After comforting Yahiko and Nagato, Minato turned his attention toward Danzo, who stood atop the mountain, his expression cold and calculating.
"Elder Danzo, I have confirmed that this is a misunderstanding," Minato said firmly.
Danzo's face darkened, like storm clouds brewing before a downpour.
"Fine. You can take your people back to the village first. I will handle things here," Danzo replied dismissively.
Minato's expression remained calm, but his tone carried undeniable authority. "Shimura Danzo, I don't want to waste words. You know exactly how those Rain Shinobi died." His voice grew sharper, losing all traces of formality. "As Hokage, I order you to take your people back to Konoha immediately."
Danzo's expression twisted in fury. "Minato Namikaze, do you think you can erase the crimes of the Akatsuki Organization with just a few words?" He still clung to his excuse, refusing to let go of his pursuit.
At that moment, Minato turned to Hanzo, who stood silently nearby. "Lord Hanzo, this is an internal Konoha matter. It would be wise not to interfere," Minato said softly, but his words carried a warning.
Hanzo hesitated. He had initially considered eliminating the Akatsuki Organization, but now that Minato, the Fourth Hokage, had personally intervened, the risks outweighed the benefits.
Hanzo sighed. "I also think this is a misunderstanding. I'll take my leave and let you handle the rest." Without another word, he turned and left with his men.
Danzo watched in disbelief as the so-called "Demigod of the Shinobi World" walked away so easily. "You..." He clenched his fists in frustration.
Hanzo merely snorted. There was no point in fighting. The Akatsuki Organization was a small group, but Minato Namikaze was not an enemy to be taken lightly.
With Hanzo gone, Danzo was left to face Minato alone. However, he refused to back down.
"Don't think you can suppress me just because you wear the Hokage's title. You're merely a junior who rose to power through luck and some merits," Danzo sneered. "The Akatsuki Organization must be eliminated!"
Minato's expression did not change. He lowered his eyes slightly and uttered a single word:
"Oh?"
The next moment, Danzo felt the cold steel of a kunai pressed against his throat.
His eyes widened in shock. He had been vigilant, always on guard against Minato's infamous Flying Thunder God technique. How had he gotten so close?
"Lord Danzo!" one of his subordinates shouted in alarm.
The surrounding Root members reacted instantly, drawing their weapons and surrounding Minato.
"Don't move!" Danzo barked. His men froze. He knew that if they acted recklessly, he would die first.
"When did you—?" Danzo's voice trembled with disbelief.
Minato, however, did not bother to answer. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto Danzo. "Shimura Danzo, you have openly defied Hokage orders. I have the authority to execute you here and now."
Danzo swallowed hard as he felt the killing intent radiating from Minato. He had always viewed the Fourth Hokage as soft-hearted, but at this moment, he saw something terrifying in his eyes.
Still, Danzo refused to believe Minato would actually kill him. "I am a Konoha elder," he scoffed. "You wouldn't dare."
Minato simply smiled.
The kunai moved.
Danzo barely dodged in time, but the blade still sliced across his throat, drawing blood.
"You...!" Danzo clutched his neck, his eyes filled with shock and rage. Had he been any slower, he would have died.
"Lord Danzo!" The Root members tensed, ready to attack, but Danzo raised his hand to stop them.
Even if they fought with all their strength, they would never be able to match Minato Namikaze.
"Retreat!" Danzo spat bitterly.
He turned and left, his subordinates following closely behind. Minato merely watched him go, his expression unreadable.
As soon as they disappeared, Minato turned his attention to the purple-haired girl who had been caught up in the chaos.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle once more.
Konan hesitated before nodding. "I... I'm fine. Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Minato smiled warmly. "No need to be so formal."
"Konan!"
"Yahiko! Nagato!"
The three members of Akatsuki reunited, their emotions overflowing.
Minato watched for a moment before silently pulling out a Flying Thunder God kunai and vanishing.
There was still one last thing to take care of.
The Final Confrontation
Somewhere in the dense forests of the Land of Rain, Danzo and his team rushed toward Konoha.
Danzo's mind raced. "Namikaze Minato..." He gritted his teeth, anger surging within him.
"He dares to attack a Konoha elder? Even if he's Hokage, he cannot escape punishment. I will bring this matter before the Daimyo," he muttered under his breath.
If he played this right, he could even turn this situation to his advantage.
"Orochimaru has defected. Jiraiya and Tsunade are absent. When the time comes..."
Danzo smirked. "Who else in Konoha is fit to be Hokage but me?"
Just as he was indulging in his fantasies of power, his men came to an abrupt halt.
"What's wrong?" Danzo demanded.
Then he saw him.
Minato Namikaze stood on a high tree branch ahead, watching them with cold indifference.
Danzo's heart skipped a beat.
He scanned the surroundings and felt a chill run down his spine. Flying Thunder God kunai were embedded in the trees all around them. They were surrounded.
Cold sweat dripped down Danzo's forehead.
"Namikaze Minato, you—"
Before he could finish, Minato moved.
A flash of golden light.
Danzo barely had time to react before he felt a sharp pain in his chest. His vision blurred.
As he fell, his mind screamed in disbelief.
He really dared to do it...
His body hit the ground, and the light faded from his eyes.
"Lord Danzo!"
The remaining Root members roared in anger and charged at Minato.
Another flash.
Eighty percent of them collapsed, lifeless.
The survivors froze in terror.
"Hokage, how dare you kill Lord Danzo?! The Third Hokage will never forgive you!" one of them shouted, his voice trembling.
Minato's expression remained calm. "It's simple," he replied. "If no one survives to tell the tale, then no one will know the truth."
The man's eyes widened in horror.
"Blame Danzo. He was a cancer in Konoha," Minato said softly.
Before the man could react, Minato moved behind him. A swift slice, and he fell.
The last few survivors lost all will to fight. They turned and ran in different directions.
Minato raised his kunai. "Flying Thunder God Jutsu..."
One by one, their lives were snuffed out in an instant.
The forest fell silent.
Shimura Danzo and his entire Root unit had vanished from this world.
Minato calmly retrieved his kunai and surveyed the aftermath.
There would be no witnesses. No one would know what had transpired here.
The cancer had been removed from Konoha.
With one last glance at the lifeless battlefield, Minato vanished into the night.
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