The person who arrived was none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who had rushed to the scene using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Behind him was a massive, densely packed crowd of ANBU Ninja.
Among them was Kakashi Hatake, who had just been appointed as the captain of the Anbu assassination squad.
Clad in the standard Anbu attire, he stood behind Minato Namikaze like a shadow.
Strictly speaking, transferring from the position of shadow guard captain to become a squad captain in the Anbu should be considered a demotion in rank.
But you have to consider the career prospects of both positions.
To put it bluntly, the Shadow Guard Squad is equivalent to a Security Detail.
The shadow guard captain is the head of that Security Detail, guarding the leader's door.
It's roughly similar to Li Yunlong's bodyguard, Monk Wei, in the show "Bright Sword."
This position seems high-ranking but actually has little room for advancement; it's essentially about getting face time with the leadership and waiting for future deployment.
This Anbu squad captain position is that future deployment; Kakashi Hatake will use this position to participate in Anbu operations.
Eventually, he will rise all the way to the position of Anbu Commander, taking charge of the entire Anbu for Minato Namikaze.
But I digress. Back to the scene.
Inside the Sarutobi mansion.
Minato Namikaze had brought the Anbu to surround the entire mansion.
Nara Shikaku was commanding from the rear, relying on Shinichi Yamanaka's Mind Body Switch Technique and wireless earpieces.
All Root Ninja and Root bases were being monitored by members of the Hokage Faction, ensuring they couldn't come to provide support.
Or to prevent any situation Minato Namikaze didn't want to see from arising.
Furthermore, all the major Ninja Clans, including the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan, and others, had been notified to stay out of the matter.
The Shimura Clan's area was also under surveillance.
Actually, this was just a precaution. Ever since Danzo Shimura ascended to the Elder's seat, he had grown increasingly distant from the Shimura Clan.
Now, the relationship between the two was almost completely cold, so there was no need to worry about the Shimura Clan risking everything for Danzo Shimura.
As for Danzo Shimura, the moment he heard Minato Namikaze's voice, he knew something was wrong.
Then, when a large group of ANBU Ninja appeared, Danzo Shimura began to consider escape plans.
Unfortunately, all visible exits were guarded by the Anbu.
He was now a turtle in a jar!
"Monkey! What is the meaning of this? What are you all doing?"
Danzo Shimura was seething with anger, his entire face stiffening, his eyes seeming to shoot flames.
He stared fiercely at Hiruzen Sarutobi and asked coldly.
Unfortunately, his former comrade and partner merely lowered his head silently, smoking by himself.
He gave no reply.
This attitude also made Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance clear: he was siding with Minato Namikaze.
He, Danzo Shimura, had been abandoned!
"You'll regret this, Monkey!"
Danzo Shimura almost snarled these words.
They were filled with incomprehension, helplessness, resentment, and even a trace of confusion.
He completely failed to understand the current situation and didn't know why the tide had turned so suddenly.
Not long ago, in the council meeting, Monkey had sworn to protect him, and he had publicly humiliated Minato Namikaze.
The two had cooperated seamlessly, firmly grasping the power that should have been theirs.
But how much time had passed? Now Hiruzen Sarutobi was joining forces with Minato Namikaze against him?
Where had things gone wrong?
His mind racing, a cold smile suddenly appeared on Danzo Shimura's zombie-like old face.
He didn't even turn to face Minato Namikaze directly, merely glancing at him sideways, and asked stiffly:
"Fourth Hokage, what do you intend to do?"
In truth, seeing this formation, Danzo Shimura already had a rough idea of the situation.
He also knew very well what Minato Namikaze wanted to do, but he insisted on asking, on making Minato Namikaze say it to his face.
Faced with Danzo Shimura's challenge, Minato Namikaze smiled faintly and said calmly:
"Nothing else. I just want to invite Elder Danzo to retire early."
"The Previous Hokage's retired life is quite leisurely now; he'd like to find an old friend to share this peace and comfort with him."
"As long-time partners, I don't think Elder Danzo would refuse."
Back in the Hokage Office, when Minato Namikaze proposed dealing with Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already set the bottom line.
Strip Danzo Shimura of his positions, take back his power, and even neutralize his strength.
But his life must not be harmed.
Afterwards, Hiruzen Sarutobi would personally oversee him, effectively placing his old friend under house arrest.
Out of respect for Jiraiya and Tsunade, Minato Namikaze accepted this.
Thus, this long-planned trap was set.
"Hmph!"
Danzo Shimura snorted coldly, showing not the slightest fluctuation in emotion. He even spoke with righteous indignation:
"Monkey has grown old, greedy for pleasure, forgetting Lord Tobirama's instructions."
"But I have not forgotten!"
"The moment Lord Tobirama left us, I vowed to dedicate my entire life to protecting Konoha and safeguarding its villagers!"
"This is my responsibility! And my duty!"
"I will not shirk this responsibility!"
Wow, after hearing Danzo Shimura's speech, Minato Namikaze almost felt like applauding him.
What kind of self-brainwashing allowed Danzo Shimura to utter such words so calmly at a time like this?
"Elder Danzo, this is an order from the higher-ups. I hope you will consider it carefully."
"I do not wish to see an outcome that disappoints everyone."
Minato Namikaze's expression was solemn, his tone carrying a warning.
But whether Danzo Shimura genuinely didn't understand or was pretending not to, he replied stiffly:
"What higher-ups? Any decision made in a meeting I did not attend, I will not recognize!"
