Although the situation didn't unfold as noble or heroic as in the original timeline, it wasn't a bad outcome.
Compared to Konoha's rotten higher-ups, Minato's team felt refreshingly simple and genuine.
Especially Namikaze Minato.
Even though he rose from an ordinary civilian to Konoha's Yellow Flash, he couldn't possibly be as naïve as the manga sometimes portrayed. Yet—despite everything—Minato truly was like a ray of sunlight.
No wonder, in the original story, the Uchiha clan placed their trust in him to become the Fourth Hokage. Even Uchiha Jin, despite meeting him for the first time, found it difficult to feel any hostility toward him.
> "Should I support Minato becoming Hokage?
If he takes the seat, all I would need to do is help him survive the Nine-Tails incident… and then I could lie low and relax?"
But no—reality wasn't that easy.
"Minato is excellent in almost every way, but his foundation is too weak. Even if we help him during the Nine-Tails' attack, he still wouldn't truly control Konoha."
Uchiha Jin exhaled, massaging his temple. He really did want a peaceful, lazy life.
But Nara Kazama's plan… was exhausting.
If he had the chance to just goof off, quietly become stronger, and then suppress the entire shinobi world at his leisure—that would be ideal.
Unfortunately, Minato was just a chess piece. Even if he became Hokage, he would still be under Hiruzen Sarutobi's influence. A figurehead.
Minato was a civilian by birth—no clan backing, no political faction.
Yes, his own talent was monstrous, and he had people who admired him.
But that wasn't enough—not in a village built on clans, influence, and inherited power.
How did Hiruzen secure his Hokage position?
First, he had the backing of the Sarutobi clan.
Then, the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans supported him, forming the "Hokage Faction."
Though the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka also respected him due to their connection to Tobirama, they weren't fully loyal—but still leaned his way.
And even with all of that support, Hiruzen's position wasn't secure until after the Second Shinobi War, where he gained glory on the battlefield and—intentionally or not—oversaw the decline of the Senju.
Minato? What did he have?
A civilian background and Jiraiya as a master… but Jiraiya was a free-spirited wanderer, not a political pillar. He had influence, but no loyal clan-based faction to mobilize.
Minato's friendships with Shikaku and others were personal, not political.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio respected the Hokage position, yes—but if Minato and Hiruzen ever clashed, they would side with Hiruzen. Not out of favoritism, but survival.
Family came first.
Minato's foundation was too fragile, while Hiruzen's network was deeply entrenched. Even if they liked Minato as a person, when the future of their clans was at stake, the answer was obvious.
In canon, until his death, Minato had only the Hokage Guard Platoon—just four shinobi officially loyal to him.
Not even ANBU was under his full control; much of it still answered to the Third and to Danzō.
"Forget it. Why am I even wasting energy thinking about this?"
"With Kazama and Shisui around, the original plan was good enough. I should just go home and sleep."
Shaking his head, Jin gave up on further thought. Still… there was a faint sense of regret.
Minato's team truly had good hearts. But in the original timeline, their fates were already marked by Madara's manipulation.
For Obito to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Nohara Rin's future was bleak.
Kakashi's path, too, was filled with remorse.
And Minato… would still die.
But that was their story—not his.
Right now, he was effectively grounded by Hiruzen, restricted to the village.
No point thinking too much. Just lie low and rest.
"Sensei," Itachi said suddenly, "do you hate the Uchiha clan?"
Jin blinked. "What makes you ask that?"
Itachi repeated what Aoi had told him earlier.
Jin's mouth twitched.
So she sold him out that quickly.
He sighed and replied casually:
"If there was no love to begin with, how could there be hatred? The Uchiha are just… strangers to me."
"To be honest, I never intended to get involved with the clan. But due to a series of coincidences, I got dragged in."
"Of course, the main reason is that your father gave me… too much."
"You can think of it as your father buying my loyalty with money."
He was, in fact, overwhelmed by Fugaku's generosity.
Money truly does make the world move.
"Ah… I see…" Itachi said, embarrassed. As the clan heir, he never really understood the value of money.
Jin waved him off.
"Don't overthink it. I'll teach you properly either way. Just come to my house tomorrow."
Once they reached the Uchiha district, Jin stopped walking. Itachi wouldn't get lost—he was the clan head's son.
With a lazy wave, Jin headed home to sleep.