"Great General King" Minato

That day, Kakashi also saw Zhengyi carrying Rin under the moonlight.

But he only assumed Zhengyi was saving someone.

Only Minato, who had experienced something similar, understood. Sigh... Obito, you never stood a chance.

In this society, as long as you are handsome, have some social status, possess strength, work hard, keep yourself clean, and are sincere to others, it isn't difficult to win over a girlfriend—and Zhengyi possessed all of these.

What was even more terrifying was...

When Rin was filled with despair, Zhengyi descended from the heavens to save her.

As for the "halo effect" or whatever you might call it, it was hard to put into words, but Kushina's impression of him had certainly shifted from "sissy" to "little sun" overnight, all because of that rescue.

This was going to be trouble.

Minato couldn't bear to tell Obito about this.

It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Let's just be good and not bring up these troublesome matters.

"Obito, it's good to have you back."

That night, Zhengyi, Obito, and Kakashi drank a little.

"Wuu wuu wuu, Zhengyi, I almost thought I wouldn't make it back. You guys have no idea what I saw." Obito was already tipsy, so he spilled everything about his encounter with Madara.

"So and so, this and that."

"I never expected our Uchiha ancestor, Madara, to still be alive. Though, I get the feeling he's about to die soon."

"Ahhh!! If I had known, I would've learned a few ninjutsu from him!" Obito pulled at his hair in regret.

"If Sensei and the Third Hokage could cooperate, we could go and capture Madara alive. We could keep him on life support just long enough for him to teach you the ninjutsu you want," Zhengyi nodded repeatedly. What a pity, though; Sensei holds a grudge.

"A pair of drunks," Kakashi shook his head.

One dared to say it, and the other dared to believe it.

Uchiha Madara is still alive, they say.

He had a question he wanted to raise: assuming Madara was still alive, why didn't he come to take revenge on Konoha when the First Hokage passed away from illness in the fourteenth year of Konoha?

Seeing Kakashi dare to laugh at them, dare to look down on them, and dare to disbelieve them.

The two of them grabbed him from either side and forced him to drink until he was wasted.

"Say it! Is Uchiha Madara still alive or not?"

"You guys are drunk, I'm not saying."

"Are you going to say it or not!!" X2

"Ah, fine, fine, fine, he's alive, he's alive."

"Who is alive?"

"Uchiha Madara is alive."

Minato stayed outside, listening to the three boys making a ruckus. He smiled helplessly. Have they forgotten the Three Prohibitions of Shinobi?

Forget it. They're under a lot of pressure from the Third Shinobi World War. Let them be for tonight.

As someone who read the newspapers every day, he was well aware of the recent public opinion.

The Konoha shinobi on the front lines in Kirigakure had seen these renowned figures of the ninja world speak of him with nothing but praise, and they were standing up for him, feeling that Orochimaru was a thief.

What should I do?

Deep in the night, the three drunks fell asleep.

Seeing that Zhengyi was asleep, Minato quietly pulled Shikaku and the others aside for a small meeting.

"Minato, are you prepared to forgive Orochimaru?" Shikaku Nara asked, frowning.

The others also furrowed their brows.

That day, when Naruto spoke to Yamato about the future, Choza was also there; this matter couldn't be hidden.

"But the future hasn't happened yet, has it?" Even now, Minato still suspected that the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Incident was Orochimaru.

He had another hypothesis: if the Nine-Tails Incident didn't occur during Kushina's pregnancy in the future, then this suspicion would no longer be a suspicion, because he had lost the struggle for the Hokage seat this time, and Orochimaru was the Hokage—Orochimaru was already satisfied.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I don't want to see Konoha split apart."

Minato looked at everyone apologetically. He didn't want to fight anymore; from now on, he would obey Orochimaru's orders.

"So, what are you planning?" Shikaku Nara had a bad premonition.

"I plan to hand over the military authority to Orochimaru," Minato said sincerely.

"You're muddled!!"

"Minato! You are too naive."

Shikaku didn't blame Minato; it was precisely this simplicity and kindness toward his own people that made them willing to follow Minato wholeheartedly.

But it was also this very simplicity that made them feel that one day, it would be the death of Minato.

"Is it not possible?" Minato scratched his head, offering only an awkward smile.

"Orochimaru is a man who repays every grievance; he has always harbored resentment over the Third Hokage favoring you. Do you truly think he will let you go? Or let us go?"

"It is precisely because you hold the troops, have people in the village, and maintain your influence that he dares not move against us. He only dares to send Zhengyi to keep watch over us!"

Shikaku had seen through Orochimaru's intentions completely.

Why did Zhengyi spend his days reading newspapers and drinking tea, while Orochimaru assigned dozens of Anbu, formerly of Root, to follow him? The subordinates below could not understand it, but Shikaku could.

It was because he dared not do anything else.

Chatting with a few Uchiha was his limit; he knew that if he did anything more, he would be dead in Kirigakure within minutes.

Orochimaru had sent Zhengyi to guard against them, yet he was simultaneously terrified that they might take the opportunity to kill Zhengyi.

He had led the army personally only to flee after a single day, not even daring to stay to inspire the ninjas with a few words. You should understand just how wary Orochimaru is of them.

"Rin is your student, yet Zhengyi would rather run far away to return to Konoha to reinforce Orochimaru's seals. Minato, is it that you don't know sealing techniques?!"

"They simply do not want you to earn any more merit."

"Minato! Hand over the troops, and the Third Hokage's fate will be our own." Shikaku spoke with conviction.

To this day, they still did not know where the Third Hokage was "retiring."

"Minato! Most importantly, Orochimaru once tried to harm you. We all know your heart is for Konoha, but can he ever trust you?"

"Sigh, I leave the rest for you to decide, Minato. Perhaps Orochimaru will show mercy and forgive those of us who once competed against him for the title of Hokage."

The others waited for Minato's reply.

Seconds ticked by, but Minato remained unable to give an answer. Was Konoha truly on the verge of splitting?

There was something Shikaku had left unsaid.

The command of the forces guarding against Iwagakure was in the hands of Jiraiya, the forces here in Kirigakure were entirely Minato's supporters, and the command of the Sunagakure front, previously held by Danzo, had been handed over to Minato by the Third Hokage.

Minato held three major factions in his hands, and there were likely even more supporters lying dormant within the village.

Sixty, seventy, or even eighty percent of the village's military strength followed Minato!

Just because Orochimaru succeeded in becoming Hokage, must they hand over their military power?

We haven't lost yet!!

If all three factions returned to the village together! Just watch and see if Orochimaru panics.

"Minato, do not hesitate any longer."

At that moment, Jiraiya lifted the curtain and entered, looking at Minato with a grave expression.

"What is it, Master Jiraiya?"

This was the first time Minato had seen such a serious look on Jiraiya's face.

"The Master has found intelligence regarding Orochimaru conducting human experiments."

According to Yamato, Orochimaru had experimented with Hashirama Cells. That was difficult for them to police, as Hashirama Cells were beneficial to the village.

But!

He had also violated all human ethics by kidnapping the people of the Land of Fire, and not just once.

We fight for justice!