The daimyo frowned at Minato Namikaze's words but did not try to persuade him further. There was no need to rush this sort of thing. He only needed to plant a seed in both their minds and wait for it to sprout.
Besides, Minato Namikaze was right. There was no telling how many trump cards that old monster held, and with Hatake Ziyan's current strength, killing him themselves would be far too difficult-unless they used poison! Even then, the consequences of killing him were more than they could bear. They would have to plan carefully over time.
Afterward, the daimyo had lunch with Minato Namikaze before letting him return to Konoha.
Once Minato Namikaze left, he took the members of the Hokage Guard to look for Hatake Ziyan and Kushina.
But all along the way, Minato Namikaze kept wondering how much of what the daimyo had said was credible. After all, something did not become true simply because someone said it was.
Minato Namikaze shook his head and sighed inwardly. Why am I worrying about this? I haven't even secured my own Hokage position yet, so why am I concerning myself with the daimyo's affairs? Besides, I'm Konoha's Hokage, not a subordinate of the Daimyo's Mansion. I'll set this matter aside for now!
Minato Namikaze found Kushina and Hatake Ziyan at a tavern in town.
"Lord Ziyan, thank you for speaking up for me earlier!" Minato Namikaze said.
Hatake Ziyan nodded, indicating that it was nothing to make a fuss about. "It was only a few words! Come, Minato, have something to eat with us!"
Minato rubbed his head and said, "Lord Ziyan, I just ate at the Daimyo's Mansion!"
Hatake Ziyan lowered his head and took a sip of wine. "Minato, remember that you are Konoha's Hokage. What anyone else says doesn't matter. What matters is that you know what you ought to do!"
"Yes, Lord Ziyan!" A flicker of surprise crossed Minato Namikaze's eyes, but when he remembered the pouch of advice Hatake Ziyan had given him some time ago, it was hardly surprising that he could guess this too.
After finishing their meal, they set off together on the journey back to Konoha.
Once they were well away from town, they cut straight through the mountain forests toward Konoha instead of following the route they had taken there, since they were pressed for time.
They reached Konoha just as night fell, making the return trip in half the time.
Early the next morning, Minato Namikaze put on his Hokage robe and hat and went to the Hokage Office.
Minato Namikaze first checked the important documents that had been flagged over the past two days. Finding nothing major, he began another ordinary day as Hokage.
After Minato Namikaze had reviewed several documents, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage Office.
"Fourth? When did you get back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, sounding somewhat surprised when he saw Minato Namikaze. "Nothing unexpected happened during your audience with the daimyo, did it?"
A trace of doubt flashed through Minato Namikaze's eyes at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. How did the Third know something might happen during my audience with the daimyo? Could Hiruzen Sarutobi himself really have reported that I forced him to step down?
Minato Namikaze feigned delight. "Not at all! The daimyo was very pleased with my appointment and expressed his approval of me!"
Minato Namikaze smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi, watching his face for any change in expression.
"Really? That's wonderful! Congratulations, Fourth!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a cheerful smile of his own.
Minato Namikaze kept watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had concealed it well, Minato Namikaze still caught the slight frown that appeared just before he smiled. It lasted only an instant. Had Minato Namikaze not been staring at his face the whole time, he would never have noticed.
Minato Namikaze did not call him out on it and merely smiled along with him.
Then Minato Namikaze began working through the documents, handing the completed ones to Hiruzen Sarutobi to check for any problems. In this respect, Hiruzen Sarutobi held nothing back, teaching Minato some methods for handling administrative affairs.
During this period, the two worked quite smoothly together. Once Minato had become fully familiar with the Hokage's duties-the publicly known ones-he convened his first meeting of all Konoha's higher-ups.
In the Council Hall, Minato Namikaze sat at the head. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Uchiha Fugaku, and others sat to his left, while Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, and others sat to his right.
As for our Hatake Ziyan, he had not come.
Minato Namikaze looked at the people on either side of him and began, "This is the first meeting of the higher-ups I've called since becoming Hokage. There isn't actually anything particularly important this time. I simply wanted to bring everyone together and let you all know that I am now officially the Fourth Hokage. Starting today, Lord Third will officially step back from the front line and become an elder of the Hokage Advisor Council."
No one had expected Minato to open by announcing that the Third was stepping back to become a Hokage Advisor! Still, saying so now was hardly an issue. After all, few of the higher-ups present truly stood on Hiruzen Sarutobi's side anymore.
Seeing that no one spoke, Minato Namikaze continued, "Although I'm now the Fourth Hokage, there are still many areas where I'll need everyone's help, so I look forward to your support. We don't often hold meetings like this, so if anyone has something to say, please take this opportunity to raise it. We can all discuss it together!"
At Minato Namikaze's words, everyone exchanged glances and murmured among themselves, but no one stood up to say anything.
Then Hatake Sakumo was the first to rise. "I've served as Anbu Captain for nearly ten years now. May I say a few words about the Anbu's situation?"
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Go ahead, Sakumo!"
Having received permission, Hatake Sakumo cleared his throat and said, "I think we could broaden our recruitment for the Anbu. Rather than selecting only from existing Konoha ninja who are talented and absolutely loyal to Konoha, we could also adopt children with good potential and train them from an early age. This would not only ensure their loyalty, but also reduce hesitation when difficult choices must be made, increasing the success rate of missions-just as Elder Danzo's Root trains its ninja!"
After Hatake Sakumo finished, none of the higher-ups present stood to voice an objection.
Seeing that no one spoke, Minato Namikaze said, "Since no one objects, Hatake Sakumo will take primary responsibility for this matter."
Sakumo thanked everyone around him, then sat down.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Minato Namikaze asked again.
The meeting room fell silent once more, and everyone looked at Minato Namikaze.
"Since no one has anything to say, I'll..." Minato Namikaze was just about to continue.
"Lord Fourth, I have a few words to say." Danzo stood, paused, then said, "I propose abolishing the position of Hokage Advisor Elder. I believe the Hokage Advisor Elders place far too great a constraint on the Hokage's exercise of his authority!"
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