After Minato Namikaze succeeded the Hokage, Konoha did not undergo any obvious changes. Young as he was, he still lacked the experience needed to govern such a large village.
However, he was humble and always consulted the Third Hokage first in every matter, which gradually stabilized his position.
After all, he had only just taken office and was only twenty-four years old. Though the name of the Yellow Flash was renowned, some of Konoha's great clans might not necessarily respect him. When dealing with certain sensitive matters, he still needed the Third Hokage to step in and keep things under control.
At the same time, he accelerated the expansion of his own influence, placing Kakashi and his own guards in the Anbu, all in important positions, in order to gain control over the core of the Anbu.
But he knew where to draw the line. He did not rashly touch Danzo's Root. Danzo was an old-established force in Konoha; even when the Third Hokage had been in office, he had only been able to restrain him in certain respects. Having only just become Hokage, there was no need for Minato to pull the tiger's whiskers in haste.
In early February, spring had begun, and though the weather was warming up, a chill still lingered in the air.
Sitting inside the Hokage Office Building, Minato Namikaze spoke seriously with the many Anbu before him. Some of them had already been in the Anbu before he became Hokage, but most had been placed there by him during the two months since he took office.
Kakashi stood in the back row among them, still somewhat short compared to the others.
They could all be considered Minato Namikaze's trusted confidants, the backbone upon whom he would rely to secure his position as Hokage in