"Minato Namikaze, my concessions are not a reason for your insolence!"
Danzo Shimura actually turned the tables and accused Minato Namikaze. He half-turned his body, his single remaining eye fixed on Minato Namikaze.
"Danzo! Do not persist in your resistance!"
Seeing Danzo Shimura adopt such an utterly stubborn stance, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only issue a warning.
Who knew Danzo Shimura would immediately turn his head and stare at Hiruzen Sarutobi again, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity:
"Monkey, are you going to join him against me?"
"Not against you. I just want you to retire with me."
"We are both old. Let the younger generation handle things."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Danzo Shimura sneered again and waved his hand grandly:
"Say no more! Bring out whatever means you have!"
"Among Lord Tobirama's disciples, there are weaklings like Sarutobi, and there are also those like me who will not retreat!"
"I will not let Lord Tobirama's name be dishonored!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned upon hearing this. He hadn't noticed before how slick this old fellow's talk was.
How had even the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, become his tool, constantly invoked and mentioned?
"Danzo..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to persuade him further but was cut off by Danzo Shimura's wave:
"Silence, Sarutobi! You coward."
"You, who shirks responsibility, are unworthy of being Lord Tobirama's disciple. I am ashamed to have been your classmate."
"Today, there will only be a Danzo Shimura who dies standing. Come at me!"
Minato Namikaze knew further talk was useless. Seeing Danzo Shimura's current state, he was practically insane.
Who would have thought that Danzo Shimura, who had persistently brainwashed Root Ninja, had brainwashed himself most thoroughly of all.
He completely believed that all his actions were for Konoha's sake, that he was the righteous one.
That's why he spoke and acted with such boldness.
No matter what he did or how many people he hurt, he would never see anything wrong with himself.
"It seems this matter cannot be resolved peacefully."
Minato Namikaze sighed. Although he had also secretly hoped that Danzo Shimang would violently resist arrest—
If Danzo Shimura dared to resist, he would have ample reason to kill him, directly eradicating this deeply rooted tumor within Konoha.
But now that it was actually happening, seeing the helplessness on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, he still felt a twinge of reluctance.
It seemed the Old Man's final wish before relinquishing power could not be fulfilled.
"Previous Hokage, please step aside for now. I will handle this properly."
"We might just need to thoroughly clean up your house afterwards."
Minato Namikaze gave a slight wave, and instantly, four figures flashed out from the crowd of Anbu behind him.
They positioned themselves around Danzo Shimura, one at each of the four directions: east, south, west, and north.
They were preparing to form a barrier.
To prevent Danzo Shimura from breaking through if a real fight broke out later.
They would simply trap him with a barrier.
"Sigh, Danzo, you're on your own now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi truly felt weary. It seemed that ever since stepping down as Hokage, nothing had gone according to his wishes.
Whether it was the conflict with Minato Namikaze.
Or the rift in his relationship with his two disciples.
Or even his final wish: to protect his old comrade, Danzo Shimura.
Who stubbornly insisted on walking the path to his own destruction.
He really was old, no longer the proud and ambitious ninja hero of the past.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, supporting his aged body, slowly turned, and left, gradually disappearing from everyone's sight.
He would temporarily take his old wife and leave this old mansion, which was about to become a battlefield.
Behind him, Danzo Shimura watched Hiruzen Sarutobi's departing back, his gaze flickering.
For a brief moment, the thought of striking first had crossed Danzo Shimura's mind.
Taking Hiruzen Sarutobi hostage was perhaps the only way to have a sliver of a chance to escape.
Otherwise, facing the rising Fourth Hokage and a large group of elite ANBU Ninja, even someone as arrogant as Danzo Shimura—
—still felt it was a hopeless situation with no chance of survival.
And he felt no psychological burden about targeting an old friend.
In his view, Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions had already betrayed him; psychologically, he was no longer his former partner.
But had become an enemy.
What psychological burden was there in dealing with an enemy?
It's just that Hiruzen Sarutobi still maintained considerable combat prowess. If the two were to fight one-on-one—
—Danzo Shimura felt he might not necessarily win against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Already facing a powerful foe, provoking another Hokage would only hasten his death.
"Hmph! Have you made up your mind, Minato Namikaze?"
"Are you truly going to attack a fellow villager within Konoha?"
"Shame on you for being a Hokage!"
Hearing Danzo Shimura's words, a flicker of helplessness passed through Minato Namikaze's heart.
Wow, you have the nerve to say that to me?
Who is the expert at harming fellow villagers? Don't you know?
How dare you say that to me.
Not wanting to waste more words with the old zombie, Minato Namikaze signaled to the ANBU Ninja at the four corners.
"Barrier! Four Violet Flames Formation!"
The four ANBU Ninja shouted simultaneously, their Chakra erupting to form a massive barrier enveloping the entire Sarutobi mansion.
"Danzo, I'll give you one last chance."
"Give up this pointless resistance, and you still have a chance to live out the rest of your life in one piece."
Minato Namikaze took the fire god sword handed to him by Kakashi Hatake. Feeling the warm blade and the searing sharpness at its tip, he adjusted his stance while delivering the final ultimatum.
"Enough talk! Come on!"
"Let the villagers see what a hypocrite you, the so-called Fourth Hokage, really are!"
"Everyone will remember your vile actions today!"
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