Hiruzen Sarutobi nominated Minato Namikaze to become the Fourth Hokage.
Danzō countered by nominating Qianyu, whose reputation currently outshone Minato's.
Hiruzen shut him down with a single sentence.
Danzō could only stare, teeth grinding.
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire raised his fan, partially obscuring his face. "And the views of the others?"
Everyone except Danzō gave a slight, agreeing nod.
Danzō finally saw it clearly. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were on Hiruzen's side. The three of them had already coordinated, isolating him.
The Daimyō declared, "Then it is settled. Minato Namikaze shall be the Fourth Hokage."
…
Back in Konoha, Hiruzen summoned Minato for a private audience.
Hiruzen's expression was grave as he looked at the blond man kneeling on one knee before him. "I have always believed you to be the inheritor of the Will of Fire. I wish to entrust the future of Konoha, and indeed the shinobi world, to you. Will you accept?"
Minato responded with solemn intensity. "I will strive to be worthy of the Third's trust."
Hiruzen's voice was stern. "We had planned a proper inauguration ceremony under better circumstances. But the road ahead of you is still fraught…"
Minato's eyes shone with unwavering resolve. "I am prepared."
A smile finally touched Hiruzen's lips. "I believe you are. Now, prepare for the ceremony. Let me outline your immediate priorities."
Minato listened intently.
"First," Hiruzen began, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Upon taking office, you must placate the Uchiha clan. Due to Qianyu's targeting and our deliberate… oversight, their dissatisfaction has grown. As the new Hokage, you must address this immediately. Offer them praise. Verbal assurances. But promise them nothing concrete."
He leaned forward slightly. "Qianyu's actions against the Uchiha were authorized by myself and Danzō. That clan has become a tumor upon Konoha's body. Its removal is a necessity we can no longer postpone."
Minato's eyes flickered. He'd always suspected Qianyu's campaign wasn't purely personal. The retaliation on the battlefield had been blatant, yet the official reprimand from the elders was just that—a reprimand. No real consequences.
Hiruzen continued. "Once I step back, Danzō and I will continue handling the Uchiha matter. It is our duty to resolve this lingering threat. Your focus, Minato, must be on building your own administration. Your guard detail. Your foundation."
He tapped his pipe. "Then, once the Uchiha are dealt with, you must turn your attention to Root."
"Root?" Minato queried.
"The Foundation. It is an annex of the ANBU, operating deeper in the shadows. Its roots dig into the darkness. Its purpose is to eliminate, silently, any obstacle to the village's prosperity. It is a sharper, more direct blade than the ANBU. It handles the tasks a Hokage cannot be seen to perform. Their motto is simple: 'Execute first, question later.'"
Hiruzen's gaze was steady. "But Root has become an independent entity under Danzō's sole command. Even I cannot directly intervene. After the Uchiha, your next task is to reclaim control of Root. It must answer to the Hokage."
Minato nodded in understanding.
Hiruzen took another long drag. "Now, Danzō himself. The man is… extreme. Unyielding. But his loyalty to Konoha is genuine. His obsession, however, is the title of Hokage. He supported Orochimaru and now Qianyu precisely because he believes it grants him influence. He will test you. Challenge you. But do not worry. I will keep him in check. Govern Konoha with your own vision, at your own pace."
After a long pause, Hiruzen took a sip of tea. His next question seemed casual. "Minato. The animosity between you and Qianyu runs deep, does it not?"
Minato straightened. "You need not concern yourself, Lord Third. Our personal conflicts are insignificant compared to the village. I will manage it."
Hiruzen shook his head, his expression turning grave. "No. I say this as a warning. Be wary of Qianyu. He is like Orochimaru. Profoundly secretive. On the surface, he appears the model loyal shinobi. But I sense it—a facade. He wants us to believe in his loyalty, to lower our guard."
He set his cup down with a soft click. "He and Orochimaru are cut from the same cloth. Unpredictable. Extreme. You can utilize him. As a subordinate, he is peerlessly competent. A formidable weapon. But you must never trust him. If necessary… you must be prepared to neutralize him preemptively."
Hiruzen's voice dropped. "His power is immense. In him, I see shadows of Madara Uchiha himself. An uncontrolled Qianyu could devastate Konoha."
A slight shift. "However, with Kushina here, the risk of him going completely rogue is mitigated. Therefore, you must be exceedingly careful with how you handle her. She is the key—the linchpin that maintains his surface-level loyalty to the Leaf."
Minato felt a jolt of surprise. He hadn't realized Hiruzen viewed Qianyu with such profound suspicion.
But then, it made sense. The Blood-Eyed Asura. The man who had carved a chunk out of Kirigakure and slain the Third Mizukage. Qianyu's battle record was, frankly, terrifying. It made Minato's own achievements seem modest by comparison.
"I understand, Lord Third," Minato said, bowing his head. "I will remember your counsel."
Hiruzen nodded, his demeanor softening. "Good. Now go. Preparing for the hat cannot be rushed. I will assist you where I can."
Minato placed a fist over his heart. "Thank you for your trust. I will burn every last drop of my blood for Konoha."
Hiruzen's smile was warm, grandfatherly. "I know you will. Now, go."
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