"Hokage-sama."
As Natsuhiko stepped into the room, he greeted Minato Namikaze with a gentle smile and a slight nod. Only then did he shift his gaze toward Kushina Uzumaki, offering her the same courteous acknowledgment. For him, that was more than sufficient.
Truthfully, even he hadn't expected his luck to be this good. He had no way of knowing when Minato would wake from his coma. The life force he had infused into him wasn't excessive—everything else depended on Minato's own recovery.
What he had done was already pushing the boundaries. Compared to medical ninjutsu or conventional treatment, the most crucial factor in healing had always been the body's natural recovery. Techniques and medicine merely played supporting roles.
But Natsuhiko's method—directly infusing life force—was, in a sense, bypassing that process altogether. It was akin to repairing the body from within, or perhaps stimulating the body's regenerative cells to multiply at an accelerated rate.
At least, that was his own interpretation. He wasn't a medical expert, and his knowledge of medical ninjutsu was limited at best.
"You're too polite, Natsuhiko-kun. There's no need for that between us."
Minato shook his head lightly, a faint smile on his face.
"Still, your timing is perfect. I'd like to understand the current situation in Konoha."
Even in his weakened state, his concern for the village remained unwavering. As Hokage, it was his responsibility—and now that Natsuhiko was here, he couldn't simply ignore it.
Kushina frowned slightly, then let out a soft sigh. She knew her husband all too well. Though she worried about his condition, there was also pride in her heart—after all, he had fulfilled the very dream she once held.
"Natsuhiko-kun, go ahead," she said as she slowly sat up. "If this is something I shouldn't hear, I can step outside."
"There's no need," Natsuhiko replied with a light shake of his head. "There's nothing about the village worth hiding. And I doubt Hokage-sama would want you to leave."
Minato nodded in agreement, saying nothing more. Natsuhiko had already expressed exactly what he intended.
There were, in fact, questions Minato wished to ask—questions he wanted Kushina to hear as well. Some truths were better faced together, understood together, and verified together.
"Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko began calmly, "the full extent of the casualties hasn't been calculated yet. However, it's safe to say the losses will be significant—especially among the civilians."
His tone remained steady as he described the devastation caused by the Nine-Tails.
Minato, however, had to struggle to suppress the anger rising within him.
Natsuhiko didn't know the exact numbers either, but the situation spoke for itself. Just by observing Konoha's response, the scale of the disaster was obvious.
If he hadn't mobilized the ANBU reserve forces in advance to evacuate civilians, then for a village experiencing such an attack for the first time, chaos would have been inevitable. Most people wouldn't have even known what to do.
In the original story, the villagers' hostility toward Naruto Uzumaki had run deep. That alone suggested how deeply the Nine-Tails' destruction had scarred them.
And combined with the leadership's habitual method of redirecting blame…
Rather than allowing the villagers to focus on why Konoha's defenses and evacuation efforts had been so inadequate—
…it was far more convenient to shift that attention toward hatred of the Nine-Tails itself.
The former would only weaken those in power.
The latter, however, would buy them time—time to deal with everything else.
It was also worth noting that, perhaps precisely because of the Nine-Tails incident, Konoha later improved its internal defense and evacuation systems.
That was why, during the Chūnin Exams, when the forces of Sunagakure (The Village Hidden in the Sand) and Otogakure (Village Hidden in Sound) invaded, the villagers were able to evacuate quickly and orderly into shelters without descending into chaos.
"As for the shinobi," Natsuhiko continued calmly, "current confirmed casualties stand at over eighty genin, more than forty chūnin, and over a dozen jōnin."
The losses among ninja were comparatively lower, which was only natural. After all, shinobi possessed chakra, had undergone rigorous training, and were far more capable of protecting themselves.
Even so, the numbers were far from insignificant. And these were only the confirmed deaths. Downstairs, many injured shinobi were still fighting for their lives.
Whether they would survive…
And even if they did, whether they could ever return to duty…
Those were questions no one could yet answer.
