Kushina and the others exchanged looks, their faces blank with confusion.
None of them had expected Minato Namikaze to take this so seriously.
Still, they all knew Minato's personality. The gentler he usually was, the more serious things had to be for him to look this solemn.
Kushina nodded first, her expression growing grave as well. "I understand. Don't worry, I'll listen carefully."
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin said nothing, merely nodding in unison. Their youthful faces turned serious too.
Seeing this, Minato Namikaze nodded gently, then showed a trace of helplessness.
"Let me think about where to start."
He paused, as though he had changed his mind.
"I'll answer Kushina's question first."
"This time, Lord Hokage didn't stop investigating because he suddenly became generous. The real reason is that I, Minato Namikaze, am already certain to become the Fourth Hokage."
"Once the war ends, Hiruzen Sarutobi will step down, and I'll be the one to succeed him as Hokage. The formal jonin vote hasn't taken place yet, but I can already be certain of this."
The expressions on Kushina's and the others' faces shifted.
Minato continued without pausing. "As for why he's willing to go this far, you should still remember what we learned from the Nine-Tails that night."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't want an open break with me. He even wants to use this opportunity to smooth over our past differences. That's why he won't truly pursue what happened tonight to the bitter end."
"In the end, the things Kushina suffered before happened simply because our standing and status weren't high enough."
"The rules the village sets often apply only to ordinary people. The shinobi clans that hold power, along with the village leadership, aren't bound by those same rules at all."
Minato spoke that last sentence with particular clarity.