On the road linking the Hokage Building to Anbu headquarters, Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi walked side by side, with Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura behind them.
The road was bustling, with all sorts of people moving through the crowds and quite a few women shopping there.
Yet none of them seemed to notice the appearance of Konoha's five most powerful people on this road.
They continued doing what they wanted to do, and everything looked so harmonious.
But the five of them felt little about this harmonious scene. Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō in particular each had their own thoughts.
"Fourth." As they walked, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly asked calmly, "What do you think of this selection for Anbu captain?"
"Lord Third, I think it would be best to let things take their course." Minato Namikaze gave a genial smile, as warming as the morning sun. "I believe everyone taking part this time is qualified. Whoever it turns out to be, it wouldn't really be a surprise."
"They're all qualified?" Standing behind them, Danzo spoke with some disdain. "There might not be any issue with the others, but can you tell me what's going on with that Nightingale?"
"Nightingale is qualified as well, of course." Minato Namikaze offered this explanation evenly, seemingly not intending to say much more to Danzo.
He disliked Danzo. That was hardly much of a secret.
Or rather, few people in all of Konoha liked Danzo, and Minato Namikaze's behavior was quite normal for a Konoha ninja.
But as Hokage, he could not show his disgust.
He also knew that, although he did not approve of Root's existence, it did serve some necessary purposes.
It was just that this necessity had been taken too far. Moreover, he could not intervene in it at