Namikaze Minato at the Door! (Ask for Flowers!)
At the Root headquarters, Sarutobi Hiruzen paced anxiously, his sandals scuffing against the stone floor. Across from him, Shimura Danzo sat calmly, sipping his tea, though his one visible eye held a hint of amusement.
"Sarutobi, can you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy," Danzo muttered, setting down his cup with deliberate slowness.
Hiruzen whirled around, his face twisted in frustration. "Dizzy? You still have the nerve to sit there drinking tea? Namikaze Minato is about to return—what do you propose we do?"
Danzo smirked, leaning back slightly. "Haha! I had no part in the schemes against his son. What do I have to be afraid of?"
Hiruzen's fists clenched at Danzo's indifference. "You—! Do you really think this isn't your problem too? Do you think you can just wash your hands of it?"
Danzo merely chuckled, his tone laced with dry amusement. "I don't know if I can escape the consequences, Sarutobi. But you? You certainly can't. Lest you forget—you are the Hokage of this village."
Hiruzen stiffened. His mind reeled. That line—wasn't that what he always said to Danzo when putting him in his place? Now Danzo was throwing it right back at him?
For a moment, his frustration was overshadowed by disbelief. He felt both enraged and bitter—furious that Danzo refused to cooperate, yet stung that his own words had been used against him.
Danzo, on the other hand, reveled in the rare sight of Hiruzen's stricken expression. He had spent years enduring the Hokage's moralizing, but now? Now, the tables had turned.
And for the first time in a long while, Danzo allowed himself the luxury of enjoying Hiruzen's discomfort.
"Hmph! Shimura Danzō, I hope you won't regret this!!"
Seeing that Danzō had no intention of offering assistance, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened. With a sharp glare, he flicked his sleeve in frustration, turned on his heel, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Danzō remained seated, momentarily stunned. Tch… Sarutobi Hiruzen, you're always so self-righteous. Just because I refused you this time, you throw a tantrum?
He exhaled slowly, setting down his teacup as he turned his gaze toward Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who had been silent spectators to the exchange.
"Homura, Koharu… What do you think we should do about this?"
Though he had openly refused to help, it wasn't as if he could completely ignore the situation. The four of them had worked together for decades, bound by their shared history and responsibilities to the village.
Still, this was an opportunity.
For years, Danzō had been overshadowed by Hiruzen. Now, for once, he had the upper hand—an opening to assert his own authority. But if things escalated to the point where Namikaze Minato truly decided to take Hiruzen's life… that was another matter.
Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance with Utatane Koharu before speaking.
"Perhaps… we should have Hiruzen and Minato come to an understanding? That boy isn't cruel by nature. If Hiruzen acknowledges his mistakes, Minato might spare him."
Homura had observed Minato closely in the past—he was compassionate, level-headed. If they could appeal to that side of him, perhaps disaster could be avoided.
Utatane Koharu, however, was less convinced.
"And what if Minato refuses? This isn't just any dispute—Hiruzen didn't make a simple misjudgment. He allowed Naruto to suffer for twelve years. What parent could accept that?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even Minato, known for his rationality, might not be able to forgive such a betrayal when it concerned his son.
Homura furrowed his brow. "Then what do you suggest?"
Koharu sighed. "I don't have a perfect solution. But we can at least try to de-escalate things before it's too late. Let's see how Minato reacts first—then take it step by step."
Danzō clicked his tongue in irritation but ultimately nodded.
"Fine. Let's go and assess the situation."
Just as the three elders rose from their seats, a deafening explosion rocked the building. The walls trembled, sending a few loose scrolls tumbling from their shelves.
Then, a furious voice echoed through the village.
"SARUTOBI HIRUZEN!! GET OUT HERE!!"
Danzō, Homura, and Koharu exchanged tense looks.
It had begun.
In front of the Hokage Building, Namikaze Minato stood with Uzumaki Naruto, his expression cold and determined. His voice echoed loudly across the village.
The explosion just moments ago was caused by Minato's Flying Thunder God technique, destabilizing the area with its sheer force.
At this time, hidden within the shadows near the Hokage Building, several Anbu Black Ops members observed the scene in stunned silence.
"This… Should we intervene?"
One of the Anbu, witnessing Minato's kunai-enhanced Rasengan blast through part of the Hokage Building, hesitantly turned to his captain.
"Intervene? Are you blind?! That's the Fourth Hokage!"
"To stop what? Who do you think we're stopping? This is between the Hokage. What do you think we're gonna do—throw a kunai at him?"
The Anbu Captain smacked the questioning subordinate on the head, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and amusement.
They had already learned from intelligence reports that Minato had returned, and they knew that the Yondaime Hokage wasn't here for a casual visit.
As for what Minato intended to do, that was beyond their authority. Even the captain himself secretly agreed that the Third Hokage had made questionable decisions, but as an Anbu, his duty was to follow orders, not to take sides.
But this was different. If it were anyone else causing trouble, they would have been subdued instantly.
However, the one standing here was Namikaze Minato—the Yellow Flash, the legendary Hokage. This wasn't some rogue ninja making a scene; this was an internal matter between two Hokage.
And honestly? Deep down, the Anbu Captain hoped Minato would give Hiruzen a well-deserved lesson.