On the road connecting the Hokage Building to ANBU Headquarters, Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi walked side by side.
Behind them followed Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
This street was one of Konoha's busiest. People moved back and forth in a constant flow, vendors shouted their wares, and even housewives stopped to browse and bargain.
Yet none of them seemed to notice that the five most powerful figures in the village were walking right through this crowd.
Life went on as usual, harmonious and orderly.
But among these five, very few were in the mood to appreciate such harmony—especially Minato, Hiruzen, and Danzo. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.
"Fourth Hokage," Hiruzen suddenly asked calmly as they walked,
"what is your opinion on this ANBU division commander selection?"
"Third Hokage," Minato replied with his usual warm smile, gentle like the morning sun,
"I think it's best to let things take their natural course. Everyone participating this time meets the qualifications—no matter who succeeds, it wouldn't be surprising."
"Everyone is qualified?" Danzo scoffed from behind them.
"Others might be fine, but can you explain what that Nightingale is doing there?"
"Nightingale is naturally qualified as well," Minato replied flatly, clearly uninterested in continuing the discussion with Danzo.
Minato disliked Danzo—this was hardly a secret.
In fact, there were very few people in Konoha who genuinely liked Danzo. Minato's attitude was well within what could be considered normal for a Konoha ninja.
Of course, as Hokage, he couldn't openly display his distaste.
He also understood that although he disapproved of Root's existence, it did serve a certain function.
That said, this "necessity" had long crossed the line—and Root was something he couldn't interfere with, nor fully understand.
Danzo, seeing Minato's indifferent response, felt his resentment surge.
All of his arrangements within ANBU had collapsed with Namuki's death.
And Hiruzen clearly had no intention of letting him interfere again—something that filled Danzo with bitterness.
What angered him most was this:
ANBU, which he was barred from touching, was now being influenced by Minato—this brat—who had used his Hokage authority to forcibly insert someone into the selection.
And Hiruzen had agreed.
To Danzo, this was nothing short of outright betrayal.
Yet he knew arguing was pointless.
Hiruzen was the Hokage.
Minato was also the Hokage.
Hokage.
That title was Danzo Shimura's lifelong obsession.
Countless times, he had replayed that moment in his mind—
If only I had been one second faster back then…
But time could not be reversed.
Nothing could be changed.
"Nightingale does indeed meet the requirements," Hiruzen said calmly, glancing at his old friend before turning his gaze to Minato.
"He has sufficient experience and sufficient strength."
"However," he continued, "his flaws are also obvious. He's too young—can he really command respect? And his chakra reserves… aren't they also an issue?"
"Nightingale may be young," Minato answered steadily,
"but I believe he has the ability to make others follow him willingly."
"As for his chakra," he added, "that's clearly tied to his age. His potential, I think, speaks for itself—doesn't it, Third Hokage?"
"His potential is indeed impressive," Hiruzen replied with a slight shake of his head.
"But this assessment isn't something just anyone can pass."
After a brief pause, he continued,
"Still, since you want to give it a try, then go ahead. We're following standard procedure—it doesn't violate Konoha's rules.
"If he succeeds, all the better.
If he fails, it will still be a valuable experience for the child."
"Of course," Minato nodded with a smile.
"Regardless of the outcome, it will be a meaningful experience."
Their exchange was calm and measured, as if they were discussing an entirely ordinary matter.
Yet Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, walking behind them, couldn't help but sigh softly.
This conversation sounded mild, but the undercurrents were sharp.
The Nightingale they were talking about could only be Senju Hikaru.
A descendant of the Senju clan becoming an ANBU division commander—
that was something they had never even considered.
What surprised them even more was Minato's connection with a Senju descendant.
Of course, they understood that this connection was largely based on a teacher–student relationship.
It could also be interpreted as Minato trying to establish his own power base.
But the present-day Senju clan was no longer the Senju of old.
From their perspective, Minato's actions were nothing more than a desperate gamble.
Forcing Senju Hikaru into the division commander selection would only deepen ANBU's dissatisfaction toward him—and achieve little else.
Hiruzen's agreement was not only meant to teach Minato a lesson, but also to prevent Danzo from inserting himself into ANBU again.
Both Hiruzen and Minato understood Danzo's ambitions—and understood even more clearly that those ambitions would never be realized.
And in truth, Hiruzen and Minato shared a similar, unspoken mindset.
Ever since Hiruzen had spoken of "the future," the two of them had begun to drift apart beneath the surface.
Minato remained respectful, but his decision to push Hikaru into the selection spoke volumes.
Even so, they were perfectly aligned in one thing:
Danzo Shimura would not be allowed to get what he wanted.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads in silent agreement as they looked toward Danzo.
He was trapped too deeply in his own delusions.
No one could convince him otherwise.
He was never going to succeed.
"We're almost there," Hiruzen said calmly, looking ahead.
"Let's see how they perform."
"Yes," Minato replied with a gentle smile.
"All we can do now is watch their performance. I believe Nightingale will do well—after all, he learned quite a lot from me."
"Oh?" Hiruzen asked with interest.
"Your personal guidance? Are you planning to take this child as your disciple?"
"Perhaps," Minato answered softly.
"As for the future… who can say?"
Yes.
Who could truly say what the future held?
Hiruzen nodded and said no more.
As they continued forward, the five figures eventually disappeared into a building.
The once-bustling street gradually quieted, the crowds dispersing until only a few vendors remained
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