The air was thick with the scent of cheap sake and grilled squid, set against a backdrop of boisterous gambling and the sharp clink of glasses.
Jiraiya sat cross-legged on the tatami, his face flushed with alcohol. One hand lazily swirled a white porcelain sake cup while the other scribbled and sketched on a scattered manuscript.
"This part... this plot point isn't explosive enough."
Jiraiya let out a drunken hiccup. He pressed his pen firmly onto the paper and whispered, "If the protagonist is going deep behind enemy lines, the 'bait' has to be thrown out more naturally. If it's too forced, the readers—I mean, the enemy—won't bite."
Perched on his shoulder, the purple toad—Gamakon—lazily rolled his eyes. He spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear. "Stop using your smutty books as a cover. Let's talk business. Is that thug Scoundrel Lai taken care of?"
Jiraiya chuckled. His gaze sharpened for a split second before quickly turning glassy again as he pretended to drunkenly fish for peanuts with his chopsticks.
"Don't worry. Minato moved even faster than I expected."
Jiraiya used the act of drinking to mask the movement of his lips. "Late last night, the moment Scoundrel Lai left the gambling den, Ibiki's men silently bagged him. He's already in the third basement level of the Interrogation Department. I expect they've already squeezed out every detail, right down to how many times he wet the bed as a kid."
"Then the one out there now is..." Gamakon raised an eyebrow.
"An Anbu elite specializing in Transformation and Mimicry." Jiraiya dipped his chopsticks in sake to draw a circle on the table before quickly wiping it away. "He's mastered everything from the hooligan's swagger to that greasy accent. To make it even more convincing, Minato arranged a 'game' where the fake Scoundrel Lai won a massive sum. Just as you predicted, once a gambler has money, he can't resist going to more high-end places to squander it."
Gamakon gave a soft snort. "Winning money? That's just playing right into Danzo's hands."
A rascal who was just 'shown leniency' by the Hokage turning around to win big and flaunt it in the village—in the eyes of the naturally suspicious Danzo, that wasn't luck. That was clearly 'hush money' from the Hokage, or perhaps a 'reward' for striking a deal.
For someone like Danzo, who possessed an obsession with control, uncontrollable variables had to be erased.
"The bait has been cast." Jiraiya set down his sake cup, his eyes peering through a crack in the window at the pitch-black night outside. "It's a dark and windy night—the perfect time for a silent execution. If my deduction is correct, the rats in the Root should have caught the scent and started moving by now."
"A pity," Gamakon sighed, using a claw to scratch his belly. "Given how cautious that old man Danzo is, the ones he sends will definitely be suicide squads. Even if we catch them, we can't try them publicly. Root's existence is the dark side of Konoha; exposing it would hurt the village's image too much."
"Minato doesn't plan to completely dismantle Danzo just yet." Jiraiya packed away his manuscript, the drunkenness vanishing from his face to be replaced by the cold resolve of one of the Sannin. "As long as we get hard evidence of the Root assassinating an 'Amnestied Witness' without authorization, it'll be enough to make that old man pull his claws back. And, incidentally... strip him of his duties."
Late night, in an alley behind Konoha's shopping district.
This was the shadow behind the prosperity, piled high with discarded cardboard boxes and sour-smelling trash bins.
"Hehe... I'm rich... *hic*! My luck is unbeatable today!"
A staggering figure leaned against the wall, clutching a bulging coin purse. It was 'Scoundrel Lai.'
His face was beet-red as he hummed a nameless tune, his steps so unsteady it looked like he might fall into the stinking gutter at any moment.
However, from an angle no one could see, this 'Scoundrel Lai's' eyes were terrifyingly clear.
His muscles were in a state of subtle tension, chakra flowing quietly through his meridians as his perception spread outward like a spider's web.
He was the Anbu elite codenamed 'Ten-Face,' fishing here under the orders of the Fourth Hokage.
A cold wind blew through the alley entrance, swirling a few withered leaves.
Ten-Face's footsteps suddenly halted.
They were here.
From the darkness, three silhouettes emerged as if peeling away from the shadows themselves, instantly sealing off every escape route in a triangular formation.
They wore blank masks with no markings, and the short blades in their hands didn't reflect a single glint of moonlight—they were assassination weapons treated with a special matte finish.
Root.
There were no words.
The Root ninja in the lead kicked off the ground, transforming into a black streak as his blade lunged straight for 'Scoundrel Lai's' throat.
