Hiruzen Sarutobi's purpose in mobilizing the Anbu was obvious: he was going to move against certain people.
Xia Yan had given him so much time to prepare, while constantly displaying his strength and confidence. Hiruzen really had very little choice left.
Especially after the meeting he and Shikaku Nara had held with Xia Yan, he knew that Xia Yan had already addressed every issue that might cause Konoha trouble afterward.
That truly made him understand just how determined Xia Yan was to eliminate these problems.
Those former followers of his had only themselves to blame, too. Of all the things they could have done, they should never have entertained those crooked ideas. Once they did, no one could save them.
The moon was bright and the stars sparse. Hiruzen stood atop Hokage Rock, his gaze complicated as he looked at Konoha shrouded in darkness.
That boy Kakashi was now the Konoha Anbu Director. Hiruzen had already contacted him and secured his support.
All that remained now was the final task, the one he least wanted to do, yet had no choice but to carry out.
"Sigh..."
After a long while, Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh, then gently closed his eyes.
He was nominally a member of the council of elders now, but in reality, he could only be considered Xia Yan's adviser, because after tonight, the council might truly exist in name only.
But if it disappeared, so be it. As a Hokage, he knew why the council existed.
Its purpose was to stop an unwise Hokage from making mistakes that would drag Konoha into the abyss.
But when the elders' abilities failed to match the Hokage's, they became a burden holding the Hokage back.
Especially now, when the council was about to do something that would harm Konoha.