Torifu Akimichi was utterly stunned.
Although he had only half understood what Shikaku Nara had just told him, he could at least grudgingly accept it. But the idea of Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi falling out struck him as absurd, no matter how he looked at it.
Was this some kind of joke?
Others might not understand Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Torifu had known his old friend for so many years. How could he not see what was going through his mind? As far as Torifu Akimichi was concerned, Minato Namikaze becoming the Fourth Hokage was practically set in stone. There was no other possibility.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi was unhappy about it, or had other plans, he had no alternative. Once Minato actually took the position of Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi would need his cooperation even if he still held the village's real power. Otherwise, Konoha would sooner or later be torn in two.
By then, Minato would be the rightful Hokage. If the two fell out completely, Hiruzen Sarutobi might still be able to force his decisions through, but the reputation he had spent his whole life building would be destroyed in an instant.
That was what Torifu Akimichi simply could not understand.
Yet after hearing his question, Shikaku Nara's expression remained completely unchanged. He merely gave a calm answer.
"Because of Rin Nohara."
"You may not know this yet, but Rin Nohara fell into enemy hands on the battlefield. They sealed the Three-Tails inside her, intending for her to lose control and go on a rampage after returning to Konoha."
Shikaku paused briefly, then continued his explanation.
"However, Minato Namikaze rescued Rin Nohara. Afterward, he asked Kushina to teach Rin Nohara how to control the Nine-Tails' power."
"That's where the trouble lies."
"Rin is Minato's student. Of course he'll