Minato fell silent for a long moment before asking:
"Lord Third… are the Uchiha and the Hyūga truly that important?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a helpless smile.
"Minato, you're still young. Never underestimate great clans that have endured for thousands of years."
"In the Warring States era, these families survived centuries of warfare. They developed their own internal systems for cultivating shinobi. Their bloodlines are refined. Their training methods are inherited. They never lack strong fighters."
He paused, then spoke more seriously.
"Take the Uchiha Clan for example. Their bloodline is… special. The Sharingan awakens through intense emotional stimulation."
"Once it evolves to three tomoe, that's solid jōnin-level combat power. Often beyond ordinary jōnin."
"That's why the shinobi world has a saying—if you encounter an Uchiha one-on-one, run."
"And if you encounter them in formation? Even worse."
Hiruzen's gaze darkened slightly.
"Imagine facing a squad of chūnin-level Uchiha. Suppose you manage to kill one. The emotional shock alone could trigger the remaining three to awaken or advance their Sharingan on the spot."
"In an instant, you could be facing three newly forged jōnin—or worse."
"That's how they are."
He shook his head.
"In this war, the Uchiha lost nearly a hundred members."
"But their overall combat strength rose instead."
"Tell me—where is the fairness in that?"
Minato's eyes widened. He had always known the Uchiha were powerful—but not to that degree.
Hiruzen continued.
"They may seem arrogant in the village. But they have reason to be."
"Right now, if you combine every jōnin-level fighter in Konoha—including ANBU, Root, and all the clans—the total barely exceeds a thousand."
"The Uchiha alone account for nearly a hundred of them."
"That should tell you how significant they are."
Minato absorbed the numbers in silence.
"And as for the Hyuga Clan," Hiruzen went on, "their overall strength may not equal the Uchiha's, but their foundation is just as ancient. They are Konoha's undisputed second great noble house."
"They have dozens of jōnin. That means dozens of jōnin confidence votes."
Hiruzen exhaled.
"I've run the numbers."
"Danzo already controls over three hundred votes—Root, Orochimaru's backing, and several allied clans."
Danzo Shimura had not been idle.
"If the Hyūga support him, that number approaches four hundred."
"As for what I can currently secure for you… perhaps a little over four hundred."
He looked directly at Minato.
"That makes the Uchiha's nearly one hundred votes decisive."
If not for his falling out with Danzo and Orochimaru, those hundreds of votes would have remained under his influence.
He wouldn't need to court the Uchiha at all.
Politics was merciless like that.
Hiruzen's voice softened.
"Yes, your previous remarks offended them. But compared to what Danzo has done to the Uchiha over the years… your mistake is minor."
"They will never side with Danzo."
"Between you and him, the Uchiha are most likely to abstain."
"But your conflict with them is not irreparable."
"You agree that the village's laws require reform. You believe the Military Police's authority should not remain monopolized."
"Then go and talk."
"Offer them something in exchange for integrating the Police into broader village oversight."
"And in return, support their proposal to revise the outdated laws."
"That way, you gain their backing."
Hiruzen's political instincts were as sharp as ever.
If he could not stop the Uchiha from pursuing legal reform, then he would convert the reform into leverage—turning crisis into balance.
From the outside, he conceded ground.
In reality, he preserved influence—and secured Minato's path to the Fourth Hokage's seat.
"Understood," Minato said with a nod. "I'll arrange a meeting with Uchiha Jin."
"Good."
Hiruzen then added, almost casually:
"By the way… how strong is he?"
That question was not idle curiosity.
Hiruzen had seen enough of Jin's battlefield conduct to suspect he had already stepped into Kage-level territory.
But even among Kage, there were tiers.
Without firsthand knowledge, misjudgment could prove fatal.
Minato considered carefully.
"Several years ago, we sparred."
"His Fire Release techniques are extraordinary—beyond conventional fire-style ninjutsu."
"In direct combat, I wasn't his match."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"But with my Flying Thunder God Technique, he couldn't defeat me either."
Silence filled the room.
Hiruzen's pupils contracted.
That statement carried enormous weight.
Minato was effectively saying that in a straight fight, Jin was stronger—forcing him to rely on teleportation mobility just to avoid defeat.
That was no small claim.
Minato added calmly:
"However, that was years ago. At the time, my mastery of Flying Thunder God was incomplete."
"As for now… I can't say."
Hiruzen slowly exhaled.
"Find an opportunity to spar again."
"As a leader, you must understand the true combat strength of those beneath you."
"Misjudgment at that level is a fatal mistake."
Minato nodded.
"I understand."
Outside the Hokage Tower, the wind carried the faint scent of smoke.
Inside, the game of power was entering a new phase.
And the Uchiha—no longer silent—stood at its center.
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