Minato, I May Not Have Much Time Left

Minato Namikaze walked out of Konoha's Great Hall, feeling a little dejected.

Just moments ago, at the internal expansion meeting, the proposal to scale up the war with the Hidden Cloud and recover their losses at its expense had received the support of most of those present. It had officially passed.

Minato wasn't weak, and he wasn't afraid of war. He just felt that the village had already suffered enough casualties. With the Hidden Cloud gradually pulling back and the war nearing its end, deliberately escalating it wasn't a wise choice.

What the village needed now was time to recover and rebuild.

That was what his teacher, Jiraiya, had always told him. It was also what the Third Hokage had repeatedly told him.

Now, the Third Hokage's sudden change in attitude left Minato surprised and confused.

What had happened to make Lord Hokage's position change so drastically?

Minato walked alone across the open ground in front of the Great Hall. Head slightly bowed, he didn't notice the familiar figure standing beneath the trees not far ahead.

A sound reached his ears. Minato instinctively looked up as a dark shape flew toward him. He reached out and caught it, realizing it was a can of coffee.

Holding the coffee, Minato looked ahead and spotted Shiraishi standing beneath a tree, smiling.

The dejection faded from Minato's face, replaced by a smile. He quickened his pace and walked over.

"Shiraishi, what have you been busy with lately?" Minato asked with concern.

"Come with me." Shiraishi gestured for Minato to follow, leading him into the woods behind him.

They made their way through the trees and arrived at a training ground in the middle of the woods.

Shiraishi hopped up easily and sat on a wooden post. He opened his coffee and took a sip.

Minato leaned against the post beside him and opened his own coffee, taking a drink as well.

"How do you feel? Disappointed, aren't you?" Shiraishi looked at Minato, bringing up the subject himself.

Minato pursed his lips, then smiled again. "It's nothing. If it's for the village, I'll support it."

"I don't mean the war. I mean the Hokage Position." Shiraishi watched Minato with a knowing smile.

Minato's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. Looking at Shiraishi, he said sincerely, "I really do want to become the village's Fourth Hokage, but I'm not disappointed. I'm still young. I'll keep working hard."

Shiraishi jumped down from the post and set his coffee on it before walking over to Minato.

"So your disappointment just now was because the village is preparing to escalate the war with the Hidden Cloud?"

After a moment's hesitation, Minato nodded honestly. "The Hidden Cloud has already started pulling back. Judging by their movements, they're planning to..."

"They're planning to make peace," Shiraishi cut in. "After all, we've already made peace with Iwagakure. Now they're our only enemy."

"Exactly." Minato still didn't understand. "The war could already be over, but Lord Hokage and the others are still planning to escalate it."

Shiraishi shook his head. "It's normal that you don't understand. You're looking too short-term."

"Too short-term? Is there some deeper meaning to this?" Minato furrowed his brow, unable to see what long-term purpose might lie behind it.

Shiraishi looked at Minato and explained, guiding him through the reasoning. "It's only been a few decades since the First founded the shinobi village system, yet the Shinobi World has already seen three great wars. Konoha has emerged victorious from every one of them, but each time, we've had a harder fight than before. Why do you think that is?"

After thinking it over, Minato replied, "Because the other villages fear us, and we're always at risk of being surrounded."

"Then why does that happen?" Shiraishi asked.

Minato didn't answer right away. He thought carefully before speaking. "Because the Land of Fire occupies the most fertile land on the continent, and the other villages want to seize our territory."

"That's their goal, but it isn't why each war gets harder for us," Shiraishi said.

"Then what is?" Minato asked curiously.

Shiraishi explained slowly, "Because, as victors, we've never once taken the initiative to establish a postwar order in the Shinobi World that serves our interests."

"After every victory, we've taken some compensation from the other villages, then chosen to rest and rebuild, allowing them to recover and giving them another chance to come back."

"That's why each war gets harder for us. It's also why wars break out so often."

"Every time we've made concessions after winning, the other villages have grown to hate Konoha even more. And in order to survive, they've had no choice but to start one war after another."

This was the first time Minato had heard an argument like this. He considered Shiraishi's words carefully, and gradually began to understand.

"So the Third Hokage is starting this war to establish a new postwar order?" Minato looked at Shiraishi, hopeful.

Shiraishi shook his head. "That old man wouldn't understand any of this. He's choosing to go to war with the Hidden Cloud because he doesn't want to take responsibility for negotiating peace with Iwagakure. He doesn't want to step down from the Hokage Position."

"The Third Hokage isn't that kind of person," Minato said quickly.

Shiraishi smiled without replying or arguing. Instead, he looked up at the sky.

"Shiraishi, I know you're an aide to Elder Danzo. You may have misunderstood the Third Hokage, but he isn't that kind of person," Minato said, defending him.

Shiraishi looked back at Minato, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Minato, in my eyes, you're the best choice for Hokage."

Minato froze, staring at Shiraishi. His words brought warmth to Minato's heart, lifting his spirits despite his earlier disappointment.

"Me?" Minato murmured.

"You." Shiraishi rested a hand on Minato's shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement and approval.

"Thank you, Shiraishi!" Minato met his eyes. The deep well of approval he saw there filled him with renewed resolve.

Kushina, his teacher Jiraiya, Shiraishi...

It was the encouragement and support of these loved ones and friends that had kept Minato striving until he reached where he was today.

"But you're still a little too naïve. I may not have much time left, so you need to remember what I'm about to tell you." Shiraishi spoke solemnly.

Minato was startled and quickly asked with concern, "Shiraishi, what do you mean?"

"It's nothing. I'm just saying I don't have much time left," Shiraishi said with a gentle smile, trying to reassure him.

Shiraishi's explanation put Minato somewhat at ease, but he still urged him, "Shiraishi, if you run into any trouble, you have to tell me."

Shiraishi nodded, then spoke gravely. "You must remember what I'm about to tell you."

Minato didn't know what Shiraishi was about to say, but seeing how serious he was, he straightened up and nodded solemnly.