Naruto : Minato back to the past

Seeing the flicker of emotion in Minato's eyes, the Third Hokage let out a small chuckle.

As he observed the young man before him, he felt an immense sense of relief. It reassured him that the decision he had made over a decade ago—to entrust Minato to Jiraiya—had been the right one.

Even without his intervention, Minato's extraordinary talent would have propelled him to greatness. He would have undoubtedly distinguished himself through the rigorous ninja trials and the battles of war. But under Jiraiya's guidance, he had flourished beyond anyone's expectations.

At the astonishing age of eleven, Minato had developed an S-rank jutsu, something unheard of for a child of his age.

Jiraiya had once told the Third Hokage, "Minato is the most gifted shinobi in history."

Hiruzen had wholeheartedly agreed.

Time and again, Minato had surpassed expectations, proving himself in ways no one had foreseen. The Third Hokage had nurtured him with great care. And when Minato was still a teenager, he had personally assigned him an important mission commissioned by Fujiwara Takuji, the vice president of the Fire Country's Chamber of Commerce. That mission had paved the way for Minato's political standing.

Talent alone wasn't enough to become Hokage—one also needed connections and political backing. The Third Hokage had foreseen this, ensuring that Minato wasn't just a formidable ninja but also a leader with influence.

At the time, however, Hiruzen had only considered him one of several possible successors. Among his students, there had been another genius, a prodigy who had once been the brightest among them all.

But Minato had outshone even him.

After the Third Great Ninja War, Minato's reputation had eclipsed that of even Hiruzen himself.

His strength, fame, and prestige were unparalleled.

In today's Konoha, there was no one else who could rival him for the position of Hokage.

Hiruzen's expression turned solemn as he looked Minato in the eye.

"So, are you willing to take on the title of Hokage?" he asked, his voice steady. "To inherit the will of our predecessors and protect the Hidden Leaf Village?"

Minato took a deep breath, calming his emotions. Then, with unwavering resolve, he answered:

"Of course. I will give everything—even my life—for Konoha."

"Good. Very good!"

Hearing Minato's firm answer, the Third Hokage's hands trembled slightly with emotion.

He turned his gaze upward, looking at the two framed portraits hanging from the ceiling—one of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the other of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

"Lord First… Lord Second…" he murmured. "I have finally lived up to your expectations."

"I have found a successor—one stronger than me, both in power and in will!"

Hiruzen had taken on the mantle of Hokage when the Second Hokage had sacrificed himself to protect them during the First Great Ninja War. Since then, he had dedicated decades of his life to Konoha, working tirelessly to shape the village into the powerhouse it had become.

Through his leadership, Konoha had produced some of the greatest shinobi of their era—the Three Sannin, the White Fang, Uchiha Yoruki, Senju Nawaki… and, of course, Minato.

Though his achievements could not compare to those of the First Hokage, who had built Konoha from the ground up during a time of constant war, Hiruzen knew in his heart that he had honored the title of Hokage.

He collected his thoughts and turned back to Minato.

"Tomorrow," he said, "I will summon the village's elite Jonin to formally discuss your nomination as Hokage."

Although he was the current Hokage, he alone could not appoint a successor. The elite Jonin of Konoha had to approve the decision, and then the Fire Daimyo and the politicians of the Fire Nation would make the final confirmation.

But considering Minato's overwhelming strength, his military achievements, and the respect he commanded, there was no doubt that the nomination would pass.

"Yes, sir!" Minato responded firmly.

Then, bowing deeply, he added with heartfelt sincerity, "Hokage-sama, thank you for your dedication and hard work over the years!"

This was not a simple formality—it was a genuine expression of gratitude from the depths of Minato's heart.

"Haha… It has been a hard journey," Hiruzen admitted, laughing lightly. "Little one, I hope you're prepared for the burden that comes with this title."

Minato smiled. "I am."

The two men shared a knowing look before parting ways.

As Minato stepped out of the Hokage's office, he activated his sensory abilities, pinpointing Kakashi's location within moments.

With a mere thought, he disappeared from the doorway in a yellow flash—and reappeared at Training Ground Seven.

There, he found Kakashi relentlessly practicing his taijutsu.

But something was off.

His movements were sluggish, his stance unsteady. He was forcing himself through sheer willpower, despite his body's clear exhaustion.

"Stop," Minato called out, his voice firm. "You're only destroying your body at this rate."

Kakashi's movements came to an abrupt halt at the familiar voice.

"Minato-sensei…"

He turned to face his teacher, his lifeless, haunted eyes reflecting the torment within.

Minato sighed. "Even if you punish yourself like this, do you really think it would make Rin happy?"

At the mention of her name, Kakashi visibly flinched. His lips trembled, his hands clenching into fists.

"Rin…"

"I know you feel responsible for what happened," Minato continued. "But there are things you need to know. You weren't the only one caught in this web… We were all manipulated."

Kakashi's breath hitched. "What…?"

Minato took a step closer, his expression serious.

"I still don't have all the answers, but I can tell you this: What happened that day was not a coincidence. Someone orchestrated everything, from beginning to end."

He proceeded to explain his theories—the deliberate placement of his Flying Thunder God kunai, the strange actions of the Kirigakure forces, and the timing of everything leading up to Rin's death.

By the time he finished, Kakashi was shaking. His breathing had become ragged.

"You're telling me… someone led you there on purpose?" he asked in disbelief. "That—That can't be possible!"

Minato's gaze didn't waver. "It is. And now, I need to know—how exactly did you and Rin escape Kirigakure's custody?"

Kakashi's response was immediate.

"A Kirigakure ANBU named Mei Terumi helped us escape."

Minato's eyes widened slightly at the name, then he chuckled.

"Mei Terumi, huh? So she's already joined the ANBU…"

Kakashi blinked. "You… know her?"

Minato nodded. "Years ago, I encountered her in Kirigakure. If my memory is correct, she should be around fourteen now. To have already joined the ANBU at that age… She must be quite gifted."

Kakashi hesitated, then asked, "So… she wasn't lying to us?"

Minato's expression darkened.

No—Mei Terumi wasn't the problem. The real issue was why she had been watching over Kakashi and Rin in the first place.

Then, a chilling realization struck him.

"If Mei Terumi was the one assigned to guard you two… then it means that person in the shadows planned for her to be there."

Kakashi's eyes widened. "What…?"

His mind reeled, and then, everything clicked.

"You mean—letting Mei Terumi guard Rin and me was part of someone's plan?"

Minato nodded gravely.

"Yes. We were all being manipulated from the very beginning."

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