"That is enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice, usually calm and measured, rose with a rare authority. "Koharu, regardless of any mistakes he has made, Minato is the Fourth Hokage of Konoha. That is his position in this village, and you will respect it!"

"Hmph!" Hearing Hiruzen's scolding, Koharu Utatane turned her face away angrily. Without another word, she got up and stormed out of the room.

Minato Namikaze breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the Third Hokage who had always supported him with gratitude in his eyes.

Homura Mitokado slowly shook his head, a look of profound disappointment on his face. "Sarutobi," he said, his voice heavy with weariness, "you disappoint me. If we do not eliminate these threats now, we will not have a single day of peace. In the future, this village will pay a terrible price for allowing the Uchiha clan and Orochimaru to fester. By then, if all of us old fools are gone, what will you do?"

As he spoke, Homura turned his gaze to Minato. "Will we truly rely on these young people who only speak of ideals and friendship? Minato, I know you have a good relationship with Fugaku, but since he betrayed the village, you must not take his side and stay loyal to only konoha."

"Uh… you misunderstand, Lord Homura," Minato said anxiously, waving his hands. "My hesitation to act against the Uchiha is out of concern for the safety of the village. It has nothing to do with personal friendship!"

"Hmph. I hope so," Homura muttered, turning to leave. As he reached the door, he paused and looked back. "Sarutobi, if Danzō were still alive, with his decisiveness and his execution… the Uchiha problem would have been wiped out long ago."

With that final, cutting remark, the office door closed, leaving the two Hokage alone in the heavy silence.

"Sigh…" Hiruzen let out a long, helpless breath. The mention of his old friend's name had opened a wound he thought had closed. Hearing the name Danzō again, his face filled with a familiar loneliness and nostalgia. Although they had often disagreed, their bond, forged in childhood and tempered by war, ran deep. With Danzō having been missing for so many years, his fate unknown, Hiruzen still worried.

"Lord Third, are you… alright?" Minato asked softly.

"Oh, I'm fine," Hiruzen said, shaking off the melancholy. "That's just how Homura and Koharu are. Don't take it to heart. By the way, I heard your son will also be participating in this year's Chunin Exams?"

"Yes," Minato's expression softened into a father's fond smile. "Kakashi put Naruto on the recommendation list. Hahaha… that boy does nothing but play and cause mischief all day. It will be good for him to participate. Fighting against so many powerful shinobi from other nations might be just what he needs to mature."

"You are too modest, Minato. Naruto is very talented. But you don't have to spend all your time here with me. You should spend more time with Kushina and your children."

"Lord Third, we are in the final stages of preparation for the exams. There are countless matters that need your attention. I fear you cannot handle it all alone."

As they were talking, there was a sudden, frantic knock on the door.

"This is an emergency, Lord Hokage!"

"Come in!"

A chunin rushed in, his face pale with panic. "Lord Third, Lord Fourth, the Scroll of Forbidden Seals… it's been stolen!"

"What?!" Sarutobi and Minato were both stunned. They asked in unison, "Who did it? Has the person been caught?"

"It's… it's Naruto! He took the scroll and disappeared!"

"!!! Naruto?!"