"Senior Shikaku, can we trust you?"
Inside the Hokage's office in the Hokage Tower, even Shikaku Nara, renowned for his exceptional intelligence, couldn't help breaking into a fine sweat at Minato Namikaze's question.
The day had finally come.
Minato was finally forcing him to choose a side!
Uchiha Ren looked at Shikaku with an amused expression.
"What? Is that question really so difficult to answer, Clan Head Nara?"
"Ahem."
Shikaku cleared his throat.
"Elder Uchiha, don't joke around. The Ino–Shika–Chō clans have always been the most loyal supporters of the Hokage's faction!"
"Is that so?"
Ren spoke unhurriedly.
"But there's a little problem with the Hokage's faction right now. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze..."
"One village, two Hokage!"
"Clan Head Nara, don't you think that this severely undermines the credibility of the Hokage's faction?"
Shikaku's brows immediately knitted together.
"Elder Uchiha is joking. Minato-sama is currently governing Konoha. The previous Hokage has already become part of history. Where would there be two Hokage?"
Ren shook his head slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Shikaku's answer.
"But the problem is that the previous Hokage has no intention of simply becoming history!"
Shikaku narrowed his eyes and remained silent.
There was no one who understood Hiruzen Sarutobi better than Shikaku.
He naturally knew that Ren wasn't exaggerating.
But this was hardly good news for him!
Minato spoke at the right moment.
"Senior Shikaku, I understand your concerns, and I know the difficult position you're in."
"Everyone knows that the Ino–Shika–Chō clans have maintained a close relationship for generations. Since the Warring States period, you have been bound by the Earring Oath, advancing and retreating together and sharing life and death."
"But what many people don't know is that another clan was responsible for bringing the Ino–Shika–Chō clans together in the first place—the Sarutobi clan!"
"And the Sarutobi clan was also the witness to your Earring Oath."
"To you, the Sarutobi clan holds a special place. In a sense, they have also been your leading clan."
"It was under the leadership of the Sarutobi clan that the Ino–Shika–Chō clans eventually joined the Konoha family."
After a pause, Minato looked at Shikaku's gradually relaxing expression and continued.
"Although the Earring Oath is no longer as grand an occasion as it was during the Warring States period, as far as I know, you have continued to pass down this tradition."
As he spoke, Minato raised a hand and pointed toward the earring hanging from Shikaku's earlobe.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō of your generation entered into the Earring Oath under the witness of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't they?"
"So Hiruzen Sarutobi occupies that special position for you."
Shikaku touched the earring on his earlobe.
"Minato-sama, you're right. The Earring Oath of our generation of Ino–Shika–Chō was indeed witnessed by the Third Hokage. This earring was also a gift from him."
At this point, Shikaku sighed inwardly once more.
If not for that connection, Hiruzen would never have trusted them so deeply, much less entrusted him with such an important position as Commander of the Konoha Shinobi Forces' Jōnin Commander Unit.
Seeing this, Ren spoke as well.
"Clan Head Nara, there are some things I want you to understand."
"The reason your three clans formed an alliance for mutual defense in the first place was to survive better in this world."
"And the reason the Ino–Shika–Chō clans joined Konoha was also to ensure that you could survive and develop better."
"There isn't much difference in the nature of these two things."
"The only difference is that their priorities are completely different."
Ren's words struck directly at the heart of the matter, causing Shikaku to look at him with newfound respect.
Uchiha Ren stared seriously at Shikaku and continued.
"In the beginning, your Nara clan survived on its own."
"Later, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans banded together for mutual support. When dealing with outsiders, the three clans advanced and retreated together. From that point onward, the name of the Nara clan gradually withdrew from center stage."
"Now everyone has joined Konoha, and when dealing with outsiders, we use the name Konoha."
"In the eyes of outsiders, we are Konoha shinobi and Konoha shinobi clans!"
"Therefore, when it comes to this aspect, the village naturally takes priority over the clan."
"I believe you can see this clearly as well. Otherwise, the Earring Oath of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans wouldn't have gradually faded from history, transforming from a grand ceremony during the Warring States period into what it is today."
After a pause, Ren emphasized his next words.
"Clan Head Nara, the point I'm trying to make is actually very simple."
"The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi used to be your leading figure wasn't merely because he witnessed the Earring Oath of your Ino–Shika–Chō clans."
"More importantly, he was the Third Hokage of Konoha!"
"But now the Third Hokage has stepped down, and Minato-sama is the one governing Konoha!"
"On matters of right and wrong that concern the village as a whole, you must clearly understand where your allegiance lies!"
"As the Commander of Konoha's jōnin forces, don't let personal feelings interfere with your judgment!"
Shikaku smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
Sometimes, he actually wished he could be a little more foolish.
If emotions could cloud his judgment from time to time, he wouldn't be in such a difficult position now.
Unfortunately, his intelligence simply wouldn't allow it!
Minato also spoke at the appropriate moment.
"On this point, I'm actually not worried that Senior Shikaku will make the wrong decision."
"After all, during the previous incidents, Senior Shikaku consistently stood on the side of the village. You never sided with the Third Hokage and the others."
Shikaku gave a bitter smile.
"Since the two of you have already spoken this plainly, I'll stop beating around the bush."
"It is true that the Ino–Shika–Chō clans have always been steadfast supporters of the Hokage's faction. That is the primary reason we supported the Third Hokage."
"Of course, I won't deny that the Earring Oath also played a part."
"But we still know which comes first and which comes second. That's also why we didn't side with the Third Hokage and the others during the previous incidents."
"The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was indeed the Hokage."
"But the Hokage is not simply Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"In fact, a long time ago, when the Third Hokage and the others began targeting their own fellow villagers in order to consolidate their hold on power, I already realized that the Third Hokage was no longer fit to remain Hokage."
"He had already begun harming the interests of the village!"
"That was when our relationship began to develop a rift."
After a pause, Shikaku looked firmly at Minato.
"In the past, everyone said that the Ino–Shika–Chō clans were steadfast supporters of the Hokage's faction. Even we ourselves believed that."
"But now, I can tell you clearly: the Ino–Shika–Chō clans will always stand firmly on the side of the village!"
"Just now, Minato-sama, you asked whether you could trust me."
"Now I'll give you my answer..."
Shikaku's expression became extremely serious.
He spoke every word clearly and deliberately.
"As long as Minato-sama continues to stand on the side of the village, you can always trust me—and trust the Ino–Shika–Chō clans."
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