JOIN:- patreon.com/The_GreatRed
[20% Discount on MostHigh Membership]
AND GIVE POWERSTONES
100 powerstone = 1 bonus chapter
.[FULLY-COMPLETED IN PATREON]
.
.
.
…the importance of the whole team, and we have decided to assign both Kakashi Hatake and Jiraiya-sensei as their team leaders."
Most of the council members fell into a heavy silence. Minato was already dreading what would come next.
Koharu spoke up sharply, "Don't you see that this is blatant favoritism? We simply cannot allow one of the Legendary Sannin to train a genin team. Not only that, but this team is already overpowered. The balance of the genin teams is completely destroyed!"
Jiraiya scoffed and replied, "It's not our fault that Menma and Mito take their training seriously, unlike the rest of the children."
He completely ignored the fact that many of those "other children" were the heirs of powerful clans—and their parents were sitting in that very room, narrowing their eyes at him.
Minato could only facepalm after hearing his sensei speak so recklessly.
Inoichi Yamanaka was the next to speak. "Are you saying we didn't train our children properly?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
Jiraiya shrugged. "I'm not saying that directly. I'm just saying Menma and Mito have more potential than anyone else in the entire world."
There was a heavy silence in the room.
Then Inoichi added sharply, "More potential? Even more than their older brother, Naruto? If I'm not mistaken, right?"
Silence thickened again.
After all, Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze was already considered a legend in the making—the only kid to reach S-rank status at such a young age. His potential was said to rival, or even surpass, that of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha combined.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "Of course it's greater. It's only a matter of time. Under my tutelage, Menma and Mito will learn to fully control the power of the Nine-Tails. When that happens, they'll easily surpass their older brother."
At that, Shibi Aburame finally spoke, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "We are getting off-topic. This team is not balanced, Lord Hokage. We simply cannot approve it—especially with both Kakashi, your student, and Jiraiya-sensei involved. It will naturally lead to favoritism toward Menma and Mito. This could disrupt the team and the integrity of the entire genin assignment system."
Minato sighed deeply and said, "Then what do you propose?"
The other council members exchanged looks. Finally, one of them nodded and said, "Well, Lord Hokage, you already know that Jiraiya-sama already had a team before. And according to Konoha laws, we simply cannot assign him another genin team."
"Not only that," the man continued, "Kakashi is currently needed within the ANBU, and Jiraiya-sama has a vast spy network to manage."
Jiraiya quickly interjected, "But I can still maintain it."
Most of the council members turned toward him with skeptical looks.
Another council member spoke, "Well, years ago, you yourself said that only you could manage your spy network, Jiraiya. Not only that, you've been staying in Konoha much more frequently lately. Frankly, we fear that your emotional attachment to your godchildren—Menma and Mito—is clouding your judgment."
He continued, "Therefore, we cannot allow you to lead a genin team. Your enemies may target your students for revenge, and that would endanger the village."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going.
"So what do you propose?" he said sharply. "You do realize the importance of the Jinchūriki, don't you? Even though they are my godchildren, they are still Jinchūriki. Their protection is paramount. Who could be more talented and deserving of leading them than Kakashi and me?"
Jiraiya felt a small sense of satisfaction, thinking that his student Minato was finally siding with him.
Most of the clan heads looked at each other again and nodded before one of them spoke.
"Well, Lord Hokage, we have come to a decision. Team Seven will be given to Itachi Uchiha, with Naruto Namikaze as the secondary instructor."
After that, a heavy silence filled the room.
Minato's mind raced. This... this could actually work. Kakashi was needed in the ANBU, and Itachi was highly skilled, disciplined, and respected.
Also, Kakashi had, over the years, echoed Jiraiya's opinions too often for Minato's liking. On several occasions, Kakashi had tried to convince him that Menma and Mito were more deserving than Naruto could ever hope to be—even in a billion years. According to him, their potential was limitless, while Naruto only had "stories" to his name—nothing substantial.
Kakashi often downplayed Naruto's achievements, suggesting that most of the real work had been done by Itachi, and Naruto was simply receiving the credit.
Minato, however, always ignored such talk. He knew what his student was trying to do.
He also knew that Kakashi was fiercely loyal to Jiraiya—perhaps due to the books, or maybe something deeper—but at this point, Minato no longer cared. This entire discussion felt childish and meaningless.
He had personally trained his children—strategized for them—created learning plans that should have helped them grow faster. But lately, both Menma and Mito had grown increasingly hostile—even toward him and Kushina.
They would accuse their parents of only training them because they thought they were "weak."
Well… that was actually true.
But even so, neither Minato nor Kushina had ever truly trained Naruto. Not because they didn't care, but because they honestly believed he didn't need the training. On the other hand, both Menma and Mito needed it—not only because they were Jinchūriki, but also because they were their biological children, and heirs to powerful clans.
Minato and Kushina had long since decided that Menma would inherit the Namikaze clan, while Mito would become the heir to the Uzumaki clan.
The other clan heads had their suspicions about favoritism, especially with Danzo lurking in the shadows, ever watchful. But Minato and Kushina justified their choices as decisions made for the good of the clans. After all, Naruto was responsible and independent.
Still, these decisions only deepened the resentment in Jiraiya, Kakashi, and even others who felt Naruto was being cast aside unfairly.
In the middle of this tense council meeting, Danzo's grip on his cane tightened. He had been hoping the council would reluctantly approve Jiraiya and Kakashi as the team's instructors—or that Minato would stubbornly push for them. If that had happened, he could've used it later to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
But from the look on Minato's face now, it seemed he was about to agree with the council's alternative—and Danzo couldn't allow that.
With a scheming glint in his eye, Danzo stood up and said, "If I may, Lord Hokage, I have a proposition."
Most of the council turned to him with narrowed eyes. No one trusted Danzo—he was never up to anything good.
Minato sighed. He knew Danzo would speak his mind no matter what. "Go ahead, Danzo."
Danzo nodded and spoke smoothly, "Why not hold a small tournament for the council?"
That drew a mix of curiosity and suspicion from the room.
"It seems that there is a divide," Danzo continued. "Some want Kakashi and Jiraiya. Others support Itachi and Naruto. Why not let their skills speak for themselves? In this way, we can observe the progress of your children, Lord Hokage—see how far they've come. After all, though we've seen the mission reports, there is nothing like a true field display."
Danzo then glanced subtly at Fugaku and Minato. "This could also showcase what they've learned—and what they have to offer to the Jinchūriki and the Uchiha heir. It's a chance to assess their suitability as mentors."
Several murmurs rippled through the council chamber. Some nodded thoughtfully, genuinely intrigued by the idea. Others were wary, but understood that the proposal had logic behind it.
Fugaku, for his part, seemed pleased. This would place Itachi in the spotlight for once—and allow the boy to shine.
Minato was deep in thought, seriously considering the proposal...
And then a laugh echoed across the chamber.
It was loud. Confident.
Everyone turned.
The laugh came from none other than—