Accountability
Chi Yu arrived at the conference room. Other than Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Fugaku, nearly all of Konoha's higher-ups and clan heads were present. Even Orochimaru had come this time.
The seat beside Orochimaru was empty. Chi Yu greeted him politely, "Orochimaru-sensei," before taking the spot at his side.
Surveying the chamber, Chi Yu felt a flicker of confusion.
This meeting should have been about post-Nine-Tails Disaster reconstruction. Yet the Hokage himself was nowhere to be seen.
He glanced at Orochimaru, who shook his head slightly, wordlessly signaling that he, too, was in the dark. Orochimaru had been in the middle of his research when he was abruptly summoned by the Anbu—attendance was mandatory.
At last, Hiruzen Sarutobi rose from his seat, his expression heavy.
"Everyone is present. First, allow me to thank you all for your efforts during the Nine-Tails' attack," the Third Hokage began. Then his voice grew graver. "But there is one more matter I must inform you of… The Fourth Hokage is unconscious, with no signs of waking."
Chi Yu's brows furrowed instantly.
Minato Namikaze is unconscious?
The clan heads exchanged uncertain looks; most of them clearly had not heard the news.
Hiruzen explained, "The Fourth Hokage exhausted nearly all of his chakra. His body was already weakened when he received a heavy blow. Though he clings to life, it is uncertain when—or if—he will awaken."
Chi Yu let out a silent breath. So that was the reason.
Chakra, after all, was the balance of spiritual energy and physical energy. If both mental stamina and physical vitality were depleted beyond recovery, death was inevitable. Kakashi himself, in another time, had once collapsed and died when his chakra was completely spent against Pain's Deva Path.
Minato had transferred a Tailed Beast Ball once, then shifted both the Nine-Tails and the Tailed Beast Ball together—already burning through most of his reserves. On top of that, he had fought Uchiha Obito, performed the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style twice, and even summoned the Shinigami with the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Even without devouring a soul, the summoning itself consumed an immense amount of chakra.
Finally, when he attempted to reinforce the sealing formula on Miyuki Uzumaki, his remaining chakra had been too thin to sustain it. Struck back by the Nine-Tails' chakra, Minato had collapsed—his body past its limit.
His brilliance was unquestionable, but unlike Kushina or even Chi Yu himself, Minato did not possess abnormally vast chakra reserves. He had always relied on sheer skill and ingenuity. The fact that he survived at all, though unconscious, was itself remarkable.
After Hiruzen concluded his explanation, he straightened. "Although we successfully repelled the Nine-Tails, the sacrifices were immense. We cannot afford to wallow in grief."
Utatane Koharu picked up where he left off. "Since the Fourth Hokage's recovery is uncertain, and Konoha has suffered such grievous losses, the village is in turmoil. News of the disaster will surely have reached other hidden villages by now—they may seize the opportunity to strike. Therefore, we must select a successor immediately to stabilize the situation. This council has been called to decide on the next Hokage."
Several eyes in the chamber shifted toward Chi Yu and Orochimaru.
After the Third Shinobi World War, Orochimaru had been the obvious candidate for Fourth Hokage, until Hiruzen rejected him and chose Minato instead. As for Chi Yu, his strength and achievements had earned him prestige equal to Minato's.
Orochimaru was Hiruzen's disciple. Chi Yu was Orochimaru's disciple. By lineage and by merit, either could be considered.
Danzo noticed those sidelong glances. His face darkened immediately.
He had long since broken with Chi Yu, and by extension, distanced himself from Orochimaru as well. For him, letting either man ascend to Hokage was unacceptable.
Danzo stood abruptly. "Third Hokage, before we decide on succession, certain matters must first be addressed."
Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura all turned toward him in puzzlement.
Danzo raised a hand and pointed directly at Chi Yu. "When Miyuki Uzumaki was in labor, Chi Yu and a squad of Anbu were assigned to guard outside. Yet all those Anbu ended up dead—struck down by single, fatal blows—while Chi Yu remained completely unharmed.
"I had Root examine their corpses. The evidence is clear." His voice hardened. "Furthermore, I have heard from Hiruzen himself that you were present when the Fourth Hokage attempted to seal the Nine-Tails. Yet simultaneously, on the battlefield, you were also fighting two enemy intruders. Which means you used the Shadow Clone Technique.
"Whether it was your true body or not, you clearly had the reserves to disengage and aid directly in restraining the Nine-Tails. Yet you only appeared at the very end. Why?"
Danzo pressed further, eyes narrowing. "The cave where Miyuki Uzumaki gave birth was sealed with a Tsukuyomi barrier. It should have triggered the moment an intruder entered. Yet it did not. Only three people knew the bypass method—you, the Fourth Hokage, and Biwako Sarutobi. And Biwako was killed inside that cave along with an Anbu guard. So tell me, how did the enemy pass through?
"And one more thing: the Nine-Tails appeared inside the village itself. That means it was summoned. There is only one man I recall who could summon a Tailed Beast… and he has long been dead. But you, Chi Yu—you are called the man closest to him.
"Do you expect us to believe this is all mere coincidence?"
The chamber grew heavy with silence. All eyes fixed on Chi Yu.
Expression unreadable, he slowly lifted his gaze to meet Danzo's.
"So, from the Assistant Hokage's words," Chi Yu said coolly, "you are accusing me of colluding with the enemy? That I allowed them entry into the cave, that I conspired in the attack on Miyuki's child, and that I released the Nine-Tails to wreak havoc upon the village?"
Danzo snorted. "I am saying only that your actions are far too suspicious. I have reason to suspect you."
Chi Yu's sharp gaze swept across the assembled leaders, before settling on Hiruzen. His tone was calm, yet cutting.
"Then tell me, Third Hokage. Do you, too, believe this?"
Hiruzen's eyes tightened. His voice was firm, but grave.
"I trust you, Chi Yu. But for the sake of the village, it would be best… if you explained yourself."
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