Gento let out a direct sneer.
"What a joke!"
"Before Minato even took office, I had already submitted intelligence to you in advance: someone would take advantage of Kushina's childbirth to invade Konoha."
He stared at Hiruzen:
"But the Konoha higher-ups led by you didn't take that intelligence seriously at all!"
"Now that the Nine-Tails Incident has happened, you're saying it's Minato's responsibility?"
Hiruzen's face turned livid as he slammed the table:
"Insolence! It's not your place to lecture this old man!"
Gento, however, refused to back down.
"How did Minato die? He died sealing the Nine-Tails!"
"His death was precisely because of the inaction of you higher-ups!"
"He used his life to pay for the incompetence of people like you!"
"Now that Minato is dead, not only do you not reflect on your mistakes, you push all the blame onto him!"
"And now even all his assets have been taken away, not leaving a single ryo for Kushina and Naruto!"
He looked at Naruto in Kushina's arms, his voice carrying suppressed anger:
"Kushina, as a Jinchuriki, cannot leave the village to take missions."
"So tell me, how are Minato's widow and orphan supposed to live from now on?"
Hiruzen's face flushed red from the questioning, yet he forced himself to respond:
"Hmph! That's none of your concern!"
"This old man will provide Kushina with fifty thousand ryo each month as living expenses; enough for the two of them to live on!"
As he spoke, his face even showed a hint of "generosity."
Gento sneered:
"Hahaha, ridiculous!"
"A hero who died for Konoha ends up with nothing but death and loss of wealth."
"Yet his widow's monthly living allowance is only worth a D-rank mission?"
He stared at Hiruzen, his gaze sharp:
"Also, you keep saying this money was 'invested into Konoha's construction.' Then may I ask; are there detailed expenditures? Are there accounts to verify?"
"Otherwise, I have reason to suspect that this money has gone into certain people's private pockets."
Hiruzen's face turned ashen as he slammed the table again:
"Insolence! What status do you have to question this old man?"
"Konoha's financial expenditures are not for you, an Uchiha clan head, to meddle in!"
He stood up, his gaze sharp:
"This old man has governed Konoha for many years, pouring his heart and soul into it. Everything I have done has been for Konoha's stability and development! I have no obligation to report anything to you!"
Gento looked at him coldly, just about to retort, when his arm was gently pulled.
He turned to look; it was Kushina.
Kushina shook her head at him, her eyes carrying a trace of gratitude as well as helplessness.
She said softly:
"Forget it, Gento-kun. Hokage-sama is right… Minato was the Fourth Hokage. His sacrifice for Konoha was his own choice."
"This money… let's just treat it as helping him fulfill his final wish."
She lowered her head to look at Naruto in her arms, her voice somewhat low:
"Fifty thousand ryo… is enough for the two of us to live on."
Gento looked at her, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words.
Hiruzen let out a cold snort, sat back down in his chair, and took a puff from his pipe. His gaze swept over Gento, carrying a hint of disdain:
"Hmph! The Will of Fire is about always having the resolve to burn oneself for Konoha. Some people will never understand this kind of conviction."
He paused, glancing meaningfully at Gento:
"And so some people will never become Hokage."
Gento narrowed his eyes and said nothing, only a cold smile forming at the corner of his lips.
Hiruzen withdrew his gaze and looked at the silver-haired Anbu, instructing:
"Take Kushina to her new residence; Apartment 12, Room 304."
The silver-haired ninja nodded and turned to walk out.
Kushina gave Hiruzen a slight bow, holding Naruto as she followed.
Mikoto and Gento left together as well.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk, watching Gento's departing figure, his gaze dark and gloomy.
...
Not long after everyone left, the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open.
Danzo walked in, followed by Torune Aburame.
"Hiruzen, you wanted to see me?"
Hiruzen looked up, took a puff from his pipe, and said slowly:
"Danzo, the things the Police Force has been doing to the civilians recently have gone too far."
