Minato and Kushina's visit to the Hokage's office began with an extended speech on the Will of Fire that lasted over an hour. By the end of it, even Sarutobi Hiruzen looked slightly bewildered. Normally, he was the one delivering these long-winded speeches to inspire others, but hearing it from someone else was... overwhelming. He realized for the first time how exhausting it could be.
However, given the subject matter and the fact that the speakers were Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina—both highly regarded figures who rarely visited him without a serious reason—Hiruzen couldn't dismiss it.
"So, what brings you here today?" Sarutobi Hiruzen set his documents aside, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Lord Hokage, under your wise leadership, Konoha's strength has continued to grow," Minato began, his tone formal. "The village thrives, relationships among the clans are harmonious, and the bond among ninjas is strong..."
Kushina followed suit, seamlessly continuing Minato's praise. Her speech, backed by Reiki's prepared notes, was even more elaborate. The Hokage soon found himself half-listening, the words of adulation blending into the background.
"I want to be a protector of the Will of Fire, like all the Hokage before me, standing alongside the great Sandaime-sama!" Kushina concluded. Then she dropped the real news. "By the way, Lord Hokage, I have mastered the power of the Nine-Tails."
Hiruzen, caught off guard, almost didn't register her words at first. "Good, good... Wait, what did you just say?"
Kushina smiled calmly. "I can now fully control the Nine-Tails' chakra."
"Kurama!" she called, and in an instant, a massive surge of chakra radiated from her. The orange-red tailed beast's coat formed around her, showcasing her newfound control.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened with astonishment. He had known Kushina struggled to harness the Nine-Tails' power, and any attempt at tapping into it had always risked backlash. This inability had forced Konoha to exercise caution, especially when dealing with conflicts with other villages that boasted jinchūriki capable of deploying their tailed beasts as weapons.
But now, the sight of Kushina, perfectly stable and fully controlled, dispelled those concerns. "This... this is incredible!" he exclaimed, standing up abruptly.
"I've been training for a while, but it's only recently that Kurama and I reached mutual trust," Kushina explained.
Hiruzen's excitement only grew. He quickly rummaged through a drawer and pulled out two scrolls, handing them to Minato. "Here are two missions for you. Take Kushina and carry them out."
Minato's eyes flicked over the scrolls, surprise flashing across his face. "Assassination and pursuit missions? These are usually for ANBU units, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen nodded firmly. "Yes, but it's time for Konoha's jinchūriki to make an appearance. Let the other villages see our strength. I trust you both to handle this."
Understanding the implications, Minato nodded. "We'll prepare right away." Bowing, he and Kushina left the office.
As they walked away, Hiruzen smiled, feeling a renewed sense of hope. "Minato and Kushina... truly remarkable," he mused. Their speeches, layered with loyalty and the Will of Fire, had solidified Minato in his eyes as the best candidate for the next Hokage. With Kushina's newfound strength, any potential obstacles in Minato's path had significantly lessened.
Hiruzen summoned an ANBU member and handed them a scroll containing his updated plans. "Deliver this promptly."
Meanwhile, at Orochimaru's residence, Tsunade and Jiraiya were deep in conversation.
"What do you mean you're not interested in being Hokage anymore?" Tsunade, slightly tipsy, stared at Orochimaru in disbelief. "You were pushing for it not too long ago."
Orochimaru's expression was unreadable. "It's not that I don't want it, Tsunade. I simply realize it's beyond my reach now."
Jiraiya leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "Beyond your reach? Who else is in line for the position? Sakumo has withdrawn from consideration, and Fugaku's focus is on stabilizing the Uchiha after their leader's death. He won't make a move for Hokage."
Orochimaru's lips curved into a thin smile. "The person Hokage-sama is most interested in is your student, Namikaze Minato."
"Minato?" Both Jiraiya and Tsunade echoed, surprised.
Just then, an ANBU member appeared at the door, handing Jiraiya a scroll. He read it, and his expression shifted from surprise to a serious contemplation.
It seemed that Minato's path to becoming the Fourth Hokage had just been paved, and Konoha was on the brink of a new era.
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