Sarutobi Household.
"Minato, your chess skills have regressed," Hiruzen remarked.
Minato looked at the remaining pieces on the board and smiled bitterly. "I was never that good at chess to begin with."
Hiruzen chuckled as he looked at him. "Is something troubling you?"
"Mm..."
Minato simply responded calmly.
Hiruzen's eyes flickered.
If something was troubling Minato, it was likely beyond his ability to help.
"Tell me about it."
"I want to marry Kushina."
Hiruzen pondered for a moment and immediately understood.
Given Kushina's special status, it was likely that Orochimaru hadn't given his approval.
This matter could be either trivial or significant.
Orochimaru clinging to it was likely a way of expressing dissatisfaction with Minato.
They had once been rivals.
But was this just a simple act of making things difficult, or did Orochimaru intend to go all out against Minato?
Hiruzen fell silent, his eyes fixed on the chess pieces on the board.
"Have you spoken to him?"
Realizing he had asked a pointless question, Hiruzen sighed silently.
"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.
"..."
There wasn't much he could do.
The village was no longer under his control; all the power now rested with Orochimaru.
Minato raised his head and glanced at the elderly man before him.
This was once the Third Hokage—how had he ended up in such a state?
It was as if he had become invisible in the village, with no news about him at all.
If Minato hadn't taken the initiative to visit, he wouldn't have seen the man at all.
His offer to help was merely out of guilt toward Minato.
Disappointment flickered in Minato's eyes as he slowly shook his head.
"No need."
Relying on oneself is better than seeking help from others.
Minato now fully understood—this was something no one could help him with.
He had to handle it on his own.
.........
Kakashi lay alone on the bed, staring blankly at the Anbu uniform hanging on the opposite wall.
The "atonement through merit" that Orochimaru spoke of meant continuing to relay information to Shikaku and the others.
However, the information to be relayed was dictated by Orochimaru, essentially using Kakashi to mislead them.
Kakashi couldn't understand why Orochimaru, knowing about their plot to rebel, hadn't acted yet and instead chose to keep them around.
Was it because the matter involved Minato-sensei , and he needed a legitimate reason to make a move?
With all their plans exposed to the enemy, was there still any chance of victory?
He glanced at the White Fang short blade on the table.
Father, what should I do...?
"Kakashi!"
A sudden voice rang out from outside the window, followed by the appearance of a face.
Kakashi didn't need to guess who it was.
Other than Guy, only Obito would do something like this.
Guy was currently spending all his time training with Hakumen and hadn't visited in a while.
"Yo, Kakashi! So you are home after all," Obito said from outside.
"Come out and spar with me! I've learned a new ultimate move!"
Already irritated, Kakashi grew even more annoyed by Obito's loud voice outside the window.
He directly shut the window.
Bang bang bang!
Obito kept knocking on the window relentlessly.
Unable to take it anymore, Kakashi finally opened the door for him.
The moment Obito entered, he couldn't help but say, "Kakashi, you're too lazy! On such a nice day, you're lying at home sleeping!"
Kakashi paid no attention and sat back down on the bed by himself.
Obito spoke again, "Kakashi, come spar with me. This time, I'll definitely win!"
Kakashi glanced at him. "A loser like you beating me? You're a hundred years too early!"
He had heard this countless times, whether from Obito, Guy, or even Hakumen, who had conveyed a similar sentiment.
But without exception, all three had always ended up as his defeated opponents.
Obito insisted, "This time is different! I've learned a new move!"
Kakashi responded indifferently, "No matter how powerful a technique is, it depends on who uses it. Even if you're given the best jutsu, you'd still be a loser."
He had already experienced Obito's Wood Release.
Perhaps because the user was Obito, Kakashi hadn't felt the power that should belong to the so-called God of Shinobi's technique.
It was only slightly troublesome upon the first encounter.
Other than its unique attack style, it wasn't much of a threat.
Obito was furious. "You bastard! Stop being so annoying—are we fighting or not?"
