It was already late at night, but the lights inside the Hokage Building were still on.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office. After mulling it over all day, he finally steeled himself, summoned the ANBU, and issued his orders on the spot.
Recall Shikaku Nara to the village.
As for matters on the Iwagakure front, Mimura Hamaki would handle them.
Mimura Hamaki was already the Konoha Defense Force's commander-in-chief at the front. Now that Iwagakure was preparing to sign a peace treaty with Konoha, leaving an elite jonin stationed there temporarily would be more than enough, provided no more major battles broke out.
The more Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about it, the more satisfied he felt with his arrangements.
He truly wasn't used to being without Shikaku Nara at his side. Although Shikaku wasn't among the core members of his faction, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had always supported the Hokage. As long as he remained Hokage, he could continue relying on Shikaku Nara without concern.
Even if he retired and Minato Namikaze became the next Hokage, that relationship wouldn't easily change.
Of course, that was on the condition that Minato Namikaze never truly held all the power and remained nothing more than a figurehead, a puppet Hokage.
As for letting Minato take full control?
Hah.
Hiruzen Sarutobi would never give him that opportunity.
He had just finished issuing his orders and was about to dismiss the ANBU before him when a knock suddenly sounded outside his office.
Who would come looking for me at this hour?
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly, then said, "Come in."
The door opened, and another ANBU hurried inside before dropping to one knee.
"Lord Hokage, Shisui Uchiha requests an audience."
Shisui Uchiha?
Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily stunned by the name.
Ever since Yan Uchiha began taking power, he