Hiruzen Sarutobi was a simple person himself, so he knew better than anyone that simple people are not suitable to be leaders! He knew that as Hokage, he was not truly qualified for the role. He was soft-hearted, indecisive, and only good at preaching... but what could be done? That was just the kind of person he was! That was why he appreciated Minato's personality even more! The boy was gentle to his friends and ruthless to his enemies, yet he never gave anyone a reason to gossip. He completely placed himself in the position of the victim so that no one could find any fault with his actions. Aside from being a bit aloof and having a weak sense of belonging to the Village, he was simply the perfect successor!
So the Hokage had tried his best to build a bond between Minato and the Village, only to be backstabbed by Danzo. He understood that Danzo was unwilling to give up and was still full of ambition for the Hokage position. But now that Minato had directly attacked the Root Base, even if Hiruzen wanted to protect Danzo, he could not bring himself to say it. If he dared to speak up, Minato would immediately develop a strange illness that prevented him from using Wood Release, one that could not be cured no matter what happened. At a time like this, the Hokage had to make a choice!
"Minato has never taken the initiative to attack his comrades in the Village. On the contrary, Danzo... you, the so-called 'Root' who carries the darkness and stops at nothing even with despicable means, seem to be the one truly harming the Village."
Hearing this, Danzo's expression gradually stiffened; he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief. He could not believe that after so many years of friendship, the other party would actually give up on him just like that!
"Everything I do is for Konoha!" Danzo's voice was cold and sharp. "He is only $5$ years old this year, yet he possesses such power! If he isn't restricted..."
"Enough, Danzo, don't you understand yet?" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted in a deep voice. "No matter what kind of power Minato has, it is not a reason for you to take action against him on your own! Today you can assassinate Minato because his Wood Release is uncontrolled; tomorrow, the Shimura clan could be exterminated because they are too strong! Some lines must never be crossed!"
Danzo said coldly, "Too weak! Hiruzen! You will regret this!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi stated the fact calmly, but in the end, he still could not bear it. "Surrender... Danzo!"
This was his last chance... He really did not want to see his friend of many years die like this. If Danzo was willing to surrender, it would be the best choice. He could strip him of his position, take away his power, give him a light punishment as a warning, provide some extra compensation to Minato and the others, and suppress the matter entirely. Danzo obviously realized this too. Not to mention the Third Hokage and the others, he could not even handle Minato now! Instead of fighting to the end, it was better to preserve himself for now; there might be another chance to regain power in the future... Thinking of this, he gradually calmed down. Danzo looked at Minato and saw that his gaze was calm, with no intention of speaking, and his heart relaxed slightly. It seemed this kid wasn't arrogant enough to ignore the Hokage...
"I... ugh—"
Just as Danzo was about to speak, he suddenly gagged. Green, lush fern seedlings began to spread from his mouth and nose. Danzo instinctively clutched his neck, his face turning a purplish-blue!
"Wood Release?" Seeing this, everyone looked at Minato's main body.
"I was worried he'd escape just now, so I released too many Wood Release spores. Although they can only grow into some ferns and can't compare to tree seeds that turn into trees, because they are finer and more hidden, they are more easily absorbed by the human body." Minato looked regretful. "Plants are like that. When the Root system grows wildly without restraint, it becomes increasingly greedy in stripping nutrients from other lives, even slowing down the development of the trunk to strengthen itself. In Lord Danzo's case, a small sacrifice must be made, removing them along with the flesh. But if that happens, Lord Danzo will also..."
Minato paused, shook his head, and did not continue. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo's painful struggle, opened his mouth, and finally just sighed with melancholy. Between Wood Release and Danzo, he had to make a choice. His Anbu subordinates were also present. Even as the Hokage, he could not openly shield Danzo. He had already given Danzo a chance, and Minato had also shown his attitude. Pleading for Danzo again would only further provoke Minato's dissatisfaction and intensify the conflict between them. Unable to bear watching Danzo's painful struggle any longer, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, turned around, and left, his back looking somewhat lonely. Wood Release must not be lost, especially since the other party was also involved with the next generation's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Rather than having to personally make a final decision regarding Danzo, this outcome might not be a bad thing.
"This guy Danzo, it can be said he brought it on himself..." Homura Mitokado looked at Danzo, who was struggling as his airway was blocked, and sighed while shaking his head. "From childhood to now, he only knows how to use petty tricks, yet his ambition far exceeds his ability. Why can't he ever learn?"
Tsunade looked at the two Advisors, who seemed somewhat sympathetic to their fallen comrade, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "How rare. I thought you would plead for him, or put on your arrogant Advisor act and demand Minato release him or something..."
"Emotionally, of course, we want to do that," Utatane Koharu said indifferently. "But he has already threatened the core interests of the Village. Neither the Nine-Tails nor Wood Release are things he can interfere with at will. If it hadn't blown up, it would be one thing, but once the matter is brought into the open, a choice must always be made. It's just that this time, it happens to be Danzo's turn to be discarded. When you are in our position in the future, you will naturally understand."
"I don't care for it." Tsunade snorted. She didn't expect these two cold-hearted fellows to have such awareness. Utatane Koharu shook her head slightly and said nothing.
"This kind of thing isn't just about personal preference..." Her gaze turned to Danzo nearby. At this moment, green plants were constantly sprouting from Danzo's body, making him look distorted and eerie. A strange sound came from his chest as he seemed to still be struggling to breathe, and the few remaining Root Ninjas surrounded him helplessly.
Minato just stood there quietly watching, his eyes calm and rippleless. Looking at his posture, he clearly intended to wipe out the remaining Root members as well. The powerful strength of the First Hokage, the calm mind of the Second Hokage, the approachable temperament of the Third Hokage, a once-in-a-century talent, and ruthless methods that none of the previous Hokage possessed... How could such a person allow us mediocre old fogies to boss him around?
"Alright, Minato... let's end this quickly." Tsunade took a look at Danzo, her sanity plummeting instantly, and urged with a frown. She didn't ask Minato to spare the remaining Root members. In the Ninja World, seeking revenge for teammates is not uncommon, let alone this group of people who had been brainwashed by Danzo.
"I know, Teacher." Minato clapped his hands together, fingers interlaced, and then reached out toward Danzo in a claw-like gesture. "Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Large trees burst from the walls and deep underground, dancing like wild dragons, plunging the already dim Root Base into complete darkness. In the darkness, a faint firelight flickered, only to be instantly extinguished...
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion