Inside the coffin, Minato's corpse was wrapped in a milky-white glow. Gradually, a flush of life returned to his skin, restoring the appearance he had in life.
Everyone was utterly stunned, yet Kaito's movements hadn't stopped.
He stretched out his hand, and a mass of blue energy drifted out from his sleeve, attaching itself to Minato's body.
Minato's eyelids trembled.
"N… Dad…" Naruto's voice shook as he called out.
At the sound of his son's voice, Minato's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he stepped out from the coffin.
At first, he looked around in confusion, then his gaze landed on Naruto standing right before him.
Naruto couldn't hold back anymore. He threw himself into Minato's arms, crying out "Dad!" with a voice that seemed desperate to reclaim all the years of absence at once.
Tears welled in Minato's eyes as he hugged Naruto tightly, answering him again and again.
The scene left everyone present deeply moved. Even Orochimaru wore a solemn expression, and no one dared make a sound to interrupt.
When Naruto finally calmed down a little, Minato gently pushed him away and turned to face Kaito.
He pressed his fist lightly against Kaito's chest and said softly,
"Thank you, Kaito!"
Kaito smirked, snorted, and replied,
"Tch, I already told you, take care of your own kid. I don't have time for that kind of thing!"
Minato shook his head with a helpless smile.
"You haven't changed at all."
"Huh? You trying to act tough now? Want me to put you back in the coffin?"
"Ahem… no, I mean, you're still the same as before—loyal and steadfast!"
Kaito had already closed his Rinnegan, so all he could offer Minato was a long-suffering eye-roll. Pointing to the Hokage robes he wore, he said,
"I'm the Hokage now. You, the former-former Hokage—got anything to say about that? If you want the job back, I'll hand it over to you right now."
Minato shook his head, his face calm.
"No. Whoever wants to be Hokage can take the title. All I want now is to be a good father."
At that, Naruto's emotions, which he had barely managed to suppress, surged up again, and he kept wiping tears from his face.
Kaito had already predicted this outcome. Still, what he'd said wasn't just lip service. If Minato had wanted the Hokage seat, Kaito really would have given it to him. Being "the head of the village" wasn't something he cared for anyway.
The whole reason he took the title was simply to break the so-called "rule" that no Uchiha could ever become Hokage.
...
The others finally snapped out of their daze.
They stared at Minato—alive and standing before them—as though their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
Minato lifted his head and glanced up at the Hokage Monument. His gaze lingered briefly on the Third's face and then on his own, before turning away without a shred of attachment.
Facing the people of Konoha, his face broke into a radiant smile, shining like a little sun.
"Everyone… it's been a long time."
Minato's tenure as Hokage hadn't been long, but the villagers' respect and love for him were no less than for any of the others. And on top of that, he had saved Konoha during the Nine-Tails' attack. He was, in truth, the village's hero.
Some people were already sobbing quietly. They hadn't forgotten Konoha's "Yellow Flash," the little sun who once illuminated them all.
In the crowd, Kakashi stood with his head hanging low.
He desperately wanted to run forward and hug Minato, but guilt weighed him down. He had failed to protect Naruto properly.
Minato spotted him at once. Tilting his head, he called out,
"Kakashi! You see your sensei and don't even say hello? What, don't recognize me anymore?"
Kakashi's body trembled. Slowly, he stepped out from the crowd, guilt written all over his face.
"Sensei, I…"
"What do you mean 'I'? Tonight, come over for dinner. Let your sensei hear how you've been living all these years!"
That broke Kakashi completely. Tears burst out as he pulled down the mask covering his right eye, his voice choking,
"Sensei! I failed Naruto! I failed both you and Kushina-sensei!"
Minato walked up to him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said gently,
"Don't say any more. I never blamed you."
...
Off to the side, Tsunade stared at Minato's face, studying him again and again.
Sensing her gaze, Minato turned his head with a puzzled look.
"Tsunade-sama, what are you looking at?"
Tsunade didn't answer, but inside her heart, waves of shock crashed.
"He's alive! Minato really came back! How is this possible?!"
At that moment, things like Hokage or Konoha no longer mattered to her. What consumed her mind was the technique that had resurrected Minato. Did it have limits? Could she learn it?
If she could master such a jutsu, wouldn't she be able to bring her loved ones back too?
And Tsunade wasn't the only one with that thought. Many others wore the same eager look as they stared at Kaito. Their intentions couldn't be clearer.
Kaito, however, had no interest in humoring them. Instead, he glanced at Minato and, with a mischievous grin, declared,
"I hereby appoint Namikaze Minato as Minister of Administration."
The Administration Department was Konoha's most powerful division, responsible for overseeing all governance. To be its leader wasn't just about strength—seniority mattered most.
Originally, the position had been held by Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane…
With their deaths, the seat had been left vacant. And who better to take it than Minato—the man who had once been Hokage and was on good terms with Kaito?
Of course, Kaito's true motive was simply to dump all the paperwork on Minato so he could sit back and relax.
Minato let out a bitter laugh.
"Kaito… do I really have to take this post?"
"What, you want to loaf around unemployed? Fine by me. But keep in mind—all your property was confiscated by the Third. Want to squeeze in with Naruto instead?"
"…Fine! I'll take it, okay?!"
Minato gritted his teeth and accepted.
Kakashi, feeling the weight of Minato's hand on his shoulder, muttered weakly,
"Sensei… your grip is a bit too strong…"
...
Settling the matter with Minato, Kaito continued,
"As for the former ANBU Commander—he died in the line of duty. That post can't stay vacant. I already have someone in mind, and they'll be installed in a few days."
Everyone knew the previous ANBU Commander had been one of the Third's people, and that Kaito had "arranged" for his convenient death. Tsunade and the others were well aware—but what could they say? Nothing but silence.
Still, curiosity stirred within them. Given what had just happened with Minato, they suspected Kaito might revive yet another dead shinobi. Probably an Uchiha.
But who? Uchiha Fugaku? Though he'd be better suited as Police Chief, wouldn't he?
Kaito gave them no answers. Rubbing his forehead, he said impatiently,
"I'm tired. That's enough for today."
With that, he vanished in a flash.