Though they were all geniuses, and some were already important figures, Minato Namikaze thought about how agreeing now, painful as it might be, would give him twelve Kage-level powerhouses to call on in the future. Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "I fully support what you're planning! I'll do my best to persuade the other higher-ups!"
Hatake Ziyan said, "Of course you have to support me! You're the one who stands to gain the most! But persuading the other higher-ups shouldn't be much of a problem, should it?"
Minato Namikaze gave an awkward laugh and said nothing more.
Hatake Ziyan stood and headed outside. "This is the first batch. If these twelve do well in training, I'd like to train another batch. Give that some serious thought!"
At Hatake Ziyan's words, Minato Namikaze grew excited. How powerful would Konoha become if he trained two batches? Minato could scarcely imagine it.
After Hatake Ziyan left, Minato Namikaze immediately had everyone in the decision-making layer summoned.
"Lord Hokage, nothing major has happened recently, has it? What have you called us all here to discuss?" Shikaku asked once everyone had gathered.
Minato Namikaze quickly explained the idea Hatake Ziyan had just proposed and asked for their opinions.
The higher-ups present all looked excited after hearing Minato Namikaze's explanation. For once, they reached a decision straightaway-and the vote was unanimous!
Yet at that moment, a flicker of displeasure suddenly rose in Minato Namikaze's heart. Do you people think that I, the Hokage, am inferior to Hatake Ziyan?
Fine, I really am inferior to that damned old man, but I'm still annoyed! He said to them, "Don't you think this will give Hatake Ziyan more and more power in Konoha?"
Shikaku, standing nearby, was puzzled. Hadn't Lord Hokage just been the first to support