Hearing this, Minato Namikaze let out a quiet sigh. On the surface, the losses among shinobi didn't seem catastrophic—but after more than a year as Hokage, he understood the deeper truth.
What Konoha had lost was more than just manpower.
It was credibility.
Other villages had suffered incidents involving tailed beasts before, but for something like this to happen within one's own village was exceedingly rare. And Konoha, as the strongest village in the shinobi world, drew the most attention.
That made this situation all the more damaging—and all the more difficult to manage.
At its core, Konoha wasn't like the so-called "beacon of freedom" from Natsuhiko's past life, nor were the other villages particularly forgiving.
"There's one more thing I need to report, Hokage-sama."
Natsuhiko lifted his head slightly, his gaze steady as it met Minato's before he spoke again.
"The head of the ANBU, Murashima Takumi… is dead."
A brief pause.
"I killed him."
"What?!"
Before Minato could even respond, Kushina Uzumaki cried out in disbelief.
The head of the ANBU—killed by Natsuhiko? And he was stating it so plainly, right in front of the Hokage? What exactly was he trying to do?
Minato, however, only frowned slightly. His eyes remained fixed on Natsuhiko, calm but searching. He knew there had to be more to this.
This conversation… was beginning to touch upon the very truths he had been seeking to confirm.
And so, he waited.
"Please, Kushina-sama, there's no need to be alarmed," Natsuhiko said gently, his tone as calm as ever. He offered her a reassuring smile before turning back to Minato.
"The reason is simple. The Third Hokage instructed me and Captain Owl to deliver the ANBU mobilization order to the Commander.
Unfortunately, Captain Owl wasn't so lucky. He was killed during the Nine-Tails' attack, and the written order was destroyed along with him.
I went alone to relay the command, but without formal authorization, the ANBU refused to mobilize."
He paused briefly, his expression unchanged.
"At the time, the situation was critical. So I made a decision."
A faint smile spread across his face as he looked directly at Minato.
"I eliminated the Commander—and assumed authority to deploy the ANBU."
His words were steady, almost casual.
"I believe that under those circumstances… Hokage-sama would have made the same choice, wouldn't you?"
The question struck directly at Minato's heart.
Beside him, Kushina was left utterly stunned. She simply couldn't comprehend how the ANBU commander could have adhered so rigidly to protocol—refusing to act without orders, even as the Nine-Tails ravaged the village.
It was beyond stubbornness.
It was absurd.
But Minato's expression darkened slightly.
Because he understood.
Natsuhiko had already told him before what kind of person that ANBU commander was.
Or rather—
What kind of thing.
A machine, through and through.
And "Owl"…
Had been the key link between that machine and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
With such an obedient ANBU commander in place, and with the other division commanders more or less influenced—many of them even directly taking orders from Hiruzen Sarutobi—it was no surprise that the entire organization had effectively slipped out of Minato Namikaze's control.
On top of that, many squad leaders within the ANBU had been personally promoted by those same division commanders. This entrenched structure made it nearly impossible for Minato to assert authority over them.
If he truly wanted to change the situation, there was only one way: he would have to openly break with Hiruzen, forcibly remove the ANBU commander, and rebuild the entire system from the ground up.
But that was something Minato had never intended to do. From the very beginning, the ANBU had never truly belonged to him.
And now, Natsuhiko had gone and killed Murashima Takumi—and with a justification so flawless that even Minato found it difficult to refute.
The sheer audacity of it was unsettling.
In the midst of something as dangerous and chaotic as the Nine-Tails incident, Natsuhiko had not only conceived such a plan—he had carried it out without hesitation.
Was he not afraid?
Afraid that killing the ANBU commander at such a critical moment might lead to failure in dealing with the Nine-Tails?
If it had been Minato himself… he wasn't sure he would have dared to make such a decision.
After a moment of silence, Minato let out a soft sigh. The way he looked at Natsuhiko changed—becoming more serious, more searching.
"Natsuhiko," he said quietly, his voice still weak but resolute, "let's not discuss whether your actions were right or wrong. Tell me—weren't you afraid that even the slightest miscalculation could lead to disaster?"
