There were five people in the meeting room.
The Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage advisors Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu, and the Root leader Danzo Shimura.
These are the core senior executives currently in charge of Konoha.
Except for the independent ninja clans and the [Jonin Conference], all other departments and powers of Konoha are scattered in the hands of five people.
Sarutobi Hiruzen currently controls: [Directly Affiliated Anbu], [City Defense Melee Forces], [Medical Department], [Interrogation Department], and [Intelligence Department], and has tremendous power.
Mitomon En and Utatane Koharu: They jointly manage the [Administrative Department], are responsible for assisting the Hokage, and contacting the [Land of Fire] and accepting the financial expenditures allocated by the country to the village. They are equivalent to being in charge of part of the decision-making power, diplomatic power, and financial power. Their status is extremely high, comparable to that of an elder.
Shimura Danzo: He is in sole control of the Root and also enjoys certain financial control.
Namikaze Minato: He currently only manages the [Ministry of Education], some directly affiliated Anbu are still being established, as well as the main government affairs of the Hokage.
The rest include [Corpse Disposal Team], [Beast Training and Recuperation Team], [Boundary Team], [Sealing Team], etc. The most critical and influential ones are only the main governmental affairs of the Hokage and some directly affiliated Anbu, which are only now beginning to be established.
As the Fourth Hokage, his power is actually the lowest among the five, even lower than Danzo.
But Minato Namikaze was not in a hurry at all.
His position as Hokage was not given as a gift, but was fought for by his reputation in the three great wars.
Although the time is still short, he is already changing and developing Konoha in his own way.
He just needs time.
The meeting room's air was heavy—thick with smoke from Danzo's pipe and the faint scent of blood and ash that still clung to their uniforms from the events of last night. None of them had fully recovered from the chaos. Outside the window, parts of Konohagakure were still smoldering. Whole districts were leveled. Families mourned. Civilians, young and old, were displaced. And yet, here they were, inside this insulated council room, preparing to confront the political fallout.
"Have the casualties from last night been counted?"
Utane Koharu asked first.
"Such a catastrophe cannot be concealed from the Daimyo. We must prepare a good response."
Minato Namikaze immediately presented the statistics.
"Preliminary statistics show 638 ninja casualties and 2,845 civilian casualties. The number of injured is still being corrected."
"Such immense losses?"
Mitomon En was also shocked: "The Third World War has just ended, and the village has suffered heavy losses. Now this heavy blow will inevitably attract other villages to come and take advantage of the fire!"
The only good thing is that the Nine-Tails has been re-sealed, and Minato Namikaze is still alive and well.
The reputation of "Yellow Flash" alone can deter most enemies.
But reassurance wasn't enough. Koharu and En both knew how little faith the Daimyo had in the Hokage's office after the war. The failure to prevent such widespread destruction would certainly give political opponents a reason to question Minato's legitimacy.
Minato had already thought of this, and reassured him:
"I have already ordered increased patrols along our borders and dispatched reconnaissance teams. Any signs of enemy movement will be detected immediately. If any village dares to attack, they will face the full might of Konoha!"
The strength of "Yellow Flash" is indeed outstanding, so no one can question it.
Koharu then pressed on a sensitive issue.
"How did the masked man, who controlled the Nine-Tails, know the precise timing of the Jinchūriki's delivery?"
"And how did he break through our highest-level barrier?"
"That person has very strong Space-Time Ninjutsu, and he probably used that to bypass the barrier. As for how he knew the time of Kushina's delivery... that remains a mystery."
Minato was also puzzled, because only a few trusted people knew about it. He really couldn't think of anyone who would betray the village.
He went over the list in his head again: the Third Hokage, the midwives, a handful of elite Anbu, and himself. But trust in a time like this felt like a luxury. Trust had been shattered the moment the Nine-Tails was unleashed.
Thinking of Kakashi, thinking of Obito, Minato still didn't say it. He couldn't say such an unconfirmed suspicion.
