Shocking! He Became Hidden Leaf's "Uncrowned Emperor"? Minato: Yu, Have My Back!

Minato gazed at Kamizuki Yu as the morning light coated him in a faint golden glow.

"Yu, what are you planning to do next?"

Kushina held Naruto in her arms and looked at him with concern as well. The little life in her embrace slept soundly, completely unaware that his fate had been utterly rewritten.

Kamizuki Yu withdrew his gaze from the rising sun, his tone calm. "Nothing in particular for now. I'll take things as they come."

He truly had no grand blueprint. Getting stronger was merely incidental; taking it easy was his real pursuit.

"Let's deal with the village matters first," Minato said with a slight nod. "Your achievements deserve a matching reward."

Kushina nodded vigorously. "That's right! It has to be the highest possible honor!"

Hokage Building, temporary conference room.

The atmosphere was somewhat grave.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, looking several years older than usual. A night of fierce battle, coupled with the severe damage the village had suffered, had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Minato Namikaze sat beside him, his expression resolute.

Below them sat several of Hidden Leaf's senior advisors: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

"Regarding Kamizuki Yu's reward..." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I believe he should be granted the title of 'Above Hero,' along with the village's highest level of tribute," Minato stated directly.

Koharu Utatane frowned slightly. "Minato, 'Above Hero'? Isn't that going too far? There has never been such a precedent in Hidden Leaf's history."

Homura Mitokado agreed. "Yes. His contributions are indeed immense, but breaking the rules may lead to unnecessary controversy."

Their concerns were not without reason. A single person's prestige surpassing that of the Hokage was not a good thing for the village's power structure.

"Rules?" Minato's tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable force. "Last night, if not for Yu, Hidden Leaf's rules would likely have been trampled beneath the feet of the Nine-Tails and that masked man."

He looked around at the two of them. "You both saw it with your own eyes. Yu's strength can no longer be measured by the conventional ninja system. He is our savior. No reward would be too great for such merit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers. "Minato has a point. Kamizuki Yu's presence is a blessing for Hidden Leaf. We cannot treat him by ordinary standards."

He looked at Minato. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"I propose establishing an entirely new position for Kamizuki Yu—Hidden Leaf's Chief Honorary Advisor." Minato spoke each word clearly and forcefully.

"Chief Honorary Advisor?" Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Minato continued explaining, "This position will rank only below the Hokage. It will have the right to advise on the village's major decisions. Under special circumstances, such as with the Hokage's authorization or in a crisis involving the village's survival, it will possess veto power."

The conference room fell into a brief silence.

Veto power was practically equivalent to the Hokage's authority, even if only symbolically.

"This... this is too much power," Homura Mitokado said hesitantly.

"The symbolic meaning outweighs the practical one," Minato emphasized. "This is meant to demonstrate the village's highest respect for Yu, as well as my absolute trust in him. Furthermore, the Chief Advisor will have extensive freedom of action and will not be bound by the conventional mission system."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly nodded. "I agree with Minato's proposal. Kamizuki Yu deserves this honor."

He understood clearly that rather than allowing such a powerful person to remain outside the village's system, it was better to grant him a transcendent position and bind his interests more deeply to Hidden Leaf's.

"Since Lord Hokage and Minato have both decided this, we have no objections," Koharu Utatane stated.

Homura Mitokado nodded as well.

The resolution was passed.

"Then I'll go speak with him," Minato said, rising to his feet.

Kamizuki Yu's temporary residence was a quiet estate arranged by Minato.

When Minato explained his purpose and listed the position of "Chief Honorary Advisor" along with its associated authority, Kamizuki Yu's reaction was as calm as ever.

"Chief Honorary Advisor?" He rubbed his chin. "Sounds nice. Is it relaxing?"

Minato paused, then laughed. "Basically... very relaxing. Unless something major happens, no one will disturb you."

"Then it's fine." Kamizuki Yu accepted without hesitation.

He had little interest in power itself, but the conveniences brought by this position—such as the freedom to enter and leave various village facilities, access information, and mobilize resources—would be quite helpful for his future sign-in endeavors.

As for veto power? He cared even less about that. As long as he did not have to attend meetings every day, it was fine. His meeting-related PTSD from his previous life had not healed yet.

Several days later, the Fourth Hokage's inauguration ceremony was held as scheduled.

