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Chapter 3 - Danzo, Minato is the Hokage!

"Buzz!"

A blue light screen suddenly burst forth from Menma's body, forcefully repelling the Nine-Tailed Chakra. Minato watched in shock as the sealing jutsu he performed was distorted and disintegrated by some unknown power.

"What's going on?"

Minato's brow furrowed.

At this moment, in Menma's mind, the system's mechanical voice sounded: "What class are you, to be worthy of sharing the host space with this system?"

"System! You're finally reliable for once!"

Menma was deeply moved.

Kushina propped herself up, her body weak, a trace of color appearing on her pale face: "Minato... seal the rest of it into me."

Her gaze towards Menma was full of tender love, "At least... let Menma grow up like a normal child..."

"But your body..."

Minato hesitated, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Thanks to Menma's ability."

Kushina gently stroked the little one's cheek, "This child... saved me..."

Minato's gaze towards Menma was extremely complex—it held a father's pride, yet also deep worry. To awaken such powerful abilities at such a young age, how difficult would his future path be?

"No matter what..."

Minato gently placed his hand on Menma's head, "I will definitely protect you all."

As the final seal was completed, the Yin Nine-Tailed's Chakra flowed entirely into Kushina's body.

Menma let out a long breath, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

"System, can you explain now?"

He questioned in his consciousness, "What kind of cultivation world is this?"

"Ding! Mission: Repel the sect traitor completed. Reward: Innate Wind Spirit Root.

Hidden Mission: Save the Sect Master and Sect Mistress completed. Reward: Innate Fire Spirit Root."

"What Wind Spirit Root! Isn't this just Wind Release Chakra?!"

Menma's little face turned red with anger.

The system remained silent, playing dead thoroughly.

"Fine... you really are something..."

Menma's infant body finally reached its limit, his eyelids heavy as lead. In the last moment before falling into darkness, he seemed to hear his father's gentle whisper:

"Sleep, Menma... tomorrow will be a good day..."

...Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window in the faint morning light, the spark in his pipe having long since extinguished during his prolonged contemplation.

This elder, who had experienced three Ninja World Wars, understood better than anyone what a child possessing such powerful sealing abilities meant—he could be a towering tree supporting Konoha's future, or a violent hurricane destroying everything.

The Third Hokage's peripheral vision swept over the blond youth beside him, his voice low: "Minato, these two children... need special supervision."

Konoha must control this pair of brothers, especially Menma.

"I understand."

Minato Namikaze's voice was soft, "Third Hokage-sama, I will personally protect them."

This statement was both a Hokage's promise and a warning to any covetous parties.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff from his now cold pipe.

He had no doubt about Minato's belief in upholding the Will of Fire, but what truly bothered him was—Danzo.

Back in his own home, the Third Hokage gazed at the brightening sky outside the window.

The hydrangeas, Pipa Lake Sarutobi's favorite during her lifetime, were covered in dew, swaying gently in the breeze. His wife's sacrifice once again pained his heart, and the Ninja Hero's figure appeared particularly stooped in the morning light.

"Sharingan... Uchiha..."

His cracked lips uttered these words, as if chewing on some bitter fruit. According to the intelligence Minato brought back, the masked man who attacked Kushina was very likely from the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed with a sharp glint: "Are they finally... unable to hold back?"

This sentence drifted in the morning wind, carrying the heaviness of an impending storm.

Morning light shone on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, making his tired wrinkles appear even deeper.

He silently gazed out the window until he heard the soft tap of a cane behind him—the sound was slow, steady, like a snake lurking in the shadows quietly slithering.

Danzo Shimura emerged from the darkness, the scar on his chin particularly striking in the morning light. His gaze was as inscrutable as a deep pool, his voice low and restrained:

"About Pipa Lake... I am sorry."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around, only his pipe paused slightly between his fingers.

Danzo did not mind his silence and continued: "Now, Konoha has two Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, and a child... who possesses sealing jutsu comparable to Uzumaki Mito."

His eyes flickered slightly, as if calculating something, "Such power must not be left unchecked."

"Minato will personally look after those two children."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke, his tone calm but undeniable, "You don't need to worry about that."

"The Fourth Hokage, you say..."

Danzo narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying a subtle hint of consideration, "I naturally do not doubt his loyalty to the Village."

He paused, his cane tapping lightly on the ground, his tone suddenly growing cold: "But for the future of the Village, at least one of the children—should be handed over to 'Root' for training."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly turned, his gaze as sharp as a blade, "The current Hokage is Minato, not you or me. Don't force me to stand against you!"

Danzo was silent for a moment.

He knew that as long as Minato Namikaze was still around, he would find it difficult to lay claim to those two children. But he was not impatient—he had always been good at waiting.

This current probing was merely to gain more leverage.

After a brief standoff, Danzo slowly spoke, changing the subject: "Then, regarding the Uchiha Clan... what is your view now?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze darkened slightly.

After the Night of the Nine-Tailed, his attitude towards the Uchiha had indeed quietly changed.

That night's events shocked the entire Ninja World, but fortunately, Minato and his wife were still alive. The previously restless Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Hidden Mist all reined themselves in after hearing the news—Hidden Mist and Iwagakure chose to retreat, only Kumogakure, still unwilling to give up, wanted to take advantage of the chaos for profit.

Time quietly flowed, and several months had passed since the Night of the Nine-Tailed.

"Wah—!"

A loud cry once again erupted in the room, Naruto waving his small fists, his entire little face red from crying.

Menma's ears buzzed from the noise, and he couldn't help but wail in his heart: "Why is this little brother starting again..."

"Minato, look how quiet Menma is, he hardly ever cries."

Kushina gently rocked Menma in her arms, while her other hand playfully tickled the crying Naruto. Naruto was tickled into laughter, letting out "giggles," while Menma just perfunctorily made two "eeyah" sounds, looking utterly resigned.

"It seems Menma is much more sensible than Naruto."

Minato took off his Hokage robe and smiled gently.

This statement seemed to provoke Naruto, and the little one's mouth puckered, crying out "Wah" again.

Kushina quickly consoled him: "Don't cry, don't cry, our Naruto is very sensible too ~"

Menma lay in his mother's arms, utterly resigned, silently praying: "Time, please flow faster! Let me grow up quickly! This infant stage, where I can't even control my own bodily functions, is truly unbearable..."

"Minato..."

Kushina suddenly looked up, her brow slightly furrowed.

"What's wrong?"

Minato tied on his apron, preparing to make dinner.

"Kakashi's been acting strange lately, you should keep a closer eye on him."

Kushina said worriedly.

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