His gaze sharpened.
"If something had gone wrong, weren't you afraid Konoha would suffer even greater losses? That the situation might spiral completely out of control?"
"Hokage-sama, every action I take is carefully considered—and you've already seen what I'm capable of."
Natsuhiko answered with a calm smile. Of course, part of that was an exaggeration—he himself hadn't expected things to align so perfectly.
But one thing was true: his involvement in the Nine-Tails incident had not been impulsive. It had been the result of deliberate thought.
"As for right and wrong…"
He let out a faint sigh, his gaze steady on Minato. That smile of his carried something deeper now—something that made Minato feel a quiet unease.
He already knew what Natsuhiko was about to say.
And yet, it was both the last thing he wanted to hear… and the answer he most needed.
"Hokage-sama, this may sound cold—perhaps even wrong in the eyes of many. But when one stands at a higher position, especially where interests are concerned, there is no true right or wrong.
There is only whether you are part of the game… or cast out of it.
And a bottom line—flexible, perhaps—but with a fixed lower limit."
As he spoke, Natsuhiko slowly rose to his feet. The smile on his face faded slightly. Though his expression remained gentle, there was now an unmistakable chill beneath it.
"My bottom line is simple: Konoha must not fall. Within that boundary, I will do whatever benefits me.
Whether it's Owl, Murashima Takumi… or even—"
"Even me, is that it?"
Minato cut him off before he could finish.
"You saved me… because my survival serves your interests. Because my death would remove a check on the Third Hokage. Is that correct?"
"…Yes."
Natsuhiko hesitated for only a brief moment before nodding.
"Your reasoning is sound, Hokage-sama. If you were to die, Hiruzen Sarutobi would lose all restraint. That wouldn't be in my best interest—especially when I still need time to grow.
So, in that sense… you are the most suitable person to stand against him."
This time, there was no deception in his words.
There was no need for it anymore.
Strength was a person's greatest foundation, and in this era, Natsuhiko's power already counted as a solid advantage.
Even if, in the future, that same strength might amount to nothing more than a slightly stronger foot soldier…
Right now, things were different.
Madara Uchiha was dead. Nagato had yet to fully master the Rinnegan. The other Kage had no intelligence on him, while he possessed knowledge about all of them.
This wasn't just an advantage.
It was a complete dimensional gap.
Even someone like Minato Namikaze—who had mastered sage art and wielded the Nine-Tails' chakra—was in no condition to fight right now. At the moment, even speaking seemed to exhaust him.
As things stood, Natsuhiko realized there was very little he truly needed to fear.
Of course, that didn't mean he would make himself the enemy of the entire world. Shinobi were always wary of knives in the dark.
He hadn't forgotten how Pakura had died in the original timeline… nor how even someone like Madara had been struck down from behind.
He would reveal his ambition—but only within limits. That was already as far as he could go. And right now, projecting strength was necessary.
Minato watched him silently.
Beside him, Kushina Uzumaki was completely stunned.
She might usually act carefree, but she was far from foolish. On the contrary, she was sharp—sharp enough to piece together what Natsuhiko had just implied.
The death of the ANBU commander hadn't been an accident.
It had been deliberate.
And her husband's survival… was simply because this young man standing before them still needed Minato—to stand in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi as a counterbalance, buying him time to pursue his own goals.
Natsuhiko belonged to the Senju. He wielded Wood Release.
As a child, Kushina had lived with Mito Uzumaki among the Senju clan. She knew all too well how deeply that clan desired the position of Hokage. Even after their decline, that ambition had never truly faded.
Even if they had nearly vanished from Konoha's stage…
Even if their presence had grown faint…
Their goal had never changed.
They were still watching that seat.
Still reaching for it.
A flicker of worry crossed Kushina's eyes as she looked at her husband. The situation had become far more complicated than she had ever imagined.
"…I understand, Natsuhiko-kun."
After a long silence, Minato let out a quiet sigh. He looked noticeably more worn, as though the weight of everything had finally begun to press down on him.
