"Black Zetsu, what are you thinking about?" Obito asked when he saw Black Zetsu standing still, lost in thought.
Black Zetsu snapped out of his thoughts and replied, "I was considering how to deal with Konoha. Kushina and Minato are too powerful. Capturing the Nine-Tails seems impossible."
"So, have you come up with any plans?" Obito inquired.
Black Zetsu shook his head. "I haven't thought of anything effective yet, but maybe Byakuya has some ideas. We should share this information with him first."
At the mention of Byakuya, Obito's expression changed sharply. He told Black Zetsu, "I don't need his help. I can weaken Konoha on my own, and it will only take a year at most."
Black Zetsu glanced at Obito and shook his head again. "Even though you've inherited Madara's abilities, the Nine-Tails isn't just any Tailed Beast. For the sake of caution, it's better to inform Byakuya."
"I said, I don't need him!" Obito's tone grew colder.
---
A few days later.
Time passed quickly, and it was soon time for the high-level meeting. As the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze hosted the meeting with Konoha's high-ranking officials, including Danzo, the leader of Root, Orochimaru, the Hokage Advisor Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, and the semi-retired Third Hokage.
Although the Third Hokage had officially retired and become a member of the Elder Council, he still played a leading role in the high-level meetings.
While Minato had a deep respect for the Third Hokage, he felt some dissatisfaction. After all, he was the current Hokage, while the Third Hokage was a former one.
Considering the lack of capable officials under his command, Minato had to endure this situation for now. Whenever he proposed a question and solution, he always sought the Third Hokage's opinion.
This was unavoidable. Despite being chosen as the Fourth Hokage due to his merits and popularity, Minato's influence and power were still far less than that of the Third Hokage, who had served for decades.
The era of the Fourth Hokage had not yet begun; it was still the era of the Third Hokage. Minato felt that becoming a true Hokage would take at least another three to five years. On the positive side, he was still very young, under thirty.
With that thought in mind, Minato took out his agenda and looked toward the Third Hokage.
"Third Hokage, I plan to establish a guard unit to ensure Kushina's safety."
"Third Hokage, we've received a diplomatic envoy from Iwagakure. Should we request land from them, or just seek war reparations?"
"Third Hokage, the forces from Kirigakure have withdrawn from the Fire Country's borders."
"Third Hokage, the emissaries from Amegakure hope to trade with us at the border and learn from Konoha's advanced techniques."
Minato's requests for opinions pleased the Third Hokage, who felt that he had made the right choice in appointing Minato as the Fourth Hokage.
Minato Namikaze, as the Fourth Hokage chosen by the Third Hokage, demonstrated unwavering loyalty. He was focused on seeking the Third Hokage's counsel, regardless of how the Fourth Hokage managed matters. This scenario was also observed by other high-ranking members of Konoha.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, while not aspiring to the position of Hokage themselves, were steadfast in their roles as advisors. They, along with the Third Hokage, stood as pillars of support for the current Hokage.
In contrast, Orochimaru and Danzo showed clear dissatisfaction. Orochimaru could not tolerate the Third Hokage's controlling nature and began to suspect that there might have been foul play in the Hokage election. Danzo's discontent was more straightforward; he harbored resentment that he was not the Hokage. If Orochimaru had succeeded, Danzo felt he should have been the one to gain power, but his dark methods were no match for the Third Hokage's influence.
Noticing the dissatisfaction in Orochimaru and Danzo's expressions, the Third Hokage remarked with a smile, "Minato, it's good to consult with us elders. However, now that you are Hokage, you can make decisions as long as they align with the village's interests."
Minato shook his head gently. "No… I am still too young and need to heed the wisdom of the Third Hokage. Otherwise, I might end up causing more harm than good despite my good intentions."
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
The high-level meeting ended on a harmonious note, though no concrete resolutions were reached. After the meeting, Minato took the Third Hokage's instructions and returned to his office.
He set aside the Third Hokage's comments and did not immediately tackle the work at hand. Instead, he gazed out of the window at Konoha, lost in thought.
At twenty-four years old, Minato had risen to become the highest leader of Konoha through his achievements and strength, but his journey as Hokage had only just begun.
In the month since he became Hokage, he had visited high-ranking officials and clan leaders, quickly learning the intricacies of political maneuvering. The power struggles among the high-ranking officials were not only about forming alliances and building strength but also about standing on moral high ground, using the village and its greater good to suppress rivals.
Frankly, this was different from his initial expectations of what it meant to be Hokage. He had envisioned the Hokage as a figure of unwavering integrity, dedicated to protecting the village with their life, and one who could not tolerate any form of dishonesty. Yet, the reality was starkly different.
While the public image of the Third Hokage was pristine and untarnished, Minato, having become Hokage, realized that the Third Hokage might have deliberately allowed Danzo to develop Root. There was an unsettling amount of darkness hidden within the village's Anbu and Root.
Minato's idealistic vision of Hokage clashes with the darker realities of political power and the complex web of loyalty, deceit, and ambition within Konoha. This realization was shaping his understanding of his new role and the challenges he would face in truly becoming the Hokage he aspired to be.
Minato Namikaze felt the weight of his responsibilities as Hokage, realizing that much of the intrigue and plotting were not just aimed at enemies but also at allies within the village. This understanding was wearing him down and made him reflect on why Tsunade had left Konoha and why Jiraiya had been reluctant to take up the mantle of Hokage. Jiraiya, in particular, had seen the darker side of the village and chose to distance himself from it.
Despite these realizations, Minato remained optimistic and confident in his ability to transform Konoha. He believed that with time, he could bring about a significant change.
Pulling himself back from his wandering thoughts, Minato began to organize his work:
Establishment of the Escort Unit: He knew it was crucial to set up an escort team for Kushina. He planned to deploy two Anbu squads to provide round-the-clock protection for her, ensuring her safety.
Negotiations with Iwagakure: Minato aimed to secure a substantial compensation from Iwagakure in their peace talks. If negotiations did not yield favorable results, he was prepared to leverage his Flying Thunder God Technique to demonstrate Konoha's might directly in Iwagakure.
Treaty with Kirigakure: He realized the importance of swiftly concluding an agreement with Kirigakure to prevent any potential shifting of their internal conflicts onto Konoha. Speedy resolution was essential to maintaining stability.
And lastly, Engagement with Amegakure: Regarding the emissaries from Amegakure who sought to establish trade and exchange knowledge, Minato decided to agree to their request. He had heard that Amegakure had recently made significant progress in reforming its internal issues. Gaining insights from Yahiko's leadership and Amegakure's reforms could be beneficial for his own plans to reform Konoha.