Fast.
Incredibly fast.
Ten-Face's pupils shrank. His current identity was a 'common thug'; if he used high-level ninjutsu to counter, he would be exposed instantly.
But he didn't need to counter.
Just as the short blade was about to pierce his skin, a dazzling flash of lightning erupted in the narrow alley.
"Zzzzt—!"
It was a sharp, piercing sound, like the chirping of a thousand birds.
A silver-haired youth dove from the rooftops like a leopard, the dancing lightning in his hand illuminating the entire alley—along with the flash of shock beneath the Root ninja's mask.
*Clang!*
The Raikiri didn't pierce the Root ninja's body; instead, it struck the side of the enemy's blade with pinpoint accuracy.
The massive impact caused the Root ninja's grip to shatter instantly. The short sword flew from his hand and embedded itself deep into a nearby wall.
Kakashi Hatake landed, shielding 'Scoundrel Lai' behind him. His single visible eye was filled with a chilling frost.
"A civilian who was just amnestied by the Hokage, and you dare touch him?"
Kakashi's voice was icy, the lightning in his hand still crackling and chirping. "Is this what you call 'for the sake of the village'?"
The three Root ninjas exchanged a look. No words were needed before they simultaneously reached a decision.
Mission Change.
Objective: Eliminate the target along with the obstruction.
The remaining two Root ninjas wove signs, their chakra exploding instantly.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The wind fanned the flames, and the narrow alley instantly turned into a sea of fire. A rolling heatwave surged forward, showing zero regard for whether the surrounding houses would be caught in the blast.
Madmen.
Kakashi gritted his teeth, weaving signs at high speed as he prepared to use an Earth Style defense.
"Using ninjutsu of this scale at this distance... has Danzo taught you not to even bother with disguises anymore?"
A gentle yet infinitely majestic voice echoed through the firelight.
A flash of gold appeared.
Minato Namikaze's silhouette materialized between the flames and Kakashi.
He didn't even weave signs. He simply held out a hand, a black formula manifesting in his palm.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder."
The composite wind-fire ninjutsu, powerful enough to swallow the entire alley, was instantly consumed by the black formula as if by a giant beast, twisting as it was sucked into a void of nothingness.
A second later, several kilometers away in the forest outside the village, a massive fireball exploded in the sky, lighting up half the horizon.
The alley returned to a deathly silence.
When the three Root ninjas saw the Hokage Cloak fluttering in the wind, their bodies stiffened visibly.
The Fourth Hokage.
Mission failed.
Without hesitation, the lead Root ninja let out a low gurgle—the sound of crushing a poison capsule hidden in his teeth.
At the same time, eerie black markings glowed on the bodies of the other two—the precursor to the Reverse Four Symbols Seal. They were prepared to self-destruct, destroying themselves along with any evidence.
"Thinking of dying in front of me?"
Minato's gaze sharpened, a hint of coldness flashing in his blue eyes. "It won't be that easy."
*Shing!*
Several special kunai flew from his hand, moving faster than the eye could track.
The kunai didn't strike vital points; instead, they pinned the joints of the three Root ninjas with precision. The sealing tags attached to the handles activated instantly.
"Sealing Art: Ultra-Radiant Golden Light Dance Capture Chains!"
Golden chakra chains surged from the kunai, instantly trussing the three of them up like cocoons and severing their chakra flow.
The Root ninja who was about to swallow the poison hadn't even finished the motion before Minato appeared in front of him, pinching his jaw.
*Crack.*
His jaw was dislocated, and the poison capsule was plucked out by Minato's fingers.
Minato casually tossed the capsule to the ground. Looking at the three neutralized assassins, his tone was indifferent. "Take them away. Notify Shikaku to convene an emergency high-level meeting immediately."
He turned to Kakashi, his cold expression softening slightly.
"Kakashi, you did well."
Kakashi looked at the restrained Root members on the ground and then at his teacher's upright back, his hand clutching his kunai trembling slightly.
The Root was still this disgusting.
Attacking their own people, even willing to use wide-range ninjutsu in a residential area.
He walked over to the 'Scoundrel Lai' who was still playing dumb and patted his shoulder. "Good work, Ten-Face. The mission is over. You can return to your unit."
The look in 'Scoundrel Lai's' eyes changed. The greasy, vulgar aura vanished instantly, replaced by the sharpness of an Anbu. He bowed to Minato and vanished in a Body Flicker.
