In Leaf Village: Starting by Slapping White Fang

"Lord Gengetsu, I can't agree with your view."

Just as everyone was constantly flattering Gengetsu.

Another objection rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

A boy of around fifteen, with striking blond hair and gentle-looking features that naturally gave off warm, sunny vibes.

Even Gengetsu had to admit that the nickname "Little Sun" truly suited him.

Minato Namikaze!

He could be called the absolute pinnacle among non-bloodline ninjas in the world of Naruto.

Of course, what left Gengetsu most speechless was that even after dying, he had somehow trained the other half of the Nine-Tails into Nine-Tails Chakra Mode in the Underworld.

That was way too ridiculous, wasn't it?

Was the place you went called the Soul Society or something?

Noticing Gengetsu's intense gaze, Minato Namikaze, already wearing a Leaf Village Forehead Protector, placed one hand over his chest and introduced himself:

"My name is Minato Namikaze, Lord Gengetsu."

"And then?"

Gengetsu asked without changing his expression.

"No one can deny that you rendered tremendous service toward Leaf Village's victory. But I cannot agree with what you just said—that companions' lives can be sacrificed for the sake of a mission."

Though young, Minato Namikaze spoke with maturity.

"Nothing is more important than life. If the success or failure of every mission and the lives of our companions are placed on a scale, and everyone chooses the mission, then we will only forget the true essence of the Will of Fire."

Perhaps looks really did determine success.

After Minato Namikaze said those words, he was not met with mocking gazes like Asuma had been.

Quite a few people lowered their heads in thought, even nodding quietly.

They felt that what this boy said did make some sense.

Jiraiya, standing behind and to Gengetsu's right, had practically lit up after hearing Minato Namikaze speak.

He looked like he had found a treasure.

"Do you know how my idiot big brother was nearly bullied into shutting himself off?"

Gengetsu suddenly asked Minato Namikaze.

"Uh... I-I've heard about it."

During the Second Shinobi World War, Minato Namikaze had only been a Chunin and had been assigned to remain in the village.

The turmoil caused by White Fang's failed mission had spread through nearly the entire Leaf Ninja community.

For a time, a bizarre attitude arose: "If you don't criticize White Fang, you aren't a Leaf Ninja."

Even though Minato Namikaze had still been young, he had sensed that something was off.

But he had more brains than those nameless idiots from the original story, who would mindlessly rush in to attack someone after hearing a few rumors.

"Do you know how you should maintain your mindset in a situation like that?"

Gengetsu asked again.

Minato Namikaze did not understand why Gengetsu was asking him this, but he still nodded honestly.

"Never argue with stupid people."

Minato Namikaze said, "Th-this... I don't think that's quite right..."

Gengetsu said, "Mm, you're right."

"Pfft—"

Tsunade suddenly failed to hold it in and burst out laughing.

She hurriedly wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth. Princess Tsunade's image could not collapse.

Minato Namikaze: "..."

He was so mad, but he still had to keep smiling.

"That was incredible. He completely left the other side speechless."

Obito, standing among the crowd behind them, stared in shock.

Nohara Rin lowered her head in thought, silently wondering:

Should companions or missions take priority... If it were me...

Yūhi Kurenai said, "So cool!"

Shizune's gaze shifted between Gengetsu and Minato Namikaze's faces as she asked curiously, "Kurenai, which one are you talking about?"

The moment Gengetsu heard "Will of Fire" come out of Minato Namikaze's mouth, he had already labeled him an "idiot."

He just did not dislike him.

After this minor disturbance ended, the key ninjas led by Gengetsu arrived at the Administrative Building one after another.

They reported the battle situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage. Once Orochimaru, who was still at the front lines, delivered Sunagakure's Truce Letter, the Second Shinobi World War could officially be declared over.

Compared to Asuma, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared much calmer over the death of his eldest son.

Even when Gengetsu reported the details of the mission to assassinate the Second Kazekage.

He showed no doubt regarding his eldest son's death.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, remained dumbfounded from beginning to end.