"I understand now. Perhaps… I'm not suited to be Hokage after all."
"Minato—" Kushina started, unable to hold back, but he gently interrupted her.
"Kushina, please. Let me finish."
He shook his head softly, his expression tinged with a quiet sense of resignation.
"In this past year as Hokage… I've come to realize many things.
Sometimes, as Hokage, you can't judge matters simply by right or wrong. That way of thinking is too narrow.
Natsuhiko is right—when it comes to interests, there is no absolute right or wrong. Only a flexible boundary.
I've already felt this in the decisions I've had to make.
Many of them… were choices I believed were wrong.
And yet, I had to make them."
His voice grew softer.
"Because there is a line I must uphold—the village's interests.
If the village remains stable, then even something that is right… I may have to declare it wrong.
And if something is clearly wrong, I still have to consider whether its consequences would harm the village. If not… then I may have to accept it as right."
He paused, exhaustion evident not just in his body, but in his soul.
"It's tiring. Truly exhausting. Being Hokage… is nothing like I once imagined."
A faint smile appeared on his face—bright, almost gentle—but beneath it lingered a deep, unmistakable weariness.
"At first, I didn't understand why the Third Hokage chose me for this position. I thought… it was simply because I had performed well enough to earn it."
"Later, I realized that wasn't the real reason," Minato Namikaze continued quietly. "It was because of my teacher, because of Kushina, and because of some of my performance on the battlefield… that I was chosen to become Hokage.
Natsuhiko-kun, it's ironic. I once told you that you might think I wasn't a qualified Hokage, yet I insisted that I had a bottom line I would never cross.
But now… I see it clearly. I really am not suited to be Hokage. Perhaps it's because I cling too tightly to my own principles."
Natsuhiko fell silent as he looked at him. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, a faint heaviness settled in his chest. He would never deny that Minato was a good man—nor would he deny his brilliance or the strength of his convictions.
Minato was, without question, an exceptional shinobi. Charismatic, capable, admirable.
But being a ruler… required something else. Flexibility. Ruthlessness, at times. The ability to abandon personal beliefs when necessary.
That was where Minato fell short.
Natsuhiko could hear the loneliness in his voice, could feel the quiet resignation behind his words—and he knew, deep down, that he himself bore some responsibility for it.
After all, it was his actions that had pushed Minato to this point, forcing him to confront these doubts.
"Hokage-sama… you are truly outstanding," Natsuhiko said after a brief hesitation. "Growth takes time. The way I was raised is different from—"
"Natsuhiko-kun."
Minato suddenly cut him off, his tone shifting as he redirected the conversation.
"How long can my body hold on?"
Natsuhiko paused, then answered honestly. "You'll need several years of recovery. Undoing the effects of the Reaper Death Seal isn't simple. I've examined your condition—there's no issue with your lifespan, but you'll need time. Proper rest."
"I see…"
Minato nodded slowly, his expression turning serious once more.
"In that case, for the next few years, Lord Third will have to oversee Konoha. And as it happens… the position of ANBU commander is now vacant."
At those words, Natsuhiko lifted his head, his gaze sharpening ever so slightly. He understood—this was the moment.
Everything that had happened in this room, this unexpected yet inevitable confrontation, had led to this single decision.
When Natsuhiko openly admitted that he had saved Minato, it wasn't just honesty—it was a calculated move. A play on emotion.
He had stopped the Nine-Tails from causing further destruction. He had saved Minato, reunited his family. That was both a gesture of goodwill… and a demonstration of power.
At the same time, he had laid bare his actions, his motives, and his bottom line without hesitation—displaying his political acumen just as clearly.
He had already played his hand.
Now, all that remained… was Minato's answer.
He was not like Danzo Shimura. He would not overstep.
Minato was still the Fourth Hokage.
"Then…"
Minato looked at him steadily, his voice calm but resolute.
"As the Fourth Hokage, I hereby make this official appointment—
Senju Natsuhiko, you will serve as the new commander of the ANBU."
For a brief moment, Natsuhiko's body stiffened. Then, just as quickly, he relaxed, bowing his head slightly.
