The next morning, in the Hokage's office in Konohagakure.
"Hokage-sama!"
"I've brought Ka here!"
A masked ANBU member appeared in the office, kneeling respectfully on one knee.
Sitting behind his desk, Minato Namikaze's face lit up with a smile. "Let him in," he said warmly.
Creak...
The door opened, and a young man stepped in. He had long brown hair, a forehead protector with a protective faceplate, and wore a high-collared black combat outfit with a loose fit. His appearance suggested he had just come of age.
The young man also knelt on one knee and greeted with a firm voice, "Hokage-sama!"
"Good!"
"Ka, ever since I heard about your outstanding talents in the Root division, I've been thinking about transferring you out of there. After sending so many people to approach you, it's great to see that you've finally come around..."
Minato spoke to Ka with a tone full of relief and appreciation.
"Hokage-sama, you flatter me!"
"Root is also an organization that serves the village! I believe that Danzo-sama will eventually come to realize this as well."
Ka kept his head lowered, his voice steady, as if reluctant to dwell on the events of the past.
Minato waved his hand lightly, signaling the masked ANBU member, who promptly vanished without a sound.
"Ka!"
"I have a very important mission for you!"
Minato's tone suddenly turned serious, his expression grave.
"Hokage-sama, please give your orders. I am prepared to give my life to fulfill them!"
Ka remained kneeling, his head bowed, eyes closed, his face calm, showing no concern about the possibility of receiving an exceptionally challenging task.
"Your mission is to teach my son, Naruto, how to use Wood Release!"
Ka slowly lifted his head upon hearing these words. His mouth opened slightly in surprise, and his face showed disbelief. However, when he saw the unchanged seriousness in Minato's expression, the fog of doubt in his heart only thickened.
Minato's demeanor bore no trace of favoritism or nepotism. Instead, he seemed as though he were making a decision of monumental importance, one that could determine the very survival of the village.
If it were the Third Hokage issuing such an order, it might be interpreted as an act of personal gain.
But Minato Namikaze's reputation was built on fairness and impartiality. He was known for treating all ninja equally, judging them based on their abilities and contributions.
"You don't need to know too much. Just understand this: whether Naruto can master Wood Release is a matter that concerns the future of Konohagakure, and perhaps the entire ninja world!"
"Naruto's primary chakra nature is Wind. Therefore, developing Water and Earth natures will be much more challenging for him. I'll need you to have extra patience with him..."
As Minato spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Ka.
"Ah?!"
"Hokage-sama, there's no need for this..."
Ka quickly rose, attempting to stop Minato's gesture.
"However, if Naruto's primary chakra nature is Wind, why not focus on Wind Release instead of deliberately taking a more difficult path?"
Ka stood before Minato, voicing his doubts.
"Because..."
"There's a powerful enemy of Konohagakure—so strong that even my Wind Release and Flying Thunder God Technique are ineffective against him..."
"After much thought, I realized that the only person in Konohagakure's history who could potentially deal with this enemy is the First Hokage."
Minato let out a soft sigh, his expression showing a rare trace of defeat.
Indeed.
The ever-growing strength of Sōmi continued to bring Minato unexpected "surprises" every time they met.
Meanwhile, Minato's own progress had nearly stagnated. Aside from "harvesting" Nine-Tails chakra from Kushina, he could think of no other way to enhance his abilities...
Moreover, the demands of governance and negotiations with the Konoha Council consumed much of his time and energy.
The decision to have Naruto learn Wood Release was one Minato made only after visiting Mount Myōboku and consulting the Great Toad Sage, who spoke a single prophetic sentence that solidified his resolve.
If Naruto were to follow the conventional path—learning the Rasengan, developing Wind Release, mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, and overcoming the Nine-Tails in a chakra tug-of-war—at best, he would become a second Minato.
But even if Konohagakure had two Minatos, it would still fall short of the absolute power the First Hokage wielded, the kind of power that singlehandedly suppressed the entire ninja world.
What worried Minato even more was the possibility that one day, he himself might fall to an enemy he couldn't overcome.
In such a scenario, Naruto would need to surpass him entirely, becoming a figure like the First Hokage, to bring true peace to Konohagakure and the ninja world.
Of course, Minato wouldn't share these thoughts with Ka so openly.
Not even Kushina was fully aware of his concerns. Minato did his best to maintain an appearance of calm and stability around her.
But having lived with Minato for years, Kushina was far too perceptive not to notice something was amiss. The occasional look of sorrow she cast at Naruto made it abundantly clear.
Fortunately, Naruto himself was exceptionally gifted. At school, he had already earned a reputation as a prodigy.
After all, Naruto, raised under the meticulous guidance of Kushina and Minato, was worlds apart from the "wild" version of himself in the original timeline.
Today was the day nine-year-old Naruto and Sasuke were officially graduating from the ninja academy after three years of study.
The three-year duration was due to Minato's policy that, during times of peace, even the most outstanding students must complete a minimum of three years at the academy before being allowed to graduate.
However, for exceptional students like Naruto and Sasuke, their curriculum was tailored to be distinct from that of their peers.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound, the atmosphere was much livelier than before.
Following the loss of many young men during the last war, Minato had subtly encouraged many Uchiha women to remarry or take in husbands, forming new families.
After all, in the face of war's threats, a growing population—especially high-quality offspring like those of the Uchiha—was vital for the village's future. It wouldn't do to leave them clinging to outdated notions of chastity.
Early that morning, Itachi opened the refrigerator and took out two dozen eggs.
Using his Mangekyō Sharingan, he cooked perfectly soft-centered eggs for Sasuke, seasoned just right—not too salty, not too bland.
Today was a special day: it was the day his beloved little brother graduated from the ninja academy.
Since the day their parents passed away, Itachi had sworn to himself that he would carry on his father's will, protecting his family, his clan, and his village. He would ensure the Uchiha became the pillar of Konohagakure.
Now a captain in the ANBU, Itachi hadn't forgotten that the Hokage planned to meet with him today to formally hand over their father's belongings.
Unbeknownst to Konohagakure, the Land of Earth, which believed it had borrowed a sharp blade to fend off Sunagakure and Konohagakure, was about to pay a heavy price for its decision.
Today marked the largest joint Chūnin Exams in three years between Iwagakure and Amegakure.
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