Minato's analysis made Sasuke realize what true high-level intelligence was. He himself knew so much due to his familiarity with the original timeline, but Minato was able to deduce a great deal just from Sasuke's description of the events. The key was that his deductions were correct.
Jiraiya's description of Minato was accurate—any shinobi would seem lesser in comparison to him.
It would be perfect if his name didn't sound so strange.
"Sasuke, can you guarantee that what you described is what you personally witnessed?" Minato asked seriously.
"I swear upon my Sharingan that the situation I described is exactly what I saw with my own eyes," Sasuke responded solemnly.
There were no lies in that statement—the scenes he had recounted were indeed witnessed directly.
The only thing he had withheld was Danzo's final outcome.
"Elders, why don't you begin by investigating the matter regarding Elder Danzo? Lord Third had already approached me prior to this. I will notify him again so that all of you can investigate the matter jointly," Minato said to the two elders.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu frowned, visibly troubled, and replied to Minato: "Investigating this matter will require considerable manpower. Since Danzo is currently absent, why don't we temporarily oversee Root? If it turns out he's innocent, we can return it to him later."
As expected, their political affection was shallow. Danzo's death hadn't even been confirmed yet, and they were already eyeing his Root division. No doubt this was a play to expand their own influence. It seemed Danzo's use of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on his Root subordinates had been a prudent decision after all.
Sasuke couldn't help but roll his eyes at the two elders' blatant maneuvering. They rarely showed true concern for the village's welfare, but were always quick to vie for power.
"Don't worry, I will have my ANBU assist both of you. Root was originally created as a training division for ANBU members. Now that we have new selection methods for the ANBU, Root's continued existence isn't strictly necessary.
Until Elder Danzo's status is clarified, it would be better to have Root's members temporarily reassigned to regular shinobi squads to complete missions. We can revisit the matter afterward," Minato replied with a calm smile.
Hearing Minato's decision, Homura and Koharu's faces turned increasingly sour.
Sasuke watched their reactions with quiet satisfaction and felt that he now better understood Minato's thinking.
By dissolving Root and redistributing its members among other squads, Minato was doing more than cutting off a potential private military force for the elders. He was giving Root operatives a chance to form genuine bonds with other shinobi—something they'd been deprived of due to Danzo's philosophy of erasing emotion.
And once Root members experienced camaraderie and life in the light, even if Danzo were still alive and returned, how many would willingly choose to return to that cold, shadowed world?
"There's no need," Homura and Koharu rejected Minato's proposal and exited the Hokage's office with grim expressions.
Sasuke's testimony had no flaws, and they couldn't find any contradictions. If they pushed further, they might expose themselves. After all, they also had knowledge of Danzo's past dealings with Orochimaru. For now, it was best they retreat and reassess.
After the elders left, Sasuke quietly shut the office door.
"Have you obtained any more information about the Akatsuki organization?" Minato asked him.
Sasuke certainly knew a lot about Akatsuki—from beginning to end—even down to the details of every member. But he didn't intend to tell Minato everything.
He couldn't justify the source of his knowledge, and with his current strength, he didn't have the power to act freely. The best he could do now was offer some hints and guidance.
"The information I have is limited to what I saw and heard during the battle.
The organization's name is Akatsuki, and I encountered two of its members.
One used puppets. His comrade referred to him as 'Sasori.' He manipulates puppets and initially appeared as a frail old man with thinning hair, but that body was also a puppet shell—controlled by him.
His true appearance is that of a red-haired young man, probably under twenty.
The first puppet he used was the Third Kazekage, as you mentioned, Hokage-sama. But he later summoned many more. I estimate the number exceeded a hundred."
Minato's heart sank at those words. Currently, the most skilled puppeteer in the shinobi world was Chiyo from Sunagakure, and even she could only control ten puppets at once. For this boy to control nearly a hundred simultaneously… this wasn't just genius—it was on a different level. Not even all the world's puppet users combined might be his equal.
Even so, Minato didn't interrupt and kept listening.
"His companion was a rogue ninja from Iwagakure named Deidara. He has long blond hair and specializes in explosive clay, which he also uses to fly.
His clay techniques have various forms—a large bird capable of carrying passengers, swift assault birds, and many small clay spiders that explode on contact. The blast power is considerable.
He also has a substitution technique using clay clones that explode when attacked at close range," Sasuke explained.
"What's certain is that they're both extremely powerful. I don't believe any of the jōnin in the village—including the elite ones—could defeat either of them in a one-on-one fight, except maybe my brother," Sasuke added, intending to caution Minato to take Akatsuki seriously.
Minato furrowed his brows, lost in deep thought.
"There was something else I didn't mention earlier because there were too many people around," Sasuke continued, lowering his voice. "During that time, I saw that Elder Danzo's right arm had five Sharingan embedded in it—and he was able to use Wood Release techniques, like the First Hokage. I don't know how."
He'd deliberately avoided bringing this up earlier with Homura and Koharu present, knowing this detail would become a sharp tool for Minato in future confrontations with other elders.
Most of the high-ranking officials in Konoha had some involvement in the early Wood Release experiments, though in the end only Orochimaru took the fall.
There was no way the traces of that incident could be completely erased—Yamato was living proof. If Minato pursued the investigation, he would definitely uncover the truth.
Once he held that truth, it would give him leverage in political negotiations with the Council.
Minato froze, shocked by Sasuke's revelation. He had no prior knowledge of it.
"Are you absolutely certain?" Minato asked.
"I swear on my life that what I said is true," Sasuke nodded with conviction.
Minato sank into his chair and exhaled deeply. The complexity of this issue had just reached another level.
"If what you say is confirmed, I will give the Uchiha clan a formal explanation. But until then, I ask that you remain silent on this matter. If you agree, I will owe you," Minato said solemnly.
Jackpot.
Sasuke felt a jolt of excitement, though he didn't show it. Instead, he smiled faintly and said, "I think Hokage-sama might owe me two favors now. If I said I had a way to revive Aunt Kushina, would Uncle Minato let me try?"
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