That very night, news spread throughout Konohagakure that Minato Namikaze had simultaneously offended both the Uchiha Clan and the Hyūga Clan.
Almost everyone in the village learned that after becoming Hokage, Minato intended to intervene in the internal affairs of the major clans. Opinions across the village quickly split.
Most ordinary shinobi believed Minato's ideas were not wrong. Many clans within the village were still maintaining outdated and inhumane systems left over from the Warring States Era, and those practices indeed needed reform.
However, there were also many who felt Minato had overstepped his authority, and that allowing him to take power might not necessarily be a good thing.
Among all groups, the reactions of the Uchiha Clan and the Hyūga Clan were the most intense.
Most Uchiha shinobi publicly declared that they would never hand over control of the Konoha Military Police Force. Even if Minato became the Fourth Hokage, they would not compromise.
The Hyūga Clan's response was even stronger. Several elders of the Main House spoke out one after another, stating that Minato Namikaze lacked proper judgment. In their view, allowing him to become Hokage would absolutely be a mistake, and they firmly opposed him becoming the Fourth Hokage.
"Hahaha! That brat Namikaze has cut off his own path!"
Inside the Root headquarters, Shimura Danzō burst into laughter after learning the full story.
Originally, he had planned to wait until Minato assumed the position of Hokage before secretly provoking further conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village. That would ignite a larger crisis, forcing Minato to take the blame and step down.
By then, the village leadership would be in disarray, and Danzō could step forward to "stabilize the situation" and take the seat of the Fifth Hokage himself.
But now it seemed that even the position of Fourth Hokage might still be within his reach.
"Uchiha and Hyūga, huh…"
"Terai, arrange a meeting with Hyūga Hiashi. I want to see him tomorrow at noon. Also, compile detailed information on every clan in the village—mark their current difficulties and what they need."
After thinking for a long time, Danzō decided to first test the attitudes of the various clans.
"Yes, sir."
A Root operative stepped out from the shadows and bowed respectfully.
"Wait!"
Danzō suddenly thought of something.
"Move the meeting with Hyūga Hiashi to the evening. Go to Laboratory No. 1 and prepare Subject No. 1 and Tenzo. Tomorrow I'll meet Orochimaru first."
Danzō understood something very clearly—when negotiating with the clans, you must hold powerful bargaining chips in your hand.
The more cards you possess, the more likely those clans are to compromise… or to place their bets on you.
And if he could persuade Orochimaru, then Orochimaru would become one of his strongest trump cards.
With Orochimaru as his card, his chances of convincing the Hyūga Clan would increase dramatically.
Once he secured the Hyūga Clan, they too would become another powerful card in his hand.
With Orochimaru and the Hyūga Clan—two explosive trump cards—would any of the smaller clans dare refuse to bow their heads?
And once more and more clans stood behind him…
Even the Uchiha Clan would have to kneel before him and submit!
The seat of Hokage—
Shimura Danzō was determined to claim it.
At nearly the same time, Minato Namikaze, who had already gone to bed, was awakened by an ANBU shinobi and urgently summoned to Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.
"Minato, you were too impulsive!"
Hiruzen's face was dark with anger as he reprimanded him.
Minato remained calm.
"Lord Hokage, I wasn't being impulsive. Those were my true thoughts. Don't you think the Konoha Military Police Force isn't suited for the Uchiha Clan?"
"And the conflict between the Hyūga Main House and Branch House has existed for a long time. The Main House can execute members of the Branch House at any time. That's unfair."
"The Branch House members are also part of our village!"
Hiruzen froze slightly. Looking at Minato's serious expression, he felt somewhat helpless.
The reasoning itself was correct—but politics did not work that way.
Then again, it was precisely because Minato was still somewhat inexperienced that Hiruzen had chosen him as his successor in the first place.
After a moment of silence, Hiruzen spoke earnestly.
"Minato, not everything in this world can be perfect. You must learn to compromise."
"Take the Hyūga Clan for example. They understand their internal conflicts better than anyone. But in order to prevent their Byakugan bloodline from falling into outsiders' hands, they had no choice but to adopt this system."
"In this matter, the Branch House has indeed suffered grievances. But if both sides accept it… even as Hokage, there is little I can do."
Minato's voice grew heavier.
"Do they truly accept it willingly? Or are they forced to accept it?"
"The life and death of the Branch House are controlled by the Main House."
"I believe there are members of the Branch House willing to endure injustice for the sake of their clan's bloodline. But there must also be those who resent this unfair treatment yet have no choice but to bow their heads."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment before sighing.
"Perhaps what you say is true. But as Hokage, the first priority must always be the bigger picture."
"What the village needs is a stable Hyūga Clan. As long as they can handle their internal affairs without affecting the village's stability, turning a blind eye is sometimes necessary."
There was another reason Hiruzen did not say aloud.
Compared to a united and prosperous Hyūga Clan, he actually preferred one with internal conflict.
Only then could the Hokage better control them whenever the need arose.
Minato fell silent.
Completely silent.
Although part of his earlier actions had been deliberate political maneuvering, he truly did want to solve the Hyūga Main House–Branch House issue.
He had already guessed some of the reasons why the village leadership had never intervened.
But hearing Hiruzen personally confirm it still left him unable to respond.
He simply could not agree with Hiruzen's political philosophy.
"Alright. Don't bring up these matters again—for now."
Hiruzen knew the authority in his hands would eventually pass to Minato. As long as nothing went wrong while he still held power, that was enough.
As for what would happen after he relinquished power… or after his death—
That would no longer be his concern.
After a pause, Hiruzen continued:
"Whether it's the Uchiha Clan or the Hyūga Clan, they are both major clans of Konoha. The jōnin within their clans hold voting rights. Whether you become the Fourth Hokage may depend on those votes."
"I will find a way to ease your relationship with them."
"For the next few days, follow my arrangements. Go teach a class at the Ninja Academy, show your face at Konoha Hospital, and help out at the orphanage."
"I'll handle everything else."
"In short—remember this:
The more you do, the more mistakes you make.
The less you do, the fewer mistakes you make.
Do nothing, and you make no mistakes."
"You're in a critical period right now. You absolutely cannot make any errors."
Minato sighed softly.
"I understand."
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