Sarutobi Hiruzen was a simple man, and he knew better than anyone that simple people weren't suited to be leaders.
He knew he wasn't cut out to be Hokage.
He was too soft-hearted, too indecisive, and only good at spouting grand principles...
But what choice did he have?
That's just who he was!
That's why he admired Minato's character even more!
He was gentle with his friends, ruthless with his enemies, yet never gave anyone a chance to criticize him. He put himself in the victim's shoes, making it impossible for anyone to find fault with him.
Apart from being somewhat detached and lacking a strong sense of belonging to the village, he was the perfect successor!
So Hiruzen had gone to great lengths to forge a bond between Minato and the village, only to be betrayed by Danzo.
He understood that Danzo was dissatisfied, still harboring ambitions for the Hokage position.
But now that Minato had stormed the Root base, even if Hiruzen wanted to protect Danzo, he couldn't bring himself to speak up.
If he dared to say a word, Minato would immediately be struck with a strange illness that rendered his Wood Release unusable—an incurable affliction.
At this critical moment, he had to make a choice!
"Minato has never initiated violence against his comrades in the village. But you, Danzo... you, the so-called 'bearer of darkness' who would stoop to any vile means for Root, you're the one who truly threatens the village."
Hearing this, Danzo's expression gradually stiffened as he stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen in disbelief.
He couldn't believe that after so many years of friendship, Hiruzen would abandon him so easily!
"I did all of this for Konoha!" Danzo's voice turned icy. "He's only five years old, yet he possesses such power! If left unchecked..."
"Enough, Danzo! Don't you understand?" Hiruzen roared sternly. "No matter how powerful Minato is, it's not justification for you to act against him without authorization! If you can assassinate Minato today because his Wood Release is uncontrollable, tomorrow the Shimura Clan might be exterminated for being too powerful! Some precedents must never be set!"
Danzo retorted coldly, "You're too soft, Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"
"Hiruzen is the Hokage," Hiruzen stated calmly, his voice carrying the weight of authority. His heart ached as he added, "Surrender, Danzo..."
This is your last chance...
He truly didn't want to watch his longtime friend die. If Danzo would surrender, that would be the best outcome.
Hiruzen could then strip him of his position, revoke his authority, administer a mild punishment as a warning, compensate Minato and the others, and suppress the entire affair.
Danzo clearly realized this as well.
He couldn't even handle Minato now, let alone the Third Hokage and the others!
Rather than stubbornly resist to the bitter end, it would be wiser to preserve himself for now. There might still be a chance to regain power in the future...
With this thought, he gradually calmed down.
Danzo glanced at Minato, noticing his calm demeanor and lack of intention to speak. A subtle relief washed over him.
It seems this brat isn't arrogant enough to ignore the Hokage...
"I... Ugh—"
Just as Danzo was about to speak, he retched violently, and vibrant green fronds of ferns erupted from his mouth and nose. He instinctively clutched his neck, his face turning a bruised purple.
"Wood Release?" The crowd turned to Minato's original form.
"I was worried he might escape, so I released too many Wood Release spores. They can only grow into simple ferns, not full trees like proper seeds. But because they're finer and more concealed, they're easier for the human body to absorb."
Minato looked genuinely regretful. "Plants are like this. When their root systems grow unchecked, they become increasingly greedy, stripping nutrients from other living beings—even stunting the growth of their own trunks to strengthen themselves."
"In Lord Danzo's case, we must make some sacrifices. We'll have to pull out the tumor along with the flesh, but that means Lord Danzo will also..."
Minato paused, shook his head, and left the sentence unfinished.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Shimura Danzo's agonizing struggles. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only sigh dejectedly.
He had to choose between the Wood Release and Danzo.
His Anbu subordinates were present, and even as Hokage, he couldn't openly protect Danzo.
He had already given Danzo a chance, and Minato had made his stance clear.
To plead further on Danzo's behalf would only deepen Minato's resentment and exacerbate their conflict.
Unable to bear watching Danzo's painful struggles any longer, Hiruzen shook his head and turned away, his retreating figure carrying a hint of loneliness.
The Wood Release was too important, especially since it involved the next generation's Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki.
Compared to having to personally make a decision about Danzo, this outcome might not be so bad after all.
"That Danzo... he brought this upon himself," Mitokado Homura said, watching Danzo struggle for breath as his airway constricted. He shook his head and sighed. "He's been nothing but cunning since childhood, his ambition far surpassing his capabilities. Why couldn't he have learned his lesson?"
Tsunade observed her two advisors, who seemed to share a sense of sorrow for their fallen comrade, a look of surprise flickering in her eyes. "How unusual. I expected you two to plead for mercy or, at the very least, demand Minato release him as advisors."
"Emotionally, of course we would," Utatane Koharu replied calmly. "But he has already threatened the village's core interests. Neither the Nine-Tailed Beast nor the Wood Release are matters he could interfere with on his own."
"If things had remained contained, it might have been different. But now that it's all out in the open, choices must be made. It just happens that Danzo is the one being sacrificed this time."
"You'll understand once you're in our position," Koharu added.
"I couldn't care less," Tsunade scoffed. She hadn't expected such insight from these two heartless old men.
Utatane Koharu shook her head slightly, saying nothing. Such matters weren't about personal feelings.
Her gaze shifted to Danzo, who stood nearby. Green plants continued to sprout from his body, twisting his form into grotesque shapes. Strange noises emerged from his chest as he struggled to breathe, while the remaining Root ninja stood helplessly around him.
Minato stood nearby, watching quietly, his gaze calm and unflinched.
His stance made it clear he intended to wipe out the remaining Root members in one fell swoop.
The First Hokage's overwhelming power, the Second Hokage's cool-headedness, the Third Hokage's affable demeanor, a once-in-a-century prodigious talent, and the ruthless methods none of his predecessors possessed...
How could someone like him tolerate us ordinary old-timers standing around giving advice?
"Alright, Minato... finish this quickly."
Tsunade glanced at Danzo, her sanity points plummeting, and urged him with a frown.
She didn't ask Minato to spare the remaining Root members. Seeking revenge for fallen comrades was common in the Shinobi World, especially for those brainwashed by Danzo.
"Understood, Teacher."
Minato clapped his hands together, interlacing his fingers, then extended them toward Danzo in a claw-like gesture.
"Wood Release: Arboreal World Manifestation!"
Massive trees erupted from the walls and the depths of the earth, their branches writhing like frenzied dragons, plunging the already dim Root base into complete darkness.
Flickers of firelight surged through the darkness only to be instantly extinguished...
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