The Beginning

Almost instantly, the atmosphere among the Konoha people transformed into a sea of joy. The somber mood that had just been hovering in the air vanished without a trace.

"Minato, what happened?" the Third Hokage asked with concern. He had been worried about Minato's safety and was already considering what to do if something had happened to him...

But now, Minato had unexpectedly returned.

This was truly miraculous.

He hadn't wanted anything bad to happen to Minato, but seeing him return safely also stirred a complex emotion in the Third Hokage.

And it was precisely because of this slight emotional change that the Third Hokage's inquiry to Minato carried a hint of anxiety, which someone in the crowd keenly perceived.

At that moment, the Konoha ninjas began to see through the Third Hokage's hypocrisy even more clearly.

"There was a minor accident," Minato said with a gentle smile that seemed to radiate warmth, a demeanor he had always maintained.

"It's not important," Minato shook his head, choosing not to delve into the details of the incident in front of the large crowd. Every pair of eyes was on them, and speaking carelessly could lead to severe consequences and possibly a great cost.

At this time, Minato was unaware that the Third Hokage was also in the dark about the specifics of the incident. The Third Hokage's anxiety was due more to the complications of the Hokage's position and his feelings towards it.

This led Minato to misinterpret the Third Hokage's actions! 

Minato felt that the Third Hokage's action meant that he had anticipated such a scenario, especially since Minato's use of space-time jutsu wasn't a well-kept secret, even to the Hokage.

The more Minato thought about it, the more he believed that the purpose of the Root ninjas was not actually to kill him but to provoke him, knowing his strength would prevent them from succeeding.

Therefore, Minato decided to keep his composure as if nothing had happened, which would likely confuse the Third Hokage and leave him unsure of his next steps. This was how Minato achieved his goal in their strategic game.

Minato played it down, but the Konoha ninjas at the scene did not believe it was trivial. They had seen the Root ninjas on their way back and knew more about the story needed to be said.

The general populace, however, reacted differently. They were excited to see Minato return and were thrilled by the scene.

"Hmm?" The Third Hokage furrowed his brows slightly, sensing that Minato might be hiding something from him, yet he couldn't quite grasp it.

It seemed like something had happened!

But now...

He didn't have much time left to act.

He could tell from the people's reactions and the civilians' expressions that their support for Minato was strong.

In a sense...

Anyone who supported Minato at this point was essentially not helping him.

This gave him a strong sense of crisis.

"That's right, your return is timely. You've earned such great merits; I was just about to reward you properly!" the Third Hokage began, preparing to offer the half-sleeve Hokage robe as a potent defensive gesture, especially under these circumstances. As long as the ninjas were emotionally charged, they couldn't refuse his gift.

If Minato accepted the half-sleeve Hokage robe, it would mean losing his chance to become the Hokage.

A position just below one person, above ten thousand.

That was the status of the half-sleeve Hokage robe.

But forever below that one person, without any real power, it was an empty title.

The Third Hokage liked the half-sleeve Hokage robe for this reason. He even thought that if similar situations arose, he could hand out the half-sleeve Hokage robe again, perfectly resolving potential crises.

"I don't need any rewards!" Minato quickly interjected, sensing the Third Hokage's intentions and feeling it was a trap. Plus, he was not pleased with such a proposition. After all, rewards are given to those in high positions to their subordinates, but his goal was to become the Hokage, which the Hokage himself couldn't award.

"I was not part of this mission."

"The village allowed me to train at Mount Myoboku before the war started, which was already very generous!"

"Having the opportunity to come here before the end of the war and contribute my small part is a great honor!"

"I don't need any rewards!"

"The village is my home, and I am protecting my home!"

"Those who deserve praise are the warriors returning victoriously and the heroes who will not return."

Minato spoke passionately, his voice resonating powerfully and infectiously, invigorating everyone at the scene. His words implied that the credit belonged to him and everyone there, making them feel comforted and recognized.

In a few simple sentences, Minato not only successfully declined the Third Hokage's intended gift of the half-sleeve Hokage robe but also deepened his connection with the Konoha ninjas, making them feel as if they were on his side, which increased their support for him.

This was not only because they disapproved of the Third Hokage's hypocrisy but also because of Minato's care and concern for them. This made them feel that supporting Minato was supporting themselves, rewarding their efforts for the village.

