Chapter 16: Yes, Hiruzen
"Be careful—don't let him die."
Opening the door and stepping outside the interrogation chamber, the Third Hokage gave a few final instructions to Baku's ANBU squad before departing and returning home.
From beginning to end, neither the Third nor Yamanaka Kakyū had spoken a single word to the awakened Li Yao.
Because they didn't need to.
In their eyes, anyone who entered the ANBU interrogation chamber was already on the road to death.
Whether or not they obtained information, Li Yao's fate was sealed.
But Li Yao, unaware of this, overheard from their exchange that the Mind-Body Technique and Genjutsu had failed. He thought there was still hope—that his identity might still be salvageable, and his life spared.
This body did indeed belong to Kimura Yō.
And he did possess Kimura Yō's memories—albeit not many.
But the original Kimura Yō was only six years old. How many memories could a six-year-old have?
The fragments Li Yao inherited were more than enough to convincingly impersonate him.
As long as he insisted that he was Kimura Yō, he believed there was still a slim chance of survival.
Li Yao was gambling that the Third Hokage, like in the original series, would show a kind and benevolent side—that he cared about the lives of Konoha citizens and wouldn't kill a child lightly.
As long as the Third accepted that he was Kimura Yō, he had a real chance at surviving.
"Now it's time to act," Li Yao muttered, going over Kimura Yō's memories in detail and rehearsing how he would speak—what expressions to wear—if given a chance.
He had to match the persona of Kimura Yō perfectly.
That night, Li Yao racked his brain for strategies, desperately searching for a way to stay alive.
…
"Grandma, I'm off to school!"
"Mm, walk slowly, little Minato. Don't trip."
"Got it!"
The next morning, the same scene played out once again in front of Minato's family estate.
Minato waved to his grandmother with a bright smile. In his hands was still that same oversized lunchbox, filled with the rice balls that he and Kimura Yō loved.
The only difference from the morning before—this time, Minato was clearly more anxious. He hurried through greetings with his classmates and walked with purpose.
A whole night had passed.
What had become of Yō?
Had the Hokage caught the one controlling him?
Had Yō returned home safely and gotten a good night's sleep?
Would he be at school today?
Minato's heart was in turmoil. He didn't know what to expect.
With this unease, Minato arrived early at school.
He entered the classroom from the back door and immediately looked toward the third row, by the window on the left.
"…Mm."
His eyes dimmed. That familiar seat was still empty.
"Maybe… he's just not here yet?"
"Yeah, that must be it."
He smiled again, reassuring himself, and took his seat as usual.
Time passed slowly.
More students arrived and filled the classroom.
"Morning, Minato."
"Morning, Shōta."
"Morning…"
Minato smiled and responded to each greeting, but his gaze kept drifting to the classroom doors—waiting for that familiar figure.
But even as the bell rang and the teacher entered, Yō had not arrived.
"Hmm? Is that kid late, or did he not show up at all?"
The teacher glanced toward Minato's side and immediately noticed Kimura Yō's absence. His brow furrowed slightly. He had no idea what was going on.
"Hey, did anyone—" The teacher began to ask the students near Yō's seat when—
Clatter!
Minato suddenly stood up, urgency all over his face. Before he could leave his seat, the teacher spoke.
"Minato, is something wrong?"
"I… Teacher, I…" Minato hesitated, struggling with what to say. In the end, he decided not to speak about Yō. He didn't know the Hokage's exact situation and didn't dare speak recklessly.
"Then sit down. Let's start class. We'll talk about Yō afterward."
The teacher gestured for him to sit, assuming he was simply worried about Yō's absence.
Which—wasn't wrong.
"…Understood."
With the teacher's interruption, Minato calmed himself and sat down.
If something had already changed, it wouldn't help to rush to the Hokage now.
He'd wait, just like yesterday, and ask the Hokage after school what had happened to Yō.
Deep down, Minato didn't want to imagine the possibility that his friend might already be gone.
Hokage Tower.
Inside the office.
The Third had just sat down and hadn't yet lit the pipe hanging from his lips when the door burst open.
"Hiruzen! I heard about last night. The Uchiha Clan is getting out of control."
Even before the speaker entered, Shimura Danzo's voice filled the room—completely unconcerned about being heard speaking ill of the Uchiha.
The Third's brow twitched with annoyance as he watched the dark-faced Danzo stride in.
Did this guy ever let it go?
After all these years, he still refused to call him "Hokage-sama."
Couldn't he at least say "Lord Hiruzen"?
The Third grumbled silently, then asked aloud, "What do you want?"
As he spoke, two more people followed Danzo inside.
"That's right, Hiruzen. The Uchiha are out of line—attacking ANBU under your direct command! It's outrageous!" said Mitokado Homura, stepping to Danzo's side, equally displeased.
Last night, had the Third not intervened when those two Uchiha punks confronted the ANBU, a fight might have broken out.
Even with the Third's arrival, they'd still dared to talk back.
By now, the entire upper echelon of Konoha's clans had heard about it.
Who spread the news? There was no need to ask.
It could only have been the Uchiha.
Their goal was obvious: tarnish the Hokage's authority.
And once that authority fell far enough, the Uchiha would have the justification to impeach him.
Such blatant scheming couldn't be tolerated—not by the Hokage's trusted advisors, who would rise and fall with him.
"That's right, Hiruzen," Koharu Utatane added as she closed the door behind her. Though a woman, her voice was sharp and cold. "This can't go on. We must suppress the Uchiha's arrogance—whatever it takes."
"Exactly, Hiruzen," Danzo said, seizing the moment. "If you can't act against them, let me form a special unit within Root to eliminate the Uchiha. We can't keep turning a blind eye."
Bang!
Danzo had barely finished speaking when the Third slammed the table and shot him a glare.
"Watch your mouth, Danzo! The Uchiha are part of Konoha too! 'Eliminate'—is that something you say about your own people?!"
"Oh come on, Hiruzen. There's no one else here. Drop the act."
Danzo smirked dismissively. Everyone present had inherited the Second Hokage's ideals. They all knew about Tobirama's Uchiha Eradication Plan.
And Danzo knew full well—
No one wanted the Uchiha gone more than Hiruzen himself.
Of the four of them, it wasn't Danzo, Homura, or Koharu who wanted the Uchiha erased the most.
It was Hiruzen.
He always put on a front, talking as if he was acting for the village's sake.
Danzo might've believed it once, but not anymore. Hiruzen's words could lie, but his actions could not.
"In any case," the Third said coldly, "I don't want to hear the word 'eliminate' again. Do you understand me, Danzo?"
There were things that could be done—but not said aloud.
Especially not in front of the Hokage. That was a direct challenge to his authority, and Hiruzen would not tolerate that from anyone.
"…Fine, Hiruzen," Danzo grumbled. He wanted to argue more, but under the Third's stern gaze, he backed down.
The Third nodded, and at last, he had a moment to light his pipe.
(END CHAPTER)