Time flies like an arrow, and days pass like a shuttle.
Since the thunderous explosion resembling a natural disaster erupted in the Konoha back mountains, about a day and a half has passed.
Fortunately, this explosion did not cause any casualties among Konoha's personnel.
The sudden blast merely startled the villagers.
If we must speak of losses, it would be Danzo's Root base being half-destroyed, and the towering mountain—lush with vegetation, a place that had stood for countless years and attracted young men and women, as well as wealthy ladies and adventurous youths—being reduced to flat ground.
This led to countless young hearts in Konoha freezing over in dismay, and numerous wealthy ladies denouncing the perpetrator of this explosion as utterly inhumane.
They anonymously flooded the Hokage's office with petitions!
9 PM, Hokage's office.
At his desk, Minato rubbed his temples in frustration as he surveyed the anonymous complaint box outside the Hokage building, now overflowing with letters over the past two days.
He had heard the details from the Third Hokage.
The one who flattened the mountain was Danzo, leader of the Root, and the reason had been explained to the Third.
But the problem lay in that very reason.
According to the Third's firsthand account, when asked why he obliterated the mountain, Danzo casually replied that it was to alleviate Konoha's overcrowding issues and... because the mountain was blocking his sunlight.
Listen to that!
Is that something a sane person would say?
You flattened a mountain because it blocked your sunlight?
The Root's base is buried underground—it doesn't get sunlight to begin with!
And even if you wanted sunlight, couldn't you just move a chair outside to bask in it?
If you couldn't find a sunny spot, you could've even used the Hokage building's rooftop!
I'd have allowed it!
Also, what kind of technique was that?
The destructive power seemed no weaker than a Tailed Beast Bomb!
Since when was the Root this strong?
"Minato, I really don't think it's a major issue," the Third Hokage finally spoke after a long pause, puffing on his pipe from his advisor's seat beside the desk.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was equally puzzled.
Why would Danzo blow up a mountain for no reason?
Could it be that his amnesia had progressed beyond treatment, driving him to vent his anguish by destroying the mountain?
The Third didn't believe Danzo's claims about alleviating Konoha's overcrowding by clearing land, nor did he buy the sunlight excuse.
Danzo's words were as reliable as a ghost's lies!
That said, it likely wasn't anything harmful to Konoha.
Even if Danzo would harm him or Minato, he would never do anything fundamentally detrimental to the village.
After much deliberation, the Third arrived at the most plausible conclusion: Danzo must have uncovered a nest of exceptionally cunning enemy spies!
Their hideout must have been on that mountain! And so, he resolved the spy issue in his typical blunt and brutal fashion.
Sure, the commotion was excessive, but as long as Konoha suffered no losses, it was fine.
Besides, the vast cleared area could indeed help ease the village's population density.
In a way, this contributed to the village and saved a considerable sum—after all, manually clearing such a large area would have been costly.
When it came to what was truly problematic, it might have been the sight of Danzo's gruesomely mangled head during their meeting—so horrifying that it had to be entirely censored with mosaics.
The Third Hokage couldn't make sense of it.
Ever since that so-called amnesia, this man's behavior had become increasingly incomprehensible.
Had he developed some kind of self-destructive tendency?
"Lord Third, I've received a request from Danzo to establish an entertainment district in that wasteland. Additionally, many shops in the village have applied to open branches there, and residents are requesting to relocate..."
"Hm?"
The Third was stunned.
What exactly was Danzo trying to do?
Demanding to build a noisy red-light district right above the Root headquarters?
Had his brain really been damaged in that fall?
"I was thinking that leaving such a large area unused isn't ideal," Minato said with a serious expression, elaborating on the matter.
"The current layout of Konoha does feel somewhat cramped. In that sense, I believe we should approve Danzo's request. What do you think, Lord Third?"
Since becoming the Fourth Hokage, Minato had come to understand Danzo better—simply put, he was the one who handled the dirty, unspeakable tasks.
His authority was immense, even beyond the Hokage's oversight. Such a man needed to be restrained, and this was the perfect opportunity.
An entertainment district would be a chaotic, mixed environment—far easier to infiltrate with informants. Moreover, it would make monitoring Root much more convenient!
Especially since Danzo possessed methods comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Minato couldn't afford to turn a blind eye any longer.
He had to prepare for the worst.
Where there was light, there would always be darkness.
He understood that.
But he also believed that one day, the brilliance of prosperity would illuminate even the deepest shadows.
Seeing the determination on Minato's face, the Third saw through his intentions entirely and couldn't help but marvel.
He thought that Minato might actually achieve it.
Compared to his own aging self, this young, still-growing, blazing sun might truly be able to light up every corner of the village—even the underground—just as the First Hokage had done.
Not to mention, times were always moving forward. Those outdated ideologies might one day fade away.
Wasn't that the essence of the Will of Fire?
Burning away the self (the stubborn, antiquated beliefs) to protect the new sprouts (the fresh future) as they broke through the soil...
The Will of Fire truly never went out of style.
It had just gained a new interpretation!
The Third Hokage sighed inwardly, resolving to include this latest understanding of the Will of Fire in the textbooks, encouraging the next generation of shinobi to innovate, face challenges, and march forward without fear.
As he pondered, the image of that perpetually lazy silver-haired figure came to mind.
That good-for-nothing brat was the reason his own thinking had continued to evolve even at this age.
His unconventional methods and unorthodox approaches had deeply influenced him.
Like during meetings with the Daimyo, or when he offered his own suggestions regarding the Uchiha issue.
It was because of this shinobi who never followed the beaten path that he had even come up with the outrageous idea of making Orochimaru settle down and start a family.
After a moment of contemplation, the Third Hokage sighed softly and murmured a quiet remark.
"Minato, you must focus on forging a new future..."
Hearing these words, Minato was momentarily stunned before a surge of joy welled up in his heart—this matter... was settled!
And so, in July of the year when the Nine-Tails' rampage should have occurred in the original timeline, Konoha began planning a new district—Kabukichō.