, a wave of guilt washed over him.

He quickly replied, "Very well, half it is."