Chapter 54: The Hokage’s Order
"Hiruzen…"
The moment Danzō saw the Third Hokage arrive, his expression darkened further.
Could it be…
Was the killing intent directed at him earlier actually from Hiruzen?
Quietly signaling his subordinates once more not to act rashly, Danzō stepped slightly aside, allowing Hiashi Hyūga and the arriving Third Hokage to face each other directly.
Though Danzō said nothing aloud, the meaning behind his actions was obvious.
What exactly is going on with Hiashi Hyūga?
"Lord Hokage…"
Seeing Hiruzen's arrival, the expression Hiashi had maintained all this time finally shifted slightly.
Though he concealed it immediately afterward—
Danzō, who had been carefully observing him the entire time, still caught it.
"What's going on?"
Hiruzen frowned toward Hiashi.
And those simple words—
Combined with the "accidental" expression Hiashi revealed moments earlier—
Instantly convinced Danzō that his deduction had been correct.
Hiashi Hyūga was absolutely not sent by Hiruzen.
He had ulterior motives.
After deciding he fully understood the "truth," Danzō immediately chose to strike first.
The old man stepped forward and addressed the Third Hokage directly.
"Hiashi Hyūga forcibly obstructed Root operations earlier. Then he claimed the Third Hokage had urgent business and ordered me back to the Hokage's office."
While speaking, Danzō secretly glanced toward Hiashi again.
Sure enough—
Hiashi's face could no longer completely hide the tension underneath.
Danzō inwardly sneered with satisfaction.
Trying to bluff me?
I don't even need to add anything unnecessary.
The moment Hiruzen directly confronts him, Hiashi Hyūga will never escape the crime of falsely invoking the Hokage's authority to interfere with Root.
Looks like after tonight's Uchiha matter is settled…
The Hyūga clan's loyalty to Konoha deserves reconsideration too.
At the very least—
The Hyūga clan head—
Hearing Danzō's explanation, the Third Hokage shifted his gaze toward Hiashi once more.
Confusion lingered within Hiruzen's eyes.
Because he understood Hiashi's personality very well.
The man was as cautious as Hiruzen himself.
And as clan head, he valued his family deeply.
So how could someone like Hiashi make such a reckless move at such a sensitive moment by openly provoking Konoha's upper leadership?
The events of tonight were already inevitable.
Unable to change anything, Hiruzen had spent the entire evening observing the situation through his crystal ball from the Hokage's office.
Then—
When he saw Hiashi directly leading clan members to block Danzō's path—
The instincts sharpened through decades of serving as Hokage immediately told him something was wrong.
Which was why he personally came here at once.
"I am indeed carrying out the Hokage's orders."
Yet to Danzō's shock—
Hiashi calmly repeated the claim directly in front of the Third Hokage once more.
Within his pale Byakugan remained unmistakable tension.
Yet he still stared directly at Hiruzen and emphasized every word carefully.
"By the Hokage's order."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Danzō looked at Hiashi as though staring at an idiot.
"The Hokage is standing right in front of you. Even if something truly happened, why would we need to return to the office to discuss it?"
"The Hokage, myself, and you are all here already. Speak directly."
"I'd really like to see what exactly you're trying to do."
Even several Hyūga clan members standing beside Hiashi began shooting their clan head confused looks.
Meanwhile—
The Third Hokage silently watched Hiashi.
Watched his eyes.
Watched his expression.
And suddenly—
Light exploded once more within Hiruzen's weary old eyes.
As though he had understood something instantly.
The aging body hidden beneath the Hokage robes and battle armor trembled slightly from excitement.
Watching Hiashi continue his seemingly "stubborn" insistence, Danzō coldly snorted.
"What a ridiculous farce."
"Men, arrest hi—"
Just as Danzō prepared to issue the order—
Hiruzen gave an answer Danzō never could have imagined even in his wildest dreams.
"It was indeed my order."
The Third Hokage spoke slowly, emphasizing every single word.
