Danzo's proposal made the face of Minato, the ever-gentle man, sink 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 learned that I had become Hokage, he specifically warned me to be especially wary of Danzo.
Sensei's concerns weren't without reason.
But this is my first time dealing with him. I need to choose my words carefully and at least keep things civil...
After weighing his words, Minato said kindly, "Mr. Danzo, if this sort 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.
Coincidentally, this was also his first time dealing with Minato in a formal setting.
He had only known that Minato was young and exceptionally gifted in ninjutsu... he had not expected him to be so unequivocal in handling affairs.
But Danzo would not give up so easily.
Staring sternly at Minato, Danzo said, "Fourth, I'm doing this for your sake! You have only just assumed the position of Hokage, and your foundation is still unstable. If word spreads that you killed the Third Kazekage and earns the Hidden Sand Village's hatred, it would be one thing for you to get caught up in the conflict, but quite another to drag Konoha into it!"
Minato replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I don't care how outsiders see it. I only know that repelling invading enemies and reducing the village's casualties are duties I cannot shirk as Hokage!"
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted and turned his gaze toward Hiruzen, whose expression was troubled.
"Bang!" The Adamantine Staff changed 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 at the Konoha shinobi around them and said quietly, "Minato... this matter is no small thing. Even if we are not at fault, we should avoid suspicion. As for the bodies, I think it would be best to leave them to Danzo. Of course, you are the Hokage, so the final decision is yours."
Hearing this, a long, shadowy smile appeared at the corner of Danzo's mouth.
Naturally, he had not come here without reason to clean up Minato's mess.
As someone who had plotted against Akatsuki alongside Hanzo not long ago, he had long known... that Akatsuki's Nagato 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 made Minato's expression darken.
Deep down, he deeply respected this elder who had valued him, placed immense trust in him, and pushed him into the position of Hokage.
He could even understand... Hiruzen's difficulties in making such a decision.
Danzo's words are not entirely without reason... The Third must be doing this against his conscience to protect me.
If it were any other matter... I certainly would not go against the Third's wishes. But this is a matter of principle. Once I set this precedent, Danzo will surely hold me back in the future!
The Konoha I want to build... is one founded upon the open and upright Will of Fire! Not to dominate the Shinobi World, but so that no one dares bully us!
Thus, Minato Namikaze raised his head and said solemnly, "I'm sorry, Third, but the invaders' bodies cannot be handed over to Mr. Danzo's Root!"
"The Third Kazekage's body will be collected by Konoha ANBU and handed over to the Hidden Sand Village on a later date, along with a truthful explanation to the Fourth Kazekage!"
"As for the other invaders' bodies, they will be handed over to the Konoha Medical Corps. I dare say the true invaders are still lurking in the shadows and threatening us. We must uncover intelligence on the enemy's techniques and prepare for trouble before it arises!"
"That is my decision as Hokage! Mr. Danzo, do you have anything else to say?"
"Crack!" Danzo gripped the head of his cane tightly and snapped, "Hiruzen, listen to what this stubborn disciple of yours is saying!"
Hiruzen said innocently, "He isn't my disciple. He is Jiraiya's disciple..."
"It's all the same! Your inherited naivety is no different!" Danzo made one final attempt. "Fourth! Deal with the Third Kazekage's body as you please, and bear the consequences yourself! But Root must take custody of the other body!"
Minato asked in confusion, "Why?"
"Because..." Danzo's gaze slowly shifted toward the body 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 reality, Minato flashed to Dingmao's side and stared intently at him.
He had the same hair color as Mizuki, and strange ornaments had also been implanted in his body.
What was the connection? Why were they made in the same style?
Could it be...
Minato bent down, intending to pull the Black Rods from Dingmao's body.
Tap!
Danzo used his cane to block his hand.
"Fourth, from the moment Root was established, it and the Hokage have stood apart with divided authority. Neither side may interfere in the other's internal affairs! I can refrain from interfering with your decisions, but you have no right to interfere with me taking back my subordinate's body!"
Minato... withdrew his hand, sighed softly, and stood up.
"Very well... please take Dingmao's body back."
"Hmph." Danzo's lips curled upward. "There is something you will learn sooner or later, so I might as well tell you in advance. The mastermind behind this attack may be connected to the Uchiha clan."
Minato looked at him sternly. "Mr. Danzo, you cannot simply make such claims!"
Danzo sneered. "Of course not. I have always had people in the shadows closely watching 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 fists.
"Enough, I'm leaving. Fourth, think carefully about how you will explain this to the Kazekage."
With an inscrutable smile on his lips, he turned away, his gaze flicking toward the body of the Preta Path, Dingmao.
This way... I will be one step closer to uncovering the Rinnegan's secrets!
Bang!!!
Suddenly... without any warning, the Preta Path and Asura Path vanished in clouds of white smoke.
"What!?" Danzo froze in place. Beneath the bandages, his wrinkled face turned incomparably ugly before darkening.
So he could do this. No wonder he dared invade Konoha so brazenly... Akatsuki's leader, Nagato of the Uzumaki Clan!
Whoosh!
The rain that had poured through the entire night gradually began to subside.
Minato caught the last drips of rain in his hand and looked at the clearing sky, letting out a helpless sigh with a smile. "Mr. Danzo, it seems this 'enemy' does not intend to leave us anything behind."
Lowering his hand, Minato's azure eyes gazed toward the eastern sky, now brightening with dawn, gleaming with eager anticipation. "Please advise me from now on!"
Outside Konoha, atop a mountain beneath the clear sky after the rain, Pain Rin lowered her small hands from their hand seals as the Five Paths of Pain regrouped.
—Naraka Path!
Nagato personally summoned the Naraka Path's King of Hell, reviving the three fallen Paths and repairing Pain Rin's wounds.
Naturally, Mizuki of the Human Path, whose body had already been reduced to pieces, could not be revived.
"Hmph~ Until we meet again, Minato." The King of Hell vanished. A meaningful smile bloomed on Nagato's lips, then he turned his gaze to 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 Konoha operation was complete; they departed in triumph!
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