[send power stones please]
Hikaru had guessed correctly: revealing his identity did earn him a certain degree of acknowledgment from Minato Namikaze—at least in terms of attitude.
But Hikaru also understood clearly that this acknowledgment was shallow.
More than that, he knew his move could just as easily trigger Minato's suspicion—and he might even treat it as ulterior motives.
And honestly, if Minato thought that way, Hikaru wouldn't find it strange at all.
If he were in Minato's position—facing someone who kept sending half-clear messages through Kakashi, refused to explain things fully, hid his true identity, and showed obvious resentment toward the Third Hokage's faction—he would be on guard too.
Minato wasn't naïve. He was kind and carried goodwill toward the village, yes—but he'd fought through enough battlefields and crises to survive. If he were truly foolish, he would have died long ago.
So now, Hikaru's priority was simple:
Control the tone of this relationship and prevent it from sliding into hostility.
Because he still wanted sealing techniques—and the Flying Thunder God.
If this turned ugly, he'd lose everything.
"I imagine, Hokage-sama… you must have a lot of doubts right now."
His voice remained gentle. Then he slowly removed his mask, revealing his face.
Showing his true face to Minato was also a form of sincerity.
"Yes," Minato nodded seriously. "I have many questions."
He looked straight at Hikaru.
" Hikaru-kun… I'm curious. Those things you had Kakashi pass on to me—what were you thinking when you did that?"
Hikaru gave a quiet sigh, looking almost helpless.
"To be honest, I didn't think too deeply. And if I had the choice, I wouldn't want to meet the Fourth Hokage at all."
Minato's expression turned slightly strange.
Hikaru continued calmly.
"Hokage-sama should already sense it—your orders can't truly be carried out as you intend, can they?
Take ANBU, for example. Many of the commands we receive still come from the Third Hokage… not the Fourth.
So unless it was genuinely necessary, I wouldn't dare come to you."
He spoke with quiet sincerity, and Minato felt the impact land harder than he expected.
Minato already knew much of this—but hearing it from an ANBU captain was different. It wasn't rumor. It was confirmation.
ANBU was a Kage's most critical tool. Yet Minato's control over it was close to zero.
And it wasn't just ANBU.
The Administration Department, with Nara Shikaku at its core, treated Minato with respect. They analyzed problems, drafted policy documents, and prepared orders.
But in the waiting process, they would still notify the Third Hokage—or even Danzo.
In other words, Minato wore the title of Hokage, but not the full authority.
Minato drew a slow breath. His voice turned sharper.
"Then why choose to come to me at all, Hikaru-kun?
You know my situation—are you trying to push me into turning against the Third Hokage? Or…"
"No—Hokage-sama, you've misunderstood."
Hikaru cut him off instantly. That was a burden he absolutely could not carry, even if he had thoughts in that direction.
"If you and the Third Hokage openly break—
Setting aside whether you'd even win…
Konoha would suffer unpredictable damage."
His tone stayed warm, but his logic was firm.
"The war has only just ended. The village is still weak. If something like that happens now, we're finished.
And yes—As a member of the Senju clan, I do want the Third Hokage's faction to lose its grip on power..
But as a shinobi of Konoha—especially as ANBU—I know what choice must come first."
He stopped there, saying no more.
But he was watching Minato carefully.
Minato's face remained unreadable, yet Hikaru's sensing told him the truth—
Minato had relaxed, just slightly.
First hurdle cleared.
After a long silence, Minato finally spoke.
"Then why did you still seek me out?
I don't believe it was for sealing techniques. And I don't believe it was only for Kakashi.
Say it plainly. Otherwise, we can't continue."
Hikaru nodded once.
"You're right. Taking that risk requires a real reason.
And the first reason… I believe Hokage-sama has already guessed it."
"Guessed?" Minato frowned, then his eyes sharpened. "Flying Thunder God?"
"Yes."
Hikaru's gaze dropped to the scroll on the ground.
"My first purpose is to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Minato nodded. That much tracked— Hikaru being able to activate the mark already proved he understood too much for it to be coincidence.
"And besides that?" Minato asked.
"Besides that…"
Hikaru lifted his eyes, calm as ever.
"I want the Fourth Hokage to win."
Minato's stare grew deeper.
At that moment, he understood something important:
Hikaru might not be speaking only for himself.
He might represent a current within the Senju remnants.
And "win" meant: reclaim true Hokage authority from the Third Hokage's faction.
Perhaps even restore the Senju's standing in Konoha's power structure.
Minato searched Hikaru's eyes for hidden motives—
But all he found was steady gentleness and controlled calm.
After a long time, Minato asked:
"How do you want me to win?"
Hikaru answered immediately, as if he'd rehearsed this answer a thousand times.
"Not by tearing the village apart.
Not by harming Konoha.
But by becoming the true Hokage—through a method that doesn't require open conflict."
Minato's voice lowered.
"Is that the Senju's position?"
"No."
Hikaru shook his head.
"That's my position. I haven't reported this back.
Because within the Senju… there are people who—"
He stopped.
Minato simply nodded. Extremists existed everywhere; that wasn't surprising.
What did trouble him was something else:
Could Hikaru truly represent the Senju?
But then Minato let out a bitter inner laugh.
Whether he could or not… what choice did Minato really have right now?
Finally, Minato made his decision.
"I understand, Hikaru-kun.
From now on, I want more information—about ANBU, and about the internal parts of Konoha that I can't access, but you can."
"No problem, Hokage-sama."
"And in return…"
Minato's gaze stayed steady.
"I will personally teach you the Flying Thunder God Technique.
I want you to master it."
"Yes, Hokage-sama… huh?"
Personally teach?
Wait—why not have Kushina teach him sealing techniques first?!
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