Chapter 651: Hero''s Return


    "Danzo-sama!"


    Upon seeing Danzo''s face, the Root ninjas on the scene all knelt, showing intense fear and hardly believing they were seeing Danzo now.


    It''s over!


    This thought surfaced in the minds of nearly all Root ninjas.


    They knew very well what mission failure meant for them.


    In essence, the mission was their life.


    Seeding in their mission meant extending their lives, but failure meant handing their lives over.


    Assassinating Namikaze Minato was a collective mission for all the Root ninjas!


    Now that the mission had failed.It meant that all the Root ninjas present were in mortal danger.


    In any other situation, when one person threatens a group of people''s lives, a likely oue could be a revolt!


    They could unite and resist, perhaps even survive, but doing nothing would only lead to a dead end.


    However...


    The people here were not ordinary people; they were ninjas.


    Ninjas, by definition, prioritize their mission above all else.


    Moreover, they were Root ninjas tasked with unsanctioned and secretive activities under Danzo. They would not only refrain from rebelling in such situations but also ept any punishment with resignation.


    They were nameless, selfless Root ninjas!


    The only value in their lives was toplete missions for the Root.


    Now that the mission has failed...


    They willingly epted any consequence!


    Aoba''s cold gaze swept over these Root ninjas. The current situation had evolved beyond his initial ns but stayed within the anticipated oue. Although the process varied, the final effect was still indistinguishable.


    "Your mission has failed!"


    Aoba repeated his earlier statement, this time with an even deeper and more solemn tone, adding a heavy weight to the hearts of the Root ninjas present.


    For a moment...


    There was silence on the scene.


    Danzo was their suprememander, the only leader who couldmand them. Even the words of the Third Hokage could be disregarded, but Danzo''s orders were absolute!


    "Since the mission has failed, you must now ept the punishment!"


    Aoba''s voice slowly rose, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present, instantly drawing the attention of all Root ninjas. Their eyes focused on Aoba, awaiting their final judgment, and everyone couldn''t help but tense up.


    "Such a trivial task and you couldn''t manage it!"


    "So many of you together couldn''t assassinate one person!"


    "You are all useless!"


    "From now on..."


    "You are no longer Root ninjas!"


    Aoba''s words followed one after another, and his intention was clear: he was disbanding the Root.


    However, the dismissal required different approaches.


    Now that these Root ninjas had failed their mission, they faced a severe blow. By taking advantage of this, he could easily devalue them and allow them to leave the Root without any objections.


    This would save a lot of trouble!


    Based on Aoba''s understanding of Root, many loyalists existed. If they hadn''t made mistakes, making them leave Root would have been very difficult.


    Even if he temporarily ordered them to leave, they would still hold Root in their hearts, and thus, the organization would not be truly disbanded.


    Now was the best opportunity!


    Disbanding Root now allowed these ninjas to return to Konoha and misled the vigers into thinking Danzo was trying to hide something, perfectly executing his n.


    "?????????"


    Question marks popped up in the minds of these Root ninjas, none of them expecting Danzo to say such things. Nearly everyone had prepared themselves to die to make amends, but being expelled from Root felt even more humiliating and grievous than death.


    "Do you not understand?"


    Aoba''s icy gaze swept over every Root ninja present.


    "From now on, you are no longer people of Root."


    With that...


    Aoba''s figure shed and vanished from the spot, leaving the stunned Root ninjas behind.


    "What do we do now?"


    "What does this mean?"


    "Are we homeless now?"


    "Danzo-sama doesn''t want us anymore!"


    "Is he telling us to return to Konoha or be rogue ninjas?"


    "It must be to return to Konoha!"


    "I think we should return to Konoha for now; Danzo-sama might still give us another chance."


    "Danzo-sama didn''t ask us tomit suicide as an apology, which means we still have a chance!"


    "..."


    The Root ninjas discussed among themselves and decided to return to Konoha temporarily.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...


    In an instant, the figures of Root ninjas rapidly flickered, moving through the forest back toward Konoha.


    Whoosh!


    Just after the Root ninjas'' figures had left, a shadow reappeared on the tree where Aoba had been.


    It was Aoba himself!


    "Things are getting more interesting."


    "I wonder what will happen when these Root ninjas return to Konoha."


    "Even I''m starting to look forward to it!"


    Aoba''s lips curled with a mischievous smile, like those of a director with a script filming a reality show. He had provided general direction, but how it ultimately yed out depended on the characters within the script.


    For such matters...


    A strong sense of achievement surged in Aoba''s heart.


    It gave him a feeling of guiding everything from behind the scenes.


    ...


    At Konoha''s entrance.


    The Third Hokage was watching the returning Konoha ninjas.


    "What exactly happened?"


    "Why hasn''t Minato returned?"


    "Can anyone exin to me?"


