"I'll become an excellent Hokage, one everyone respects, and lead Konoha back to glory."
Minato Namikaze sensed Shinichi Hyuga's disapproval and tried to inspire him, just as he had inspired those who trusted him in the past.
It was thanks to that charisma that he had won the support of civilian ninja and, through a series of fortuitous circumstances, risen to the position of Hokage.
But this time, he had misjudged things!
Shinichi Hyuga had been disappointed in Minato Namikaze too many times. He no longer had any expectations of him.
Looking at Minato as he was now, Shinichi felt as though he were looking at a clown.
"Minato, save that kind of talk for the children! Look at what's become of the people who once supported you. Dodo Akimichi and Gaku Inuzuka have both been pushed into the background.
"It's not because they lack ability, but because they supported you."
Shinichi's gaze gradually turned cold. Minato had never endured hardship, so he had no idea how much an opportunity meant to others.
All those people wanted was fairness, while Minato had always been showered with affection.
Shinichi suspected Minato wasn't a civilian ninja at all, but a member of the Senju Clan.
His blood had even caused the Uzumaki Clan's signature red hair to fade.
He had attended the Ninja Academy's elite class, alongside the future pillars of the ninja clans.
While at the Academy, he had also won Kushina Uzumaki's love, which had naturally earned him a share of the Senju Clan's political legacy.
Right after graduating, he had been taken on as Jiraiya's pupil and taught the Summoning Technique of Mount Myoboku. Jiraiya had even considered him the savior of the Ninja World.
He had also mastered the Flying Thunder God, the legendary technique of supreme speed.
Looking at Minato's life up to this point, all he had done was slap the label of "civilian ninja" on himself. Which part of his life had been typical of a civilian ninja?
The world had favored him far too obviously. He always thought he could do anything.
He wanted to reshape the world according to his own methods.
Shinichi couldn't empathize with someone like that.
"Shinichi, everyone in Konoha is our comrade. We should understand and support one another. The world will become a better place..."
Minato likewise couldn't accept Shinichi's beliefs. Once again, he tried to use his own convictions to change Shinichi's way of thinking.
He even began preaching the Third's cannibalistic version of the Will of Fire.
Shinichi's heart grew colder and colder. Minato! Not everyone was as lucky as you.
He would show Minato what the world was really like.
"Those three brats are the only survivors this time. They bullied children from the Hyuga Clan, hurling insults and even attacking them. I'd very much like to hear Lord Hokage's opinion."
Shinichi cut off Minato, who had been about to keep preaching the Will of Fire, and turned his attention to the three surviving children. At last, Minato stopped rambling.
"Shinichi, they're still children.
"By Konoha's rules, I'll have the orphanage take them in. As for the rogue ninja this time, we can spare the children under twelve. Let's leave them a tiny spark of hope."
Minato had to stop his long-winded speech. He was determined to save these children.
That was why he had come here in person. Otherwise, it would have been hard to explain things to the Third.
The Sarutobi Clan's affiliated families couldn't be wiped out.
Kakashi Hatake, standing nearby, was even more confused by Shinichi's actions. If Shinichi really wanted to kill the children who had done wrong, he'd had plenty of chances.
Why had he specifically asked Minato for his opinion?
There seemed to be some other meaning behind Shinichi's words.
"Good!
"Very good!
"Lord Hokage, that was well said!
"But I'm no Hokage. I'm not as noble as you.
"I'm the head of the Hyuga Clan. Pass this message on to the people behind these dogs: next time, killing a few dogs won't be enough!"
Shinichi's voice rang out loud and clear. His repeated praise left everyone baffled.
Even Minato blushed at those words of praise.
The turn came quickly. What Shinichi said next tore into Minato and the Third without mercy.
Minato felt bitter, assuming Shinichi was mocking and warning him.
For some reason, Kakashi Hatake sensed from Shinichi's words that Minato had brought this on himself.
Shinichi made up his mind not to interfere with Minato's future, and certainly not with Naruto Uzumaki's.
Those were Minato's own words: Naruto deserved to be scolded and beaten; those were hardships he had to endure, and the responsibility belonged to his father.
Let go of empathy and respect other people's fate.
Tolerating crime was a crime in itself. In the end, Minato would have to swallow the bitter fruit he had cultivated.
"Shinichi, you may have some misunderstandings about the Third. You need to respect everything he's done for Konoha. The Third deserves enormous credit for Konoha's prosperity."
Minato felt bitter. It seemed Shinichi had seriously misunderstood both him and the Third. He needed to correct that as soon as possible.
"Kakashi, their heads are still intact. Want to take a look at their memories? You might find even more."
Shinichi no longer paid Minato any attention. The two of them simply weren't on the same wavelength.
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