"Following you? No, no, no—you misunderstand, my dear Orochimaru," Danzo said with a pleasant smile. "I've always walked the straight path. I sit upright, act honorably. I would never do something as low as tailing someone—it's beneath my station."
"I just happened to feel nostalgic, and thought I'd pay my respects to the ancestors of the Uzumaki Clan here at their mask storage temple."
"It's pure coincidence that I ran into you and White Zetsu here."
Yeah right. I don't believe a word of it, you conniving old vulture. Orochimaru sneered inwardly.
But he didn't call him out—better to play dumb.
Outwardly, Orochimaru's tone was curt. "Well, you've seen what you came to see. Lord Danzo, could you leave now?"
"Orochimaru, there's no need to be so distant," Danzo replied cheerfully. "You do what you need to do—I'll just walk around a bit. I promise I won't interfere."
"And don't worry about anyone else interrupting."
"The entire perimeter of this mask hall—inside and out—is surrounded by my Root operatives."
"No one's getting in—or out. Not even a mosquito."
Orochimaru stared at Danzo coldly. But Danzo remained calm, even leisurely inspecting the Shinigami, his expression one of complete control.
It was clear—Danzo had come fully prepared.
"Fine, Danzo. You win," Orochimaru sighed. "Brother White Zetsu—you may begin."
"Understood!" White Zetsu, wearing the Shinigami Mask, responded promptly. Controlling the spirit, he took the dagger from the Shinigami's mouth and sliced open its belly, revealing a glowing fissure.
At the same moment, a faint, transparent soul floated out from White Zetsu's abdomen.
Danzo watched with interest. "So that's Minato's soul?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. Instead, he tossed another bound and bagged White Zetsu to the floor, pulled out the Edo Tensei summoning scroll, and placed a strand of Minato Namikaze's hair—retrieved from the Konoha Memorial Stone—on the prepared ritual space.
He began forming hand seals—Tiger–Snake–Dog–Dragon—then clasped his hands together and shouted:
"Reanimation Jutsu!"
Dark, ink-like symbols poured from the scroll, forming a glowing summoning array. The kanji for "Impure World" appeared as a bright ring enveloped Minato's soul. The unconscious White Zetsu was soon covered in dust and ash.
A scream echoed through the chamber.
White Zetsu's form rapidly transformed into that of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, fluttering paper fragments shedding from his body like falling leaves.
At the same time, White Zetsu's soul was dragged into the Shinigami's belly and sealed away.
"Orochimaru? Lord Danzo?!" Minato's eyes snapped open. He immediately recognized the two standing before him, and his expression turned to horror.
"Long time no see, Yellow Flash." Orochimaru's voice rang out.
Minato's consciousness slipped into sleep once more.
—
Inside Naruto's subconscious.
"You're saying Danzo and Orochimaru used Edo Tensei to resurrect you?" Hiruzen's face changed.
"Exactly. Just as my awareness was fading, I saw it clearly—Danzo had the Sharingan in his right eye… and a pale, Hashirama-like arm on his right side," Minato said grimly. "There's no doubt—they're trying to unseal the Nine-Tails from my body."
"And then use my reanimated form, along with the Nine-Tails, to attack Konoha."
"I believe their ultimate goal is to kill you, Lord Third, and seize the title of Hokage."
"…Damn it! Konoha has no capable fighters left. Jiraiya and Tsunade are both away…"
"Danzo alone is trouble enough. Now with you and Orochimaru added to the mix…"
"Is this the end for Konoha?" Hiruzen's face turned pale.
This lineup could absolutely destroy the village—and him, the Hokage.
Minato replied, "Lord Third, you're overreacting. Danzo, Orochimaru, and Root alone don't have what it takes to bring down Konoha."
"We still have plenty of high-level shinobi."
"There's Shisui, Fugaku, Itachi, and Hiashi."
"Let them face Orochimaru. Squad vs squad, they'll hold their own."
"ANBU can handle Root."
"With the support of the major clans, uniting against half of the Nine-Tails—who only possesses Yin chakra—we should be able to defend the village."
"And as for Danzo… surely you can handle him, right?"
Hiruzen: "…"
"Danzo? He's nothing to me. But… Minato, I may have to disappoint you," Hiruzen said bitterly. "After your death, Shisui committed suicide. The Uchiha Clan suffered massive losses after pressure from the council and high command."
"If they find out this is just a power struggle between me and Danzo, they'll be glad to sit it out—no chance they'll intervene."
"Besides, Itachi used to serve in Root. He was Danzo's subordinate. I wouldn't count on him choosing sides."
"As for the Hyuga Clan—after Hizashi's death, Hiashi has been outwardly respectful but deeply disappointed in me. I doubt they'll lift a finger."
"And then there's the Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, and Inuzuka clans… They all have people in both ANBU and Root. Most likely, they'll stand back and watch."
"In the end, the only ones I can count on… are the Sarutobi Clan."
Minato: "…"
Are you serious right now?
A massive village like Konoha—and you've alienated everyone but your own family? That's laughable.
And you say you might disappoint me? Let's cut the maybe, shall we?
Still, Minato knew that if Danzo rose to power, Naruto's safety would be at risk.
So he said, "Lord Hokage, you should go to Fugaku and Itachi for help. The Uchiha Clan will support you."
"Why?" Hiruzen blinked, confused.
"Because they care. Think about it—they've been searching for the truth behind the Nine-Tails' attack for years."
"And now the one who framed them—Danzo—has exposed himself."
"Danzo's right eye is a Sharingan. That's hard evidence."
"Once they learn this, they'll seize the chance to clear their name and reclaim the Sharingan. They won't pass up this opportunity."
"Besides, Itachi was Kushina's and my student. Shisui was his closest friend. The three of us all died, directly or indirectly, because of Danzo."
"Emotionally and logically—he'll fight for us. He will avenge us."
"Our deaths all trace back to Danzo in some way."
"He'll stand with you. I guarantee it."
"…You're right!" Hiruzen's eyes lit up. "That's the key!"
"But wait—did you just say Itachi was your student?" Hiruzen's mouth dropped open.
"That's right," Minato and Kushina said in unison, exchanging a look.
Hiruzen: "…"
"So that's why!" Hiruzen muttered. "Back then, you and Kushina joined with the Uchiha Clan to reduce the power of the village elders. And Kushina, being best friends with Mikoto…"
"Taking Itachi as your student—unexpected, but it all makes perfect sense."
"No wonder Danzo, petty as he is, was hellbent on destroying you two—and even framing the Uchiha."
"So this whole time, he's been stewing over the way you and the Uchiha undermined his power."
"I just never thought… he'd actually succeed. What a disaster."
"…Now I understand why Itachi didn't go to Root today. He came to report directly to me."
"So he's loyal to the Hokage, not Danzo," Hiruzen mused.
"Technically, that makes him my grand-student. He should be calling me Grandmaster." he added with a satisfied nod.
Minato: "…"
Wow. Now you want to claim him?
Where was all this grandfatherly energy when I died? When Naruto was left to rot in an orphanage? Wasn't he your student's son? Your own pupil's pupil?