Naruto: From Capturing the Main Clan to Becoming the Mastermind

Chapter 72 Just Like Before

Watching Minato's solemn expression, Danzo remained silent for a moment, then slowly reached out his hand towards the Hokage's hat.

With each inch he extended his arm, he would glance at a certain ninja behind Minato.

Orochimaru has something on him, and the fact that Orochimaru supports Minato actually gives him an opportunity to attack Minato.

Although Tsunade and Jiraiya have high prestige in the village, their influence is limited unless they convert it into political capital.

White Fang's prestige was quite high back then, but he still died because of the rumors he spread.

The two spent many years traveling outside the village and did not develop any political power within Konoha. Those who wanted to support them switched their allegiance to others because they could not find anyone else.

Just like the sons of daimyo from small countries who are scattered abroad and have to rely on Konoha to restore their country, without standing at the core level and transforming their identity and prestige into status, they cannot influence him on the political level.

The Hyuga clan, who would have originally supported Minato, now also supports him; Hyuga Yu is ultimately a branch family ninja.

Fugaku Uchiha's awakening of the Mangekyou Sharingan was somewhat unexpected, but as long as Minato cannot gain momentum, the Uchiha cannot stand at the true core of Konoha.

His original greatest rival, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, had lost his position as Hokage and the support of the ninja clan, and no longer had the ability to suppress him in the past.

He collaborated with the ninja clan and with one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja who wanted to elevate the daimyo to the pinnacle of power, successfully obtaining the necessary orders from the daimyo.

As long as Minato doesn't take the Hokage position and leaves Konoha, with the support of two advisors and the ninja clan, and all the power he wields, he can scatter the last remaining supporters of Minato, preventing them from rallying their forces.

He can win!

I was just one step away, so why didn't I dare to move my hand forward?

Do they dare to use force in Konoha?

In such a situation, in such a place, they would never dare to make a move, never...

Danzo's hand finally stopped in front of the Hokage's hat. The scene before him seemed to have returned to the day when the teacher decided on the Hokage position, and when his companions asked if anyone was willing to cover the rear and draw away the enemy.

How similar it is to now...

The person in front of me seemed to have become my teacher, and the gesture of reaching for the Hokage's hat became the answer to that question.

"Are you willing to cover our retreat?"

He should have had that resolve from the day he became a ninja. Just say it! If he says he's willing, the Hokage position is his!

It was just saying a sentence, just taking the Hokage's hat, why is it... so difficult?

Danzo lowered his hand with trembling hands, and said in a hoarse voice, "I lost."

Minato looked at him quietly for a moment, then put the Hokage hat on his head and announced in a deep voice:

"From today onwards, the advisory positions of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado are abolished, and Fugaku Uchiha and Junin Tsunade will assume them."

"Remove Shimura Danzo from his position as Hokage's assistant and appoint Hyuga Hare as the new Hokage's assistant."

"From this day forward, Orochimaru, a Jonin, will take charge of Root."

Silence reigned all around, and no one voiced any objection, including Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

Even Kazuma, who believed he had a daimyo behind him, dared not speak, much less mention Danzo's appointment as daimyo, and could not remove his status.

He stood there, head bowed low, without saying a word.

Danzo glanced at Kazuma with a lingering look, then turned his gaze to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "I lost, but this time I didn't lose to you, Hiruzen!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up behind Minato, looking at him with a complicated expression. "Yes."

Under the watchful eyes of many ninjas, Danzo slowly turned around and looked behind him.

There was no one behind him.

When those ninjas unleashed their chakra and the tailed beast Susanoo appeared, the ninja clan members retreated in fear.

They stood a few meters away, noticing his gaze, and dared not meet his eyes, much less look at the fourth generation.

Danzo gave a laugh that was hard to decipher, a laugh that was neither self-deprecating nor sarcastic. He looked at the only two ninjas who remained nearby but kept their distance from him. "You're part of Hiruzen's plan? Too bad, you're useless."

Sarutobi Masaaki glanced at Minato and Tsunade, who had a strange expression behind him, and smiled helplessly. "I'm glad I didn't have to be of any use."

The worst-case scenario is when he is needed as the deciding factor in a game.

However, since he couldn't help, it seems he'll have to take the blame if Princess Tsunade wants to vent her anger.

I hope she'll go easy on me.

Hiashi Hyuga glanced at Danzo expressionlessly, then walked silently to Minato and pleaded, "During my time in Konoha, I failed to fulfill my duty and aided and abetted evil. I am willing to relinquish the position of clan leader to Hizashi Hyuga. Please forgive the Hyuga clan, Hokage."

"Fine, but from today onwards, the Hyuga clan will abolish the Caged Bird Seal system!"

Minato's calm words left no room for argument.

At this moment, no one dared to refute it!

Hiashi Hyuga looked at Minato and the strongest ninja force behind him, his serious expression relaxing slightly, and he even wanted to smile.

The trend is irreversible; who dares to go against it?

He bowed slightly in greeting. "Hyuga clan, heed my command! Effective immediately, abolish the Caged Bird Seal system and cooperate with Advisor Tsunade to remove the Caged Bird Seal from all branch families!"

Danzo listened to their conversation without turning around, and walked away into the distance with a dazed expression, like an old object that had been abandoned.

Just like back then, he lost; this time, he lost to Minato Namikaze.

It lost to... a new era.

Having received Hiashi Hyuga's reply, Minato adjusted his Hokage hat and looked behind him. Meeting a sea of ​​bright eyes, he smiled slightly: "From now on, this is our era!"

This era doesn't belong to him alone; it belongs to everyone who supported him and walked with him to this point.

"oh!!!"

The excited people couldn't help but cheer.

Then, an uncontrollable cheer erupted from the crowd, resounding throughout the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Fugaku's face flushed red, his serious expression now filled with joy, his eyes brimming with laughter.

A small figure squeezed through the crowd to his side, and Fugaku, noticing this, put it into Susanoo.

"Father, I have a request." The young Itachi looked up at him earnestly as he came to his side.

"Speak."

"I want to go and assist the Hokage in the future."

Fugaku paused for a moment, then gently patted his head and smiled, "Then let's see if you have the ability."

A ninja is first and foremost a human being, and only then a ninja; the techniques should not be merely passed down to the next generation of ninjas.

Minato glanced around, taking in the smiling faces of the crowd, then fixed his gaze on Hyuga Yu and said gently, "Thank you."

Hinata Yu smiled slightly and shook his head. "You don't need to fight, nor do you need to get involved in any political struggles. That's a limitation on your abilities."

Minato's eyes reflected Hinata Yu and the others, a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, my power comes from you all."

Upon hearing Minato's words, Hyuga Yu also looked at Uchiha Fugaku and the others.

A strong person can solve most problems on their own because of their strength.

The weak, knowing their own weakness, unite to confront the strong.

He acknowledges the importance of individual strength, but does not deny the power of the collective.

After you learn the truth, will you stand behind me or in front of me?

In the distance, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and the others watched this scene with extremely complex expressions.

On October 30th, Konoha Year 10, a new chapter began for Konoha, and a new chapter also began for the ninja world.

(End of this chapter)