[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 42.
...
...
Things in Konoha were getting strange. Over the past few months, no one really knew what was going on for the most part — even the Hokage didn't know what to think about it.
People's eyes were uneasy, as if something very big was about to happen. The question was, what could be so big to create this feeling throughout the village?
Even civilians, whose perceptions were far below those of ninjas, also had the sense that the village's atmosphere was getting heavy — maybe not as much as during the last war, but the feeling that the peace, which hadn't even lasted two years, was about to change.
Minato headed to his apartment, where he found Mikoto making afternoon coffee.
"You finally arrived."
She commented with a sweet tone, as Minato entered, taking off his mask and changing clothes before joining her.
"Did something happen?"
She couldn't help but notice Minato's expression, looking thoughtful.
"Yes... our two former classmates, from your clan...
We found them on the northwestern border, crossing into the Land of Waterfalls."
Minato said in a serious tone.
"Wait? Those two were presumed dead?
How did they show up?"
She asked, surprised — after all, although Mikoto wasn't very informed about her clan and most of the ninjas who disappeared on the northern border, she and everyone else certainly knew they had died in the elite class war, with gossip always circulating from those who still kept in touch.
"Exactly, and somehow, they showed up — both having the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Minato said, making Mikoto grimace.
"How is that possible, that's not something from the clan..."
She murmured, not understanding what that meant. It didn't seem like an action from her father, like keeping two powerful ninjas outside Konoha's control — that didn't make sense to her.
"Exactly...
They weren't acting on behalf of the Uchiha clan, but I doubt the Hokage will see it that way, now that they have this information...
That's why I omitted some things, with only me fighting them."
Minato said, checking if anyone was nearby before saying his last words.
"The village already seems to despise the Uchihas, now they'll do everything to put a rope around their neck.
Was this the opportunity you said they needed to destroy the Uchihas?"
Mikoto asked, as Minato had already warned that one day, in the future, if the village had a good excuse to destroy them, it would do exactly that.
"This will be a good excuse to increase the pressure on the clan,
but at the same time, I doubt the village will do anything radical, even if they want to."
Minato said.
"The attack on the Uzumakis is about to happen.
And the village would be shooting itself in the foot if it encouraged internal conflict."
He explained.
Mikoto nodded, falling silent in thought before turning back to Minato.
"This is a good opportunity for you, isn't it?"
She suggested, and Minato nodded.
"Yes...
if the Uchihas are pushed against the wall in the coming months, it'll be a great opportunity to seek an alliance with them against the village leadership."
Minato said — he could bring the Uchihas to his side despite the conflict between them, after all, they would be investigated and pressured by the village.
Even more so considering the doubts and suspicions Tobirama's disciples naturally already had against them.
So they too would need allies — though Minato had to act quickly, as he had a better chance of doing so while Mikoto's father was still the clan leader, rather than Fugaku Uchiha, since according to Mikoto, her father was about to retire for good and become an elder.
"But if they're not with the Uchiha clan... who are they with?"
Mikoto asked, confused and intrigued.
"I already know about that, but we should talk about it when the village is safer for us — or outside of here."
Minato said as Mikoto nodded.
In any case, Minato continued eating with his companion.
"Tsuna came back... She wanted to talk to you since yesterday."
She commented, and Minato nodded.
"I felt her as soon as I entered the village, she definitely got stronger."
Minato could feel it.
"Yes..."
Mikoto said, at the same time clenching her fist, looking frustrated — that's what Minato knew was happening here, as she seemed to feel like she was falling behind the other companions.
"Mikoto... I have something for you, but I can't give it to you now...
Something that will make you stronger."
Minato said, while she looked a little confused but nodded, trusting what Minato was saying.
"I also need you to wear down your mangekyō a bit more, but we'll do that outside the village — after all, if those elders find out you have those eyes, they'll do everything they can to kill you."
Minato said in a serious tone.
She was initially confused by Minato asking her to use her mangekyō, which could make her blind, but she trusted him.
"I'm going to see Tsuna. Shall we?"
He invited her, and she nodded.
They headed to the Senju clan right after, going straight to Kushina's house, where Tsuna was with the redhead.
The door opened the next moment, with them also sensing their presence, and Tsuna smiled upon seeing Minato.
"Minato! You're finally here."
She said.
"Hello. You're finally back."
Minato replied, receiving a cheerful hug from the blonde before entering and then hugging Kushina, since he had been away from the village for a few days after the mission to patrol the border.
"So, tell me about the training."
Minato said as they sat at the table.
"I'm a lot stronger now... even though I still can't control my power...
Kushina said you mastered Sage Mode... months ago."
She said, looking at him with admiration.
"You could say that...
I went to Mount ______ and trained with the sages.
It was easy at first, but I had to spend weeks getting used to the energy."
Minato explained.
"Easy at first? Weeks?!"
Tsuna raised her voice with an incredulous expression upon hearing that from Minato.
"Do you have any idea how long it took me just to get through the beginning?!
And I spent months to pass the first part...
Damn it, Minato, you're really something else."
She muttered with a pout while Kushina and Mikoto remained silent.
"I was lucky to have some prior experience with my second summoning contract."
Minato said.
