However.
When he saw Namikaze Minato, he couldn't help but be stunned.
First, he respectfully greeted Sarutobi Hiruzen, then smiled and spoke to Namikaze Minato.
"Oh, Minato-aniki."
"I really didn't expect to run into you."
Namikaze Minato also smiled.
After the two exchanged simple greetings and pleasantries, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't sit still any longer.
In short.
He was just uncomfortable.
So he directly interrupted their small talk and immediately spoke.
"That, Jin!"
"You're quite a rare guest. Is there something you specifically came to see this old man for this time?"
"Just say it directly; I'll help you with whatever I can!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke indifferently.
Although this was just a polite remark, it could actually be taken seriously.
Now.
He needed Uchiha Jin to do things on the battlefield, and before that goal was achieved, as long as Uchiha Jin wasn't too excessive.
He genuinely wouldn't refuse a few small requests.
Chapter 131: Jin, who holds the moral high ground, even the Hokage must bow!
Uchiha Jin's brow twitched slightly.
He hated being interrupted by others, but since it was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Never mind!
No matter what, he was the Hokage.
Without the slightest hesitation or beating around the bush, he got straight to the point.
He briefly explained the Aburame Clan's situation and then directly stated his stance.
"Hokage-sama, this is what happened."
"The Aburame Clan has come to me, and since I am the Chief of the Military Police Force, I must strive for the peace of the village."
"First of all, within our Konoha Village, there is no administrative department called Root at all."
"According to the village's relevant judicial interpretations, the so-called 'Root' is merely one of the Anbu's training departments."
"Essentially, Root only possesses secondary authority."
"That is, it only has the power to conscript Ninja Clans and civilians after obtaining Anbu's consent and presenting permission document '700'."
"However, after my investigation, I found no 'Anbu' record."
"Considering that Root is a subordinate department of Anbu, and Anbu is directly commanded by the Hokage, I naturally could only come to you, Hokage-sama."
"According to Konoha law, no matter which department conscripts a ninja, except for irresistible factors such as wartime, the consent of the conscripted person must be obtained."
"Even for special conscriptions like war, ninjas should be allowed to choose freely after the war ends."
"And in Konoha's operational documents, I did not find Root's authority sequence."
"Therefore, I hope Hokage-sama can thoroughly investigate the irregular behavior of the 'Root Training Class' under Anbu and release the Aburame Clan genius, Shino Ryoma."
"Even if he must participate in the war, he should be assigned to the front-line command camp!"
Uchiha Jin's expression was calm.
Yes.
He wouldn't be foolish enough to covertly rescue someone; that was only a last resort when there was no other option.
War is the continuation of politics!
Moreover, even if he rescued the person that way, Shino Ryoma wouldn't be able to walk openly in the sunlight.
So, unless absolutely necessary, he was willing to follow official procedures.
Furthermore.
Root's existence itself was irregular, more like an illegal organization.
No approval, no deployment orders, no law enforcement authority, no conscription authority.
Given this, what was there to fear?
He truly didn't believe Sarutobi Hiruzen would dare not release the person!
In fact, it should be said.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen dared not release the person, then he would be the one breaking the rules of the game first.
At that time.
He would first publicize the moral high ground in the village, then directly lead the Police Force to openly raid Root and rescue the person!
In any world, the moral high ground is the most important.
What kind of nonsense was secretly rescuing someone?
Uchiha Jin disdained to do so.
Namikaze Minato: "…"
Upon learning of Uchiha Jin's intentions, he was completely dumbfounded.
Yes.
Namikaze Minato was completely stunned.
He had heard of Root before and strongly disliked it.
But, there was nothing he could do.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's various protections made it impossible for him to intervene.
To put it bluntly.
Namikaze Minato was just a very strong ninja, but he was an amateur in political struggles, and he had no Ninja Clan support behind him.
It was perfectly normal for him to be unable to outmaneuver Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Moreover.
This was also the real reason Sarutobi Hiruzen dared to let him rise to power.
"Hokage-sama!" Namikaze Minato spoke directly: "Jin-kun is right, Shino Ryoma must be released."
"Danzō-sama is going too far. How can he force someone to join Root without their consent?"
"This, absolutely not!"
"And just as Jin-kun said, Root is only a subordinate department of Anbu; it has no conscription or law enforcement authority!"
Namikaze Minato did not hesitate.
Although he belonged to the Hokage faction, he also had his own sense of justice.
A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do.
He couldn't tolerate this matter.
He had no choice before, but now that he had the moral high ground, he was certainly willing to help out.
And, secondly.
He also didn't think that Sarutobi Hiruzen would brand him as a heretic because of this matter.
Of course, more importantly.
He might not be as good as an old schemer like Uchiha Jin in political struggles, but he also had his own set of plans.
Giving Jin face now would allow him to better understand Jin's true thoughts during their private conversation later.
Anyway.
What Sarutobi Hiruzen had just told him, he was a bit unwilling to believe.
He trusted his own intuition more!
Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a difficult position!
Uchiha Jin's opening remarks had already given him a splitting headache.