Discussions continued, until they leaned toward restructuring in the face of the new regime.
"Also, Lord Hokage," Hiruzen continued, "I'd like to propose that the Anbu's system and members all remain the same to ensure that the integrity and stability of the organisation isn't compromised, after all-"
"I'm going to have to interject, Lord Sarutobi," Minato said sharply, "I have made the decision to restructure the Anbu and review all of its members completely." He had remembered how Katsuro had warned him not to fall to Hiruzen's tactics of trying to stay in power as much as possible, and the message was a key reminder that his optimism was misplaced. As much as he tried to see the best in the man, he would have to take his teacher's advice now.
Allowing the current Anbu to remain would make sure that Minato never fully had control. They were handpicked by Hiruzen, and many were Sarutobi clan members. As such, they were loyal toward their clan leader and the man that had seemed to 'raise' them. For a faction supposed to act as the Hokage's direct arm, not being loyal to him was silly, and this restructuring would help return things to how they should've been.
WHAT? Hiruzen was outraged. He wanted to keep the Anbu under his control, but now it was impossible. Since the message, Minato had become much less forgiving and lenient, a fact Hiruzen dreaded. He had guessed that Katsuro's influence had caused this change which overrode the hard work he had put to seem trustable to Minato.
What Hiruzen didn't know however was that Minato was already in the process of having Katsuro become his new advisor, as it was quickly becoming obvious that the Third Hokage's own opinions were interfering with and swaying his advice even when he saw the man as being helpful. Having Katsuro as an official counterbalance was something he had always planned with full faith in his teacher, but his step back had halted things.
Tsunade and Mr Yairya smiled, seeing Hiruzen powerless to keep his Anbu in power, as the Third Hokage quietly nodded and took his seat.
The meeting continued, but eventually there was not much else to discuss with the Kiri affairs being put on a temporary halt. This forced a somewhat uncomfortable silence, which was eventually filled by light chatter between friends. Even being made to wait, the figure heads and leaders of Konoha were more than willing to do so.
Soon Katsuro hastily strode in as the doors opened and all the eyes in the room turned to him. He looked as healthy as they last saw him, wearing the typical white Senju robes, with his long white hair, green eyes, a fairly serious expression and impressive height and physique that made him look like a god among men. His healthy and powerful appearance served to put any lingering worries at ease as he took the seat Tsunade had given up for him. He seemed to be in perfect condition, and that only inspired confidence.
"Hello, everyone. Thanks for waiting."
—
Hiruzen twitched in annoyance, before he regained his composure, expressing no visible emotion. However on the inside he was deeply irritated by the sight of Katsuro before helplessness washed over him. As soon as his influence arrived, it seemed he was destined to be reduced to a pitiful form. Hiruzen's ambition and selfishness lashed out against such a feeling, desperate to be more, to be in power, but the green eyes that bore down on him oppressively sent tingles up his spine. A warning, and a reminder of how easily he could be killed. And the worst part was Hiruzen knew the man would not blink to do so, the current him seemed to carry even more pressure than before.
"Welcome Katsuro, Kaito has informed us that you wanted to weigh in on our current situation?" Minato nodded."
"That's right."
"We shall get to that, however, we must finish the discussion of the Mist village," Minato glanced at Hiruzen before proceeding. Good luck Hiruzen, after teacher hears what you've done, who knows what he'll do. He's much less diplomatic than I am. "Lord Sarutobi has gone ahead and secured suitable compensation himself from the Hidden Mist Village, however-"
"What?!" Katsuro rose from his seat immediately, causing it to topple over, shooting Hiruzen a disgusted look. Everyone in the room seemed to seize up and hold their breath, they could only wait to see what would happen. Hiruzen's eyes widened as he looked back at Katsuro, now afraid. He seemed to have forgotten while he was acting on his own accord while the Senju Patriarch was away, that Katsuro could easily kill him if he wanted. "He did this himself? Did he even tell you, Hokage, or any other members of the council, about what he was going to do? Simple compensation isn't enough, and especially without consulting the rest of the council. What the Hidden Mist did was atrocious!" Katsuro seethed, his chakra violently erupting out of him with each word. With the way movements were happening within the village, he had expected some less than pleasant moves from Hiruzen, and his presence was evidence of this as well as the responsibility he felt since he had secured the Kiri deal in the first place. But what Hiruzen had actually done surprised him, his brazenness in his absence was proof that he was right about the man. Perhaps if Katsuro died or didn't exist, the man would basically still be Hokage simply with Minato as the figurehead.
Tsunade grabbed his wrist under the table, which seemed to calm his chakra down slightly, but didn't change his mood at all, as Katsuro continued.
"2 entire squads of our Chunin, children, were slaughtered, on a simple mission. They then kidnapped one, and forcibly made her a Jinchuuriki," Katsuro's words reminded everyone of the deaths of the young shinobi that had died, on a mission that was meant to be completely safe, "What gave you the right to put a price on their lives and their families' grief?! You're not the Hokage anymore, Hiruzen!" Katsuro couldn't hold back his anger, and in doing so, resorted to calling out the Third Hokage directly. Everyone in the room froze. "You've been forgiven enough times!"
Minato didn't even attempt to intervene, because he knew it was pointless, and he, as well as the rest of the council, couldn't deny that Katsuro was wrong.
"Katsuro, that's enough," Minato raised his voice. Katsuro didn't bother to talk back, because he knew as Hokage, Minato had to step in eventually. The Senju Patriarch sat down, but didn't take his eyes off Hiruzen, who quickly averted his stare to the table in front of him. The others in the room didn't dare to say a word. The tension in the room seemed to stop them from speaking, other than Minato, who continued.
"Now that Lord Katsuro has brought this matter up again, we can discuss it fully. I agree, the Mist's actions can simply not be excused by putting a price on the deaths of so many of our young shinobi. Everyone in the village, not just the affected families, are distraught, as are the rest of us in this room. Considering that, we must take alternative action. The situation in regards to Lord Sarutobi will be determined at a later time."
Everyone looked around, but Katsuro was quick to kill the momentary silence.
"We should go to the Hidden Mist, right now, and sort it out there. Let the matter be addressed with them in front of us, so that they will know not to make the same mistake again." The way Katsuro spoke seemed to have a darker intent behind it, but Minato swiftly nodded, which spoke of Katsuro's influence on him. His confidence in their strength and unwillingness to lie down and take this attack was a result of having a more fiery teacher to counteract what Hiruzen would have instilled in him.
"I think that's suitable. Others in favour?"
Practically everyone else in the room nodded, and Hiruzen too, had to follow, as if he didn't he would be saying he really thought that the death of the youth shinobi that had died really didn't matter more than money.
In a quick turnaround, after the Hokage and Katsuro showed their support the Leaf quickly decided a confrontation was the method. Perhaps the Third Shinobi War wasn't done after all.
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