"This…"

The Third Hokage was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to proceed. He had anticipated a refusal from Minato but hadn't expected such a categorical rejection, leaving no room for negotiation.

At that moment, Minato clarified his refusal of rewards, stating he had no mission. Instead, he highlighted the importance of recognizing the people present, which made it impossible for the Third Hokage to reward him without rewarding the others.

But he had not prepared to reward those people!

He was caught in an awkward and passive situation.

This prevented him from presenting the half-sleeve Hokage robe at this time, losing the optimal moment to do so.

Darn it!

The Third Hokage silently cursed in his mind.

"Alright then."

Minato then took over from the Third Hokage, his voice rising softly but with a unique charm that reached everyone's ears.

In an instant, he captured the attention of everyone present, making it clear he had more to say.

"Now, let's not stand here any longer."

"These people are heroes returning from victory."

"Let's give them a warm round of applause to welcome them back."

"And now, it's time for them to return to their families, probably waiting for them."

"As for those who won't return…"

Minato paused, taking a deep breath as his expression turned somber. This expression reflected his heartfelt respect for the fallen because that's just who he was.

"Let's observe a moment of silence in their highest honor!"

"And I promise to take care of their families!"

"War is merciless."

"Let's hope we never have to experience such wars again!"

After Minato spoke, he was the first to bow his head in silence, soon followed by everyone else at the scene.

The Third Hokage watched Minato's display of leadership, his worries deepening, but it wasn't the time to ponder these thoughts. He had no choice but to join in the moment of silence.

The Third Hokage hadn't considered addressing the dead, as recent events had overwhelmed him. Without Danzo's help, he struggled to manage even the living, let alone the dead.

After the moment of silence, Minato gestured for everyone to disperse, indicating there was no need to stay gathered any longer.

Almost immediately, the crowd began to disperse.

The Third Hokage watched it all unfold.

He had issued no orders or voiced any objections because it was impossible to contradict what the people were saying in such a situation since it all made perfect sense.

However, this incident makes him realize Minato's ambition; this man wants to be a Hokage because he is already acting and thinking like one.

Gradually, the Konoha ninjas dispersed, leaving everyone in high spirits. All previous worries had vanished with Minato's safe return, greatly inspiring and motivating them.

The situation had shifted completely in their favor.

Iwagakure.

Sunagakure.

Kumogakure.

Kirigakure.

Konohagakure.

On their way back, they encountered ninjas from all five great villages, and even their village, Konohagakure, had targeted them.

It was a testament to the entire ninja world's strength.

But they had returned.

Minato had emerged as a hero before the people of Konoha.

This marked the beginning of a new era for Konoha.

They were aware that from this moment on, Konoha would enter a new chapter, a time of transition between the old and the new.

Everyone present was witnessing history, and they were fortunate to be a part of it, a feeling both extraordinary and exciting.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

As the crowd dispersed, several figures appeared at the village gate; these ninjas were from the village's Root division, wearing masks to hide their faces.

But their return was different from their departure.

They exuded a defeated air, and the eyes visible through the mask holes were confused.

They didn't know where they were headed.

Their future needed to be clarified.

After returning to Konoha, they didn't even know where to go. They had always lived at the Root base, but now they were no longer Root ninjas.

With the return of these former Root ninjas, Konoha underwent a complete transformation. The scene was calm, but various families were beginning discussions about their futures, and beneath the quiet surface, a current of change was surging.

Whoosh!

Aoba's figure flashed and reappeared in his room, circling back to this place.

He had set the stage, and now it was time for the play to begin, and even he was looking forward to it.

Elsewhere.

In Danzo's office.

Knock, knock, knock…

A knock came at the door.

Then it swung open.

The Third Hokage entered, visibly furious.

"Danzo, what exactly is going on? I need an explanation from you!"

The Third Hokage was livid, aware that Danzo had dispatched many Root ninjas and had guessed there might be complications before Minato's return.

But the last thing he wanted to see had happened...

Actions had been taken without achieving success, leaving potential issues unaddressed.

The Third Hokage was not fully aware of why Minato hadn't clarified earlier, but he felt this wasn't the end but a new beginning.

This issue hadn't passed.

If he wanted to continue sitting as the Hokage, he would need to unite with Danzo again and fight another battle to defend the title, just like when they had jointly dealt with Uchiha Kagami.