The morning air was sharp, just on the edge of winter. I walked beside my mother, flak jacket still dusty from the front, her steps measured but quick. She didn't say much, but her hand held mine. "Stay close. Don't interrupt. Observe," she said as we entered the council room, where polished wood reflected the soft sunlight through tall windows. The elders were seated. They didn't look at me, but I felt their assessment anyway.
Fugaku, as expected, spoke first. Tall, commanding, voice steady. "The war has ended. Our contribution was significant. Konoha stands victorious. But the costs—our people, our reputation—must be measured carefully."
He gestured to the others. "Minato is praised, Orochimaru lauded. And the clan—our clan—must not be questioned publicly. Yet we must anticipate whispers. Questions about loyalty, hesitation… missteps. We are under scrutiny."
I listened, silent, noting every look, every pause. The Uchiha were proud. Proud and dangerous. I understood why many judged the wrong at first glance.
[Elsewhere in the Hokage office]
Hiruzen's office was quieter, colder. Only the Hokage, a few trusted elders, and stacks of reports. The atmosphere felt like a chessboard, every piece waiting for the right move.
Hiruzen's voice was calm, almost gentle, but it carried weight. "Minato… will be the next Hokage. I will step down. It is time to let someone with fresh energy lead. Someone whose reputation… commands respect."
The elders nodded, some with barely concealed tension, others with relief.
"It is a delicate time," Hiruzen continued, "and the Uchiha are… vocal. We cannot confront them directly. This… appointment shifts the focus. Minato will carry the responsibilities. The village's stability will remain, but the narrative… changes."
The announcement reached the streets two weeks later.
Minato was officially Hokage. The proclamation spread faster than fire in dry grass.
Civilian reactions were… mixed. Some cheered openly, waving banners with Minato's face, the iconic blond and blue eyes promising hope. Others whispered, furrowing brows. Could someone so young handle everything?
Danzo's eyes narrowed behind his paper, calculating, always calculating. Orochimaru's smile was a slash of amusement, inscrutable, as if he already knew how to use the situation to his advantage.
I stood there in the corner of the street, hands stuffed in my sleeves, watching the world change around me. I had already managed my first successful shadow clone a week ago…I thought: So Minato became Hokage then he will die soon. Is there a way to save him? Not yet. Not without being transported to T&I. Sigh. Nothing ever gets easy.
I should train a bit more, Mother said she will show me the Body Flicker Jutsu.