"Kushina said the fish had turned into a dragon... that's really hard to believe..."
Tsuna commented, and the other girls agreed with her.
"I know, and I barely had the chance to see all of its abilities while I'm hiding it from everyone in Konoha.
I was even going to try summoning it outside the country during these days off, but now it's time for me to train with Sakumo."
Minato said.
He stayed there for a few more hours, staying for dinner, while Minato looked at Kushina after concealing the place for another serious conversation — while she always activated her chains and barrier to talk about important matters, so nothing would reach the ears of the village leadership, while they still thought they just had a normal relationship, with Minato being engaged to all of them.
"I reached where the Kyuubi is..."
Kushina admitted, while Minato nodded, knowing very well what that meant.
"She's probably going to torment you..."
Minato said — if Kushina had found the place inside her subconscious where the bijuu was, she could also take him there whenever she wanted, just like what happened with Naruto when he learned the toad summoning jutsu.
"Yes..."
Kushina murmured with some uncertainty.
"Don't worry... we'll deal with her, Kushina."
Minato placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.
"You'll be able to handle her, there's no doubt. But you're also not alone. I told you once — I'll have a talk with her first."
Minato said, and he could feel a hostile, malevolent sensation aimed directly at him the moment he said that — while none of the other girls felt it — with Kushina nodding, despite her concern about Minato wanting to speak with the Kyuubi.
Minato fell silent, looking at the Uzumaki's belly.
The Kyuubi was clearly staring back at him, with a look that said she felt insulted by a human thinking he could simply talk to her.
What she didn't know was what Minato already knew about her — and above all, maybe he should just have a conversation with her. Even if he wasn't Naruto, he might still be able to end the conflict through dialogue.
Something that Minato honestly didn't find very logical — but still, he might surprise Kurama and speak of future events, and how she was needed as an ally — or else, would once again become part of the Ten-Tails used to resurrect Kaguya.
"That sounds dangerous..."
Mikoto commented, also looking worried.
"Don't worry about it. I have a way — but let's leave that talk for later."
Minato said.
Minato ended up staying with Mikoto and Tsuna with Kushina, and they all slept there that night.
The next day, Minato was on a battlefield, analyzing the sword in his hand.
Sakumo was near him, silently observing as Minato trained with him that day.
Minato was somehow trying to infuse something into the sword, completely focused on the metal, as he attempted to reach a new level of Haki — projecting it beyond his body into something external.
First, his arm began to darken, creating a layer of Armament Haki as it turned pitch black.
Then the Haki began to spread from his forearms directly into the sword, and the blade began to react — the hilt of the sword turned black and started to spread toward the middle of the blade.
Minato looked at it with satisfaction, trying to enhance the ability until it reached the end of the weapon — and finally, it began to expand after stopping at the midpoint. The entire sword was now black.
"Incredible... the sword is completely black..."
Sakumo commented, watching Minato with interest.
He had never really understood this ability that could even protect Minato's body from a sword attack, as he had already demonstrated to him.
Minato had said he wanted to put the same ability into the sword, potentially amplifying its cutting power to a level many times greater.
Sakumo still didn't understand it and had never been one to ask too many questions about Minato's secrets — after all, if Minato wanted to share, he would.
In any case, Minato looked toward the trees with the blackened sword and made a move that Sakumo had taught — to send chakra into the blade.
But Minato wouldn't use chakra this time — he would test his Haki.
He had already mastered the technique to the point of cutting a tree from 10 meters away —
but now, he wanted to do it with Haki, standing 10 meters from the dense forest ahead.
In the next moment, he made the same move from the technique, and the sound of the sword echoed through the area. Sakumo watched with interest and surprise at the shift in atmosphere.
Then he opened his eyes — the first tree began to rise, with a clean cut, separating from the lower part, while a second and third tree did the same.
In the end, more than ten trees were cut from a distance of 10 to 15 meters, lifting before falling.
The sound of them crashing resonated through the area, branches smashing under their own weight and leaves flying everywhere.
"That was amazing..."
Minato commented before his sword returned to regular metal, losing control.
"That really was incredible...
I've never seen anything like it, and I didn't even feel chakra in the air...
Do you have any idea how deadly this could be on a battlefield?"
Sakumo said.
"Maybe you..."
He stopped talking at that moment as Minato raised his hand.
His gaze was serious toward Sakumo as he understood — in the next moment, some ninjas passed by them, staring as they ran to another part of the village.
"Anbu?"
Sakumo murmured with narrowed eyes.
"They're from Root."
Minato said, recognizing them easily.
"The elders are really on edge, huh..."
Sakumo murmured.
"Yes... for them to send a group just to spy on us, knowing we'd notice them, they're only pretending to pass through the area.
The village is getting tense."
Minato explained and commented.
"Shall we gather tonight?"
Sakumo asked in a serious tone, and Minato nodded.
"Yes...
we'll gather all the clans that might support our cause.
We'll have the first conversation tonight."
Minato said as Sakumo nodded.
Minato was already putting his plans into motion in Konoha — reaching the edge of what the Uzumaki clan once was.
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 258 - I'm so happy...
Chapter 263 - Status Quo.
Chapter 273 - Executing a Kage.
Chapter 282 - Konoha Civil War 06.
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