Minato looked toward the Hokage Building, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of architecture to stare directly at the old man hiding underground.
"Danzo, you were too impatient."
Half an hour later, inside the meeting room of the Hokage Building.
The atmosphere was oppressively heavy.
At the end of the long table, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed on his pipe, the smoke obscuring his expression. The two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, looked grim and remained silent.
Sitting in the primary seat on the left, Shimura Danzo sat as still as a statue with his eyes closed. Only the occasional flicker of malice in his single eye betrayed the turmoil within.
*Bang!*
The doors were pushed open, and Minato Namikaze strode inside.
Two Anbu followed behind him, dragging the bound and jaw-slackened Root ninjas, tossing them into the center of the room like trash.
"Minato, what is the meaning of this?" Homura Mitokado asked with a frown.
"These are the assassins who attempted to murder the important witness, Scoundrel Lai, in the shopping district alley just now."
Minato didn't take his seat. He stood at the table, leaning forward with his hands on the surface, staring directly at Danzo. "Advisor Danzo, this equipment and this Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal... you shouldn't be a stranger to them, right?"
Danzo slowly opened his eyes and glanced at his subordinates on the floor. His tone was flat and emotionless. "I don't recognize them. Root had no missions tonight."
"Is that so?"
Minato gave a cold laugh and pulled a scroll from his vest, slamming it onto the table. "This is part of the intel Ibiki just extracted from their minds. Despite the interference from the sealing jutsu, the instructions for 'Target: Scoundrel Lai,' 'Create Chaos,' and 'Frame the Uchiha' are quite clear."
The corner of Danzo's eye twitched.
"Minato, are you interrogating this old man?" Danzo suddenly slammed his cane down, his voice raspy. "Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha! That Lai was full of lies, slandering the village's security forces. Leaving him alive would only—"
"Only prevent you from using rumors to attack the Uchiha, right?"
Minato cut him off directly, refusing to yield an inch. "I am the one who granted Lai amnesty. Danzo, by sending people to assassinate someone pardoned by the Hokage, are you questioning my judgment, or do you believe your 'Root' is already above the Hokage?"
The implications of those words were far too severe.
So severe that even Hiruzen Sarutobi had to set down his pipe. "Danzo! This time, you have truly overstepped."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo turned sharply toward his old friend. "Can't you see? The Uchiha clan is a hidden danger! Minato is too young and soft-hearted. If we don't act now..."
"Enough!"
Minato waved his hand, cutting off Danzo's defense.
His chakra flared slightly, the pressure of the 'Yellow Flash' dominating the entire conference room.
"I don't care what your reasons are. Assassinating a civilian, using large-scale destructive ninjutsu inside the village, and even attempting to attack the Anbu sent to stop you."
Minato pointed at the Root ninjas on the floor and declared word by word:
"This is the behavior of a rogue ninja."
Danzo's pupils contracted suddenly.
"Given that the Root's recent actions have repeatedly violated regulations and shown a serious lack of management control..." Minato turned to the Third Hokage and the two advisors. "Effective immediately, all of Shimura Danzo's duties are suspended. All Root members are to be handed over to the Anbu for re-evaluation and screening. Until the results of the investigation are out, Advisor Danzo, you are to 'recuperate' within your compound. You are not to take a single step outside."
"You wouldn't dare!" Danzo stood up abruptly, killing intent boiling in his eye.
"I am the Hokage."
Minato looked at him calmly, his eyes showing no sign of retreat. "This is an order."
Dead silence filled the room.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.
They hadn't expected that the usually gentle Minato would be so decisive when he made his move, aiming directly to strip Danzo of his military power.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the young back before him. For a moment, it felt like he was seeing his younger self—though this man was even sharper and more brilliant than he had been.
He sighed and tapped the ash from his pipe onto the corner of the table.
"Danzo... you were indeed too impatient this time."
Hiruzen's voice sounded old and weary. "We will proceed as the Fourth says. Root... does indeed need some restructuring."
Danzo looked at Hiruzen in disbelief, his body trembling slightly.
He had lost.
He had lost because of an insignificant thug and his own eagerness for results.
Minato didn't even need to announce the truth to the public. He only needed to seize on the point that 'Root defied the Hokage's orders and slaughtered the innocent' to legally crush him.
"Fine... very well."
Danzo gave Minato a deep, lingering look, as if carving the young man's image into his bones.
