Hiruzen Sarutobi was in quite a good mood.
Shikaku Nara had only just returned to the village. He had not even gone home before coming straight to the Hokage's office. That attitude alone was enough to satisfy him.
Although Ino-Shika-Cho did not belong to Hiruzen Sarutobi's inner circle, as long as he remained Hokage, the Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan, and Yamanaka Clan would devote themselves wholeheartedly to advising him.
People like that were certainly worthy of trust.
As for after he lost his power?
Heh.
Until he had thoroughly suppressed all the Great Ninja Clans and put the Sarutobi Clan in true control of Konoha, he would never consider voluntarily relinquishing power. As for failure, the thought had never even crossed his mind.
Years of uninterrupted success had long since given Hiruzen Sarutobi ample confidence. He had managed to gradually dispose of even the Senju Clan, so what was one Uchiha clan?
Even with someone like Yan Uchiha emerging among the Uchiha, he remained confident that he could eliminate him completely.
Precisely for that reason, he maintained absolute trust in Shikaku Nara, who sat before him.
Of course, if Shikaku refused to obey, that would be another matter.
Dealing with the Uchiha might indeed be troublesome, but killing off Ino-Shika-Cho would hardly be difficult for him.
Shikaku Nara, on the other hand, felt nowhere near as relaxed as Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After listening to the Hokage's account, he felt as though his head might burst.
Two days.
How had so much trouble arisen in just two days?
Kirigakure had sealed the Three-Tails inside Rin Nohara on the battlefield, and they would undoubtedly come demanding their tailed beast back. Sacrificing one ninja for the village's peace should not have been a major issue.
But that ninja happened to be Minato Namikaze's student.