An Elder in the House

"Hah, are you getting anxious now?"

Minato squinted at Setsuna, spinning the Flying Thunder God kunai around his finger.

These two were initially just exchanging playful banter.

But after Minato argued that the Flying Thunder God technique was no weaker than the Mangekyō Sharingan, Setsuna's expression darkened, and he began to show signs of frustration.

[This blond brat... hinting at Izuna, huh? You wicked Flying Thunder God user, watch me take you down myself]

Fuma cleared his throat heavily, extending a large hand to grab Minato, covering his mouth and forcibly putting an end to the argument.

"Minato, does Kushina know about all this?"

Fuma quickly shifted the topic.

Minato's actions and blunt statements today revealed his firm stance. Fuma had already expected Minato to take his side but was still touched by Minato's thorough planning.

They had known each other for ten years, having met when Minato was five and Fuma was fifteen.

Back when Fuma first entered the ninja world, he pushed himself to the extreme, undergoing inhuman training and enduring endless battles in the ANBU to gain power and protect himself.

This high-pressure, intense atmosphere made Fuma's mental state unstable, with subtle signs of darkness creeping in.

However, meeting Minato, a bright "little sun," gave Fuma a long-lost sense of ease and warmth, planting the first seeds of belonging in this world.

In Minato's eyes, Fuma was more like an older brother, or even a father figure. As an orphan, Minato found joy and fulfillment growing up under Fuma's care.

Fuma not only provided Minato with abundant material resources and jutsu but also instilled his own ideology in him, which gradually shaped Minato's character and thinking.

Hearing Fuma's question, Minato snorted and said confidently, "Fuma-bro, whatever I decide to do, Kushina will unconditionally support me."

Fuma raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Minato's confident response.

[.....This kid, not only does he have the venomous tongue of Tobirama, but also the same manipulative prowess. Not bad, not bad at all]

Minato's statement held a lot of weight. Although Kushina was Minato's lover, she had once lived with Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, and had regular interactions with the Third Hokage. In theory, she should have deep feelings for Konoha.

Fuma had assumed this would be a significant challenge for Minato, much like his own dilemma with Tsunade.

But to his surprise, Minato seemed to have easily resolved the issue.

"Did you talk to Kushina about Uzushiogakure and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" Fuma pondered for a moment and realized the core of the matter.

Minato nodded and, with a touch of mockery in his tone, said:

"Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, the young princess of the Uzumaki clan, a woman with immense power and influence, yet she couldn't even protect her own country."

"Fuma-bro, you've always told me one thing since I was a child, and I've remembered it well: don't judge a person by what they say, but by what they do."

"Kushina, to Konoha, is merely a vessel for the Nine-Tails' power. Or rather, that has always been the role of the Uzumaki clan."

"The tragedy of Uzushiogakure's destruction may be difficult to fully uncover. But the one thing that's clear is the failure and inaction of Mito and Konoha."

"With relatives and a village like that... I don't think Kushina should be relying on them anymore."

Fuma watched Minato with interest. After ten years of knowing him, it had taken a long time to instill these changes in his mindset.

Could Kushina really have been swayed this much by Minato?

"I have to ask, Minato, are you sure Kushina isn't just stringing you along? If she falters at a critical moment, that could be a major problem."

Minato waved his finger and calmly said, "Fuma-bro you once told me that while a kunoichi's heart may be as vast as the ocean or the sky, it can easily be filled with enough yang chakra."

[AN: Yang chakra here is used as an adult slang]

Setsuna's eyes widened in surprise, filled with curiosity. This philosophical statement was something even he hadn't heard before.

Fuma covered his face, shaking his head in resignation.

"Minato, though I'm your sensei, I only taught you some ninjutsu. If there's something wrong with your thinking, you can't pin it on me."

Fuma spoke helplessly, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.

[Did I accidentally raise "Uzumaki Naruto" into "Namikaze Menma"?]

Hearing Minato's response, Setsuna couldn't help but laugh, picking up where the conversation had left off.

"Blondie, you've been going on and on, but you still haven't addressed the real issue."

Setsuna raised an eyebrow, giving Minato a mischievous look as he mockingly asked:

"With that skinny frame of yours, can you really handle a girl from the Uzumaki clan? You're not just all talk, are you?"

Minato glared back, unphased, and replied dramatically:

"My Yang chakra rivals even the Nine-Tails! Kushina-chan has long since submitted to the overwhelming force of my chakra!" [AN: You get what I am trying to say..right?]

Fuma sighed. It seemed Minato was completely letting loose today.

[Still, Minato's progress is way faster than mine was. When I was fifteen, I was still training by punching iron stakes. This kid... how annoying!]

Setsuna chuckled softly, feeling relaxed. He enjoyed the lively atmosphere of their banter.

For the past few days, the public uproar caused by Danzo's schemes had left Setsuna feeling uneasy.

But now, there was a solution—one that could bring new life to the Uchiha!

Patting the map on the wall, Setsuna spoke seriously.

"Fuma, your capabilities are more than enough to lead the Uchiha. It's time for you to take over as clan leader from this old man."

"However, I have one more suggestion for this plan."

A glimmer of excitement flashed in Setsuna's eyes, "Once Orochimaru gathers his forces, he can pose as Kirigakure's soldiers and harass the Fire Country's borders."

"Danzo's Root is responsible for dealing with border issues, which gives us the perfect opportunity to eliminate those filthy rats and cut off Danzo's claws."

"When Root fails its mission, the Third Hokage will have no choice but to turn to the Uchiha for help."

"At that point, we'll have the legitimate authority to mobilize our forces. This will allow us to gradually relocate our clan members and support Orochimaru's growth in Kirigakure."

"Furthermore, this will break the police force's stranglehold on the Uchiha and give us leverage to negotiate with the Third Hokage for more power in Konoha."

"We might even ignite a ninja war and support Tsunade's rise to power, creating a situation where both Konoha and Kirigakure are under the control of the Uchiha!"

Fuma was taken aback by the proposal. It actually seemed feasible.

He nodded slowly, internally marveling,

[An elder in the house truly is a treasure]

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