The journey back was smooth.
Veigar walked calmly ahead of Kakashi and Rin, completely unaffected by the two behind him.
Kakashi, however, had a noticeable smile on his face. After this incident, he fully realized Rin's importance to him.
Slowly trailing behind Veigar, Kakashi carried a touch more warmth and a little less coldness.
They continued onward, nearing the village gate.
As Veigar saw the familiar golden-haired figure at the village gate, a smile flickered across his face.
Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure.
Behind Minato were ninja and regular villagers.
Having already received news of Rin's successful rescue, he had been waiting at the village gate for some time.
"Good work, welcome home."
Landing before the three, Minato beamed with joy, his wide arms embracing Veigar and his teammates.
Warm, very warm!
This feeling wasn't just Veigar's; Rin and Kakashi felt it too.
It was truly warm, like basking in the sun's embrace.
"Rin Nohara."
Several figures suddenly appeared behind Minato Namikaze.
Danzo, leader of Konoha's Root, the two Konoha Elders Koharu and Homura, and Hiruzen, whose face showed a helpless expression.
It was Danzo who had just spoken.
With Veigar having successfully rescued Rin, Konoha's "Four Elders" were once again gathered.
As Danzo's voice fell, the smile on Minato's face vanished.
The appearance of Konoha's "Four Elders" here was completely unexpected by Minato.
As Hokage, Minato was there to welcome his disciples home, to offer them care and warmth.
But Danzo was not.
"Rin Nohara."
Receiving no reply from Rin, Danzo frowned, his tone involuntarily rising a few notches.
As if...
He hadn't seen Minato.
No, he had seen him.
He just didn't consider Minato, the Fourth Hokage, important.
At this moment, in Danzo's eyes, Minato was simply a puppet Hokage in name only.
Aside from his strength and the support of a few civilian ninja, he held none of the power a Hokage should wield.
The Anbu, a force directly under the Hokage, remained firmly in Hiruzen's grasp. The various ninja clans, due to Minato's performance during this period, had not shown support for him, choosing instead to obey Hiruzen.
Such a Hokage, in Danzo 's eyes, calling Minato a puppet was actually giving him too much credit.
How could such a Minato, the Fourth Hokage, be taken seriously by Danzo?
Releasing the three, Minato straightened up, turned to face Danzo, and coldly stated:
"Elder Danzo, if you have something to say, just say it!"
At this moment, Minato was truly angry.
Perhaps, this was also the outburst of the pent-up frustration he had accumulated in his heart over these past few days.
Seeing Minato protecting Rin, Danzo's face clouded with a hint of gloom, but it quickly faded.
"The current Rin Nohara is no longer suitable to remain in Konoha Hospital. Hand her over to me. Let Root protect her."
Hearing Danzo's words, Minato turned to Hiruzen. Seeing him still wearing a helpless expression, Minato's brow furrowed, his heart burning with anger but with nowhere to vent it.
Minato had only told Hiruzen about Rin's situation. The intelligence Veigar sent back, that Rin had become the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki, was also known only to him and Hiruzen.
Now, seeing Danzo's posture, it was clear he knew as well.
As for who told him, did it even need to be asked?
"Lord Third, is this your decision?"
A frowning Minato asked Hiruzen.
Behind Minato, Veigar's gaze was calm, as if it was none of his business.
However, all of this was within his expectations. When he decided to send the news of Rin becoming the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki back to Konohagakure, he had foreseen this very scene unfolding.
He just hadn't expected it to happen right at Konoha's village gate.
Kakashi, looking at Danzo, also frowned deeply. Having been in the Anbu for some time, he was no stranger to Root. If not for Minato's insistence, he would already be serving in Root.
As the protagonist of the event, facing the shouts of Danzo, the Anbu's darkness, she instinctively recoiled in fear, leaning closer to Kakashi Hatake.
Seeking a sense of security.
"Minato, Danzo's words make sense. Given Rin's current situation, it really isn't suitable for her to be out in the open anymore."
Hiruzen's eyes revealed a complex emotion, seemingly helplessness, yet also pain, and even more so, an act of demonstrating that everything he did was for Konohagakure.
Immediately, Minato understood Hiruzen's meaning and the depth in Hiruzen's eyes.
"Heh~~"
An inappropriate, disdainful chuckle escaped Veigar's lips from behind Minato.
Veigar couldn't help but admire Hiruzen's acting, political maneuvering, and his displayed attitude that everything was for Konohagakure.
Veigar, who in two lifetimes had not lived as long as Hiruzen, deeply respected Hiruzen's methods.
No matter what he did, it was always meticulously planned, without a single flaw. Even when he acted for his own benefit, he would use "all for Konohagakure" as a disguise.
If Rin were truly taken by Danzo at this moment, would Danzo be the biggest beneficiary?
No!
Hiruzen would be the biggest beneficiary.
Even if Rin were like Kushina, capable of using the Tailed Beast's power, handing Rin over to Root under Danzo's leadership, Hiruzen would still be the greatest beneficiary.
A Tailed Beast was nothing more than a minor trouble for Konohagakure, but for Hiruzen, it was definitely not.
Minato already had the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Kushina, a powerful weapon. If Minato were to gain the Three-Tails Jinchūriki as well, it would undoubtedly be the worst possible news for Hiruzen.
Two Tailed Beast Jinchūriki would be enough to shake his behind-the-scenes control over Konohagakure. With the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, would Minato still be as "obedient" as he had been recently?
That was highly unlikely.
Power is the only truth that determines influence—this was Hiruzen's summary of authority.
This was also the fundamental reason he relinquished the Hokage position under duress but refused to give up his hidden control.
As long as the Anbu remained in his hands, he would remain the true controller of Konohagakure.
Minato Namikaze?
Just a puppet.
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This fanfic has been fully translated!