High-Level Meeting: Danzo Blames the Fourth Hokage and His Wife for the Nine-Tails Breaking Free!

"Last night's Nine-Tails attack devastated many parts of the village. Since we have to rebuild, I intend to reorganize the village's layout."

Inside Cell No. 1 of Soul Space.

Watching the four Konoha leaders on the screen, along with the familiar clan heads, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but feel shocked.

Nearly the entire power structure and strongest fighters of Konoha were gathered there, yet none of them had noticed they were being broadcast. How could a former Hokage like him not be alarmed?

"Did you come here just to show off your ability to monitor Konoha?"

"No, no~"

Sasuke, lounging on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, wagged a finger. Then he gestured toward the screen, inviting Minato to keep watching.

It was only a meeting about reorganizing the village. Could there really be anything important coming up?... Minato pushed down his questions and returned his gaze to the screen.

"The Aburame Clan should move to this area."

Shimura Danzō pointed with a long pointer to a spot on the map of Konoha, then explained to the other clan heads, "They told the village long ago that they wanted a forest of their own. This arrangement takes that into consideration."

The current head of the Aburame Clan, Shibi Aburame, nodded, confirming Danzō's explanation and showing his satisfaction with the arrangement.

His clan nurtured insects with their own chakra and relied on them in battle.

For that reason, they preferred a clan compound close to nature.

Seeing this, the other clan heads nodded as well, showing no objections.

After all, the Aburame Clan's new compound was only on the village outskirts, not in the heart of Konoha. Naturally, they had no reason to object.

That matter was settled. Danzō continued, "The Nara Clan's compound wasn't damaged, so it will remain as it is. As for the Yamanaka Clan..."

He made arrangements for the compounds of several clans in succession.

Overall, he showed no obvious bias. The clan heads didn't resist much and accepted the arrangements.

"The destroyed Military Police Force headquarters..."

Uchiha Fugaku, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the meeting room, opened them.

In Soul Space, Sasuke's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Minato's heart stirred at the sight.

Danzō's pointer landed on an area at the edge of the village. "We'll rebuild it here. At the same time, the Uchiha Clan will also..."

"Lord Danzō!"

Uchiha Fugaku stood up, frowning. "The Uchiha are the Military Police Force, responsible for keeping order in the village. This location is far too remote from the center, making it difficult for us to respond to emergencies!"

Danzō raised his chin slightly. "The Anbu will handle emergencies."

The Anbu?... Fugaku immediately realized that they intended to strip the Military Police Force of its authority.

He was about to object forcefully.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent until then, spoke up. "The Military Police Force often travels to training grounds for practice. This location is right beside suitable training grounds, which can serve as a dedicated training area for the Uchiha. It's settled."

Once Hiruzen spoke, the other Konoha leaders and clan heads fell silent.

Remembering the order the previous night that had barred the Uchiha from joining the fight, Fugaku took a deep breath and sat back down.

Seeing that,

"All right, I'll continue," Danzō said. "With the Military Police Force headquarters and the Uchiha Clan moving away, the villagers' destroyed homes will be rebuilt here..."

Inside Soul Space.

Clap, clap, clap~

Sasuke couldn't help applauding. "They're giving the Uchiha's old compound to the villagers, setting them against each other and diverting the conflict. Darkness of Konoha indeed. What a move!"

"Are you a member of the Uchiha Clan?"

Though Minato didn't understand why Konoha's leaders had moved the Uchiha Clan to the edge of the village, he wasn't particularly bothered by it. Instead, after hearing Sasuke's remark, he couldn't help testing him.

"Ding-dong~ You guessed right."

He just admitted it?... Minato was taken aback.

Seeing how readily Sasuke had admitted it, Minato couldn't help growing suspicious.

Guessing what he was thinking, Sasuke looked amused. "You don't think I'm worried about you finding out who I am, do you?"

Minato's pupils contracted slightly, then he slowly let out a breath.

That was true...

As hard as it was to accept, it was a fact.

