Uchiha Yun had not yet graduated. He was merely a third-year student at the Konoha Ninja Academy—barely more than a month into the semester. A student, not a shinobi. And in Konoha, there was a very clear distinction between the two.
The forehead protector, the shinobi number—these were honors only bestowed upon those who had passed the graduation exam. Until then, a student was, in every official capacity, still a civilian.
This fact alone rendered Danzo's claim invalid.
The Root had no jurisdiction over civilians. At best, they could operate from the shadows, carry out the Hokage's covert orders, or detain enemies of the village in silence. But to openly apprehend a civilian child in the middle of Konoha, without cause or identification? That was beyond even Root's already-questionable reach.
Minato turned to Shisui, his gaze firm but contemplative.
"The identity of Root has always been obscure to the villagers." Minato said calmly. "But the official charter never granted them authority to interfere with the lives of ordinary citizens. As far as I remember, the internal security of the village has always been handled by the Uchiha clan's police force."
*Bang!*
Danzo's cane struck the ground again, cracking against the stone courtyard like a shot. His sunken eyes narrowed dangerously at Minato.
"Root has lost a man. Two others are in critical condition."
*Swish...*
At that very moment, the medical corps arrived. Several medic-nin dashed onto the scene, kneeling beside the two surviving Root operatives, swiftly stabilizing their conditions.
One of them bowed deeply to Minato. "Hokage-sama, we came as soon as we received the report."
Minato nodded. "Take them back for emergency treatment. The injuries are severe."
His eyes flickered momentarily toward Yun.
Danzo's face twisted with irritation. He raised his cane again, stepping forward to block the medic-nin. "Someone from Root will collect them shortly."
Minato's eyes darkened. "They are the only two survivors. Their memories may help reconstruct what happened here."
Danzo's reply was icy. "No one is allowed to search Root members' minds... and even if you tried, do you truly think their memories are accessible, Fourth Hokage?"
Minato hesitated. Of course. He had nearly forgotten—every Root member was bound by the Seal of the Tongue Eradication Curse. Even in death, they could not betray Root's secrets.
He looked down, his fingers briefly clenching.
Root had ceased being a branch of the Hokage's Anbu long ago. It had become Danzo's private army.
Officially, only the Hokage could have personal Anbu. Currently, that meant Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato himself. But Danzo...
Danzo's voice broke through his thoughts.
"There are more than just those two survivors, Hokage. That boy is still breathing. I demand Uchiha Yun be handed over to Root for memory extraction."
Minato's tone turned cold.
"The Seal of the Tongue Eradication Curse is not absolute. There are sealing techniques that can bypass it—I'm confident in my skill."
He stepped forward, his voice gaining strength.
"Moreover, Root has no right to interrogate Konoha civilians. Your group exists only to support the Hokage's Anbu. And the Anbu... answer to me."
His words fell like a blade. "I, Namikaze Minato, am the Fourth Hokage!"
Danzo's eye twitched.
For a moment, time stood still. That name—"Fourth Hokage"—had been the thorn in Danzo's side for years. Had Hiruzen passed the mantle to him, as Danzo believed he should have, none of this would have happened.
He gripped his cane until his knuckles whitened.
It should have been me... me!
Instead, the title went to a golden-haired boy with a kind smile and dangerous ideals.
Danzo finally turned, cloak swaying behind him.
"I'll leave the two Root members to you. But I expect an explanation. That brat killed one of my men. Someone needs to pay the price for this."
*Bang!*
His cane struck the ground again. With a huff, Danzo began to walk away, his entourage following.
And just before vanishing into the shadows, his voice echoed back.
"You don't understand the Uchiha, Fourth Hokage. Their blood is cursed. One day, you'll see the truth. Everything I've done... is for the sake of Konoha."
Silence returned.
Minato's expression remained stern, even as Danzo's chakra faded from the area.
Shisui stepped forward. "Root has existed since the Third Hokage's era. Officially, it was always a training division for the Hokage's personal Anbu. But the way those men just acted..."
Minato nodded. He didn't need to hear the rest. Their disrespect was blatant. Root no longer acknowledged the current Hokage—it acknowledged only Danzo.
That power was never theirs to wield.
"Shisui." Minato said quietly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"You've matured a lot these past two years."
Shisui laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "I've just been learning from you. It's only natural I'd grow."
Minato smiled, then turned to Yun, who remained calm and composed despite the gravity of the confrontation.
"I've heard a lot about you from Shisui. Uchiha Yun, I'm curious—how did you manage to defeat three Root members on your own?"
There was no need to explain himself any further. Whether or not he recognized Root, Minato could distinguish right from wrong.
He wasn't asking for justification.
He wanted to understand Yun's strength.
Yun tilted his chin slightly. His eyes flickered—Sharingan. The black sclera rippled into a deep red, and three-tomoe spun slowly into a triskelion. But then... the pattern shifted.
A sharp, pinwheel-like shape took form. The Mangekyō Sharingan.
Minato's eyes widened.
"A second Mangekyō Sharingan? With those eyes, taking out two elite Root ninja wouldn't have been difficult."
The sheer pressure Yun exuded now left no doubt—this was an Uchiha with strength rivaling prodigies.
"You'd better stay within the Uchiha compound for a few days." Minato advised. "I heard from Shisui you learned Shadow Clone Jutsu a while ago. Use it to attend classes in your place."
Yun nodded. "Will there be further trouble from this incident?"
Minato frowned slightly. "By principle, yes. Killing a Root member isn't a minor issue. But thanks to Shisui's efforts these past two years, many within the Jōnin corps are on our side."
He paused.
"There are still two key factors: the stance of Konoha's major clans, and... the opinion of the Third Hokage."
Shisui, standing beside Yun, spoke up. "If either the Third Hokage or the major clans stand with us, we'll be able to push back any accusations. But if neither support us, then it'll become a serious battle of ideology."
"Haa…"
Minato sighed, a trace of frustration slipping through his usual calm.
"You make me sound powerless, Shisui."
Shisui smiled and bowed. "Not at all. You already have the loyalty of most of the Jōnin corps. And the Third Hokage trusts you greatly."
Minato chuckled bitterly.
'The Third Hokage's trust…'
He thought of what Uzumaki Sora had told him once.
Hiruzen's trust was too often tainted by emotion—his fondness for old comrades like Danzo, or his affection for his prized student Orochimaru. That trust had always clouded his judgment.
If this continued unchecked...
Then one day, Minato might have to choose between honoring the system that raised him—or tearing it down to protect those who deserved better.
*****
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