According to Gengetsu's report, he had departed from the Land of Rivers with Sarutobi Shinnosuke, arrived in the Land of Rain, and then encountered Jiraiya.

The three of them had infiltrated the Land of Wind together and assassinated the Second Kazekage in Sunagakure.

But Jiraiya had never encountered Sarutobi Shinnosuke at all!

What was going on?!

"Before leaving Leaf Village, you said that even if you witnessed a companion's death, you would still complete the mission. You truly did it."

After hearing Gengetsu's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a tone devoid of any detectable emotion.

"Of course I did."

Gengetsu looked proud as he said:

"After all, when my big brother faced the same situation before, he chose to save his companions and was cursed into oblivion. Yet now I've become a hero of Leaf Village, perfectly proving that my choice was the correct one."

"Underworld, Young Master Shinnosuke must have wanted me to do this too, right? After all, he also cursed my foolish big brother so badly that he nearly committed suicide, didn't he?"

As Gengetsu said this with a smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's right index and middle fingers, which held his pipe, tightened slightly.

Ordinary ninjas would indeed have found that difficult to notice.

But several Kage-level ninjas present sharply noticed it.

Lifting a rock only to smash his own foot. Hmph...

Tsunade sneered inwardly.

Originally, she could not even be bothered to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face.

She had only come because she was curious about how Hiruzen Sarutobi would react upon hearing of his eldest son's death.

"Mm... I think so too."

After over ten seconds of silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head again and revealed a smile. He nodded as he said:

"Next, we only need to wait for Orochimaru to deliver the Alliance Treaty from the Land of Wind."

"I have nothing to say, Lord Hokage..."

Though Nara Shikaku did not possess Kage-level strength, his sharp mind had also noticed the abnormality in Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression.

But he understood even more clearly that Hiruzen Sarutobi had no way to blame Gengetsu over this matter.

After all, under the same circumstances last time, Hatake Sakumo had saved Sarutobi Shinnosuke, only to be cursed like an idiot.

Since that was the case, Gengetsu had chosen to stand by and watch him die this time.

With that precedent in place, there was no room for rebuttal.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then smiled again.

"You have all worked hard after returning from the battlefield. Go home and reunite with your families first."

"Heh, they're almost all dead."

Tsunade left behind those cold words and walked away without looking back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened another shade.

"Heh, that girl really can't hide what she's thinking."

Gengetsu let out a strange laugh and followed her out of the office.

To be honest, someone like Tsunade, who could not hide what she was thinking at all, was fundamentally unsuited to being in a high position.

She was the same type of person as her granduncle, Senju Hashirama.

But she did not possess Senju Hashirama's overwhelming strength.

So after becoming the Fifth Hokage in the original story, she seemed to suppress the Elder Council.

Yet she still could not completely eradicate their influence.

Those two clowns, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, kept hopping around in front of Tsunade whenever they had the chance.

Come to think of it, those two seemed to have even lived into Boruto. What a miracle.

After Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and Nara Shikaku's Ino-Shika-Cho group left one after another.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately summoned his three old comrades-in-arms—

Leaf Village's Elder Council F4.

They gathered in the Supreme Conference Room.

"Do you think Shinnosuke really died at the Kazekage's hands, Hiruzen?"

After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi recount Gengetsu's explanation, Utatane Koharu was the first to voice her doubts.

The four of them had all agreed to elevate Hiruzen Sarutobi's son to the position of Hokage.

Danzo included.

After all, Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi's relationship had not yet become as fractured as it would be after the Third Shinobi World War.

And as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi's descendants could continue serving as Hokage, Leaf Village's real power would remain in their hands.

But if the Senju, the Uchiha, or someone outside the Elder Council faction took power.

Then their good days would be over.

Therefore, Shinnosuke's death was not only terrible news for Hiruzen Sarutobi—it was terrible news for the entire Elder Council.

Of course, the other three also understood very well.

With Sarutobi Shinnosuke's limited ability, he could only become Hokage if Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the Hokage system into a dictatorship.

"What are you suspecting, Koharu?"