Minato Namikaze: Third Hokage-sama, Konoha Can No Longer Tolerate Danzo!

Danzo clearly knew that his summoned beast's weakness was its fear of fire, and he also knew that the Uchiha Clan were all experts at manipulating fire, not to mention Uchiha Meikyō.

Danzo did this simply to buy time.

Two shuriken, wreathed in sharp Wind Style Chakra, shot swiftly through the air toward Meikyō.

With the Mangekyō Sharingan's superhuman dynamic vision, Meikyō precisely used the tip of the Ama-no-Ohabari Feather sword to block the center of a Wind Release: Shuriken. Then, he spun around and used it to protect himself, blocking another shuriken from Danzo.

"Wind Style: Super Vacuum Serial Waves!"

It's the same Ninjutsu as the Mirror Body Flicker Technique that suppressed Meikyō before, but this time it's on a much larger scale and the way it's used is different.

Several enormous wind blades were stacked together and flew towards Meikyō in a line.

"Laugh..."

Sparks of light, accompanied by wisps of white steam, drifted from Meikyō's lips.

"Uchiha Style: Sun Breathing: Sun Halo Dragon Dance!"

The Flame Dragon roared, clashing head-on with the giant wind blade.

"The power of this Wind Style is so great that even the outer shell of Third Stage Susanoo would have difficulty defending against it. Amazing! Shimura Danzō, among all the Wind Style ninjas I have ever seen, I would call you the second strongest!"

From within the fire dragon came Uchiha Meikyō's excited shouts.

In terms of Wind Style mastery alone, Danzo was indeed the strongest that Meikyō had ever seen, but he was not the strongest Wind Style ninja that Meikyō knew.

Minato Namikaze is the one.

Although his Wind Style is half a level below Danzo's, when combined with Flying Thunder God and Sage Mode, his overall strength surpasses Danzo's.

In the distance, Shimura Danzō's face darkened.

Is this praising him or criticizing him?

Danzo didn't understand, nor did he intend to understand. He simply used his hand to remove the bandage that had been wrapped around his head and covering his right eye.

A scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan suddenly appeared in Danzo's eyes.

"Uchiha Meikyō, I remember that you and Kagami are closely related by blood. Hiruzen has always planned to train you to be the second Kagami. Now, you can die under Kagami's eyes."

Danzo spoke with a cold expression, then stared at Meikyō with the Mangekyō Sharingan that originally belonged to Kagami Uchiha, as if scanning something.

Danzo's Wind Style technique is very powerful; strictly speaking, it could be considered a trump card move in the hands of any Kage Level shinobi.

However, Fire Style is effective against Wind Style.

While it's true that if a ninja using Wind Style is skilled enough, they might be able to suppress Fire Style, this is clearly not suitable for use between Meikyō and Danzo.

After the power of the several giant wind blades was exhausted, the Sun Flame Dragon continued its charge towards Danzo with undiminished momentum.

"That's about it."

Danzo silently uttered a few words, and a Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Mirror of External World!"

The image of Uchiha Meikyō, Mangekyō Sharingan Danzo's Mangekyou Sharingan, seemed to come alive at this moment, appearing in front of Danzo and also unleashing the Sun Halo Dragon Dance in front of him.

"Boom!"

The two solar-shaped Flame Dragon collided head-on, producing a deafening sound.

Meanwhile, at Sarutobi Residence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was wearing the Hokage Robe, also heard the loud noise.

He had already begun preparing to depart when the Four Violet Flames Formation rose within the Forest of Death, but he was stopped by someone.

Someone he couldn't believe would stop him.

Minato Namikaze!

"Minato! Do you even know what you're doing?!"

Hearing the chaotic noise outside, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but question Minato Namikaze.

"Third Hokage-sama, everything I've done is for Konoha!"

A look of guilt crossed Minato Namikaze's face, then he spoke firmly.

"It seems you were involved in what happened in the Forest of Death. Tell me, what exactly happened!"

"Third Hokage-sama, last night, Kakashi found me and knelt before me, begging me to help Sakumo-senpai restore his reputation."

Minato Namikaze sighed and said.

The Third Hokage's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.

