Konoha's Leadership Makes a Decision: My Shadow, Your Regret—Boom!

Hokage Building.

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage had his pipe in his mouth, but his face was filled with shock and confusion.

Beside the Third Hokage, Konoha's two Hokage advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, wore equally complicated expressions.

"Orochimaru, are you saying that a... a Tailed Beast Ball flew in from hundreds of kilometers away, and then Bellflower Mountain City was destroyed?!"

Mitokado Homura stared at Orochimaru in the office with tightly furrowed brows as he spoke hesitantly.

"That's right." Orochimaru nodded coldly.

Bang.

Utatane Koharu angrily slammed her hand on the table and rose to her feet, glaring at Orochimaru. "Absurd! Orochimaru, do you know what you're saying? A Tailed Beast Ball that flew in from hundreds of kilometers away, yet was able to destroy Bellflower Mountain City in a single blow—a city half the size of Konoha.

Even the strongest Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails, couldn't do that!

Orochimaru, do you think us old people have become senile, so you came up with such an absurd lie to cover up your failure on the battlefield?"

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "Leaving aside the destruction of Bellflower Mountain City, Orochimaru, as the commander of the Sand Battlefield, you must answer for Konoha losing over a thousand ninja."

"You old fossils who should have been buried long ago really are laughable!" Orochimaru sneered as his snake-like eyes coldly fixed on the two Hokage advisors.

"Orochimaru, you..." Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were immediately enraged by Orochimaru's mockery, but just as they were about to say something—

"Enough."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally put down his pipe and spoke to stop the argument.

The office immediately fell silent.

"Orochimaru, you are my most outstanding disciple. Tell me now, was Bellflower Mountain City truly destroyed by a single white Tailed Beast Ball?"

The Third Hokage wore a grave expression as he sought confirmation once more.

"Teacher, you really have grown old."

Orochimaru gave the Third Hokage a disappointed look. From the Third Hokage's words just now, Orochimaru had already realized that he no longer trusted him as he once had.

If it had been the younger Third Hokage, he certainly would not have needed to confirm it. But now...

"Wait for Minato Namikaze to report the details.

I still have Human Experimentation to conduct, so I won't waste any more time here." Orochimaru stopped speaking nonsense, turned around, and left.

Watching Orochimaru's retreating back, the two Hokage advisors flared up again. "Hiruzen, how dare Orochimaru do this? How dare he openly bring up Human Experimentation? This is simply..."

Utatane Koharu said indignantly as well, "Orochimaru is becoming more and more outrageous. It's time to stop funding him."

The Third Hokage said nothing. He merely stared blankly at Orochimaru.

Poof.

A cloud of white smoke appeared in the office, followed by a dog-faced Anbu appearing before Hiruzen and the others.

"What is it?" The Third Hokage turned his gaze toward the Anbu.

"Lord Hokage, Kakashi, Minato Namikaze's disciple, has an urgent matter to report."

The Anbu spoke in a cold voice.

"Kakashi? Let him in." The Third Hokage frowned slightly and gave the Anbu his order.

The Anbu vanished in a Body Flicker.

A moment later, Kakashi pushed open the door and entered.

"Third Hokage, this is an emergency. Ato, the Saiyan who destroyed Bellflower Mountain City, has appeared in Konoha."

Upon seeing the Third Hokage, Kakashi did not waste any words. He efficiently relayed all the information concerning Ato.

"Kakashi, are you saying that the one who destroyed Bellflower Mountain City was a four-year-old child with a tail?"

Utatane Koharu's brows knitted together, and her expression shifted.

She truly could not believe that a four-year-old child could destroy Bellflower Mountain City and more than a thousand Konoha and Sand Shinobi ninja in a single attack.

"Even Minato Namikaze was no match for him? How is that possible? That is Konoha's Yellow Flash, who has mastered the space-time ninjutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique!" Mitokado Homura was equally shocked and uncertain.

Compared to the doubts of the two Hokage advisors, the Third Hokage was far more decisive.

He lightly tapped the desk, and a crystal ball immediately appeared before him.

Ninja Art: Telescope Technique.

The Third Hokage directly used the Telescope Technique, and the image atop Hokage Rock appeared within the crystal ball.

Seeing Minato Namikaze drenched in blood and heavily wounded, as well as Ato floating above Minato Namikaze's head—

The Third Hokage's eyes widened.

"It seems all of this is true!"

The Third Hokage removed his hands from the crystal ball, his gaze incomparably grave.

Though he still found it somewhat unbelievable in his heart—

The Third Hokage already knew that what Kakashi had said was the truth.

A brat from who knew where, calling himself a Saiyan, possessed the power to casually destroy Bellflower Mountain City.

"Tell me, then. How should we deal with this... this Saiyan?"

The Third Hokage put his pipe back in his mouth, puffed out a cloud of smoke, and spoke.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked at each other, each seeing the horror in the other's eyes.

The two Hokage advisors fell silent.

The atmosphere in the Hokage's Office became quiet and oppressive.

Bang.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, the door to the Hokage's Office was violently pushed open.

An ominous-looking man with bandages over his right eye and a cross-shaped scar on his chin strode inside.

Two Root Members followed behind him.

This man was none other than Konoha's Pot Kage, Shimura Danzō.

Though Danzo had not yet acquired Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, his right eye had already been implanted with an eye that once belonged to Kagami Uchiha.

"Such a dangerous individual must naturally be brought under control at once." Danzo strode up to the Third Hokage's desk and spoke decisively.

"Your proposal is a good one, Danzo. Then how exactly should we control that Saiyan?

Don't forget that he is a being even more terrifying than a Tailed Beast, capable of destroying Bellflower Mountain City in a single strike."

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and calmly watched Danzo as he continued along that line of questioning.

"It is very simple. We only need to unleash Konoha's strongest weapon." Danzo had clearly thought of a solution long ago and spoke with complete composure.

"Danzo, so you truly intend to use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

The Third Hokage, who had been expressionless just moments ago, showed a trace of anger.

"Have you considered what kind of disaster it would bring Konoha if the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were unsealed within the village?

If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki still could not control that Saiyan, what situation would Konoha face then?

If that Saiyan destroyed Konoha just as he destroyed Bellflower Mountain City, what would we do?"

"Hiruzen, this is wartime. A few sacrifices are worthwhile.

As long as we can control that Saiyan brat, Konoha will possess two ultimate weapons. At that point, forget the other ninja villages—even the Five Great Nations will be beneath Konoha's feet..." Danzo declared ambitiously.

"Enough, Danzo!"

The Third Hokage slammed his hand against the table and rose to his feet, fury in his voice.

"I will never allow us to attack that Saiyan inside Konoha.

No matter who wins or loses, Konoha cannot bear the losses caused by such a battle.

I will send someone to make contact with that Saiyan and find out what exactly he wants."

The Third Hokage stood with an imposing authority that needed no anger, placing immense pressure on Danzo.

"Hiruzen, killing that Saiyan brat is the correct choice!" Danzo refused to back down.

"Shut up, Danzo! I am the Hokage!" The Third Hokage once again rudely cut Danzo off.

"Hmph. Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

Seeing the Third Hokage's unquestionable gaze, Danzo snorted coldly and slammed the door behind him as he left.

Bang.

The door to the Hokage's Office was violently shut.

The Third Hokage, who had been so imposing moments ago, let out a deep sigh. "Danzo's reach has grown too long. It is time to remind him of his place."