Hidden Leaf, having endured the Nine-Tails' rampage, was now filled with the calm and hope of those who had survived a disaster.

Minato Namikaze stood atop a high platform built beneath Hokage Rock, dressed in a brand-new Hokage ceremonial robe.

Sunlight shone upon his golden hair, making his entire body radiate a warm glow.

At his side stood a tall, upright young man.

Kamizuki Yu.

He was not wearing elaborate ceremonial attire today, only simple casual clothes, yet no one dared underestimate him in the slightest.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly announced that Minato would succeed as the Fourth Hokage, and simultaneously declared the establishment of the position of "Hidden Leaf Chief Honorary Advisor," to be held by Kamizuki Yu, the crowd below first fell silent before erupting in thunderous cheers.

"Lord Minato!"

"Fourth Hokage!"

"Lord Kamizuki Yu!"

"Hidden Leaf's Guardian!"

The two names shone side by side, representing Hidden Leaf's brightest light at that moment.

Kamizuki Yu turned a deaf ear to the surrounding clamor, his gaze falling upon Minato. This young Hokage truly had what it took to lead Hidden Leaf into a new future.

As for him, he only needed to lend a hand when necessary and, while he was at it... sign in.

After the ceremony ended, Minato invited Kamizuki Yu to the Hokage Office.

"This will be your office from now on as well, Yu." Minato smiled as he pushed open the door symbolizing the core of Hidden Leaf's power.

The office was simply furnished, yet it carried an air of solemnity.

Generations of Hokage had handled countless village affairs here and decided Hidden Leaf's fate.

Kamizuki Yu looked around, his gaze lingering briefly on the Hokage's chair.

[Ding! Sign-in at the Hokage Office successful! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (greatly reduced chakra consumption version)!]

The system notification rang in his mind.

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique? And a version with greatly reduced chakra consumption?

Kamizuki Yu's heart stirred.

For someone like him, who possessed a Sage Body and massive reserves of chakra, this technique had already been icing on the cake. But this improved version not only lowered chakra consumption; each shadow clone could also inherit a greater proportion of the original body's strength, and upon being dispelled, could relay combat experience and information back to the original more completely.

That meant he could have even more versions of "himself" training, researching, and even... signing in at the same time.

It was practically a divine technique for slacking off... no, for efficient cultivation.

"Very good." The corner of Kamizuki Yu's lips lifted in an almost imperceptible smile.

Minato noticed his expression. "What is it, Yu? Did you find something?"

"Nothing. I just think the feng shui here is pretty good," Kamizuki Yu replied casually.

Minato did not suspect anything and began introducing him to the Hokage Office's daily operations and the locations where classified documents were stored.

Kamizuki Yu was nominally the Chief Honorary Advisor, but in practice, Minato's trust in him nearly placed him on the level of an assistant.

He became Hidden Leaf's true "uncrowned king," wielding great authority while never taking the initiative to interfere in the village's specific affairs. His very existence was the strongest trump card for stabilizing the people internally and deterring enemy nations externally.

Most villagers and ninja felt reassured and proud that Hidden Leaf possessed such a powerful figure.

However, not everyone was pleased by this development.

In an inconspicuous corner of the village, deep within Root's base.

Danzo Shimura sat in the shadows, his bandage-wrapped right eye concealing his true emotions.

A Root ninja knelt on one knee, reporting on the inauguration ceremony.

"...Kamizuki Yu, Chief Honorary Advisor, possesses special decision-making authority."

"Hmph." Danzo let out a cold snort.

His exposed left eye flickered with a dark light.

"Hiruzen, and Minato as well—they are too naive. Placing such uncontrollable power in a high position is no different from raising a tiger that will one day bring disaster."

"A young man of unknown origins suddenly possesses power comparable to a tailed beast, even surpassing the Hokage... that in itself is the greatest source of instability."

"We must find a way to limit him, or... control him."

Danzo's voice was low and hoarse, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Beneath the calm surface of the lake, dark currents had already begun to surge.

Kamizuki Yu walked out of the Hokage Building, the sunlight somewhat dazzling.

He stretched, feeling the golden chakra within his body grow more condensed and more responsive to his will.

"Where should I sign in next?"

He strolled along streets where reconstruction work was beginning to take shape.