"Third Hokage-sama, I haven't told you before, Obito Awakening the same eyes as Meikyō and Fugaku. It was with Obito's Dojutsu that Kakashi infiltrated Root, learned the truth of what happened back then, and learned about the countless crimes Danzo has committed over the years."

And coincidentally, at that very moment, Meikyō approached me, telling me that he planned to work with Dan-senpai, Tsunade -Senior Tsunade, Senior Orochimaru, and Fugaku to eradicate Danzo, this scourge of the village. I agreed, promising to help them overcome the biggest obstacle they would encounter in eliminating Danzo —that is, you."

Minato Namikaze spoke to the Third Hokage with a sincere expression.

"Danzo ... he doesn't deserve this. I know that everything he did was for Konoha."

"Third Hokage-sama! I'm doing this for Konoha!"

Minato Namikaze replied resolutely.

"After what happened on the border of the Land of Rain, I have been investigating this matter. For the sake of the village's stability, I chose to conceal it from Meikyō. Later, the incident involving Setsuna -senpai happened. You did punish Danzo, but you quickly rescinded it."

Then last year, he tried to take down Obito and control him, even colluding with Kirigakure for this purpose, and revealing that he secretly used the First Hokage's cells to create clones to monitor his fellow village ninjas. I witnessed all of this firsthand. Before that, there was also Sakumo-senpai..."

Half of the crimes listed by Minato Namikaze were not committed by Danzo.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, upon hearing this, also felt that this was something Danzo was capable of doing.

He had previously wanted to recruit Uchiha Meikyō to his side to fight against him, the Third Hokage!

This is simply because after failing to harm Uchiha Meikyō, they did the same thing to Uchiha Obito, only with more radical methods.

"They couldn't possibly have colluded with the Hidden Kirigakure..."

The Third Hokage finally managed to utter a sentence, trying to find a flaw.

"How do you explain Na Lin's situation?"

Third Hokage remained silent.

"Third Hokage-sama, if Danzo continues like this, the entire village will only be thrown into chaos and eventually fall apart."

Minato Namikaze continued to persuade him.

"Minato, do you know that I've always hoped you would become Hokage..."

When the Third Hokage Minato Namikaze remained unmoved, he had no choice but to change his tactics.

He could only hope that Danzo could hold on a little longer until he arrived.

"The Third Hokage-sama..."

Minato Namikaze's face showed a hint of longing and excitement, but he quickly returned to his previous state.

"Thank you for your trust, but compared to me, Meikyō's strength and achievements are more qualified to be Hokage. His thinking and vision are also broader, making him more suitable to become Hokage than me. If even he cannot become Hokage, let alone me. If I were really the Fourth Hokage, I'm afraid the village would immediately fall apart."

Aside from Jiraiya my teacher, Senior Orochimaru Senior Tsunade, and even Dan would most likely not accept being called Jiraiya's student. At least I'm certain that, given Senior Orochimaru's proud personality, he would never submit to being Jiraiya's disciple. You should know this better than I do.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply.

How could he not understand these principles?

"But Minato, given your relationship with Meikyō, if you become Hokage, you might be able to persuade him, just like I and Danzo did in the past, one in the open and one in the shadows, working together to govern the village. As for Orochimaru and the others, no matter how dissatisfied they are, they are still Konoha ninjas. If the village encounters difficulties that you and Meikyō cannot solve, they will not stand idly by."

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently stated the best possible outcome he envisioned.

"Third Hokage-sama, if Dan-senpai or Senior Tsunade were to become Hokage, with their abilities, they could completely balance the relationships between everyone you just mentioned. Meikyō and I would still wholeheartedly protect the village. Wouldn't that be better than what you described?"

For a time, the Third Hokage remained silent.

If that's the case, then the interests and power of him and the current high-level officials will be taken over by this newly emerging group of high-level officials in a short period of time.

"Ah, Minato, the fact that you can think like this shows that you are indeed more suitable to be Hokage than I am. My personal biases were too strong after all, but..."

Sarutobi removed his Hokage hat and Hokage Robe, revealing an Old-fashioned Armor with a style reminiscent of the Sengoku Period.

"But besides being the Third Hokage, I am also Hiruzen Sarutobi, a comrade who followed the Second Hokage since childhood along with Danzo. Given the bond between us, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch Danzo die!"