    The Third Hokage''s gaze swept over the Konoha ninjas, noticing the anger on almost everyone''s faces, indicating they had encountered something extraordinary. He felt a vague sense of unease, hisplexion growing somber.


    "Sakumo, what happened?"


    Eventually, the Third Hokage''s gaze settled on Sakumo since he was the Konoha ninja armymander this time. If there were any issues, it naturally concerned him.


    The Third Hokage had high hopes for Minato, especially after Jiraiya took him as his disciple. He knew Minato was a genius who would greatly contribute to Konoha.


    The vige was in dire need of fresh talent.


    Minato was that fresh talent.


    The Third Hokage was very supportive of Minato and even willing to bestow upon him the half-sleeve Hokage robe as long as he stayed out of the Hokage session conflict and maintained a good rtionship.


    But now, he saw no sign of Minato!


    He knew Minato had yed a crucial role in Konoha''s victory in the Third Ninja World War and never denied this.


    He only hesitated about how to deal with Minato''s position, as his achievements were enough to make him the Fourth Hokage of Konoha.


    "..."


    Sakumo clenched his fists tightly, having a lot to ask the Third Hokage, but he knew these were not questions he could openly ask or say in front of these people. He attributed everything to the Third Hokage''s hypocrisy.


    You know why, but you still ask me; most importantly, you know I won''t tell you the answer.


    Sakumo understood the Third Hokage wanted him to provide another answer, one he had concocted to seem reasonable. This would force him, themander of the Konoha ninja army, to take responsibility for not saving Minato, who had rescued the vige, from an irreparable incident on his way back.


    Damn it!


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt and helpless.


    Everyone on the scene thought the same way. They all despised the Third Hokage, yet they could not do anything.


    They even interpreted the Third Hokage''s current demeanor as that of a victor, which was overly dramatic. The Third Hokage should be the clearest about this.


    "What exactly happened?"


    The Third Hokage, unaware that the ninjas at the scene had developed a huge misunderstanding about him and associated him with hypocrisy, saw that almost everyone was silent. Out of helplessness, he had to ask again, adding a moremanding tone.


    "Sigh..."


    Sakumo took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to calm himself down as much as possible. He made his voice more sincere, which was the only way to make what he was about to say seem more truthful.


    He realized that not only the Third Hokage but also the civilians gathered at the scene were paying attention to these matters.


    These people were all waiting for an answer!


    Sakumo knew they all held a unique faith in the title Hokage and the Third Hokage, and many kids even aspired to be the Hokage. He knew that under such circumstances, he couldn''t say anything detrimental to the Hokage, as it would shatter everyone''s perception and could likely cause a copse of their beliefs.


    This was a very serious matter.


    It could cause many people to be disheartened.


    A few simple words might have consequences more severe than war. After all, war kills people, but this matter kills hearts.


    Those who died in battle did so with this mindset!


    But if they discovered what they believed was wrong, such a copse of beliefs would destroy Konoha.


    If Minato were still here, he could be the new Hokage and lead the vige into the next chapter.


    But now that Minato''s prospects were grim, revealing the Third Hokage''s actions would result in ack of a warm-hearted person to heal the wounds caused by the people''s psychological copse.


    "Minato... he... he... he..."


    Sakumo''s thoughts raced as he thought of one concocted incident after another. But just as he was about to speak, he swallowed his words back. He couldn''t say anything, only pretending to continue talking.


    He couldn''t speak.


    Any words here would be an insult to Minato.


    Everyone was able toe back alive because of Minato, and Sakumo couldn''t bear to let such a great hero end in such an embarrassing way. He couldn''t, and he didn''t want to.


    "What''s going on? You''re being evasive!" The Third Hokage, clueless and confused, insisted.


    The Konoha civilians were equally puzzled, their minds swirling with confusion, having heard about Minato''s legend outside.


    "I''m back!"


    However, a gentle voice suddenly rang out, reaching everyone''s ears.


    The voice belonged to Minato.


    Instantly, the Konoha ninjas at the scene turned their eyes toward the gate, their expressions incredulous, but their eyes also filled with intense excitement.


    That''s great!


    Minato-sama is back!


    Their long-suppressed emotions suddenly erupted at this moment!


    Tears rolled uncontrobly from their eyes. They were all too aware of the difficulties Minato would face.


    Whoosh!


    Almost instantly, everyone''s gaze focused on the vige gate, where two figures, a man and a woman, were walking toward them against the light. The silhouettes were not clearer due to the lighting, but one could faintly recognize Minato and Kushina from the outlines.


    They''re back!


    They are back!


    The heroes of Konoha have returned!


    Watching Minato''s returning figure, these triumphant Konoha ninjas felt their excitement peak.


    Just recently clouded by the Third Hokage''s hypocrisy, their hearts were effortlessly cleared by Minato''s simple words, greatly inspired and more resolutely siding with Minato, silently vowing to help him be the Fourth Hokage.