Meanwhile, at Minato's home.
After the jōnin meeting at the Hokage Tower adjourned, Namikaze Minato returned straight home, planning to enjoy some long-overdue private time with the recently pacified Uzumaki Kushina.
Unfortunately, peace lasted less than ten minutes.
Before he could even pour a second cup of tea, representatives from various Konoha clans and departments began arriving—each bearing gifts.
The Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, came in person.
The Hyūga clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, arrived as well.
Even the families tied to the elders—Mito, Utatane, Shimura—sent delegates.
Within moments, Minato's modest home was packed.
And this was only the first wave.
For the foreseeable future, his doorway would not know silence.
After personally preparing tea for everyone, Minato offered an apologetic smile.
"My home is humble. I hope you'll forgive the simple hospitality."
Laughter rippled through the room.
"You're too modest, Minato. We came unannounced—it's we who intruded."
The mood lightened slightly.
Everyone present understood why they were here.
With Sarutobi Hiruzen publicly signaling his intent to step down—and openly positioning Minato—there was little suspense left. Barring disaster, the Fourth Hokage would be Minato.
The Sannin were effectively out of contention:
Tsunade had left the village.Jiraiya had no interest in the title.Orochimaru was elusive, uninterested—or at least unavailable.
From every practical angle, Minato was the obvious successor.
So naturally, everyone wanted to establish goodwill early.
The only problem?
They had all tried to be first—and crashed into each other in the process.
Minato set down his teacup and spoke with calm sincerity.
"I understand everyone's intentions. I'm grateful for your confidence."
"If I am entrusted with responsibility in the future, I will not disappoint."
He paused deliberately.
"We are all comrades of the same village. I will treat every clan and every villager equally."
"I will not favor or suppress anyone."
It was a perfectly balanced statement.
No promises of privilege.
No threats.
Just fairness.
And for most of those present—that alone was worth a great deal.
After all, a level playing field already favored established clans over civilians. Fairness was, in practice, advantage enough.
Praise followed immediately.
"Such breadth of mind!"
"Truly worthy of the Third's trust."
"Jiraiya is fortunate to have such a disciple!"
Minato smiled politely.
Then his expression changed.
"But…"
The single word caused the room to tighten.
"But what?" someone asked carefully.
Minato's blue eyes swept across the room.
"All of this rests on one condition."
"The village comes first."
"Everything must serve Konoha's interests."
"And no one—no clan—may harm fellow villagers for their own benefit."
The atmosphere subtly shifted.
This was no longer simple courtesy.
This was direction.
"And so," Minato continued evenly, "I must speak to Clan Head Fugaku and Clan Head Hiashi."
Silence fell.
Fugaku frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Please don't misunderstand," Minato replied. "I am not singling you out unfairly."
"But the recent unrest is known to all."
"We are comrades. It should never have escalated this far."
Fugaku's voice cooled. "Are you saying the Uchiha are at fault?"
"No," Minato said calmly. "I believe the tension between the Uchiha and the villagers has accumulated gradually through the Military Police's enforcement methods."
"You act according to law, yes."
"But law is not separate from human feeling."
"There are times when flexibility preserves harmony."
He met Fugaku's gaze.
"The Uchiha temperament… is ill-suited to exclusive control of the Military Police."
"I hope, in the future, the Police Force can undergo reform."
The meaning was unmistakable.
Relinquish control.
Hand over the Military Police.
The room went still.
Every clan representative immediately understood.
The idea wasn't entirely unreasonable—power concentration had long been a sensitive issue.
But the method?
Far too blunt.
Fugaku's expression darkened.
"You want the Uchiha to surrender the Military Police?"
Minato did not deny it.
That was answer enough.
Before tension could fully settle, Hiashi spoke.
"My Hyūga do not oversee external enforcement. On what grounds do you address us?"
Minato's tone remained steady.
"The issue with the Hyūga lies not outside—but within."
"The Main and Branch House system is outdated."
"Whether Main or Branch, all are Konoha shinobi."
"No one should hold absolute control over another's life."
The words landed like a thrown kunai.
Even those uninvolved stiffened.
This was not merely policy.
This was clan structure.
First Hokage? Silent.
Second Hokage? Silent.
Third Hokage? Silent.
And now—
A not-yet Hokage openly criticizing the Hyūga's internal hierarchy?
It was beyond bold.
It was reckless.
Hiashi's face hardened.
"This is Hyūga internal affairs. It is not your concern."
He rose immediately.
"I take my leave."
Fugaku stood as well—without a word.
The rest followed shortly after.
Their manners remained intact.
Their enthusiasm did not.
As they departed, each clan representative began quietly recalculating.
Minato had just antagonized the village's first and second most powerful clans—before even ascending the seat.
Was this idealism?
Naivety?
Or strategy?
None could be sure.
Inside the house, the door finally slid shut.
Silence returned.
Minato exhaled slowly.
The polite warmth vanished from his face, replaced by quiet relief.
"Acting really is exhausting…"
From the next room, Kushina's voice drifted out dryly:
"Next time you 'act,' try not to forget you have a fiancée waiting."
Minato froze.
The real trial had just begun.
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