Kakashi: "No."
Obito was frustrated but had no way to force it.
He couldn't just throw reason out the window and attack Kakashi outright.
He pulled over a nearby chair, sat down, and stared at Kakashi.
"Obito," Kakashi suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"What do you think... should Minato-sensei be Hokage?"
"Huh?" Obito was stunned, surprised that Kakashi would suddenly ask him such a question.
He scratched his head. "What do you mean?"
Kakashi asked again, "What do you think of the current Hokage?"
Obito thought for a moment. "Pretty good, actually."
After all, it was Orochimaru who had brought him back, healed his arm, and taught him the secrets of Wood Release.
Obito had a deep sense of respect and gratitude toward Orochimaru.
Moreover, Orochimaru had led the village to victory in battle.
What was there to complain about in a Hokage like that?
Kakashi continued, "If Minato-sensei had become the Fourth Hokage back then, would he have been better than the current Hokage?"
Obito found himself in a dilemma.
How could he compare the two?
One was his teacher, and the other was his benefactor.
After thinking for a long while, he blurted out, "If I became Hokage, I'd definitely be better than all the previous ones!"
Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes, feeling that asking Obito such a question was a complete waste of time.
Obito then asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"…Nothing."
As evening fell, Kakashi, feeling uneasy, decided to seek out Minato.
"Kakashi, what's the matter this late?"
"…I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
Minato looked thoughtfully at Kakashi standing at the door.
Ever since his student had joined the Anbu, their meetings had become rare.
The last time they met was during a gathering that Rin had arranged.
"Come in," Minato invited Kakashi into the living room and poured him a glass of water.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Kakashi sat on the sofa, gently rubbing the water glass in his hands.
After a pause, he slowly said, "I heard about you and Kushina-nee."
Minato was momentarily stunned, then smiled nonchalantly. "Oh? Who told you that?"
"Mr. Shikaku."
"..."
Minato pondered for a moment. "What else did he tell you?"
Kakashi then revealed Shikaku's request for Minato to become Hokage and the spying matter involving both factions.
Minato let out a long sigh. "Shikaku..."
So Shikaku intended to push him to the edge.
Minato said, "Kakashi, this isn't something you should get involved in."
Kakashi lowered his head. "So... is what Mr. Shikaku said true?"
"Do you really intend... to replace the Hokage?"
Silence.
Minato didn't immediately answer his question.
If Kakashi had asked this before today, he would have firmly and righteously denied it.
Even now, the idea of relying on underhanded means to achieve something was deeply repulsive to him.
But now, it seemed that disgrace was still better than loss.
Minato felt lost, as if he had strayed onto the wrong path, moving against the current, caught in a dilemma with no easy way forward.
"Kakashi... what kind of person do you think I should be?"
If Minato were to say that he didn't want to do any of this and that everything was Shikaku's unilateral decision and presumption,
that might be the best outcome for Kakashi — it would mean there was still room for reconciliation between his teacher and the Hokage, and no further conflict might arise.
Kakashi had thought of it that way.
But what if he considered it from Minato-sensei perspective?
What about Kushina-nee...?
Recalling what Orochimaru had said to him this morning at the research lab—
It wasn't that Minato-sensei wanted to compete; it was Shikaku who wanted him to!
And it was Orochimaru who was forcing him to compete!
Kakashi's throat tightened. "I think... you're more suited to be Hokage than the current Fourth."
"..."
Minato suddenly let out a soft laugh. "Kakashi, thank you for your support."
Kakashi asked, "Minato-sensei, you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
Minato replied, "Many times, the path isn't one you can choose for yourself."
Kakashi fell silent for a long time before speaking again, "But Minato-sensei... we've been exposed."
He felt as though he was treading a perilous path.
He didn't know whether what he was about to say would end up being known by Orochimaru.
But if he didn't say it, wouldn't Minato-sensei remain in the dark forever?
Minato frowned and looked at Kakashi.
"...What do you mean?"
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