Danzo: "Does Your Konoha Belong to the Namikaze?!" The Wood-Sand Friendly Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Treaty Is Finalized

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had already begun showing signs of indecision, he was nowhere near as bad as he would become more than a decade later in the original timeline.

He did want to let Danzo off, but only if Danzo recognized his mistakes and sincerely reflected on them. Until then, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered ordering the Anbu and Root members watching Danzo not to divulge information about the village to him without permission. But now-

Someone actually dared to obey him in public while defying him in private?

Was it one of the former Root members?

What outrageous nerve. He would have to get Shinnosuke to investigate this thoroughly!

Meanwhile.

Shimura Danzō said coldly, "You don't need to concern yourself with my sources. I only want to remind you of one thing. Nohara Rin is Namikaze Minato's subordinate. Namikaze Minato and Kushina are already a couple, and now his subordinate has become a jinchūriki too. Perhaps in a few days, that Mikami Yu will join them-

"An ordinary Konoha jonin has three jinchūriki gathered around him, and he's also on good terms with the Uchiha Clan-have you thought about what that means?"

"What?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyebrows.

Shimura Danzō suddenly raised his voice. "Does your Konoha belong to the Namikaze?!"

"?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze slightly. "Well-"

"What does that matter?"

"The First's original purpose in establishing a shinobi village was to break the pattern of countless independent ninja clans during the Warring States Era. A Kage is a representative recognized by all the ninja clans. If Namikaze Minato has the capacity to handle this position, what's wrong with making him the next Hokage?"

"If he becomes a Kage, his friendship with the jinchūriki and the Uchiha Clan would instead be his greatest strength. It would help resolve a chronic problem