Minato nodded lightly and stood behind the Third Hokage without a word, quietly watching the Konoha leader before him, who already showed signs of old age.
This was not the first time he had seen the Third Hokage, but he had never viewed him from this angle before.
The Third Hokage was only in his early fifties now, yet obvious age spots had already formed at the corners of his eyes.
He had grown old.
Anyone could see that.
Especially after what had happened to Konoha.
Only now did Minato understand that when the Third Hokage had murmured that someone should be held responsible, he had not meant only Iwagakure. He had meant himself as well.
Konoha had suffered the most severe attack since its founding, with tens of thousands dead or wounded. As the current Hokage, the Third bore an inescapable responsibility.
If this had been peacetime, the Third Hokage might already have stepped down in shame by now.
Recently, many voices in Konoha had begun criticizing the Third Hokage, but the coming war had suppressed them all.
Even so, once the next war ended, a change of regime in Konoha would be inevitable.
The Third Hokage had chosen him, but what about everyone else?
Whom would Konoha's great clans support?
Whom would the two advisors favor?
And would Danzo truly be willing to accept it?
Sweat seeped uncontrollably from Minato's palm.
He suddenly realized that the opportunity he had fantasized about countless times was right before him.
Beyond excitement, though, he felt a pressure as heavy as mountains and rivers resting upon his shoulders.
"Scared?!"
The Third Hokage glanced at Minato, a rare trace of teasing curling at the corner of his mouth. "It won't help even if you are."
"I'm not scared."
Minato shook his head and