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The moment Minato finished speaking, shock spread across the group.
Inuzuka Gan was the first to react.
"Jin, this is not something you can joke about. If this gets exposed, it could be used against you."
They were shinobi.
Under normal circumstances, even leaving the village required formal approval.
And this was wartime. Oversight and inspections were far stricter than usual.
Jin had acted without authorization.
At best, it could be labeled dereliction of duty.
At worst, it could be treated as desertion.
And given Jin's identity as a member of the Uchiha clan, there was no chance this would be handled lightly.
If the Third Hokage discovered Jin's movements, the consequences would be severe.
There would be no easy resolution.
"Relax," Jin said with a faint smile. "The Mist front is almost entirely staffed by Uchiha and Hyuga shinobi, Someone covered for me. They will not notice."
Then his tone grew more serious.
"And I had no choice, There was a reason I had to come."
Everyone present belonged to Minato's squad, They were trusted allies.
That was why Jin had shown himself without hesitation.
"A reason you had to come."
Minato's expression sharpened. Something clicked in his mind as he looked directly at Jin.
"Sit," Jin said simply.
He gestured around them.
Minato and the others did not object. They found spots nearby and sat down on the ground.
Only after everyone had settled did Jin speak again.
"This war has lasted nearly eight years, All of us are exhausted. In body and in mind."
"No matter how it ends, the Leaf has already paid an enormous price."
"And because of several critical mistakes, Hiruzen Sarutobi cannot escape responsibility."
"He has reached the end of his tenure as Hokage."
Jin's voice was calm, but the implications were heavy.
"I am sure you have all heard rumors."
At the start of the war, when the Sand Village provoked the Leaf, Hiruzen hesitated.
Driven by a desire for peace, he failed to respond decisively.
That hesitation allowed the conflict to stagnate, allowing Stone, Cloud, and Mist to enter the war one after another.
The Sand Village was the weakest of the Five Great Nations.
The Leaf was widely acknowledged as the strongest.
Had Hiruzen concentrated the Leaf's advantage early and crushed Sand decisively, the war might never have spiraled out of control.
At the very least, it would not have dragged on for so many years.
After Sand's defeat, Hiruzen went even further.
Not only did he demand no reparations, but he also made concessions to placate them.
That decision sowed deep dissatisfaction among Leaf shinobi.
And this was not his only misstep.
Time and again, his pursuit of compromise led to costly outcomes.
Resentment within the village continued to build.
To calm the populace, word began circulating that Hiruzen would step down as Hokage once the war ended.
Those rumors were not accidental.
They were released deliberately.
Jin continued.
"Even if I had not intervened, this war was already nearing its conclusion."
"Stone and Cloud might not have agreed to peace immediately, but with all sides restraining each other, large-scale warfare would not resume."
"At most, there will only be small-scale clashes along the borders."
Both the Stone Village and the Cloud Village still possessed the strength to fight But the Third Raikage had died at Stone's hands.
That was a blood feud.
At the same time, both villages were officially at war with the Leaf.
The current situation was effectively a three-sided standoff, with no party trusting the others.
If either Stone or Cloud attempted a large-scale offensive against the Leaf, they would have to consider whether the other would strike them from behind and reap the benefits.
By this point, the war was effectively over.
Minato nodded in agreement.
"That is true, I have already received orders from the Third Hokage. I am to return to the Konoha soon for rest and reorganization."
"In a private message, he also hinted that he intends to support my candidacy for Fourth Hokage once I return."
Jin smiled faintly.
"It seems our Hokage still holds you in high regard."
Minato let out a bitter chuckle and shook his head.
"He does not value me, He values control."
"He wants to place me on the seat and pull the strings from behind."
"Just like the saying from your books. Holding the emperor to command the lords."
Had this been the Minato of the original history, he would have been overjoyed at the prospect of becoming Hokage.
But years of deliberate guidance from Jin had changed him.
He was no longer politically naive.
Jin had even transcribed works from another world, texts on strategy and power, and given them to Minato to study.
"You are right," Jin said approvingly. "Your growth has been remarkable."
"Strictly speaking, the best candidate for Fourth Hokage should have been Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru is calm, sharp-minded, and extraordinarily capable."
"He contributed greatly during both the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars."
"By every objective measure, he was qualified."
"But that is precisely the problem."
"He was too qualified."
"He was someone the Third Hokage could no longer control."
"So he was abandoned."
In terms of pure strength, Minato was no weaker than Orochimaru.
But in terms of foundation and influence, the gap was undeniable.
Minato had only risen to prominence during this war.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, had long been a pillar of the village.
Even their current positions reflected that difference.
Minato functioned as a rapid response force, sent wherever the situation was most dire.
Orochimaru had commanded entire fronts.
First against the Sand. Then against the Cloud.
He was Minato's direct superior.
If succession were decided purely by merit, Minato would not stand a chance.
Minato nodded slowly.
"That is true. Aside from his cold temperament, Orochimaru-sama was suited for the role."
"Orochimaru no longer matters," Jin said calmly. "His path has already been cut off."
"Minato, when you return, the Third Hokage will test you."
"Until everything is settled, it would be unwise for you to be seen too close to the Uchiha."
"That is why I am saying these things to you now."
Minato's expression grew solemn.
He waited in silence for Jin to continue.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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