But things were completely different at the other end.
Kushina stared at the dejection written all over her husband's face, her chest tightening again and again.
She knew better than anyone how many times Minato had risked his life to get this far.
"Minato, don't be like this."
Kushina softened her voice.
"Didn't Jin point out your weaknesses? You just need to work on those areas."
"The people you get along with—visit them more, open up to them more."
"Don't turn your nose up at that stuff. You're different from the others. You genuinely have the village's interests at heart."
"And think about this."
"That kid Jin Uchiha has the Uchiha Clan behind him, and those people don't see eye to eye with the village leadership at all."
"You might as well make use of that connection."
"If you're willing to settle down and work out a plan, you'll find a way."
"And then there's your teacher, that old pervert Jiraiya."
"With his student in the Hokage's seat, he'd have every legitimate reason to support you. I refuse to believe he'd just wash his hands of it."
"Not to mention how that old lecher keeps going on about you being the savior."
"If you want to get things done, would he dare not help?"
"Does he want his savior to do the job or not?"
"Anyway, give it some serious thought."
"The forces backing you aren't weak. Stop selling yourself short all the time!"
Kushina's face was taut with seriousness.
To help Minato regain some of his spirit, she had even put aside the blood feud of the Uzumaki Clan for the moment.
But...
Hearing all this only stirred resistance in Minato Namikaze's heart.
He didn't want to fight for power. That didn't fit his image of what a Hokage