"Your idea is good and highly implementable."
"With Konoha's current solidified, wealthy system, there is no better method than yours to bring change without bloodshed or civil war."
Minato felt a surge of excitement and happiness at Wakato's approval.
There is nothing more exhilarating than having someone validate your ideas and plans.
But Wakato soon began to douse his excitement with cold, hard truth.
"But you've overlooked two critical issues."
"Sir, please enlighten me."
"First: Your life is fleeting.
You should have died last night.
If that had happened, all the reforms and concepts you spearheaded would have collapsed.
More than a decade later, Konoha's ninja school will still fail to teach any advanced Ninjutsu.
All secret techniques and high-level Ninjutsu will remain tightly controlled by the individual ninja clans, passed down only within families."
"This..."
Minato was stunned again. Wakato's words were so blunt!
Yet, he knew Wakato was right.
Without Wakato and Hashirama's intervention, he would have perished alongside Kushina last night.
And with him gone, his reforms would have died a natural death.
However, Minato quickly regained his excitement. If he was alive now, then there was still a chance! The future wasn't lost yet!
"Thank you once again, sir, for saving my life!"
"But as long as I live, this path..."
Wakato interrupted:
"Second, even if you remain alive, you lack the time and resources to wait for the day when peace revitalizes Konoha."
"Why?"
"Because Uchiha Madara is still alive!"
Minato: !!!∑(゚Д゚ノ)ノ
Kushina: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"How... how is that possible? Sir, didn't you say the masked man is Obito?"
"The masked man is Obito, but Uchiha Madara is also alive. Is there a contradiction?"
"This... but didn't Madara die decades ago?"
"Can't a person fake their own death to escape?"
"Uh..."
Minato shook his head, struggling to believe.
"Why do you think Obito's strength increased so drastically? Why did his personality undergo such a dramatic shift? How did he learn about Jinchūriki's weakness during childbirth? And how did he master the Eight Sign Seal?"
"Could he have done all of this on his own?"
"Unless..."
"Unless there was someone behind him, guiding him, manipulating him, and using him!"
Minato suddenly realized. It all made sense now.
No wonder Obito had changed so much. If the legendary Uchiha Madara was behind it all, then everything was plausible!
This also explained why Minato had initially mistaken Obito for Madara.
"But even if Uchiha Madara is alive, how does that interfere with my reform plans?"
"Because he has been plotting to gather all the tailed beasts and destroy the entire ninja world!"
"From Lin carrying a tailed beast to attack Konoha and being forced to die at Kakashi's hands, all of it was orchestrated by him."
Minato was once again shocked, almost to the point of numbness.
"Lin... was also a victim of his schemes?"
"One more thing: Madara has obtained the Reincarnation Eye and possesses power comparable to that of a god. With his unrelenting pursuit of his goals, how long do you think the ninja world—or Konoha—can enjoy peace?"
"How much time do you think you have for slow reforms and steady development?"
Wakato's revelations struck Minato like thunderbolts.
Of course, Wakato didn't disclose that the Madara of this world was already in decline.
A sense of crisis was needed to push Minato to work harder.
But even if Madara were no longer a threat, dangers like Obito, Nagato, Black Zetsu, and Akatsuki still loomed large.
Konoha wasn't destined to enjoy peace for long...
Moreover, to Minato, Black Zetsu was an abstract, distant threat. Revealing his existence wouldn't create a sense of urgency or reality.
But invoking the name of Uchiha Madara? That carried weight. The threat became immediate and tangible.
Minato couldn't afford to take it lightly.
...
Wakato's prediction was accurate. After hearing this barrage of heavy truths, Minato felt an unprecedented sense of oppression and urgency.
He had seen Senju Hashirama's incredible power with his own eyes last night. Hashirama had handled the Nine Tails as if it were nothing more than a toy.
If Uchiha Madara, Hashirama's equal, was indeed alive—and armed with the Reincarnation Eye—his power would be just as terrifying!
How could Konoha rise peacefully under such a looming threat?
Minato realized that his original plans were worthless in the face of such overwhelming danger.
"Sir, is everything you said true?"
"Do I need to lie to you? Verify it yourself if you doubt me."
Hearing this, Minato's belief solidified.
His heart grew heavy, his expression more serious than when he had faced the Nine Tails the previous night.
"Kushina, don't worry. No matter what happens, Naruto and I will always stand by you!"
Kushina, seeing Minato's anxiety and concern, gently held his face and reassured him.
"And I will always stay with you!"
Minato closed his eyes, silently making a firm decision.
No matter what, he would not allow the enemy to harm his wife, his child, or his village.
If everything Wakato said was true—if an invincible Uchiha Madara was truly in the shadows—then Minato knew he had to discard his previous plans and devise new strategies.
This was his responsibility as Hokage, as a husband, and as a father.
...
"Sir, do you think I can defeat Uchiha Madara?"
The best source of answers was right in front of him, and Minato couldn't waste the opportunity.
Repaying Wakato's life-saving grace could wait. After all, how could such a debt ever truly be repaid?
"Fourth Hokage, do you believe you can defeat Senju Hashirama?"
Minato fell silent.
There was no point in dwelling on this.
If he couldn't win, he couldn't win. There was no shame in that.
The only option was to continue improving himself, researching new Ninjutsu, and growing stronger.
The future belonged to those who could innovate.
"Then, what should I do next?"
"I only provide suggestions, not directives. What path to choose and how to proceed is up to you."
"Thank you, sir."
"My suggestion: dismantle the corrupt elements like Danzo as soon as possible and unite the village's power swiftly."
"At the very least, tragedies like last night's tailed beast attack won't happen again when other villages or enemies strike."
Minato nodded. If such unity could be achieved, it would undoubtedly be ideal.
Why was Yunyin Village considered to have the strongest overall combat power?
Because its Raikage wielded authority effectively, and the people stood united.
If Konoha could achieve similar unity, no other hidden village could challenge it.
"Sir, do you have any peaceful strategies?"
"If possible, I truly wish to avoid bloodshed while removing those individuals from power..."
Minato frowned deeply. He couldn't think of a way to peacefully seize power from someone like Danzo.
Given their personalities, taking their power was more difficult than taking their lives.
Avoiding conflict seemed impossible.
Minato looked to Wakato for guidance, hoping for a better plan.
"It's not too hard to bring down the so-called Konoha F4. All it takes is a bit of strategy and some clever tactics."
"Of course, there's no such thing as zero casualties. But we can aim to minimize them."
"This can be achieved in three main steps."
"Step one: divide and conquer."
Understand this: not all the wealthy ninja clans in Konoha have thrived over the years.
Do you think the Uchiha clan doesn't dream of rising to power?
Do you think the Hyuga clan doesn't want the same?
Of course, they do! They dream about it every single day!
Especially the Uchiha. If they don't act, their very existence could be at risk!
By forming alliances with these two powerful clans—and combining their strength with Minato's—you could easily tip the balance of power against Sarutobi's faction.
And that's not all. There are other factions and forces that can be swayed.
But remember, winning over these clans doesn't mean immediately launching a civil war.
The goal is to overthrow the Konoha F4 peacefully, transferring power with minimal loss and disruption to Konoha."
...