The Hokage's office was silent.
Seeing Hiruzen's fluctuating expression, Taiichi sensibly stopped talking. The effect was achieved; adding more would be overkill.
He quietly retreated to Jiraiya's side, who gave him a discreet thumbs-up. Taiichi was thrilled. Now, he just had to wait for the Hokage's decision.
As expected, Hiruzen didn't deliberate for long. He picked up a pen and began writing furiously.
In less than a minute, an official transfer order was complete.
With a wave of his hand, the order floated precisely into Taiichi's grasp.
"Take this transfer order to Nono Yakushi. From this moment on, she is no longer a member of Root. Starting tomorrow, have her report to Biwako at the Konoha Hospital."
Hiruzen stared at Taiichi sternly. "Are you satisfied now?"
"Thank you, Grandpa Hokage!"
Taiichi beamed at the order. The matter was finally resolved perfectly. It was worth all the effort. As for the ensuing storm... that was beyond his pay grade.
Seeing Hiruzen's foul mood, Jiraiya bid farewell, dragging the grinning Taiichi out with him.
Once the door closed, Hiruzen's face darkened completely.
Danzo... this isn't just passive resistance anymore. You dared to extend your hand right next to me. Don't blame me for being ruthless.
---
In Minato's living room, the atmosphere was joyous. Jiraiya waved his arms, his hearty laughter echoing through the room.
"Bwahahaha! You should have seen the Old Man's face! It looked like a bitter melon!"
"It's all your fault! You didn't let us go, and now you're gloating here alone!" Kushina pouted.
"Yes, yes, my bad!" Jiraiya laughed, not arguing. "Danzo really tripped up this time. I bet the Old Man is going to settle accounts with him today."
"Sensei, do you hate Danzo? Taiichi seems to hate him too," Minato asked, puzzled.
"Minato, you haven't dealt with Root much or faced Danzo directly," Jiraiya said solemnly. "Root's work is dirtier and darker than ANBU's."
"When the Old Man was younger, he could suppress Danzo. But as he ages, his control weakens, and Danzo's actions become more excessive," Jiraiya worried.
"Watch. For this incident, Danzo will get scolded at most. The real punishment will be minimal." Jiraiya sighed. He hoped the Fourth Hokage would be chosen soon. Hiruzen was losing his grip. If not for the prophecy, Jiraiya would have vied for the position himself.
Who will be the Fourth? Orochimaru or Sakumo? Both are top contenders.
Minato was shocked. Planting a mole next to the Hokage would be let off so easily? Where was the Hokage's authority?
As if reading Minato's mind, Jiraiya patted his shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. That's not for us to worry about. If you want to change things, work hard. Maybe you'll be the Fourth Hokage, and then you can change whatever you want!"
"Bwahahaha!"
His wild laughter dispersed the gloom.
Minato remained silent, but his eyes showed a new determination.
Taiichi watched quietly, amazed. Jiraiya probably didn't realize how much his words impacted Minato. The future Fourth Hokage's political philosophy might have been solidified right then.
"Alright, enough depressing talk! Today is a happy day! Let's talk about something fun!" Kushina suggested.
"Yeah. I haven't thanked everyone yet. I couldn't have done this without you." Taiichi stood up and bowed deeply.
Between Kushina's jokes and Taiichi's gratitude, the atmosphere lightened. After all, they had caused Danzo significant trouble.
As they chatted, Taiichi grew distracted.
Minato noticed first. He understood immediately: Taiichi wanted to bring the good news to Nono but felt it was rude to leave. What a gentle kid.
"Taiichi, aren't you going to tell Nono the good news?" Minato broke the ice.
Jiraiya and Kushina realized their mistake and urged him to go.
Moved by their sincerity, Taiichi accepted. "Then I'll head back first. Thank you, everyone!"
He left Minato's house, jumped onto the roof, and sprinted toward the orphanage.
Standing before the orphanage gate, his chest heaved—whether from running or excitement, he didn't know.
He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and pushed the gate open. Children were playing in the yard, their laughter filling the air.
Nono sat on a stone bench, reading a book, occasionally glancing tenderly at the children.
"Nono-nee!" Taiichi called out excitedly.
"Taiichi?" Nono looked up, surprised. "Why are you here at this time?"
Taiichi strode over, silently pulled out the transfer order, and waved it. His smile was uncontrollable.
Nono was curious. What good thing happened to make him so happy?
Taiichi grabbed her hand and shoved the paper into it.
When Nono read the words, she trembled. Her pupils contracted. She looked at Taiichi in disbelief.
