To keep Danzo from stirring up trouble, Namikaze Minato officially named Nara Shinei the new captain of the Konoha Defense Unit three days later. He also abolished the role of vice-captain.
Minato didn't make a big announcement about this change—it seemed like just another routine personnel shift.
As for why Chinya had stepped down, Minato simply repeated Chinya's own explanation: he needed to focus on caring for his pregnant clone, Kushina Uzumaki Bunshin, and couldn't handle both roles simultaneously.
Seeing that things had already reached this point, Danzo angrily recalled the thirty elite Root ninja he had embedded within the Konoha Defense Unit.
But that was exactly what Minato had hoped for.
If Danzo hadn't pulled them out himself first, Minato would've had a hard time getting rid of those Root ninja from the Defense Unit.
Those Root agents had always been thorns in his side, constantly causing trouble since they answered only to Danzo. If left unchecked, they could have easily allowed Danzo to stir up conflict from within.
But now, with Danzo removing those thorns himself, it felt like hitting the jackpot—just what he needed when he needed it most.
At this moment, Minato sat face-to-face with Fugaku Uchiha at the Uchiha Family Estate.
Fugaku thanked Minato, saying, "I must express my deepest gratitude, Fourth Hokage. Now our Uchiha clansmen can finally leave home without worrying about being arrested over nothing."
Minato replied with a smile, "Actually, this opportunity came mainly because Chinya broke away from Danzo. Otherwise, none of this would've happened."
Fugaku exhaled in relief. "Now that Chinya and Danzo had broken apart, the situation for the Uchiha Clan could improve greatly. If those two continued working together, our space for survival would keep shrinking."
Minato reminded him, "Still, Clan Leader Fugaku, although the Defense Unit won't be arbitrarily capturing Uchiha ninja anymore, your clan members must also strictly regulate their behavior so others will have no grounds to complain. That way, I can further work on improving the current conditions for the Uchiha."
Fugaku nodded. "I'll ensure strict discipline among our people. I won't cause you any trouble, Fourth Hokage. Please continue to grant us your kindness in the days ahead."
Minato smiled slightly and nodded. "We're all comrades of the village. I'll do what I can."
...
Konoha enjoyed peace day after day.
But this peace was merely the calm before *the* storm.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Kakashi left to carry out a mission.
Since Chinya stepped down, he had stayed home constantly, caring for Kushina Uzumaki Bunshin.
There wasn't much to do in the Shinobi World, but watching TV wasn't too bad.
Most of the programs were movies centered around ninja.
Chinya wasn't really into watching them, but Kushina Uzumaki Bunshin enjoyed them very much, captivated by every plot twist.
Right now, Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki Bunshin were watching a movie about love between two ninjas.
The male and female protagonists are ninjas from two opposing ninja villages. Because of an unexpected incident, they find themselves caught in a struggle between their duty as ninjas and the love they share.
The movie was already halfway through when Kushina Uzumaki snuggled into Chinya's arms, watching intently.
Chinya, who had been gazing at the screen with unfocused eyes, suddenly narrowed his gaze and whispered to Kushina, "Kushina, you keep watching. I'll be right back after stepping out for a moment."
Kushina, completely absorbed by the movie, kept her eyes on the screen and nodded, "Okay, come back soon."
Chinya rose from the sofa, walked toward the door, then created a Shadow Clone to stand guard before taking a dozen steps forward. Suddenly he stopped, speaking coldly, "Come out."
A yin-yang-faced figure emerged from the wall.
This yin-yang face was none other than Zetsu, who had come looking for Chinya.
Before Zetsu could even open his mouth, Chinya brutally grabbed his hair with brutal force, dragging him at high speed into the woods outside Konoha Village.
After arriving in the forest, Chinya released Zetsu's hair, clapped his hands, letting strands of hair fall from his grip.
Glaring at Zetsu with killing intent, Chinya said, "You've got guts coming near my home. Do you want to die?"
Inside Black Zetsu, sheer terror surged.
His [Kagero] technique allowed him to merge with the earth, moving rapidly through plant roots and underground water systems embedded within the ground—an approach that cut off all traces of chakra, undetectable even by the Uzumaki Clan's [Mind's Eye of the Kagura].
Yet Chinya had sensed him. This left Zetsu utterly stunned.
Suddenly, a ninja sword pierced straight through Zetsu's chest, pinning him against a tree trunk.
"No answer? Then die!"
Chinya radiated crackling lightning, sending arcs of lightning surging through Zetsu's body.
After one minute, Chinya pulled out the ninja sword that had impaled Zetsu. Zetsu collapsed like a pile of mud onto the ground.
Sheathing the blade, Chinya stared down at the motionless Zetsu with icy disdain and said, "That was just a warning. If you keep pretending to lie there, I'll seal you away for good!"
Zetsu shot up instantly from the ground, staring at Chinya in disbelief, an icy chill running through him.
Just now, Chinya had stabbed him in the chest, electrocuting him—but others would have died under such attacks.
And yet Chinya called it just a warning? And he even threatened to seal him?
Did that mean Chinya actually knew about his secret?
Was this some kind of joke?
This was supposed to be their first meeting. How could Chinya know his secret?
Zetsu furrowed his brow and glared fiercely at Chinya, demanding, "What do you actually know about me?!"
Chinya smirked contemptuously. "Do I look like I'd tell you? Tell me quickly—who sent you here? Did Obito Uchiha send you, or did you come on your own business? Speak fast!"
Zetsu stared intently at Chinya. Initially, he had regarded Chinya merely as a nuisance threatening his plans.
Now, however, Chinya was clearly a direct threat to him.
Chinya warned, "Don't say I didn't warn you in time. If you dare implant your spores in me, I'll immediately seal you away and kill Obito Uchiha and Nagato. Of course, you can take a gamble—whether or not I'll detect those spores!"
Before arriving, Zetsu had indeed intended to implant his spores in Chinya, but there was no way he'd risk such a gamble now.
Since Chinya had already detected his [Kagero Technique], there was a good chance he'd spot the spores too.
What's more, Zetsu never expected Chinya to know about Nagato at all.
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