Even if he knew the other person's identity, what could he do when his very soul was imprisoned?

"So, you just wanted to show me how your Uchiha Clan was being treated unfairly?"

"Oh? As the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, would you care to comment on the way the Konoha leaders are acting?"

"I'm already dead." Minato shook his head, then said, "But I believe Lord Third and the advisers must have their reasons for doing this."

He truly believed that.

"Fine." Sasuke didn't say anything more. He gestured for Minato to keep watching, showing him that this wasn't the main topic today.

That wasn't it?... Minato wondered.

Before long,

the meeting to reorganize the village ended, and the clan heads left. Only the four Konoha leaders remained in the meeting room.

At the same time,

the scene in the meeting room appeared in Cell No. 2, where Kushina was being held.

This is... the Konoha leaders!? She had been utterly despondent, but now she froze.

Before she could react, Utatane Koharu spoke on the screen. "All right, now we should discuss the Jinchuriki."

The Jinchuriki!

Minato frowned.

Kushina's pupils contracted.

Those three words alone revealed so much, including how the leaders truly thought of Naruto...

"Naruto..." Kushina slapped her cheeks to rouse herself, then stared intently at the screen.

She didn't know why this scene had appeared,

nor whether what she was seeing was real,

but it concerned her newborn child. She didn't want to miss a single frame or a single word!

Minato also noticed what was happening with Kushina. Combined with the leaders' casual use of the word "Jinchuriki," it filled him with a deep sense of unease.

The amusement on Sasuke's face grew more pronounced.

As long as something didn't happen to you, you could never truly understand how it felt.

Didn't Minato believe the Konoha leaders had their reasons?

Why was he getting worried now?

"Hand the Jinchuriki over to Root!"

Danzō didn't disappoint Sasuke. Like a vanguard charging across a battlefield, he was the first to speak up. "I'll train the Jinchuriki into a weapon who knows nothing but loyalty to Konoha!"

Minato's gaze darkened.

"Danzō!" Kushina exploded with rage.

They both knew all too well what kind of place Root was!

He wanted to turn their child into a heartless killing machine, a walking corpse that would do nothing but obey orders!

How could Kushina not be furious?

Ding!

Detected a strong emotional reaction from Kushina. Congratulations, host. You have obtained: Five Elements Seal!

Minato, at least, lived up to his reputation as a former Hokage and managed to keep his composure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, then slowly exhaled. "Naruto is the orphan of the Fourth Hokage and his wife. We can't treat a hero's child this way."

"Ha!" Danzō scoffed. "They're heroes?"

"Then what about the Root shinobi who sacrificed their lives for Konoha? Aren't they heroes?"

"What about the shinobi who fought in battle after battle, shed their blood for Konoha, and died on the battlefield? Aren't they heroes?"

"What about the shinobi who died because of the Nine-Tails last night? Aren't they heroes?"

"Hiruzen, tell me!"

"Of course they're heroes." The subject was sensitive, but Hiruzen Sarutobi answered correctly without hesitation. Then he asked, "But what exactly are you trying to say, Danzō?"

"If that's the case, then tell me, Hiruzen!" Danzō demanded heatedly. "Among the shinobi who died last night, how many weren't descended from heroes?"

!!! Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless.

Danzō pressed on. "Tell me this, then: why did those descendants of heroes have to die because of the Fourth Hokage and his wife's negligence?"

Negligence?... Hiruzen frowned. "Danzō! What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Danzō looked at him as if he had no right to ask. "Wasn't last night's disaster caused by the Fourth Hokage and his wife's negligence?"

"Heroes?"

"In my view, the Fourth Hokage and his wife must bear full responsibility for this disaster. They should also apologize to every shinobi and villager who died because of the Nine-Tails, to their parents, and even to their descendants!"

"They died just like that, getting off easy, while countless families were left shattered because of them!"

Ding!

Detected a strong emotional reaction from Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze. Congratulations, host. You have obtained: Shadow Clone Technique, Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.

Huh?

They were losing their composure already?