Mission Accomplished, Withdrawal Complete!

Danzo's proposal made even Minato's usually gentle expression darken slightly.

During his training under Jiraiya, he had heard of this man from the same era as the Third Hokage, known as Konoha's darkness.

When Jiraiya-sensei learned that I had become Hokage, he specifically warned me to be especially wary of Danzo.

Sensei's concerns were not without reason.

But this is my first time dealing with him. I need to choose my words carefully and keep things civil on the surface...

After weighing his words, Minato said pleasantly, "Mr. Danzo, if this kind of transparent cover-up is exposed, wouldn't it be even more detrimental to the village? Something that originally had nothing to do with us would become impossible to explain!"

Oh?

Danzo paused.

Likewise, this was his first time dealing with Minato in a formal setting.

He only knew that Minato was young and exceptionally gifted in ninjutsu... He had not expected him to be so uncompromising in his dealings.

But Danzo would not give up so easily.

Danzo stared sternly at Minato. "Fourth, I am doing this for your sake! You have only just assumed the position of Hokage, and your foundation is unstable. If word spreads that you killed the Third Kazekage and draws the Hidden Sand Village's hatred, your being dragged into conflict would be a minor matter. Dragging Konoha into it would be the greater concern, wouldn't it?"

Minato replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I do not care how outsiders see it. I only know that repelling invading enemies and reducing the village's casualties is my unavoidable duty as Hokage!"

"Hmph!" Danzo snorted and turned his gaze toward Hiruzen, who wore a troubled expression nearby.

Poof! The Adamantine Staff transformed back into Enma, who tactfully said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back first~."

"Oh! Go ahead."

After Enma left, Hiruzen glanced around at the Konoha shinobi and said quietly, "Minato... this matter is no small thing. Even if we are not at fault, we should avoid suspicion. As for the corpse, I think it would be best to let Danzo handle it. Of course, you are the Hokage now. The final decision is in your hands."

At this, a deep smile appeared at the corner of Danzo's mouth.

Naturally, he had not come here for no reason to clean up Minato's mess.

As someone who had plotted with Hanzo against Akatsuki not long ago, he had long known... that Nagato of Akatsuki possessed the power of the Rinnegan.

Yet he had not reported such vital intelligence. His ambition was plain to see.

"Lord Third..."

Hiruzen's support caused Minato's expression to darken.

Deep down, he greatly respected this elder who had valued him, placed immense trust in him, and elevated him to the position of Hokage.

He could even understand... the difficulty behind Hiruzen making such a decision.

Danzo's words are not entirely unreasonable... The Third must be going against his conscience to do this because he wants to protect me.

If it were anything else... I certainly would not go against the Third's wishes. But this is a matter of principle. If I set this precedent, I will inevitably be constrained by Danzo in the future!

The Konoha I want to build... embodies the open and honorable Will of Fire! Not to dominate the ninja world, but so that no one will dare bully us!

Thus, Minato Namikaze raised his head and declared solemnly, "I am sorry, Third, but the invaders' corpses cannot be handed over to Mr. Danzo's Root!"

"The Third Kazekage's body will be collected by Konoha ANBU and transferred to the Hidden Sand Village on a later date. We will truthfully explain the circumstances to the Fourth Kazekage!"

"As for the other invaders' bodies, they will be handed over to the Konoha Medical Corps. I dare say that the true invaders are still threatening us from behind the scenes. We must uncover intelligence regarding the enemy's techniques and prepare against future danger!"

"That is my decision as Hokage! Mr. Danzo, do you have anything else to say?"

Crack! Danzo clenched the head of his cane tightly and snapped, "Hiruzen, listen to what this stubborn disciple of yours is saying!"

Hiruzen said innocently, "He is not my disciple. He is Jiraiya's disciple..."

"They are all the same. That naïveté passed down through your line is no different!" Danzo made one final attempt. "Fourth! Deal with the Third Kazekage's corpse however you wish, and bear the consequences yourself! But Root must take possession of the other corpse!"

Minato asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

"Because..." Danzo's gaze slowly shifted toward the corpse of Pain's Preta Path amid the distant ruins. "He is a member of my Seventh Branch of Root, codenamed 'Dingmao'!"

"What?" Faced with yet another shocking truth, Minato flashed to Dingmao's side and stared intently.

He had the same hair color as Mizuki, and strange ornaments had also been installed on his body.

What exactly was the connection? Why had they been made in the same style?

Could it be...

Minato bent down, intending to pull the Black Rods from Dingmao's body.

Tap!

Danzo blocked his hand with his cane.

"Fourth, ever since Root was established, it and the Hokage have stood as separate powers, with neither permitted to interfere in the other's internal affairs! This old man may refrain from interfering with your decisions, but you have no right to interfere with me taking back my subordinate's corpse!"

Minato... withdrew his hand, sighed softly, and rose to his feet.

"Very well... Please take Dingmao's corpse back with you."

"Hmph." Danzo's lips curled upward. "There is something you will learn sooner or later, so this old man will tell you in advance. The mastermind behind this attack may be connected to the Uchiha clan."

Minato looked at him sternly. "Mr. Danzo, this is not something you can simply claim without evidence!"

Danzo sneered. "Of course not. This old man has always had people in the shadows closely monitoring the Uchiha clan's movements. When the village was attacked, sounds of battle came from within their compound. Yet why did no one from that clan report the invaders' movements from beginning to end?"

"..." Minato clenched his hand.

"Enough, this old man is leaving. Fourth, think carefully about how you intend to explain this matter to the Kazekage."

With an unreadable smile on his lips, he turned, his gaze flicking toward the corpse of Preta Path Dingmao.

This way... this old man will gain an even earlier glimpse into the secrets of the Rinnegan!

Poof!!!

Suddenly... without any warning, the Preta Path and Asura Path vanished in clouds of white smoke.

"What!?" Danzo froze in place. Beneath his bandages, his wrinkled face twisted into an extremely ugly expression before turning grim.

So he can do that. No wonder he dared invade Konoha so openly... Akatsuki's leader behind the scenes, Nagato of the Uzumaki!

Whoosh!

The rain that had continued through the night gradually stopped.

Minato caught the last dripping raindrops in his hand and looked at the clearing sky, letting out a helpless sigh with a smile. "Mr. Danzo, it seems this time, the 'enemy' does not intend to leave us anything at all."

Lowering his hand, Minato's azure eyes gazed at the eastern sky beginning to brighten, filled with eager light. "I look forward to working with you in the future!"

Outside Konoha, atop a mountain beneath the sky clearing after the rain, Pain Rin lowered her small hands from their seal as the Five Paths of Pain regrouped.

—Naraka Path!

Nagato personally summoned the King of Hell through the Naraka Path, reviving the three fallen Paths and repairing Pain Rin's wounds.

Of course, Human Path Mizuki, who had already been smashed to pieces, could not be revived.

"Hmph~ Until we meet again, Minato." The King of Hell vanished, and a meaningful smile bloomed on Nagato's lips. Then he turned his gaze toward the person before him, who had endured the night's rain with him, and smiled as warmly as the morning light.

"Let's go, Konan."

The trip to Konoha had ended with the mission accomplished and a clean withdrawal!