He picked up his cane and walked toward the door with a limp.
As he passed Minato, he stopped and spoke in a low, sinister voice that only the two of them could hear: "You will regret this, Minato. Without the Root, your naive kindness alone cannot suppress the darkness within this village."
Minato looked straight ahead, responding flatly, "Darkness exists only because the light isn't thorough enough. Danzo, times have changed."
As Danzo's silhouette disappeared behind the door, Minato's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
He knew this was only the first step.
While the Root was temporarily suppressed, Danzo had spent decades building his influence; his roots were deep and couldn't be pulled out all at once.
But at the very least, he had bought some precious breathing room for the Uchiha clan and for his lost pupil, Kakashi.
Konoha's night grew deeper. The lights of the Hokage Building remained bright even after the meeting that would change the village's landscape had concluded.
On the street, a cool breeze swirled a few fallen leaves.
Three figures walked side by side toward the Akimichi barbecue restaurant. Shikaku Nara walked in the middle, hands tucked into his vest pockets, his brow furrowed as he chewed a toothpick into splinters.
To his left was the hulking Choza Akimichi, and to his right was the solemn-looking Inoichi Yamanaka.
As Konoha's famous 'Ino-Shika-Cho' trio, these three clan heads were not only a golden team on the battlefield but also the pillars supporting the village's high-level operations.
"Hey, Shikaku."
Choza Akimichi broke the silence. His voice still carried a hint of lingering shock. "What happened just now... what do you think?"
Shikaku stopped and spat out the toothpick. He looked back at the Fourth Hokage's face carved into the distant Hokage Rock, which was still under repair. His gaze was complex.
"Too fast."
Shikaku spoke only those two words before stepping into the barbecue shop. "Let's talk inside. The usual—give us the booth in the far back."
Charcoal crackled in the grill as the pork belly sizzled, its fat dripping and releasing a savory aroma into the small booth.
But Choza, who usually loved to eat, sat staring blankly at the grill with his chopsticks, not making a move.
"Is Danzo... really down just like that?" Inoichi Yamanaka picked up his glass and took a sip. The spicy liquid burned down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the waves of shock in his heart. "That's Shimura Danzo. He's been the 'Darkness of the Shinobi' in this village for decades. Even the Third Lord usually yielded to him."
"It's precisely because he's Danzo that the Fourth's methods are so terrifying."
Shikaku picked up the tongs, skillfully flipping the meat. The firelight reflected off his face, which was full of wisdom. "Did you two notice? Everything tonight, from Scoundrel Lai being caught, to the interrogation results, to baiting the Root assassins, and finally making the move at the meeting... every link was connected. He didn't give Danzo a single second to breathe."
"It was basically like putting a knife to Danzo's throat and forcing him to step down." Choza finally spoke, swallowing a piece of meat and talking with his mouth full. "But what surprised me most was the Third Lord's attitude."
At those words, the atmosphere in the booth grew even heavier.
Inoichi set down his glass and lowered his voice. "Yeah. In the past, no matter what Danzo did, the Third Lord would always try to smooth things over in the name of 'balance.' But today... when the Fourth Lord announced Danzo's suspension, the Third didn't say a single word for him."
"It's not that he didn't want to, it's that he couldn't."
Shikaku placed a piece of grilled meat into Choza's bowl, his eyes flashing with sharp insight. "That's where the Fourth Lord was brilliant. He seized the fatal point: 'Root attempting to assassinate an amnestied witness.' This was a challenge to the Hokage's authority. It was crossing the line."
Shikaku paused before continuing his analysis. "Even though the Third Lord values old friendships, he is first and foremost the previous Hokage and the guardian of the village's rules. When Danzo reached for the Hokage's authority, if the Third had spoken up for him, he would have been negating the office of the Hokage itself—and negating the very successor he chose."
"So, the Third Lord's silence was effectively a form of tacit approval."
Shikaku leaned back in his chair and sighed. "The Third Lord also saw it clearly. The current Konoha no longer needs that kind of uncontrollable darkness. He used his silence to help the Fourth Lord pave the final stretch of the road."
"This move was checkmate." Inoichi sighed. "The Fourth Lord didn't just uproot Danzo; he forced the Third Lord to pick a side. Now, the power in Konoha is completely concentrated in the Fourth Lord's hands."
"Then what about us?"
Choza, who had been focused on his meat, suddenly looked up and asked the most crucial question.