The Hokage's Residence.
Here, in the residence, all elite jonin, clan heads, elders, Danzo, the third and fourth Hokage had gathered. Seeing some stiffness among those assembled, Hiruzen began:
So, we're gathered here, first of all, to assess the extent of the destruction. Present your reports!
The Hokage's secretary took the report and announced:
Half of the village is destroyed, one hundred and fifty-eight civilians perished, including twenty-two children and infants, thirty of whom were elderly, and the rest were of middle age. Among the military, twenty-four genin, twelve chunin, and two jonin died. Some clans are destroyed, and they'll need to be rebuilt from scratch. The wounded are with the medics.
Hiruzen continued:
Alright, we'll plan the further work arrangements a little later. Right now, the priority is to conduct funerals for the deceased and assist the destitute. Moving on from this incident... Do we know the initiator of this attack?
At this point, Minato spoke up and expressed his version:
Gentlemen, I fought him, but his identity is unknown. He wears a mask, possesses teleportation abilities, even faster than mine. And most importantly, he has a Sharingan in his right eye, perhaps even a second one, but he didn't reveal it.
Then Danzo chimed in and began his tirade:
One of the Uchiha? Although, it's not surprising, descendants of the traitor Madara, nothing good can be expected from them.
Fugaku flared up at this, but without showing it, he added:
Who's talking! Today, you did nothing to save our people, didn't even send your dogs, and two of my good fighters died defending the village. Moreover, you even interfered with executing the Hokage's orders...
And then a dispute ensued between them, and Hiruzen reprimanded both of them, immediately posing a question.
Danzo, why did you interfere with Fugaku's attempt to detain the Nine-Tails, why did you disobey Minato's orders, what were your reasons, and what did you hope to achieve by this?
To which he received his eternal mantra in response:
Reasons don't matter, and motives either, everything is for the good of the village.
After these words, Minato was struck as if by lightning, and a mosaic began to form in his mind. And Danzo himself went back to his base to avoid continuing this discussion. Hiruzen then presented the next argument.
So, finally, let's talk about how no one should know who the jinchuriki is, and as soon as he recovers, he should be returned to the family.
Minato sharply responded to this:
No! I can't accept that the Nine-Tails will be near my family and I can't put them in danger! In Suna, they sealed a one-tailed beast into a baby, and now he's unstable! After these words, everyone opened their mouths, but they didn't argue because the arguments were excessively weighty. Only Hiruzen seethed inside at the fact that the newborn child was rejected by his own father. But he asked a question.
How do you envision this child's life? You'll be constantly on Hokage duty, and your wife and daughter won't be able to approach him.
Kushina and I have been preparing for this since before his birth, and we've even discussed it.
But where will he live if not with you, and who will look after him? Are you going to give him to some clan or family? After this question, a major dispute began about not allowing the strengthening of any clan and the fact that no one should influence the jinchuriki, sometimes leading almost to a fight. But when everyone calmed down more or less, Homura Mitokado, the advisor, proposed one plan.
I suggest placing him in a nursery after a year of hospital care, and when he turns seven, send him to the academy. And when Naruto becomes a chunin, then we can talk about his parents. Anyway, nobody should teach jinchuriki, because he's the village's weapon and a guarantee against enemy threats to the village.
From such a statement, everyone agreed, but Hiruzen, however, gritted his teeth and thought to himself about Minato not regretting his decision. But the next statement from the Fourth just made the old man leave the office.
"No, this jinchuriki is no longer my son, and he shouldn't find out who his parents are. Even if the jinchuriki questions his parents. His father died protecting Konoha from the Nine-Tails, and his mother died giving birth. And Minato's own son died, unable to withstand the explosion of the Nine-Tails. And we decided not even to disclose the surname. That's it, it's settled. When everyone started to leave, Minato asked Fugaku to stay."
"Fugaku, I have some leads on our enemy."
"I'm listening!"
"After our battle, he left his severed hand. I didn't want to say because among our high-ranking officials there is a traitor!"
"I even suspect, and you probably do too..."
"Yes, among my Anbu, whom they killed to get into the bunker, there was an Anbu who disappeared and he was the only one who survived, and when I dug up his dossier, there is no past or relatives, just a dark figure..."
"Familiar characteristics, but it's hardly enough to use as leverage against Danzo. Judging by their nature, they leave no traces. And hardly will a severed hand tell us much... Tell me at least if this hand is right or left."
"Right."
"Hmm, interesting... Very interesting!"
"Fugaku, don't beat around the bush!"
"Danzo always hides his hand and what you said about the right eye."
"You think it's him? But he was constantly with you and even conflicted with you..."
"Shadow clone..."
"What?"
"And what technique allows you to be in two places at once?"
"Hmm, but still, we have no evidence... So we'll have to act with certainty."
"Minato, what did he want to achieve by this?"
"And who does he hate the most?"
"Me?"
"Deeper."
"Uchiha?"
"Exactly. How many people have seen the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes?"
"Everyone who wanted to."
"So the whole picture emerges. He discredited you, the residents will start to fear and hate you, your people will rise in rebellion. And they'll make me suppress it, and in Danzo's style, 'radically'."
"That old bastard, but there's nothing you can do."
"The main thing is you need to warn your trusted people, and I'll start digging under Danzo myself. You can also join, but without fanaticism, or this old fox may slip away..."
"Great plan! By the way, Minato!"
"Hmm?"
"I sympathize with you for having to do this with your son. But I hope he grows up to be an excellent shinobi, worthy of you."
"Go..."
"By the way, let Miroku stay with us a little longer, you need to gather with Kushina, and Itachi and Mikoto will be delighted to look after her."
"Thank you, my friend!" And he hugged his old friend. After this conversation, Minato remained in silence to contemplate everything.