Chapter 45 – Konoha's Pillar
Minato Namikaze stood quietly behind Minamoto Ren, his mask long since removed.
Everyone here wearing the Leaf's forehead protector was an ally—there was no need for pretense.
Minato was a smart man. He could tell Ren was deliberately steering credit away from him—likely to conceal the fact that he possessed the Sharingan.
In the past, Minato would have stepped forward to explain Ren's situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But now… he hesitated.
There were bad people in the village—people in high places.
As Hokage, could Hiruzen really be unaware?
"Sun, do you have anything to add?"
After Ren finished, Hiruzen turned his serious gaze to Minato.
Minato glanced at Ren, then shook his head. "Nothing more."
Ren let out a silent breath of relief.
The Sharingan's origin was a dangerous question—if exposed here, there was a high chance he'd be suspended for investigation. Danzo, that rabid dog, would seize the moment to legitimize his own dealings with Kirigakure.
Thankfully, Little Sun was dependable at crucial moments. When they got back to the village, Ren would treat him to dinner—extra chicken leg.
Hiruzen studied Minato's face but found no sign of deceit. Looking back at Ren, both boys seemed utterly exhausted, which softened the Hokage's heart.
No matter how they'd done it—whether two youngsters taking down the Seven Ninja Swordsmen made sense or not—they were still heroes of the Leaf, its hope for the future.
"We'll discuss this further back at the village—"
Hiruzen's tone was gentle, but he didn't notice as a root shinobi emerged from the forest to whisper something to Danzo.
"Wait."
Danzo abruptly cut him off.
Every head turned.
Interrupting the Hokage mid-sentence—who in Konoha dared to do that?
Even Danzo realized the timing was poor. He quickly stepped up beside Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, we found traces of the Shikotsumyaku in the forest. But none of the Seven Swordsmen bear the Kaguya name…"
This gave Hiruzen plenty of room for suspicion. Whatever else could be said, Danzo knew exactly how to plant doubt in him.
"Hannya…" Hiruzen's voice wavered. "The Shikotsumyaku appearing in the forest—"
"I don't understand!"
The clear, cutting voice interrupted him.
For the second time today, Hiruzen was stopped mid-sentence—and it irked him.
But when he saw it was Minato who had spoken, he fell silent.
"Lord Hokage, I don't understand. Why is it that in Konoha, the more someone gives, the more they suffer for it?"
Minato's voice rose with emotion.
"You know the truth. You've always known."
"The Gold Escort mission came from you personally. Before that, no one knew. Even we, the ones executing it, only learned at the last moment."
"And yet the Seven Swordsmen knew—knew there would be five hundred million ryō on that specific route, deep inside the Land of Fire!"
"How did they know? Would you like me to keep going?"
By the end, Minato's tone had calmed. He was not someone who lost his temper easily—he had simply been carrying too much pressure for too long, and needed somewhere to release it.
The Anbu around them pretended to be watching the perimeter, but every ear was listening.
This level of internal friction in Konoha was rare—and the Hokage's chosen successor openly voicing dissatisfaction with the Hokage himself? That was something to remember.
Hatake Sakumo stood frozen in an awkward spot. He wasn't versed in politics. He could smell the gunpowder in the air but couldn't quite grasp the situation.
So, he asked a question that was… less than wise.
"Lord Hokage, could there be Kirigakure spies in the village? Should I return to lead a purge?"
Hiruzen gave him a long, weary look.
Danzo, meanwhile, eyed him like a starving wolf—Oh? Hatake Sakumo… so you're ready to kick someone when they're down?
This wasn't just an ordinary Anbu commander—he had ambition.
"Sakumo, we'll discuss that privately when we return. For now, see to the gold."
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose.
Balancing conflict, mediating between light and shadow—that was the Hokage's duty.
But mediation required fertile ground.
Danzo had no moral high ground, but he had position and power.
Ren, for all his genius and his ties to Tsunade, represented only the future.
Danzo was the present.
Ren watched the open jabs and hidden barbs flying between them and shook his head inwardly.
Pointless. Nothing said tonight would change a thing—it would only deepen the rift within the village.
He had long since understood: Shimura Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi were two sides of the same coin.
There was no such thing as removing Danzo while keeping Hiruzen.
If you wanted to kill one, you'd have to kill them both.
The reason was simple—these two had once fought shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield, comrades and classmates for years. They had their disputes, but never fundamental ones.
With Hiruzen in power, Danzo would never rebel; with Danzo as his adviser, Hiruzen could maintain his image as a balanced, strong leader.
So the path forward was not to persuade Hiruzen to replace Danzo.
It was to show weakness—and take advantage.
Rank, techniques, resources—anything would do. While Hiruzen was feeling guilty, now was the time to ask.
With his mind clear as polished glass, Ren stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Lord Hokage, Sun is just a bit agitated—please forgive him. As for Lord White Fang, he's been away from the village for a long time and might not fully grasp the nature of this mission. It's understandable."
"Whatever the details, this mission was a victory for Konoha. It was Konoha shinobi who defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and thwarted Kirigakure's plot!"
"It's a victory of unity, a victory for the Leaf, a victory for the Will of Fire!"
These well-chosen words immediately eased Hiruzen's expression.
Hatake Sakumo had already left—actually following Hiruzen's order to handle the gold transport.
Ren couldn't help but think: Now that's what I'd call the purest kind of shinobi.
As for Minato Namikaze, he didn't particularly care about this political maneuvering. He believed in the Will of Fire—but in his own interpretation, a version uniquely his.
Like the difference between "Moza" and "Mozart"—same name, entirely different music.
The surrounding Anbu cast furtive glances toward the "invisible" central figure of the night. Tsunade's student truly had remarkable poise—quick in action, polished in speech. Perhaps the Senju clan still had a chance for revival after all…
"Let's return to the village."
Hiruzen gave his sole command of the night—an implicit invitation to let the matter drop, set aside differences, and work together for Konoha.
"Yes, sir."
Every shinobi knelt briefly in acknowledgment, then rose together, leaping into the night like a swarm of locusts headed for the village.
The Hokage's authority had pressed the conflict down—for now.
But an incident like this would never be without consequences.
In the dark, Ren turned his gaze toward the silent Minato beside him, his eyes thoughtful.