"I respect your opinion, Third Hokage-sama."

Minato Namikaze watched as the Third Hokage bit his finger to summon Enma, and he too clapped his hands together, entering Sage Mode.

"Rasengan!"

Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!

What's going on?

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had just finished preparing for tomorrow 'Jonin election when they came out of the Hokage Building and saw the Four Violet Flames Formation rising in the distance, which was quickly replaced by the Uchiha Flame Formation.

They also saw a group of Police Force ninjas in the distance, led by Uchiha Yashiro, heading towards a certain part of the village.

"Why is the Konoha Military Police Force heading in that direction instead of investigating the strange occurrences in the Forest of Death? Is there something there?"

Mitokado Homura pushed up his Glasses with a puzzled look, then suddenly snapped out of his daze, exchanged a glance with Utatane Koharu, and said in unison:

"The Root!"

Coupled with the Uchiha Flame Formation that had just appeared in the Forest of Death, reaching straight into the sky, the two instantly realized that the Uchiha Clan Shimura Danzō.

"Is the Uchiha Clan planning a rebellion on the eve of the Hokage Election?"

Mitokado Homura attempted to walk up to Uchiha Yashiro and the others, stopping them.

But they were stopped by others first.

"Koharu, Yan, it's been a long time."

A stocky, chubby man wearing a black hat and a Jonin Vest the character "food" on it blocked the way of the two advisors.

Torifu Akimichi, among the Second Hokage's many disciples, was the one with the lowest profile, aside from the deceased Kagami Uchiha.

He is also the only surviving disciple of the Second Hokage who did not participate in Konoha's political affairs or become a high-ranking member of the village.

"Torifu, what are you doing here?"

Utatane Koharu.

"I invited Senior Torifu."

A flash of blue light appeared, Dan Katō, supported by his psychic powers, slowly descended from the sky, floating beside Torifu Akimichi.

"Duan... It's you! What's going on? And Torifu, what are you doing here?"

Torifu Akimichi smiled without saying a word.

Apart from him and the young Kagami Uchiha, the other disciples of the Second Hokage were either Hokage or Hokage Advisor. How could he not feel resentful when he was ostracized by everyone?

But Dan Katō gave him something he couldn't refuse.

"Gentlemen, when Teacher Tobirama died covering the retreat, Hiruzen over. The reason why he was able to lead Konoha to victory in the First Shinobi World War was because I used the Butterfly Technique to block the Third Raikage. Only then could Hiruzen lead his people to a great victory. For this, all the fat I had accumulated over the years disappeared, I was on the verge of death, and my strength was greatly reduced. It wasn't until today, thirty years later, that I recovered."

Torifu Akimichi sighed, seemingly recalling the scene when the Second Hokage passed away and he and his fellow disciples worked together.

But because of this, he lost the power and glory that he should have had for the past thirty years. When he recovered, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi down, and his generation was about to step down from the stage of power.

At this moment, Dan Katō approached him and offered something he couldn't refuse.

"Koharu, Yan, why don't you come with me to the Akimichi Clan and catch up?"

Torifu Akimichi looked at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura and said.

"This..."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a look.

"Torifu, congratulations on regaining your strength, but Danzo is in danger right now, Hiruzen seems to be tied up with something. Let's put our reminiscing aside for later."

Utatane Koharu, took the initiative to step forward and persuade her.

"No need. After today, it's hard to say whether Danzo can still maintain his identity as Konoha Ninja. We don't need to care about him. On the contrary, I, as a junior, am very curious about the glorious past of the seniors and the Third Hokage in their youth."

Dan Katō out to stop Mitokado Homura, who was about to leave, and said with a forced smile.

"Hey... Dan, you're already so close to becoming Hokage, why did you have to do something like this? I know Danzo has conflicts with you, but it really doesn't have to come to this."

Mitokado Homura sighed, feeling powerless.

"No, Senior Yan, I don't like unexpected situations when I do things. So no matter how sure I am, I will do my best to nip these unexpected seeds in the Danzo..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Dan Katō.

"Whether it's me and Tsunade, or Meikyō and Orochimaru, including Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Fugaku, or even the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, most of Konoha's top combat power can no longer accommodate him."