---
"Be careful, don't let anyone die."
Opening the door and stepping out into the hallway, the Third Hokage gave a few instructions to Blast's squad, who were guarding outside, before leaving the Anbu headquarters and returning home.
From beginning to end, the Third Hokage and Yamanaka Koyu never exchanged a single word with Kenshi, who had woken up.
Because it wasn't necessary.
In their minds, anyone who entered the Anbu interrogation room was doomed.
Whether or not they could obtain information, Kenshi's fate was only death.
Unaware of his impending doom, Kenshi, after hearing the conversation between the Third Hokage and Yamanaka Koyu, learned that he hadn't been subjected to genjutsu or mind-body technique memory exploration. He thought that there was still a chance to salvage his situation, that he still had a glimmer of hope.
This body was indeed not his.
And he did have his predecessor's memories, although not many.
But his previous life, the previous owner, was just a six-year-old child. How many memories could he have in six years?
Although the memories Kenshi inherited weren't many, they were enough for him to completely pretend to be a real Kenshi.
As long as he insisted that he was Kenshi, he would have a chance.
Kenshi was betting that the Third Hokage would show his kind side, as he did in the original story, caring about the lives of the villagers, and not easily killing any Konoha villagers.
As long as the Third Hokage acknowledged him as Kenshi, he had a good chance of surviving.
"Next is the acting part."
Kenshi carefully recalled Kenshi's memories, while thinking about how he should speak if he got the chance.
Considering his current situation, how should he react to match Kenshi's?
That night, Kenshi desperately thought about countermeasures. He yearned for a chance to survive.
...
"Grandma, I'm going to school."
"Okay, take your time, little Minato. Don't trip and fall."
"I know."
The next morning, the same scene played out in front of the gate of Minato's family's villa.
Minato smiled and waved goodbye to his grandmother. He was still carrying a lunchbox for two, filled with rice balls that he and his friend, Kenshi, loved.
The only difference from yesterday morning was that this time, Minato was in a hurry. He responded to his classmates' greetings in a hurry and quickly walked through the gate.
A night had passed.
What about Kenshi?
Had the Hokage-sama already caught the bastard who was controlling Yao?
Had Kenshi safely returned home to sleep last night?
Would he see Kenshi at school today?
Minato's heart was filled with anxiety and unease, not knowing what the outcome of his friend's situation would be.
With this anxiety and unease, Minato arrived at school early.
He went to his class and pushed open the back door. Minato's eyes immediately looked towards the seat in the third row, on the left, by the window.
"Hmm!"
Minato's eyes dimmed. His friend, Kenshi, wasn't in their usual spot.
"Maybe... he's just late?"
"Yes, that must be it."
Minato thought to himself, then smiled and went to sit in their usual spot.
Time passed slowly.
More and more students came into the classroom.
"Morning, Minato."
"Morning, Shota."
"Morning..."
Minato smiled and greeted the classmates who greeted him as they entered the classroom, while looking towards the back door and the front door, hoping to see that familiar figure.
But even when the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom, his friend still hadn't come.
"Hmm, is that kid late or not coming?"
The ninja teacher glanced at the seat next to Minato, noticing that Kenshi, who had been in class yesterday, wasn't there, and his brow furrowed slightly. He didn't know what was going on with that kid.
"You guys..." Just as the ninja teacher was about to ask the students near Kenshi if they had seen him,
Clang!
Minato suddenly stood up, his anxious expression evident. Before he could turn and leave his seat, the teacher's words came.
"Minato, what's wrong?"
"Teacher, I..." Minato hesitated, then decided not to mention his friend's situation, because he didn't know what was going on with the Hokage-sama, and he didn't dare to say anything.
"Then sit down. Let's start class. We'll talk about Kenshi after class."
The ninja teacher clapped his hands, signaling for Minato to sit down. He thought Minato was worried about Kenshi not coming to class.
In fact... that was true.
"I know."
After being interrupted by the ninja teacher, Minato calmed down and sat down obediently.
If something had happened to his friend, it would be useless for him to go to the Hokage-sama now.
It might even cause some trouble because of him.
He might as well wait until after school to go ask the Hokage-sama what was going on with Yao.
Deep down, Minato didn't want to think about the possibility that his friend might be gone.
Hokage Tower.
Office.
The Third Hokage had just sat down, and before he could light the pipe in his mouth, the door was pushed open forcefully.
"Hiruzen, I've heard about last night's incident. The Uchiha clan is too arrogant."