"Is... is this real?"
Taiichi nodded vigorously. "It's real! Signed by the Hokage himself. Jiraiya-sensei and I were there."
"From now on, you are no longer Root. Tomorrow, report to Biwako-sama at the Konoha Hospital."
Nono's lips quivered, her eyes reddening. She looked down, reading the order again and again, fearing it might fly away. A tear fell, wetting the paper.
"Great... this is great," she choked out.
Taiichi patted her back. "Nono-nee, you're free!"
"Mn!" Nono looked up, tears blurring her vision, but she forced a smile. "Thank you, Taiichi. If not for you..." Her voice was barely audible but filled with infinite gratitude.
Taiichi shook his head. "Don't thank me. It was everyone's effort. Tsunade-sensei, Jiraiya-sensei, Minato-senpai, Kushina-nee... they all helped a lot!"
"Yes, yes." Nono took a deep breath, wiping her tears. "I never thought this day would come so soon. I thought I'd never escape Root."
Taiichi knew the pressure she had been under. Now, she could finally lay down her burden.
Just then, Masami skipped over. "Director, why are you crying?"
Nono knelt and patted Masami's head. "I'm not crying. I'm just too happy!"
"Do people cry when they're happy?" Masami tilted her head innocently.
Nono laughed and hugged her. "Yes. Sometimes, happiness makes you cry."
Taiichi watched warmly. From now on, Nono could love these children without reservation.
Children being children, Masami didn't dwell on the crying. She wiggled out of Nono's embrace and grabbed Taiichi. "Taiichi-nii, come play!"
Taiichi happily let her drag him away.
But remembering his powerlessness in this event—relying entirely on Tsunade and Jiraiya—he felt an urge to train.
He smiled at Masami, formed a seal with one hand, and created two Shadow Clones. With precise control, he gave them most of his chakra.
The clones knew their mission. They leaped away to train elsewhere.
"Wow! That's amazing! Can I learn that?" Masami squealed.
"If you study hard and become a ninja, I'll teach you!"
With the clones handling training, Taiichi could play with peace of mind.
---
Night. Root Base.
Hiruzen walked down the underground corridor, followed by a single white-haired ANBU carrying documents.
The dim lights and echoing footsteps created an oppressive atmosphere.
But Hiruzen was unfazed.
At the main gate, Danzo was waiting.
"Hiruzen, what brings you to my humble Root base today?"
His tone was sarcastic, fueling Hiruzen's anger.
"This is a transfer order signed today. From now on, Nono Yakushi is no longer a member of Root."
Danzo's pupils shrank. Not because of the order, but because Hiruzen knew about his hidden personnel. This was no small matter.
"Just for an orphanage director, you're breaking our years of tacit understanding?" Danzo took the order without looking at it. "Root is my life's work. Transferring people without a word... isn't that improper?"
"Improper? Indeed." Hiruzen started calmly.
Then he exploded. "AND FORGING THE HOKAGE'S SEAL IS PROPER?!"
His roar stunned everyone present.
Crash.
Hiruzen grabbed the documents from the ANBU and threw them at Danzo.
Papers flew everywhere. One receipt drifted right in front of Danzo. He caught it.
The bright red, forged seal on it stared back at him. It was the fake seal he had ordered.
Under the dim light, Danzo's face shifted. He stared at the seal, a trace of panic in his eye.
So the orphanage was the leak. But the panic vanished instantly, replaced by a sneer. "Hiruzen, you're getting old. Can't even clean up the pests in your own office..."
"ENOUGH! Danzo!" Hiruzen shouted. "Don't treat me like a fool. We both know what happened."
"Do I have to send the man you bribed to the Yamanaka clan for interrogation?" Hiruzen's voice turned vicious. "If I do that, your position as Root leader is gone."
Danzo's heart skipped a beat. This was the first time Hiruzen threatened to remove him. Suppressing his rage, he stayed silent.
"Submit your Root personnel roster to ANBU tomorrow. Root is part of ANBU; it cannot operate outside ANBU's control."
Hiruzen turned and left, dropping the bombshell that drove Danzo mad.
Bang!
Silent, Danzo punched the wall, cracking the stone.
"Damn it! If not for me, your Hokage seat wouldn't be this stable! And now you want to remove me?"
Looking at the receipt, fury burned in his eye. "Orphanage... Nono..."
"Check who visited the Hokage's office today and what they did."
Half an hour later, a detailed report was in Danzo's hands. He found his target quickly.
"Taiichi Matsushita. You again. It seems I can't let you live."