Minato Namikaze's expression became solemn, and he nodded. "Elder Danzo... He also has his own way of implementing the will of the village."
Unscrupulous means? Senju Chen sneered in his heart, but asked.
"What about you Brother Minato? If... I mean if you really take that position, how are you going to face these two people, as well as the patriarchs of the big clans in the village? They won't let you take that position easily."
This question is more acute than the one just now.
This is no longer asking him whether he wants to be Hokage, but asking him whether he has the ability to be Hokage well.
Minato Namikaze was silent.
There was a trace of struggle in his blue eyes. It was not that he was unaware of the danger involved, but what came to his mind were the fallen companions on the battlefield, the expectant eyes of the villagers, and the instructions of the teacher Jiraiya.
After a long time, he raised his head and his eyes became firm again.
"Senior Shikaku told me a lot recently. Hokage Position, for me, is not power, but responsibility." His voice was gentle, but with unquestionable power. "My responsibility is to protect this village and everyone in the village, and prevent them from being harmed by war again. No matter who it is, as long as his behavior threatens the tranquility and peace of the village, I will stop him."
"Even... even if the opposite person is my teacher, or Elder Danzo?" Senju Chen asked.
"Yes." Minato Namikaze answered with some difficulty, but his eyes did not waver in the slightest.
What a standard answer.
Senju Chen sighed softly in his heart.
Bright, upright, and full of idealistic brilliance. This answer is indeed very Minato Namikaze. But it is also this light that makes him unable to see clearly, or in other words, unwilling to face up to the darkness that must be solved by extraordinary means.
To deal with an old dog like Danzo, just "stopping" is useless, it must be uprooted.
Facing an ambitious person like his teacher Orochimaru, relying on "reason" alone will not work. He must have the power and skill that he is afraid of.
Minato Namikaze Still... too clean.
"Minato..." Kushina next to her finally couldn't help it anymore. She walked over and grabbed her husband's hand. Shira's blue eyes were full of worry, "That position is too dangerous. I..."
She wanted to say, now that we have a child, can we not fight for that position? But as she spoke, looking at her husband's firm profile, she couldn't say it out. She knew better than anyone else that protecting the village was a belief engraved in Minato Namikaze's bones.
Minato Namikaze held his wife's hand with his backhand, gave her a reassuring look, then looked at Senju Chen, and said sincerely, "Little Chen, I know your relationship with senior Orochimaru. No matter what the final result is, I hope that the friendship between us will not change."
"Of course." A bright smile broke out on Senju Chen's face, as if those sharp questions just now were just discussions between friends, "No matter who is Hokage, Brother Minato, you and Sister Kushina, they are all my most important family members."
He raised his tea cup and said, "Come and drink to this new life that is coming."
"Cheers!"
After saying goodbye to Minato Namikaze's family and saying goodbye to Anko, Senju Chen walked alone on the night road back to Senju's mansion.
The evening breeze was somewhat cool, dissipating some of the intoxication brought about by the warm atmosphere of the dinner, and made his mind clearer.
Kushina is pregnant.
Naruto Uzumaki, the future savior of Child of Prophecy and Shinobi World, will be born in less than a year.
This news, like a pebble thrown into the lake, caused clear ripples in the future blueprint he had already planned. It is not only the coordinate of time, but also a warning bell of fate.
Senju Chen is happy for Minato Namikaze and Sister Kushina from the bottom of his heart. The pure joy is unadulterated.
But after the joy, the tragic fate of the family in the original work still lingers in my mind.
In the original work, the birth of Kushina is the beginning of Nine-Tails' Attack and the prelude to the tragedy of Minato couple.
Senju Chen's fingertips were caressing gently unconsciously.
Minato Namikaze... He is a perfect hero, the sun that can illuminate the village, but he is too bright and too upright. His gentleness and faith are unparalleled cohesion when facing the villagers, but they will appear pale and powerless when facing Danzo, a cancer rooted in darkness.
Let him be Hokage, use his glorious image to stabilize the people's hearts after Third abdicates, and attract all the public firepower, is indeed the best choice at this stage.
But a perfect hero is also the most likely to be tragically sacrificed.
While thinking, he had already reached the vast clan land of the Senju Clan.
The tall courtyard walls cast deep shadows in the moonlight, and the once bustling gate seemed particularly silent now, as if telling the story of the glory and decline of a great ninja family.
Just as he was about to raise his hand to push the door open, Senju Chen stopped in his tracks.
He was keenly aware that in the familiar courtyard behind the door, there was a steady and somewhat anxious breath.
He quietly pushed open the heavy wooden door, and the door shaft made a slight "creep" sound that could be heard far away in the silent night.
Moonlight poured into the courtyard, illuminating the figure waiting behind the door.
It was an old man with gray hair but still tall and tall. He was wearing a simple gray kimono. His face was covered with wrinkles left by the years, but his eyes were still bright and energetic. It was Maruboshi Kosuke who was entrusted with the important task by Senju Chen.
"Grandpa Kosuke." Senju Chen showed a gentle smile on his face.
"Young Master Chen!" Seeing Senju Chen, Maruboshi Kosuke's serious face suddenly showed joy and relaxation from the bottom of his heart, "I received the news that you have returned to the village, so I specially waited here."
"Thank you for your hard work, Grandpa Kosuke. It's cold outside, let's go inside and talk." Senju Chen stepped forward and naturally supported the old man's arm.
The two of them walked into the Senju main house, which had not been inhabited for a long time.
Inside the mansion, the air was filled with the faint smell of dust and wood. Although Maruboshi Kosuke sent people to clean it regularly, the building that symbolized the glory of Senju ended up looking empty and deserted because of the lack of an owner.
Sitting on the tatami in the main hall, the dim light dissipated part of the darkness.
Maruboshi Kosuke didn't say a word. He took out a scroll from his arms, held it up with both hands, and got straight to the point. "Young Master Chen, during the time you left the village, the preliminary preparations for the 'Food Is Heaven' plan have been completed."
Senju Chen took the scroll and did not open it immediately, but signaled the old man to continue.
"According to your instructions, the training of the first batch of chefs and waiters has been completed. They are all civilians with clean wealth and signed the strictest contract. They are absolutely reliable." Maruboshi Kosuke's voice was steady and powerful. "As for the location of the first store, the old slave boldly made the decision and chose 'Capital of Fire'."
"Capital of Fire?" Senju Chen raised his eyebrows slightly.