Before he could even see the person, Shimura Danzo's voice reached the Third Hokage's ears, without any regard for the fact that his unfriendly words about the Uchiha clan might be heard.
Looking at Danzo, who walked in with a gloomy expression, the Third Hokage's brow furrowed slightly, feeling a little annoyed.
Did this guy have to be so resentful?
He had been the Hokage for so many years, and he still wasn't willing to call him "Hokage-sama."
"Hiruzen-sama" would be fine too!
The Third Hokage thought to himself, then said, "What are you doing here?"
As he was speaking, two more people walked in behind Danzo.
"Yeah, Hiruzen, the Uchiha are too arrogant. They even dared to attack the Hokage's direct Anbu. They're completely lawless."
Homura stood beside Danzo, his expression also unpleasant.
Last night, the two Uchiha brats had confronted the Anbu, and if it hadn't been for Hiruzen's intervention, they would have even fought.
Even though Hiruzen had stepped in, the two Uchiha brats had dared to be so bold.
After a night, almost all the high-ranking members of Konoha's major clans knew about this incident this morning.
It was obvious who had spread the word.
It couldn't be anyone else but the Uchiha.
Their goal was to use this to undermine Hiruzen's authority as Hokage.
Once the Hokage's authority was lowered to a certain extent, the Uchiha could launch an impeachment and overthrow Hiruzen.
Such blatant and despicable behavior was something that they, as advisors to the Hokage, who shared the same fate as Hiruzen, couldn't tolerate any longer.
"Yes, Hiruzen." Koharu, who had just walked in and closed the door, was a woman, but she had a fierce look in her eyes. She said, "We can't let this continue. The Uchiha clan's arrogance must be suppressed, at all costs."
"Yes, Hiruzen." Danzo followed up with a suggestion, "You're not convenient to make a move, so let me establish a Root specifically to eliminate the Uchiha. The Uchiha clan can't be left unchecked any longer."
Bang!
As soon as Danzo finished speaking, the Third Hokage slammed his hand on the table, glared at him, and said righteously, "Watch your words, Danzo. The Uchiha clan is also a member of Konoha. Are you talking about eliminating your own people?"
"Come on, Hiruzen, there's no one else here. You don't have to maintain your Hokage persona."
Danzo rolled his eyes, hiding his disdain. They were all people who inherited the Second Hokage, Tobirama's will. They all knew about the Second Hokage's plan to eliminate the Uchiha.
Similarly, Danzo knew very well how much Hiruzen wished for the Uchiha clan to disappear.
If you had to say who among the four of them wished for the Uchiha clan to disappear the most, it wasn't him, it wasn't Homura or Koharu, but Hiruzen himself.
He was the one who most wished for the Uchiha clan to disappear, but he always pretended to be looking at the situation from the perspective of Konoha.
If it hadn't been for their years of working together, Danzo would have really believed that Hiruzen was a selfless Hokage.
Unfortunately, you can act, but you can't act out what you do.
"In any case, I don't want to hear the word 'eliminate' when it comes to the Uchiha anymore, understand, Danzo?"
Some things can be done but not said. Because he was the Hokage, he couldn't tolerate others saying such things in front of him. It was a provocation against his position as Hokage, and Hiruzen wouldn't let anyone get away with it, no matter who it was.
"Hiruzen, you..." Danzo wanted to retort and complain, but he eventually gave in under Hiruzen's stern gaze and replied, "I understand."
The Third Hokage nodded, and finally had time to light his pipe.
---
NEW PATREON UPDATE
INCREASED CHAPTER COUNT EACH TIER
FOR REACHING 10 PATRONS
You get two Naruto Fanfics when you join.
One payment for two fics.
patreon(.)com/ShixT9
CURRENT PATREON CHAPTER : Chapter 56
=> If you join as a FREE MEMBER you'll get +3 ADVANCE CHAPTERS(tomorrow)
=> TIER 1 you'll get +10 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
=> TIER 2 you'll get +20 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
=> TIER 3 you'll get +40 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
THE PAID TIERS DOES'NT INCLUDE THE FREE CHAPTERS SO IT'S A BONUS +3 CHAPTERS FOR EACH TIER
EXTRA BENEFITS FOR ALL TIERS
>DISCORD ACCESS
>VOTE AND SUGGEST FUTURE FICS
>FEET PICS 0.0
EACH PAID PATRON = 2 CHAPTERS RELEASE WITH YOUR NAME ON THE TITLE