Currently, doing damage control was priority!
This was the general ninja consensus. After all, the criminal was caught; escape is impossible. Later could handle however desired.
So they all busied themselves explaining to villagers, attempting to persuade people to leave.
Simultaneously, others with previously fallen red cloth flew on rooftops, reaching the Hokage Rock statue, completely covering the Fourth's adjacent area while simultaneously concealing that infuriating "Fifth Hokage statue"!
Presumably, before completely eradicating that location, this concealing cloth wouldn't be removed.
Meanwhile, Yamashita-jisan and other craftsmen stood dumbstruck, vigorously staring at Aoha, who caused everything!
Especially Yamashita-jisan!
That emotional complexity, that soreness, is simply indescribable!
He never imagined problems appearing not on the Fourth's statue but surprisingly on the adjacent "empty" rock wall!
Though Aoha previously mentioned carving his own statue there, he treated it childhood aspiration and dreams, merely smiling without serious consideration.
Yet who imagined this brat actually meant it, truly executing it!
Moreover, sneakily completing it under their watchful eyes!
Pitifully, they inspected these many days, discovering nothing, absolutely losing face.
Similarly frustrated was the craftsman previously discovered anomalies.
The rock wall moving was true. He didn't have eyesight problems!
Simply never discovering that location actually used a fake rock wall pasted with cloth.
Perhaps this was art's charm.
Simultaneously, this major incident occurring here was practically instantly transmitted to Minato's ears through ANBU.
"What? Someone privately carved their own statue beside it, leaving such words? Certain?"
Even Minato's good upbringing caused dumbfounded, incredible expression.
"Yes. However, Mikawa-jonin already captured the criminal. Currently, others attempt to calm villagers, reducing negative impact."
"Shinomiya Aoha. Him again."
Minato felt a severe headache, even suspecting that this name naturally conflicted with himself!
Since his Hokage inauguration day, this troublemaker gave him a 'welcome gift,' and subsequently became involved with Uchiha. Then contributed medicinal bath formula somewhat recovered impressions. Yet now again.
"Kakashi, how should I handle him?"
Present ANBU-masked Kakashi almost unhesitatingly said: "Private Hokage Rock destruction: serious crime. Recommend direct imprisonment or exile."
Kakashi's attitude was quite clear: severe punishment without exception!
The opposition's age was barely considered.
Disrespecting the Hokage: a single point sufficed absolute non-forgiveness!
Hearing this answer, Minato felt completely unsurprised. First, White Fang's death, then Obito and Rin's deaths. This series of blows completely transformed Kakashi into another person, increasingly aloof, cold, and merciless, placing ninja code and mission completion as absolute.
Precisely arranging Kakashi's entering ANBU, positioning him beside himself, cultivating as left and right arms, hoping he'd forget this suffering.
Currently, seemingly, this operation was rushed. Kakashi, entering ANBU, though slightly changed, that aloof coldness remained too strong.
"Isn't such punishment too severe? After all, just childish pranks. You investigated his past experiences, knowing that children experiencing drastic changes entering strange environments often act inappropriately. Essentially seeking attention and care concealment."
"Additionally, I think this incident's impact, perhaps, isn't so terrible. Previous matters were resolved nicely. Villagers didn't mind, but rather produced many children loudly shouting, becoming Hokage."
"Since the war started, the village hasn't possessed such vitality for long."
As expected, Minato seemingly didn't treat this extremely seriously.
Imprisonment and exile punishment are truly somewhat cruel for a child not yet school-age.
With the teacher plus Hokage Minato saying this, what else could Kakashi do but remain silent?
However, how to punish Aoha, appeasing villagers' anger, remained a major problem. Too light wouldn't work. Too severe wouldn't either. Therefore, Minato severely headached, only temporarily shelving it.
"Go. Bring him back. I'll handle this personally."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Didn't take long before pitch-black-faced Mikawa-jonin walked into the Hokage's office, carrying anxious Aoha.
"Hokage-sama, the criminal has been brought here. Additionally, requesting Hokage-sama's punishment. I betrayed Third Hokage-sama and your trust, allowing such massive trouble to occur. Primary responsibility is mine."
Entering, Mikawa-jonin immediately dropped Aoha, seriously accepting majority responsibility.
Though enraged, his heart couldn't withstand it; through duty, he wouldn't sit idle.
This is a true man!
Meanwhile, Aoha firmly stated: "Hokage-sama, this entire matter's solely my fault, completely unrelated to Mikawa-jonin. Additionally, Mikawa-jonin finally attempted to stop me. He already tried his best."
Even if unable to become a good person, he wouldn't become despicable, implicating a genuinely caring individual. This was his bottom line.
So pleading is acceptable. Actively bearing responsibility: absolutely not.
Additionally, he possessed considerable confidence in avoiding death. As long as preserving life, this death-courting succeeded!
Yet he didn't know: "Mikawa-jonin already tried his best" actually made Mikawa-jonin's expression darker, entire person approaching borderline desperately strangling him!
"You specifically know that the old man tried stopping you! Knowing causing massive trouble, why still do this!" Mikawa mentally roared!
"Already tried his best" sounded genuinely heartbreaking, making him increasingly depressed.
Contrarily, Minato displayed a highly interested expression watching this young and old pair performing 'paternal love and filial piety.' He truly didn't treat Aoha's trouble seriously. Actually, he considered nothing catastrophic since destroying past Hokage statues: that's a major incident!