Danzo immediately seized the opportunity and asked sharply.
"The time and place of the Jinchūriki's birth are top secret. Only the Third and Fourth Hokage, and a select few, were privy to this information. The enemy's attack was precisely timed, indicating prior intelligence. Hiruzen, Minato, you must explain this!"
This is a naked accusation of collaboration, demanding accountability from the two Hokage.
"Hiruzen, it is said that Biwako and Taji, who oversaw the delivery, were your people..."
But Sarutobi Hiruzen was still in a daze, slumped in his seat, silent.
"Hiruzen? Hiruzen?"
Minato turned to look at the old man beside him. Hiruzen, who once led Konohagakure with firm hands through two ninja wars, now looked like a shadow of himself—tired, crushed, and older than ever. His back was bent not just from age, but from the invisible weight of guilt.
"Danzo!" Minato couldn't help but speak up, with a slightly bad tone. "You shouldn't ask that. Lady Biwako was also killed during the attack."
"What? Biwako was also lost?"
Danzo was also surprised. He didn't know about it. The Third Hokage had lost his wife overnight. No wonder he seemed so desperate.
It was inappropriate to pursue Sarutobi further, so Danzo's eyes fell on Minato.
"The source of this leaked information must be thoroughly investigated!"
Danzo stared at Minato Namikaze.
"Furthermore, the village has repeatedly emphasized the threat posed by the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Minato, as the Fourth Hokage, you allowed the Tailed Beast to revolt, causing such catastrophic damage. As Hokage, you must be held accountable for this!"
Danzo's voice echoed through the chamber. It was cold, surgical. And beneath it, a familiar hunger lurked—one for power. For control. For the seat Minato now held.
Danzo is no longer the passionate youth he once was. In his eyes, there is only power and the position of Hokage. This is an opportunity for him to criticize Minato for being negligent and even force him to step down.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had partly abdicated due to the heavy casualties of the Third World War.
Minato frowned slightly. He didn't want to turn against Danzo either. After all, what Danzo said was the truth and there was nothing wrong with it.
Regardless of the underlying reasons, as the Hokage and the Jinchūriki's husband, he and Kushina were indeed responsible for the Nine-Tails Rebellion.
"Am I wrong? As Hokage, shouldn't I be responsible for this?"
Minato thought to himself, then turned to the two advisors.
"Koharu, En, what are your thoughts?"
The two advisors hesitated, their expressions tangled. If someone had to take the blame, and the primary figures were still alive, then...
The silence thickened. Every second dragged. Even the faint scratching of Danzo's cane against the wooden floor seemed loud. The air felt poisonous with politics.
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally came to his senses and spoke in a conciliatory and soothing manner.
"We'll discuss responsibility later. The most urgent task now is post-war recovery: repairing the village, treating the wounded, and burying our dead."
"Hiruzen, you are covering up for me!"
"Danzo, if you really want to be responsible, can you tell me where you and the Root were last night?"
Sarutobi's tone suddenly became sharp and he questioned directly.
Danzo's one visible eye narrowed.
"Hiruzen, are you questioning me?"
"I just hope that everyone can come together a little bit, especially during this time."
Sarutobi gave Danzo a long look.
He opened his mouth to reveal something, but ended up holding it back.
He couldn't possibly say that he met the first and second generations last night and was scolded by Tobirama for more than ten minutes.
Even if I tell him, Danzo won't believe it!
He would only think that I was deceiving him, and wanted him to take the blame, or wanted to reduce his power...
Hey!
My old friend.
After all, I'm in too deep!
Just like myself, isn't it time to let go of some power?
When the two were facing each other tit for tat.
An Anbu ninja suddenly knocked on the door and entered, reporting something to Minato in secret.
After hearing this, Minato's face lit up and he immediately stood up and said goodbye.
"Sorry, I have to leave for something important."
"If you have discussed everything and have any important decisions, just have someone notify me directly."
After saying that, he disappeared in an instant, obviously rushing back because he learned that Kai had arrived.