"That conflict on the street caused quite an ugly scene. It will likely have a very bad impact."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of admonishment:
"In many cases, it was the ninja who were at fault first. Law enforcement should be strict. Blindly favoring ninja while suppressing civilians will damage Konoha's reputation if it spreads."
Hearing this, Danzo snorted, his face full of disdain:
"Hmph! What's there to curry favor with those unruly commoners?"
He stepped forward, sat down opposite Hiruzen, and spoke as if it were only natural:
"Hiruzen, you've been removed from the identity of a ninja for too long."
"You must understand; most missions ninja carry out are on the edge of life and death. The negative emotions accumulated during missions need to be released after returning to the village. That's normal."
"Ninja are human too. When there are psychological issues, they must have an outlet."
He looked at Hiruzen, his gaze cold:
"What does it matter if a few insignificant civilians are bullied within the village?"
"Other ninja villages all do the same! Why should Konoha's ninja have to hold it in?"
Hiruzen's brows furrowed tightly, his tone turning stern:
"Danzo! I'll say this again; do not treat civilians too harshly."
"Even if it's just for appearances, the civilians must have a good impression of us higher-ups!"
"I order you to stop your current practices immediately."
"If this continues, you will regret it!"
Hearing this, Danzo's expression darkened as he suddenly stood up:
"Enough!"
He stared directly at Hiruzen, his gaze carrying dissatisfaction suppressed for many years:
"I am the Minister of the Police Force!"
For once, Danzo stood his ground and said what he had always wanted to say.
After speaking, he turned and left.
Bang!
The door was slammed shut.
Hiruzen sat in his chair, his face livid with anger.
Now, it seemed anyone dared to provoke him, the Hokage.
...
On the other side, led by the silver-haired Anbu, the group arrived at a remote district.
Before them stood an old apartment building.
In the corners by the walls, piles of uncollected trash were scattered.
The staircase was made of iron, covered in rust.
The entire building exuded a sense of decay.
The silver-haired Anbu stopped and pointed:
"304, that's the one."
He handed the key to Kushina, then his figure flickered and disappeared on the spot.
Kushina held the key, staring at the dilapidated apartment in front of her, stunned for quite a while.
Mikoto frowned and said softly:
"This place…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already clear.
The three walked up the stairs and arrived in front of Room 304.
Kushina took a deep breath, inserted the key into the lock, and pushed the door open.
A musty smell mixed with dust rushed out.
The room was in complete disarray.
Trash left behind by the previous tenant was scattered across the floor.
Crumpled tissues emitting a strange odor, empty liquor bottles, moldy food.
Thick spider webs clung to the corners of the walls, and a layer of dust had settled on the windowsill.
The furniture was also worn beyond repair.
A table missing a leg leaned against the wall, piled with clutter.
An old wardrobe stood crooked, its doors askew, the inside completely empty.
The tatami had several torn spots and stains.
In the kitchen sink, unwashed dishes had piled up, already growing green mold.
The bathroom was even more unbearable to look at.
The entire room carried the air of long neglect, filth, and decay.
Standing at the doorway, Mikoto looked at the scene before her, her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with disgust:
"Th-This place… can people even live here? How could Hokage-sama arrange for you to stay somewhere like this?"
She turned to look at Kushina, her gaze filled with concern.
Kushina stood at the doorway, staring blankly at everything inside.
She lowered her head to look at Naruto in her arms, opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.
In the past, her life with Minato Namikaze, though not extravagantly wealthy, had been warm and comfortable, and they had never needed to worry about food or clothing.
But now…
She looked at the dilapidated room.
Was Naruto supposed to grow up in a place like this?
She bit her lip.
At that moment, Gento suddenly spoke:
"Kushina."
"Actually, I still have several empty rooms at my place. It's spacious, and the environment is clean."
"How about… you bring Naruto and come stay at my house?"
...
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