Reborn in Konoha as the Anbu Torturer

Aoba looked in disbelief, as if he couldn't accept that the Third Hokage could do such a thing. This reaction wasn't hard to understand.

The Third Hokage had always presented himself to the people of Konoha as a very upright and positive figure. Almost no one in Konoha would easily believe that the Third Hokage could do anything against the village's interests.

Even though Orochimaru and Danzo had exposed these matters, people were still reluctant to accept it and took a long time to come to terms with it. This wasn't due to their absolute trust in the Third Hokage but because of the image, he had meticulously built over the years—an image free from blemishes.

The Third Hokage was not the type to leave loose ends that could be traced back to him. He had many ambitions and always wanted to maintain his position as Hokage without staining his reputation. His years of diligent image-building made it almost impossible to find any significant faults in him despite people's dissatisfaction.

Currently, Aoba's reaction is that of someone just learning about the Third Hokage's misdeeds, showing shock and difficulty in accepting them. This was the most authentic reaction he could display to Minato, reflecting the typical response of any Konoha resident upon hearing such news.

After Aoba said this, his face was still marked by the shock and the struggle to comprehend the situation as if his previous understanding had been completely upended.

"This…" Aoba's question stumped Minato Namikaze. He couldn't confirm the Third Hokage's involvement, as he hadn't communicated with him since the incident. Their understanding of the situation was unequal, and the Third Hokage hadn't explained Orochimaru and Danzo's accusations.

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"Minato, you're about to become Hokage. You should handle things with caution. Discussing this with me is fine, and we can analyze it together, but without solid evidence, it's best not to suspect the Third Hokage too quickly!" Aoba saw the hesitation in Minato's eyes and immediately guided the conversation in this direction, emphasising caution and a refusal to jump to conclusions.

In the hearts of Konoha's youth, the Third Hokage had always held a high position. His visits to the ninja academy and the teachers' praises contributed to his revered image as the strongest Hokage ever. Over time, this image became deeply ingrained, making it difficult for people to accept accusations against him.

"I will investigate this thoroughly," Minato responded thoughtfully. He wasn't reacting out of pressure from Aoba but because he realised something crucial. The accusations from Orochimaru and Danzo hadn't been fully substantiated, leaving room for doubt and potential refutation.

"Wait a moment. Aoba, do you think it's possible that the Third Hokage is planning a comeback?" Minato's expression became grave. He focused on Aoba, understanding that competition for the Hokage position often involved underhanded tactics.

"Ah…what?" Aoba was taken aback, not expecting Minato to reach such a conclusion. This wasn't the direction he intended to lead the conversation.

"Minato, what do you mean? I don't understand," Aoba asked, genuinely confused by Minato's line of thinking.

"I'm thinking of a frightening possibility," Minato said in a low voice. "I've never heard the Third Hokage admit to any of the accusations made by Orochimaru and Danzo. If he hasn't acknowledged them, doesn't that mean he could deny them later? What if he's planning a public denial or has evidence to refute the claims?"

Minato's concerns were valid. The accusations lacked concrete evidence, relying solely on the words of Orochimaru and Danzo. If they were to recant their statements, the allegations would lose credibility.

"Are you saying that Orochimaru and Danzo might have fabricated everything?" Aoba's eyebrows twitched in surprise as this was dangerously close to the truth.

"If they did, what would be their motive?" Aoba asked, raising a critical point. "What would they gain from creating such chaos?"

"You're right. There must be a motive. I just haven't figured it out yet. I feel there are many issues with this situation," Minato said, tapping the table as he pondered.

He then began sketching out a diagram, inspired by Aoba's earlier method of breaking down the problem: "Let's assume Orochimaru and Danzo's claims are false. Then, they must have a different goal. We can consider two possibilities: either they are against the Third Hokage or they are working with him. Which do you think is more plausible?"

"…" Aoba was speechless, realising Minato's formidable analytical skills. This situation could backfire on him if Minato continued down this path.

"I think the first scenario is more plausible," Aoba said, trying to steer the conversation back to familiar territory.

"If Orochimaru and Danzo are against the Third Hokage, they would have a motive to frame him. But what if they're working together? What could be the reason?"

"Minato, you're saying the Third Hokage and Danzo might be collaborating to create a scenario where the Third Hokage can make a dramatic comeback?"

"It's possible," Minato admitted. "If the Third Hokage can prove his innocence, he could return stronger than ever. But if that's the case, we need to be very careful."

"Indeed. We need to proceed cautiously," Aoba agreed, feeling the tension rise. Minato's theory was unsettlingly close to exposing the actual manipulations behind the scenes.