Traveling through Nagato, from conquering Konan to dominating the ninja world

Chapter 129 Red Maple Moon!

In the golden autumn of October, the maple leaves sway gracefully on the branches, and the fiery red color is just like the burning will of fire in the hearts of the people of Konoha.

Hiruzen sat on the stone steps beside the road, smoking his pipe and admiring the scenery of the red leaves.

Three months ago, he received a letter and left the village in a hurry, but returned the next day.

Minato came to inquire about this matter specifically.

Hiruzen simply said casually that he went to meet an old friend.

He kept silent about the fact that Nagato threatened him to leave the village with Tsunade's life and took away his Yintun chakra meridians.

Just as Orochimaru expected, Hiruzen really broke his teeth and swallowed the dumb thing in one gulp.

His forbearance was all for the sake of preventing the two disciples that Jiraiya had high hopes for, Minato and Nagato, as well as the Konoha and Amegakure hordes they led respectively, from quarreling and disrupting the situation that had finally been stabilized.

During these three months, Konoha also underwent a major change.

As Minato had indicated in advance, he reduced the Root's organization from eight battalions to four.

The dismantling of the organization meant that the Root led by Danzo no longer had the same status as the Anbu directly under the Hokage.

The Root members from the four battalions who were laid off, plus the captains and trainee members, totaled 150 people... Before joining the Root, these people were all good seedlings carefully selected by Danzo and trained.

The placement of these people is related to the long-term development of Konoha.

Minato's resettlement measures also impressed Hiruzen.

There are three types of origins of root members.

One type was recruited from various clans in Konoha by Danzo through force.

The second category is war orphans, who are homeless and helpless, and are naturally taken in by Danzo.

The third category is desperate prisoners who no longer have any legal identity and can only follow Danzo and plunge into darkness.

The resettlement methods for these three types of people are also different.

After consulting with the jonin in the village, Minato made the following arrangements.

All those from the major families of Konoha returned to their respective families and were given corresponding positions.

Those who were war orphans, in addition to regaining their normal ninja identities and regaining their father's surnames, will be provided with housing and basic living security. They will subsequently be incorporated into regular ninja columns in batches and, like normal ninjas, perform missions and receive ninja salaries.

Those who are former prisoners will not be punished for their crimes temporarily and will be allowed to remain in office while serving their sentence. If they do not commit any more mistakes within ten years, their legal status will be permanently restored.

How could Minato not know this? These Root members have been brainwashed by Danzo's dark thoughts since they were young. It is a long and arduous task to make them truly abandon the past and live as Konoha ninjas.

But as the Hokage, Minato has the determination and confidence to accomplish this task.

That’s right. There is a subtle trick to root removal that is worth pondering.

The sixth and seventh branches of the Root had already been completely wiped out in front of the Yuyin Gate.

Minato learned about this through his own intelligence sources.

But when he disbanded the Root organization, he deliberately did not tell Danzo about this...

He calculated correctly that Danzo would not dare to report the truth.

This is indeed the case.

Danzo would rather honestly disband the existing four battalions than to reveal that he secretly sent two battalions to support Amegakure Hanzo, which resulted in the entire army being wiped out.

As a result, after the reduction, the actual combat power was only left with two battalions.

Although he could recruit new soldiers and fill the gaps in the two battalions if the organization allowed, it would undoubtedly be a long process...

Minato's move was enough to make it difficult for Danzo to recover in the next ten years and interfere with his decision-making as Hokage.

"..." Recalling Hayato Kawakami and Nagato's obvious murderous intent towards Danzo, Hiruzen smoked deeply into his pipe, puffing out thick smoke from his mouth.

"Danzo, don't blame Minato for being ruthless. It is true that some of your past actions were too outrageous! I hope you can use these ten years to reflect on your actions! In this way, when Konoha becomes truly powerful, Minato will have the ability and position to save your life from Nagato's hands!"

On the path at the end of the maple forest, Iruka came over with a bouquet of flowers. Seeing Hiruzen sitting on the side of the road, he ran over quickly.

"Third generation!!!"

Hiruzen concealed his sorrow, revealed a kind smile, put down his pipe, and said with a smile: "Iruka~, long time no see!"

Iruka said, "Well, I wanted to go up the mountain to talk to Brother Shuimu, but I didn't expect to meet you here!"

Mizuki was the only Konoha ninja who lost his life in the previous Konoha attack.

But because he did not die in war, his name does not appear on the memorial.

In order to mourn him, Iruka built a cenotaph for him in the back hills and came to pay his respects every now and then.

"I see. It's rare that you have the heart to remember your companions. I'll accompany you." Hiruzen stood up and walked up the mountain with Iruka.

"What are you doing here?" Iruka asked.

Hiruzen held his pipe in his mouth and said, "Let's enjoy the breeze and look at the maple leaves here..."

The two came to Mizuki's cenotaph. Iruka put down the bouquet, clasped his hands together, and closed his eyes to mourn.

Hiruzen put down his pipe and lowered his head.

After mourning and going down the mountain, Hiruzen picked up his pipe again and said, "Iruka, in half a year, it will be your final exam at the Ninja School. I heard that your grades are pretty stable, so you should be able to become a Genin smoothly."

"As a ninja, what goals do you want to achieve?"

"Teacher." Iruka blurted out without thinking.

"Oh? Teacher..." Hiruzen looked at him in surprise, "It doesn't seem like a goal that a child who hasn't become a ninja yet can easily state. Can you tell me why?"

Iruka looked at the road under his feet and unconsciously recalled what he experienced at Minato's house on the night of the attack...

"Although I haven't become a ninja yet, I know that my talent as a ninja is very mediocre. I probably won't be able to become an outstanding ninja like you and the Fourth Generation."

Hiruzen did not deny him, but waited for what would happen next.

Iruka raised his hand and placed it on his head...That night, Minato talked to him while touching his head with a lovely smile.

"Although I can't become a Hokage, I admire the noble character and words and deeds of the Hokage..."

"I want to have that kind of noble character, that kind of power to influence others..."

"So, I want to be a teacher, be a role model, practice what I preach, and spread the will of fire to the little guards of Konoha in the future like me..."

Looking at the smile that blossomed on Iruka's face, Hiruzen was deeply moved.

Konoha's future... the little guards?

That's right... passing on the ancestors' belief in peace in the ninja world and in protecting the village from generation to generation, this is the true meaning of the Will of Fire.

"Iruka, I will personally attend your graduation ceremony."

"Really? Are you really going to come in person?!"

"Count me in too~!!"

"Yondaime-sama!!!"

Iruka was overjoyed. After they parted, he immediately ran home and told his parents about it.

After he left.

Hiruzen said: "Minato, Kushina is about to give birth. If you don't take care of her, it won't be... another melon, right?"

Minato smiled and said, "Third generation, I have brought you good news this time."

"What good news?"

"Lady Tsunade, we are returning to the village."

"Plop!" As Minato finished his words, the pipe in Hiruzen's hand fell to the ground.

"She...where is she??"