Minato finished reporting the entire rescue operation.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with a calm face.
Danzo, for once, stayed silent.
Finally, it was Hiruzen who broke the silence.
"Though you acted without prior approval, the situation was urgent, and you successfully rescued Obito. The merits offset the fault."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Minato quietly exhaled in relief.
"Oh, right."
He suddenly remembered White Zetsu.
"On the way back, we encountered a long-lost relative of Drake's, so we brought him along."
"Identity confirmed?" Hiruzen frowned.
"Very clear—born with disabilities, missing… certain organs."
Minato improvised effortlessly.
He was inspired by Obito, of course.
If someone had no little ding-ding, then… congenital disability made sense.
"Hm… a disabled person."
Hiruzen nodded.
"If there is nothing else, I'll take my leave."
After Minato left—
BANG!!!
Hiruzen slammed his fist onto the desk.
Danzo chuckled lightly.
"I thought you weren't angry."
"Minato crossed the line this time." Hiruzen scowled.
"Yes. He claims he saved Obito from Uchiha Madara, but presents no evidence at all." Danzo sneered.
Anyone could say such things.
Danzo himself could claim he slapped Madara to death—no proof required.
But what angered Hiruzen more was—
He couldn't punish Minato.
Leaving the village with Squad Nine was a serious offense.
But now that he returned with Obito alive, punishing Minato would be seen as trampling loyal shinobi.
Especially now, with negative rumors flooding the entire village.
If he punished Minato at such a time, the public backlash would be explosive.
"Sigh… Hiruzen, your methods are still too soft."
Danzo's voice carried clear contempt.
"If it were me?
I'd wipe out a clan immediately—kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!"
"Heh… You'd love to see me do that, wouldn't you?" Hiruzen sneered coldly.
He wasn't stupid.
Such a move wouldn't suppress rumors—it would ignite the entire village against him.
And who would be the first to publicly condemn him?
Danzo.
Danzo would:
Encourage him to make the mistake
Then attack him politically
Gain the villagers' support
And finally seize the Hokage position himself
The mastermind giving "advice"
and the person stepping on him afterward
would both be Danzo.
Hiruzen understood Danzo's schemes perfectly.
"Looks like… it's time I personally speak to Drake and Yamato about the Will of Fire. Strengthen their loyalty."
He had made up his mind.
Tomorrow, he would hold a "heart-warming talk" with the two Wood-Release users.
Drake had already appeared in Academy textbooks.
If Hiruzen could secure the loyalty of two Wood-nature users, plus the backing of the Sarutobi clan—
no one could threaten his position as Hokage.
After Leaving the Hokage Building
Minato headed home.
Then—
"Hmm?"
He paused abruptly and stepped back.
Shadow Binding.
"Shadow Imitation Technique?"
He turned toward a dark alley.
"Shikaku… what is the meaning of this?"
Nara Clan Secret Chamber
When Minato entered, he saw many clan heads already waiting.
"You all…?"
"We were the ones who spread the rumors."
Akimichi Chōza replied bluntly.
Minato blinked.
Chōza…
You're a bit too honest.
"It was Shikaku's plan.
We only handled dissemination."
Chōza added.
"No wonder…"
Minato understood instantly.
With Nara Shikaku orchestrating it, no wonder Hiruzen found nothing.
"Actually, I only gave advice.
Without the Uchiha Clan covering us, we couldn't have stayed hidden."
Shikaku revealed calmly.
"The Uchiha Clan helped too?"
Minato felt his brain ringing.
Were all the clans suddenly on the same team?
Teaming up… to target the Third Hokage?
Minato understood their motives, of course.
As Drake had predicted days ago, the clans were furious about Hiruzen's favoritism.
Orochimaru defected →
clan shinobi died in droves on the front lines.
But when Hiruzen's son died →
he mobilized nearly the entire ANBU…
and wiped them out.
Now, clan heads were questioning:
Are our dead clan members worth less than a single Sarutobi?
After Shikaku explained everything, Minato fully understood.
Still, he couldn't help recalling Drake's classic line:
"Does this have anything to do with me?"
Almost made Minato laugh.
Sensing Minato wished to avoid taking sides, Shikaku exchanged glances with the others.
Then—
They dropped a bombshell.
"Minato.
If we were to choose a new Hokage…
we would all choose you."
"…Me?"
Minato froze.
"Yes."
Shikaku nodded solemnly.
"Your strength, your character, your connections—all are suitable for Hokage."
"But there is a problem."
Shikaku's tone grew heavy.
"Your Squad Nine entered ANBU.
The two Wood-Release users are now serving under Hiruzen."
"If those two are 'tamed' by the Third Hokage…
it will be extremely difficult for you to ascend."
Minato's expression turned strange.
Hiruzen… "tame" Drake?
Anyone else, sure.
But Drake?
"…I hope the Third doesn't try something like that."
Minato sighed deeply.
"Otherwise…
this village really might be heading toward disaster."
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