Chapter 97: The Fourth Hokage

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Minato was at a loss for words.

When did Shiranui Genma start telling such dark jokes?

But Minato couldn't help reflecting on his own fate. When he died, it was only Obito who had been there.

Obito, who had once forgiven him. Now, hearing that only Orochimaru had come when the Third Hokage passed... Minato couldn't shake a chilling thought. 'Is it the fate of Konoha's Hokage to be betrayed by their own students?'

A shiver ran down his spine. If that were true, he needed to warn the Hokage as soon as possible.

In an instant, Minato arrived at the Hokage Building, his Flying Thunder God mark still intact after all these years. He walked through the familiar halls, memories flooding back.

Minato pushed open the door to the Hokage's office. His photo still hung on the wall, a reminder of the legacy he'd left behind.

'The Fourth Hokage...'

A wave of loneliness washed over him. Tsunade, who was busy with paperwork, didn't immediately notice him. Hearing the door, she asked, "Who's there?"

Minato replied softly, "It's me."

Tsunade froze, her body trembling at the sound of the familiar voice. She slowly turned around, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Yondaime...?"

Minato nodded. "Yes, Tsunade-senpai, I've been resurrected."

Tsunade was stunned. 'Resurrected?' The idea that a dead person could return to life was unimaginable, yet here Minato stood, very much alive, with his familiar chakra flowing around him.

There was no doubt—it was Minato.

But how? How could he be alive again?

Tsunade's thoughts raced as she asked, "How... how did you come back to life?"

For years, Tsunade had been haunted by the deaths of her younger brother Nawaki and her first love, Dan Kato, both of whom died in front of her during the Third Great Ninja War.

Their deaths were her lifelong pain, the reason she had never found a partner even at her current age.

If Minato could be resurrected, could Nawaki and Dan be brought back too?

Tsunade's heart pounded with a mix of hope and fear as she waited for Minato's answer.

"It was a man named Uchiha Sasuke who helped resurrect me," Minato explained.

Hearing Sasuke's name, Tsunade's hope began to fade. 'Sasuke... again.'

She should have guessed. It was always Sasuke.

Tsunade knew what Sasuke wanted, and she wasn't sure if she could—or should—give it to him.

There were few things left in the world that could sway someone like Sasuke, and she was torn about what to do.

She sighed, conflicted, before speaking again. "I don't want to be Hokage anymore, Minato. From tomorrow on, you will resume your position as the Fourth Hokage."

With that, Tsunade ripped off the Hokage's robe and tossed it aside.

Minato blinked in confusion. "Wait, what?"

Tsunade continued, "After you and Kushina died, the Third Hokage took over again. Now I'm stepping down, and you'll be the Hokage once more. Just consider me dead for all intents and purposes."

She added, "I'll have Shizune inform the ANBU and the guards."

...

Meanwhile, in the Uchiha Clan

Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, was deep in thought when he suddenly felt his heart race, an uneasy tightness settling in his chest.

He was confused. 'Why do I feel this way?'

Inside him, Kurama—the Nine-Tails—spoke up. "The other half has returned."

Naruto's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Kurama clarified, "The other half of my power... it's back from the Pure Land."

...