Chapter 208: The First Task

Upon hearing Hiruzen's nomination, Danzō instinctively narrowed his eyes.

"Hiruzen…"

Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Fugaku Uchiha—among these three candidates, only Orochimaru's election would benefit Danzō. There was no way he would let Hiruzen have his way. Hiruzen stepping down due to guilt had clearly been planned long ago. But to let a mere youngster like Minato become Hokage, despite his undeniable abilities? It was unacceptable.

"Oh, Minato Namikaze, is it?" The Daimyō of the Land of Fire, seated at the head of the table, perked up when he heard the name. Fanning himself, he spoke with a half-concealed face, "He's quite young."

Though Minato's reputation had reached his ears, the Daimyō still found Minato's youth to be a significant drawback. This was largely due to his conservative beliefs, but no one could deny that Minato's performance in the war had been exceptional.

Danzō, sensing an opening, slightly opened his narrowed eyes and calmly added, "Minato Namikaze is indeed young. In contrast, I would lean more towards one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, who matches the Third Hokage in both skill and experience."

As he spoke, Danzō glanced at Hiruzen. Their eyes met briefly, and Hiruzen silently acknowledged Danzō's intentions before turning his gaze back to the Daimyō.

"Age is not the measure by which we should judge a Hokage," Hiruzen said. "In every regard, Minato Namikaze has proven himself fully capable of succeeding as Hokage."

The Daimyō's eyes flickered between Danzō and Hiruzen, while the ministers seated to his right began discussing the matter. On the left side, the Konoha ninjas remained calm.

Minato's fame as the "Yellow Flash" had been deeply ingrained in the minds of their enemies during the Third Great Ninja War.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, sharing the same understanding. In their minds, neither the cold Orochimaru nor Fugaku, being part of the Uchiha clan, could possibly be suitable for the position of Hokage. Jiraiya would have been their first choice, but he had strongly supported Minato, which had led them to recognize Minato's abilities as well. Moreover, Minato's stellar performance during the war solidified their decision.

"I recommend Minato Namikaze," Koharu suddenly said.

Homura followed, "I also recommend Minato Namikaze."

"Damn those old fools," Danzō muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing slightly.

The Daimyō, still wavering, made up his mind upon hearing Koharu and Homura, both influential figures, endorse Minato.

"Then it's decided. The Fourth Hokage will be Minato Namikaze." He snapped his fan shut with a light tap on the table, finalizing the decision.

With the end of the Third Great Ninja War, the Third Hokage stepped down, and Minato Namikaze was appointed his successor. For the people of Konoha, this outcome felt natural and well-deserved.

In a tavern.

A simple gathering was held to celebrate Minato's inauguration as Hokage. Tsunade, Kushina, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, and several of Minato's close comrades were present.

Jiraiya, reeking of alcohol, draped his arm around Minato's neck and slurred, "You were born for this, kid. Just don't let me down."

Minato endured the unpleasant smell, smiling awkwardly. His gaze shifted to Kushina, who sat listlessly, her mood clearly low. His heart sank a little.

Clearly a bit tipsy, Jiraiya let go of Minato and put down his cup. His slightly glazed eyes drifted toward the empty seats, and he sighed, "Some of the people missing… will never come back."

Crash!

The sound of a shattered cup echoed.

Everyone looked in shock, including Jiraiya.

Tsunade had her head bowed, gripping a broken cup in her hand, with the fragrant liquid spilling across her palm. Even Kushina, who had been preoccupied with thoughts of Ye Zi, couldn't help but feel a bad premonition.

"Huh?" Jiraiya stared in confusion at Tsunade, not realizing his words had crossed a line.

Tsunade stood up abruptly.

Sensing the shift, Minato quietly moved aside.

"Uh oh, sensei's mad," Kushina whispered nervously, unsure whether to intervene. However, since Jiraiya was the target, she decided to leave it be and treat him afterward.

Those who were absent would indeed never return.

Tsunade thought quietly to herself. Then, with a powerful punch, she sent the drunken Jiraiya crashing through the table and the wooden floor beneath it, leaving him embedded in the ground.

Everyone around was left speechless.

"Go on without me, I'm tired and heading home," Tsunade said casually, as if nothing had happened. She turned and walked towards the exit.

"Ow… ow…" Jiraiya groaned, lying on the floor. Though not seriously hurt, he seemed reluctant to get up, as if waiting for Tsunade to leave first.

"If only Dan, Orochimaru, Ye Zi, and the others were still here…"

In his mind, Jiraiya envisioned a happy reunion, but it was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

He rubbed the bump on his head, lost in thought.

"Sensei, are you okay?" Minato asked, looking down at Jiraiya.

"Haha!" Jiraiya leaped up like a toad, grinning with pride as he rubbed the massive bump on his head. "I'm used to that punch—no big deal!"

"…"

Minato sighed and rubbed his forehead. Everyone else was equally speechless.

"Forget it. He doesn't need treatment," Kushina thought silently.

A few days later.

The aftermath of the Third Great Ninja War brought an overwhelming number of tasks to Minato's desk.

But above all else, the most pressing issue was... Ye Zi.

The information revealed by Kushina shocked everyone.

In the Hokage's office, the key figures gathered, including the retired Hiruzen Sarutobi. Orochimaru, however, was absent.

"Are you certain it was Ye Zi?" Minato asked gravely.

Kushina nodded. "I couldn't possibly mistake his chakra. He saved me."

"This is…" Jiraiya stroked his chin, troubled. He couldn't help but glance at Tsunade, whose expression seemed calm, though he wondered if she was truly as composed inside.

"Leaving aside why Ye Zi is still alive and why he hasn't returned to the village, how did he get involved with this organization? What's his motivation?"

Jiraiya questioned aloud, struggling to understand why Ye Zi, presumed dead, hadn't come back to Konoha, and instead had joined a mysterious organization. Could Orochimaru know something? He hadn't said a word about Ye Zi.

Kushina glanced nervously at Tsunade before speaking cautiously, "He must have his reasons, right?"

Minato cast a glance at Kushina, a flash of sadness in his eyes. Learning that Ye Zi was still alive, coupled with Kushina's reaction, had unsettled him, but he remained focused.

"A while ago, the people who infiltrated the village were from the same organization. Based on Sand Village's intelligence, the one who released Shukaku and caused significant losses to the Sand was likely Ye Zi," Minato said calmly.

"And then there's Dan's death…"

"Minato!" Kushina's eyes widened, cutting him off.

Tsunade's calm expression faltered, and beneath her exterior, a seething, unprecedented rage seemed to be building, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

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