"Thank you for your trust, Hokage-sama. I will not disappoint you."
ANBU commander.
At last… he had obtained it.
This was the result he had waited years for.
Even though he had only been a division commander for a few short months… even though he was only fourteen years old… at this moment, he had truly risen to the position of ANBU commander.
The youngest one in Konoha's history—and a figure of real authority at that.
A surge of exhilaration rose within him, but he showed none of it on his face. Without the official paperwork, nothing was truly set in stone.
And yet, Natsuhiko understood Minato well enough to know—once he had spoken, he would follow through.
Minato Namikaze was a man worthy of trust. That much had never changed.
"I will draft the official documents shortly," Minato said, giving a faint nod. Then his tone grew more serious, carrying a weight that made the air itself feel heavier.
"However, Natsuhiko… your strength and your methods are something I truly admire."
Minato Namikaze looked at him steadily, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.
"I believe that one day, you may become a great Hokage—not someone like me, chasing that title with nothing but passion and idealism."
He paused briefly, his gaze sharpening.
"But that alone is not enough. Far from it. I will be watching you, Natsuhiko. I will keep my eyes on everything you do."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then his tone turned stern—harsher than before, carrying a rare edge of authority and warning.
"I will watch your actions. I will watch the changes you bring. And if you fail… if you make things worse—
Then even if it costs me my life, I will not let you go unpunished. Do you understand me, Senju Natsuhiko?"
—
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi made his way slowly toward the hospital, his expression weighed down with exhaustion.
He hadn't rested at all that night.
With Minato hospitalized and Konoha suffering such devastating losses, there was simply too much to handle. As the Third Hokage, he had no choice but to shoulder everything—because if he didn't, the village itself might collapse into chaos.
Perhaps it was for the best. The relentless workload at least dulled the grief gnawing at his heart.
Because this night had not only struck Konoha—it had struck him personally as well.
The woman who had stood beside him through decades of storms… his wife, Biwako Sarutobi, was gone.
Gone forever.
How was he supposed to endure that?
He was still human. He still felt pain. And Biwako had always been the one who stood firmly at his side, unwavering, no matter what came.
Now she was no longer there.
The grief in his heart needed no words.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Hiruzen forced himself to stop thinking about it. The more he dwelled on it, the more unbearable it became.
"Hokage-sama." As he arrived outside the head of the medical department's office, the current director immediately bowed in greeting.
"This is no time for formalities," Hiruzen said, shaking his head. "How are things? And what about the Fourth Hokage?"
The medical director let out a heavy sigh.
"There are many injured among the ordinary shinobi. Around two to three hundred are in critical condition."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"As for whether they can fully recover… I can't guarantee it. Unless…"
He didn't finish the sentence—but Hiruzen understood.
Unless fate itself favored Konoha.
Unless Tsunade returned.
But would fate truly be so kind?
Hiruzen didn't dare to believe it. If the heavens truly protected Konoha, then it wouldn't have been dragged into the Third Great Ninja War. Jiraiya and Tsunade wouldn't have left. And the Nine-Tails would never have caused such devastation.
As for Tsunade returning…
In the past, perhaps he might have held onto that hope. But now, he didn't even want to think about it.
Natsuhiko alone was already enough to weigh heavily on his mind. And Tsunade's departure—while attributed on the surface to her fear of blood—might have had deeper reasons.
The death of Nawaki.
The decline of the Senju clan.
All of it had played a role.
Her departure had also led to Jiraiya leaving as well. Hiruzen had watched it all happen, yet he had said nothing.
Perhaps out of guilt.
Strictly speaking, what they had done could even be considered a form of desertion. After all, shinobi were akin to soldiers—and they, especially, were like high-ranking officers. Freedom was never truly theirs to claim.
"…Let's not dwell on that," Hiruzen muttered, shaking his head as he pushed the thoughts aside. "How is the Fourth Hokage?"
"The Fourth Hokage, he…"
The medical director hesitated, his expression uncertain as his words trailed off.
..
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