Ignoring Danzō's disbelieving stare completely, Hiruzen stepped forward and placed a hand firmly upon Hiashi's shoulder.
His voice rang with surprising strength.
"However, since Danzō doesn't wish to discuss matters back at the office, that's fine too."
"Have the subordinates withdraw."
"We'll discuss things here."
"How is that possible?! Tonight is—"
Danzō genuinely lost composure.
Hiruzen was blatantly lying through his teeth now.
That was obviously not his order at all.
The old bastard was directly backing Hiashi up.
What exactly were these two trying to do?
But before Danzō could finish speaking—
Hiruzen turned toward him expressionlessly.
Then spoke softly.
"Have your men withdraw, Danzō."
"But—"
"Danzō."
The Third Hokage's voice became cold and absolute.
"I am the Hokage."
Hearing those words—
Danzō's face twisted violently with rage.
His fists clenched so tightly that he nearly crushed the cane in his hand.
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere—
Inside the world of Tsukuyomi, Itachi Uchiha suddenly froze.
The crow rested silently upon his hand.
Because standing before him now—
Was not Naruto Uzumaki trapped within the illusion world.
Instead—
It was someone he recognized well…
Yet had long since become unfamiliar with.
Within Tsukuyomi, the entire world was controlled by Itachi.
It was absolutely impossible for anyone inside this space to cast Transformation Techniques.
Nor could anyone place Itachi himself under genjutsu.
"First time meeting you…"
The blond man wearing a white cloak decorated with flame patterns smiled gently.
"Ah… well, I did see you once when you were younger, so maybe it's not technically our first meeting."
"But I doubt you're unfamiliar with me."
The man scratched his cheek awkwardly before smiling again.
"My name is Minato Namikaze."
Minato Namikaze?!
The Fourth Hokage of Konoha—
A man officially dead?!
Itachi's pupils contracted violently as his mind accelerated at frightening speed.
In a single instant, countless thoughts exploded through his mind.
As an ANBU operative, Itachi had never managed to uncover who exactly was teaching Naruto Uzumaki.
The terrifyingly skilled shurikenjutsu.
The extraordinary taijutsu.
The powerful ninjutsu.
And now—
The reason Naruto appeared here tonight.
The instant he saw Minato Namikaze inside Tsukuyomi—
Itachi finally understood the only possible explanation.
"You…"
Itachi stared directly at Minato.
"You've been residing inside Naruto Uzumaki all this time?"
"Residing…"
Minato scratched his head awkwardly.
"That's… not entirely accurate. But you can think of it that way for now."
Then he immediately waved his hands slightly.
"Though explanations can wait. More importantly…"
"You're Itachi Uchiha, right?"
However—
Minato's harmless attitude did not lower Itachi's vigilance in the slightest.
What was the suddenly appearing Fourth Hokage trying to accomplish?
He couldn't understand it.
"Hmm…"
Minato curiously looked around the Tsukuyomi world.
"This illusion space is incredible. It even affects time and space themselves, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
Itachi finally responded calmly.
"So what's the time ratio compared to the outside world?"
Minato continued speaking as naturally as though chatting with an old acquaintance.
Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan rotated slightly.
Clearly, he had no intention of casually revealing the abilities of Tsukuyomi.
Because he still couldn't determine what exactly Minato intended to do.
Or even—
Whether the officially dead Fourth Hokage standing before him now…
Still stood on Konoha's side.
"... Looks like even though time is short, I'll have to explain things properly first."
Minato sighed helplessly.
He genuinely admired Itachi's professionalism as a shinobi.
Even after accepting Minato's identity—
The boy still hadn't relaxed even slightly.
Still, Itachi also displayed no hostility toward Minato as Hokage either.
Exactly as Kurama had described earlier—
Itachi's position truly aligned with what he believed to be Konoha's best interests.
But that also made things troublesome.
Because unless Minato first convinced Itachi—
Changing everything tonight would be nothing more than fantasy.
"Where should I start…"
Minato rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Then let's begin from the moment I awakened once more inside Naruto."
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