The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not act like a ninja; he acted more like a politician.

In his eyes, so-called war was merely a game of political maneuvering.

Therefore, he devised a plan.

A Fourth Hokage was absolutely necessary.

At the same time, it had to be someone he could control.

Sarutobi Hiruzen would never allow someone beyond his control to ascend to the position.

Hatake Sakumo was a prime example of this.

After the Second Shinobi World War, Hatake Sakumo's reputation had soared.

The entirety of Konoha was clamoring that the next Hokage would undoubtedly be him.

On the surface, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained as steady as a mountain, but in his heart, he had already vetoed him.

Because, to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Sakumo was uncontrollable.

And at this moment, within the village, there were three voices regarding the candidates for the Fourth Hokage.

The Uchiha Clan Head—Uchiha Fugaku!

The Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru!

And the commoner genius—Namikaze Minato!

Uchiha Fugaku was not even within the scope of Sarutobi Hiruzen's considerations.

It was impossible for him to allow the Uchiha clan to rise to power.

Using the blind Uchiha Chiba as a pretext in the past had been Sarutobi Hiruzen's way of striking at and warning the Uchiha clan.

Originally, for Sarutobi Hiruzen, the best choice was Orochimaru.

Orochimaru possessed strength, achievements, and prestige.

More importantly, he was his own direct disciple.

However, ever since Tsunade and Jiraiya had left one after another, Sarutobi Hiruzen discovered that Orochimaru had also begun to become uncontrollable.

He was always conducting some inexplicable research, and... he was getting too close to Danzo.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was very cautious.

If there was even the slightest hint of suspicion, he would veto it.

Orochimaru, in the end, was not destined for the Fourth Hokage position.

And so, the final choice remained only one—

That commoner genius, Namikaze Minato.

As a commoner, Namikaze Minato was controllable.

At the same time, as Jiraiya's student, having even mastered the Flying Thunder God, his strength was beyond question.

The only thing he lacked was prestige.

And now, it was the Third Shinobi World War.

It was the best time to build that prestige.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.

He looked at the military map on his desk.

Right now, the ones acting most aggressively on the battlefield were Iwagakure.

They were posturing for a full-scale invasion.

This was a crucial battle.

In a full-scale invasion, what was the most important thing?

It was supplies.

Even though Sarutobi Hiruzen had not been on the battlefield for a long time, he was well aware of such things.

And on the map, there was only one place that could provide supplies to Iwagakure.

—Kannabi Bridge!

This was the key location in the war against Iwagakure.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that Onoki could not possibly be unaware of this.

Therefore, there would certainly be heavy guards there, as well as... an ambush.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen beckoned.

"Come, go and summon Namikaze Minato for me!"

Namikaze Minato, an absolute genius among commoners.

Superb combat awareness, superb reflexes, superb analytical skills, and, above all, superb talent.

The Flying Thunder God Technique is one of the forbidden arts buried within Konoha.

Yet, ever since it was created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, Namikaze Minato is the only one who has managed to master this divine skill on his own.

More importantly, the Flying Thunder God was advanced in the hands of Namikaze Minato, granting him a godlike speed that surpassed even Senju Tobirama.

Ultimately, Namikaze Minato was crowned the fastest ninja in the entire shinobi world.

He became world-renowned as the "Yellow Flash."

Furthermore, the Rasengan he created would go on to become the foundation for the techniques of the future protagonist, Uzumaki Naruto.

Such a genius, had he not died, would surely have gone down in history!

Unfortunately, he was ultimately defeated by the traditions of the Hokage.

--The betrayal of his master!

At the same time, despite being the hero of Konoha who saved the entire village.

His orphaned son was feared by the entire village as the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Naruto's childhood was destined to be a tragedy.

If he were not the protagonist, I fear that it would not just be Uchiha Obito shouting about destroying the world, but also Uzumaki Naruto, the one who had the most reason to turn to darkness.

On his deathbed, Namikaze Minato entrusted his son to Sarutobi Hiruzen, asking him to take good care of the boy.

However--

Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately failed to do so.

Both being descendants of Hokage, the childhoods of Konohamaru and Uzumaki Naruto were worlds apart.

One was a young master, the other a reviled fox demon.

All Sarutobi Hiruzen cared about was the position of Hokage.

Although he eventually fulfilled his duties as Hokage and died "gloriously" while protecting Konoha.

This, however, cannot be an excuse to whitewash his actions.

Orochimaru's destruction of the village was nothing more than Sarutobi Hiruzen reaping what he had sown.

Yellow hair was his trademark.

Even before his reputation had reached its peak.

He was already feared by other villages as the "Yellow Flash."

--If you encounter Konoha's Yellow Flash, you may abandon your mission unconditionally.

This was the greatest recognition of Namikaze Minato's strength.

At the same time, in an era where the Sannin had left the village one after another, Orochimaru was unreliable, and Konoha's combat power was unprecedentedly hollow, he was Sarutobi Hiruzen's only "solace."

Chiba could not imagine what would have happened if Namikaze Minato had not emerged during this period.

How would Konoha have fought against Iwagakure and Kumogakure, who could manipulate Tailed Beasts?

Would Sarutobi Hiruzen have taken to the front lines himself to lead by example like Onoki, or would he have compromised and retreated?

Chiba leaned toward the latter.

Submissive to outsiders and heavy-handed with his own people had always been Sarutobi Hiruzen's label.

"Lord Hokage? Did you summon me?"

Namikaze Minato, kneeling on one knee, brought a smile to Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.

This was Konoha's hero.

At the same time, he was also the puppet Sarutobi Hiruzen used to continue his grip on Konoha.

He thought very highly of Namikaze Minato.

Therefore, he entrusted the most critical decisive battle against Iwagakure to him.

--Destroy Kannabi Bridge and cut off Iwagakure's supply lines.

Upon seeing the mission, Namikaze Minato fell silent.

He could see that Kannabi Bridge was the key.

Therefore, Iwagakure would inevitably have heavy troops guarding it.

However--

"What about the front lines?"

Onoki could strike at any moment.

And Namikaze Minato was the only one on the front lines capable of countering Onoki's Particle Style.

Once the front line collapses, even if the supply lines are severed, it will be too late.

After all, behind the front line...

Lies Konoha.

Lies the village itself.

If the front line falls, Iwagakure can strike all the way to Konoha in one fell swoop.

"That is why I am entrusting this mission to you!"

"Your Flying Thunder God Technique allows you to switch between the front and the rear in an instant!"

"You are the perfect candidate for a surprise attack!"

However—

More importantly, Konoha is currently facing an unprecedented shortage of combat power.

If Orochimaru were dispatched, he could naturally hold the pressure at the front, and Namikaze Minato would surely complete the mission perfectly.

And Uchiha Obito would likely not have met such a tragic end.

But—

Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer trusts Orochimaru.

Having already discarded him as a candidate for the Fourth Hokage, he cannot allow Orochimaru to gain any more prestige.

At the very least, not in this campaign.

Orochimaru can go to Kumogakure, or he can go to Kirigakure, but he must not go to the Iwagakure front.

Only by single-handedly reversing the crisis when the enemy is at their strongest can Namikaze Minato garner unprecedented support.