The last traces of sandalwood incense lingered in the Hokage Office, mingling with the dappled sunlight that streamed through the window and lending the room a solemn air.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly took his seat and surveyed the core members gathered before him. Elders Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sat to one side, their expressions composed. The heads of the Nara and Akimichi Clans looked weary but attentive. Several senior jonin representatives sat straight-backed, waiting for him to continue.
"Everyone," Sarutobi Hiruzen began, his voice quiet yet carrying unquestionable authority, "Konoha is facing troubles on every front. We need a strong leader to guide us through them." He paused, tapping a finger lightly on the table. "After careful consideration, I intend to nominate Namikaze Minato as the next Hokage candidate."
His announcement did not cause the expected stir. Instead, a knowing calm settled over the office. Everyone present belonged to the inner circle Sarutobi Hiruzen had built over decades, and their fortunes were tied to the Hokage Faction. When they looked at Namikaze Minato now, the scrutiny of earlier days had given way to approval and expectation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued. "You have all seen Minato's strength. He has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. In the recent campaign against Iwagakure, he turned the tide at several critical moments single-handedly. His title, the Yellow Flash, is known throughout Konoha and strikes fear into enemy shinobi. That is proof of his strength."
"And that is not all." He turned to Minato's record. "I previously sought to temper him by having him complete hundreds of S-Rank Missions independently. From assassinating rogue shinobi and protecting important figures to unraveling enemy traps and mediating border disputes, he completed every mission. The intelligence and decisiveness he displayed have long surpassed those of shinobi his age. That is