During the negotiations between Namikaze Minato and the Hyuga Clan, Yamanaka Haiichi, who had been invited to assist with the examination, remained silent. Eyes lowered, mind inward, he stood to the side as if meditating, making no effort to eavesdrop on the heated discussion.
But no matter how he tried to shut it out, the words still reached his ears — and he learned the alarming truth: Shimura Danzo had sent someone to assassinate a direct descendant of the Hyuga Main Family.
Haiichi had always been wary of Danzo and Root. In the past, Root had "recruited" several gifted children from the Yamanaka Clan for special training.
None of them ever returned.
After seeing fragments of Kurama Unkai's memories, Haiichi could easily imagine the brutality those children must have endured in Root. He understood that Root existed to handle the dirty work Konoha could not openly face — yet even so, he had never expected Danzo to go this far, to the point of attacking the heir of a noble clan.
That crossed every line the clans of Konoha could tolerate.
Haiichi resolved that, upon returning, he would quietly warn a few allied clans to stay alert. If Root could strike at the Hyuga without cause, then no clan in Konoha was safe.
Both Hyuga Satoru and Minato had purposely not shielded their conversation from Haiichi — they wanted him to hear. For all their differences, the great clans of Konoha shared mutual interests; they were natural allies in the village's political web. Satoru's intention was clear: let the news spread through the Yamanaka, the Nara, and the Akimichi, and isolate Danzo step by step.
A lone wolf, no matter how vicious, could not shake Konoha's foundations. Even without direct Hyuga intervention, the combined pressure of the clans would be enough to make Danzo and Root suffer.
When Minato and Haiichi finally left the Hyuga compound — with Kurama Unkai's body sealed for further analysis — the young Hokage returned to his office, weary from the long ordeal. Haiichi departed for the Analysis Division to examine the corpse in depth. Minato, meanwhile, sat behind his desk in thought, debating how to approach the coming storm. Should he warn Danzo sternly? Or attempt a softer approach?
Before he could settle on a plan, the door to his office swung open.
Without prior notice, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Shimura Danzo, and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, entered one after another.
Hearing the commotion, Minato looked up. His brow furrowed — irritation flickered in his gaze — but his self-discipline quickly masked it.
"Elder Danzo," Minato said evenly, "how convenient. I was just about to send for you." Then, with a polite nod to the others: "Elders, Lord Third — what brings you here?"
"Fourth Hokage!" Homura barked before he had even fully sat up. "We've heard what happened with the Hyuga!"
"This is outrageous!" Koharu followed, voice sharp. "Even the Hyuga have no right to interfere with ANBU operations! They've shown utter contempt for your authority — for the entire chain of command! Such behavior cannot be tolerated!"
Their accusations came one after another, each sharper than the last.
If Minato hadn't already known the truth, even he might have been swayed.
Now, understanding what Danzo had done, he also understood why the Hyuga had insisted on handling the body themselves. Had they allowed Root to seize Kurama Unkai's corpse, the truth would have been buried before dawn — another secret swept under the rug.
A realization struck him like lightning.
Yes… if Danzo was the one who ordered the assassination, then why had both Root and ANBU appeared at the scene that day?
It could only mean that Hiruzen himself had guessed the truth — and sent men to suppress it, to protect Danzo and maintain the "harmony" between factions.
So that was it. They were here today not to discuss justice, but to retrieve the body.
The office fell silent. The wall clock ticked softly in the still air.
Minato leaned back slightly in his chair, his blue eyes darkening. When Hiruzen opened his mouth, Minato raised a hand, stopping him.
"I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha," he said slowly, voice calm yet unyielding. "It is my duty to protect every single person who lives in this village."
The abrupt declaration left the elders momentarily at a loss.
Then Minato's tone hardened. "Elder Danzo — order your Root to prepare for deployment. In three days, you and your men will head to the Cloud front."
The words struck like thunder.
Danzo's pupils contracted. Only hours earlier, he had barely recovered from his clash with Satoru. Though weakened, his pride still burned fiercely.
"Fourth Hokage, what are you saying?" he snapped. "Do you even understand what Root's purpose is? Without us, if Konoha is attacked again—"
"You don't need to worry about that," Minato interrupted, cold as steel. "If enemies attack Konoha, the Uchiha Police Force will defend the village. As long as I am here, no one will succeed."
His blue eyes turned to ice. "Besides," he added, voice low, "during the Nine-Tails' attack, you and your Root already proved that you cannot protect Konoha."
That final remark sank into Danzo's chest like a blade. Even Koharu and Homura, who had come in bristling with outrage, fell silent under Minato's icy tone.
Minato continued, steady and cutting. "Kurama Unkai's body has already been sent to the Analysis Division. The one who gave the order has been identified."
Danzo's eye flickered. A tremor ran through his face. He avoided Minato's gaze almost instinctively, guilt flashing for a brief moment before he turned his head aside.
"I've already calmed the Hyuga," Minato said. "They've agreed not to pursue the matter further. Elder Danzo — can you accept that arrangement?"
He paused, then leaned forward, expression unreadable. "Do you know why I hesitated until now? It's not your seniority, nor your power. It's because, as a fellow villager of Konoha, I wanted to believe your heart had not yet rotted."
"Don't keep shouting 'For Konoha!' as an empty slogan. If you truly care for this village — then prove it."
For the first time since becoming Hokage, Minato let his temper show. His patience had limits, and Danzo had crossed them.
At his words, both Hiruzen and Danzo stiffened. Only when Minato mentioned that the Hyuga had been pacified did their tension ease slightly.
But soon after, Hiruzen couldn't hold back. "Minato… do the Hyuga know about Danzo?" he asked, voice low and heavy.
"They know," Minato replied simply. "They're pulling all Hyuga from the Cloud front. I couldn't stop them — nor do I have the right to. From their point of view, Root is too powerful already. The frontlines hardly need their help."
He looked directly at Danzo. "I agree with them. If Root cannot sacrifice for Konoha's sake, then Root has no purpose — no right to exist."
As he spoke, a chilling killing intent filled the office, thick enough to make even Hiruzen's breath hitch.
This was Namikaze Minato, the Yellow Flash — the man who had ended a war. Even among the Sannin, few could stand against him.
Danzo's face darkened. He knew full well that in a direct fight he stood no chance. That was why he had sought alliances in the shadows — Orochimaru among them. But at this moment, even those allies could not shield him.
Finally, after a long silence, Danzo lifted his head.
"Do not insult me — or Root," he said coldly. "Everything I have done… has been for Konoha. For Konoha, we are willing to sacrifice anything."
He exhaled, voice like grinding stone. "Very well. I will go — to the Cloud front."
And with that, the old war hawk of Konoha made his reluctant march toward the battlefield.
Far beneath the Hokage Tower, in Root's lightless corridors, a dormant seal pulsed once — faint as a heartbeat — and a courier in a blank mask slipped into the tunnels with a sealed scroll tucked beneath his cloak.
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