"Rin, let's go!"
"We're going to the hospital."
Carrying his Shinigami Blade, Veigar called out to Rin and then started walking.
At the same time, two figures wearing animal masks blocked Veigar's path.
"Stop, Veigar."
"The Three-Tails belongs to the village."
Danzo coldly called out to Veigar.
Veigar could leave, but taking Rin?
Absolutely not.
"Scram."
A low whisper further intensified the already heavy atmosphere at the Konoha village gate.
The village's Kage appearing at the gate to welcome back ninja returning from missions — this should have been an incredibly warm and welcoming scene.
But the appearance of Konoha's "Four Elders" pushed the atmosphere to the opposite extreme.
"Danzo-sama, perhaps you've forgotten!"
"I am no longer the ninja you forcibly coerced into secretly joining Root."
A gentle breeze blew, and the blade was swung horizontally.
Swish!
The two Root ninja blocking Veigar's path were instantly sliced in half by the sharp gleam of the Shinigami Blade.
"I said, the Three-Tails is mine. No one can touch it."
"Does anyone have an objection?"
As his words fell, the two Root ninja collapsed to the ground.
Veigar's actions at this moment undoubtedly meant he was openly defying Konoha's "Four Elders."
This scene, unfolding before Hiruzen's eyes, made his face exceptionally grim.
"Minato, I believe you should explain this matter."
Killing fellow villagers in front of two Hokage and Konoha's Elder Council — the implications of this incident were not small.
It had to be dealt with severely.
Veigar's strength had been a persistent headache for Hiruzen these past few days. Now, with a ready-made excuse handed to him, if he didn't make good use of it, he wouldn't be Hiruzen.
If he could leverage this scene well and cause a rift between Minato and Veigar, that would naturally be even better.
The Fourth Hokage at odds with his disciple.
What would the outside world think if such news spread?
Minato already didn't have many supporters. Once Veigar left, it would not only cause Minato to lose a powerful supporter but also alienate him from the village's ninja.
His position would become even more secure.
Veigar turned to Minato; he was also very curious to see what choice Minato would make.
"You want me to move against Veigar, don't you?"
Minato's calm words surprised Hiruzen.
But even more surprising things were yet to come.
Minato slowly took a few steps forward, then stood in front of Danzo.
"Elder Danzo, are you trying to stop me?"
Minato's shoulders trembled slightly, indicating that he was in an extremely unstable state.
Veigar smiled, a very pleased smile.
"Everything I do is for Konoha. Only by giving the Three-Tails to the village can its greatest potential be realized."
An expressionless Danzo spoke as if discussing a trivial matter.
"For Konoha?"
For the first time, Minato found those four words ridiculous.
"Hehe~~"
Minato Namikaze laughed.
"Very well then, for Konoha, I, in the name of the Fourth Hokage, announce something."
"Effective immediately, Root is disbanded."
As Minato's words fell, Danzo's eyes narrowed, followed by an explosion of rage.
"Impossible! Who gave you the right to disband Root?"
"Minato, don't speak nonsense!"
"Minato, how dare you?!"
Danz's furious roar, Hiruzen's accusation, and Homura's disbelief in his tone.
All reached Minato's ears.
"By being the Fourth Hokage of Konoha."
"Is that reason enough?"
Minato stared directly at the furious Danzo.
Since Minato assumed the position of Fourth Hokage, Danzo found the current earnest and determined Minato unfamiliar.
"How dare you? You're just a puppet!"
Danzo's eyes widened in shock, roaring loudly in his heart.
The Hokage robe, emblazoned with "Fourth Hokage," fluttered in the wind as Minato walked past Danzo.
"We're returning to the village."
Minato said with a firm tone, his back to everyone.
Veigar, Rin, and Kakashi all responded in unison:
"Yes, Sensei."
At the village gate, Konoha's "Four Elders" stood in silence, each with a different expression, staring at Minato's receding back.
At this moment, Hiruzen had a feeling—no, not a feeling, but a confirmed fact.
The Minato who used to be obedient and deeply respectful towards him was gone.
In an instant, Hiruzen realized the gravity of the situation.
"No, absolutely not like this."
"I still have the Anbu. Konoha will only be under my control."
Hiruzen, his mind plotting something unknown, stared at Minato's retreating back, his expression deeply complex.
Very complex.
His failure to make Minato hand over Rin this time meant the ownership of the Three-Tails was now decided.
From this moment on, Minato would have two Tailed Beasts, these incredibly terrifying weapons of war, plus Veigar, a Kage-level ninja, and Minato himself.
In terms of high-level combat power, Minato's side was undoubtedly the strongest.
Why did Hiruzen instigate Danzo to create this scene today? Wasn't he precisely worried about this very situation?
This was a fatal blow to Hiruzen's continued control over Konoha.
Now, Hiruzen's only reliance was the Anbu force, which had not yet been handed over to Minato.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Danzo also turned and left. Minato thought he could disband Root with a single sentence.
Absolutely impossible.
Minato led Veigar, Rin, and Kakashi all the way back to the Hokage Residence.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Minato sat in the Hokage's chair, while Veigar and his two teammates stood before him.
For the first time, when Minato sat there, Hiruzen was not present.
"Veigar, can you tell me the detailed circumstances of this incident?"
"And what exactly is Rin's condition?"
With a wife who was proficient in Fūinjutsu, Minato had sensed a familiar sealing jutsu on Rin's body.
Moreover, he didn't sense the presence of the Three-Tails on Rin's body either.
Nodding, Veigar began recounting from the moment he found Rin. When Minato heard that Veigar had used the Reverse Reaper Death Seal to completely seal the Three-Tails, Isobu, within Rin, his shock was undeniable.
Half an hour later, Rin and Kakashi left together, while Veigar was kept behind by Minato.
"Veigar, Rin's abduction feels very strange, with oddities revealing themselves at every turn."
Minato was serious, connecting the dots of Rin's entire abduction, and he discovered many inconsistencies.
Veigar nodded silently, responding:
"I'll investigate secretly."
Veigar knew what was hidden behind this incident, but he wouldn't say.