Hiruzen Sarutobi grew even angrier.
Am I restricting Aoyama Ryuyun… or am I helping him?
Just as the two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, had thought — even though Minato Namikaze seemed to be at the lowest point in his life, Hiruzen Sarutobi still had no intention of giving up on him.
"Forget it! No matter what, the Flying Thunder God Technique is a rare space–time ninjutsu in the entire shinobi world!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, looking dejected, sank back into his chair.
"Forget it! An official position is out of the question now. Let Minato quietly serve as a tool…"
The title of Konoha's sinner couldn't be washed away.
Hiruzen decided that after this war ended, he would assign Minato to the Anbu — let him handle the village's darkness. An official post was clearly impossible.
Just as Hiruzen finished his lament, a voice came from outside the council chamber.
"Hokage-sama! Good news! A great victory on the Iwagakure front! The Third Tsuchikage has been defeated — Konoha has secured a decisive victory!"
"…"
"He truly lives up to his name — the Golden Lion!"
"…"
Uchiha Fugaku's voice carried genuine admiration, completely unaware that Hiruzen Sarutobi's face had darkened completely.
So, you're here to twist the knife?
"Hokage-sama?" Fugaku asked in confusion.
Honestly, Fugaku did admire Aoyama Ryuyun — naturally, because of the man's extraordinary power.
But he failed to understand what Hiruzen was truly feeling at that moment, and simply looked on in puzzlement.
"…"
Hiruzen remained silent, face grim. If not for the formality of the setting, he would've slapped the man right there.
Indeed… the Uchiha Clan brings nothing but headaches to Konoha.
---
"Kushina!"
In Konoha Village, after receiving the latest news, the once-lively Uzumaki Kushina had become utterly dispirited. Every day she stayed cooped up at home, refusing to step outside.
It wasn't only Minato's situation that weighed on her — it was also the glares she received whenever she went out. Those hateful, judgmental stares from the villagers weren't directed at her as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, but rather because her lover, Minato Namikaze, had been branded Konoha's sinner.
The heart of a jinchūriki was always fragile. Unable to bear the pressure, Kushina chose to isolate herself.
In all of Konoha, only Uchiha Mikoto would still visit her from time to time.
"Kushina, I brought you lunch," Mikoto said gently as she entered the small home.
Seeing Kushina huddled in the corner, Mikoto sighed softly. She wanted to comfort her, but after so many days, her words had long lost effect.
Yet even now, when Kushina saw Mikoto, a faint spark returned to her dull eyes.
"Is there any news from the front?" Kushina asked anxiously.
Mikoto immediately understood what she meant. She shook her head helplessly.
"There's no word from Minato's unit yet, but I heard that Lord Jiraiya has already led a thousand shinobi as reinforcements."
"With Lord Jiraiya's help, Minato will definitely be fine!"
Hearing that, Kushina finally eased a little. Though Jiraiya often acted unreliable, when it came to serious matters, he was someone she could trust.
"Is there any other news?" she asked again.
"Uh…" Mikoto hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell her.
"Other than that, I heard that the overall commander of the Iwagakure front is now Lord Aoyama Ryuyun. He personally confronted and defeated Iwagakure's forces. Though the Hidden Stone hasn't withdrawn from the war entirely, they've officially ceased hostilities."
Even Mikoto, who had never met this Golden Lion, couldn't help but feel some admiration for him.
Kushina hadn't thought that far ahead at first — but as soon as she heard Mikoto say that name, realization dawned, and her eyes brightened with sudden hope.
"That's right! Lord Ryuyun is the Golden Lion! If he speaks for Minato, everything will be fine!"
Her previous encounter with Aoyama Ryuyun had left a strong impression — she believed him to be a genuinely good man.
"Uh…" Mikoto was left speechless.
Unlike Kushina, Mikoto — as the wife of the Uchiha clan head — possessed a much clearer understanding of Konoha's political undercurrents.
Minato's reassignment to the Hidden Cloud battlefield had been orchestrated to steal credit from Aoyama Ryuyun.
Given that, how could the relationship between the two possibly be good?
In Mikoto's mind, it was already generous enough that Aoyama hadn't taken advantage of Minato's current downfall.
What Mikoto didn't realize, however, was that the more spectacular Aoyama's achievements became, the deeper Minato's reputation would sink — no words could soften that reality.
But Kushina, who hadn't thought that far, only grew more hopeful the more she considered it.
"Lord Ryuyun's strength is unmatched — he's the Golden Lion! If he vouches for Minato, everyone will acknowledge him again!"
"Uh…" Mikoto still didn't have the heart to dash her hopes.
Seeing the light in Kushina's eyes, she finally nodded.
"After the war ends… let's go together and ask the Golden Lion."
With herself — the wife of the Uchiha clan head — and Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, surely Aoyama Ryuyun would at least grant them an audience.
At least, Mikoto hoped so.
"That's great! Thank you so much, Mikoto!"
Seeing Kushina finally recover some liveliness eased Mikoto's heart.
"To thank you, I'll personally make lunch for you!" Kushina said brightly, already moving toward the kitchen.
"Huh?" Mikoto froze. She'd tasted Kushina's cooking before.
Is this gratitude… or an assassination attempt?
"No, no, no! It's not necessary — I've already prepared lunch!" Mikoto said quickly, darting forward to stop her.
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