"Absolutely not! We cannot allow the Uchiha clan to get so close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, especially not Uchiha Shisui!"
Danzō's sharp voice cut through the tension in the Hokage's office as he glared at Minato, his single visible eye narrowed with unmistakable hostility. The bandages covering half his face couldn't hide the intensity of his opposition.
The other two village elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, maintained more diplomatic postures, but their disapproving expressions made their position equally clear. Though they didn't voice their objections as boldly as Danzō, the silent solidarity between the three elders was palpable.
Minato's azure eyes darkened with frustration. Despite serving as Hokage for over a decade and making significant progress in healing the rift between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha clan, these three senior advisors still harbored deep-seated mistrust toward the sharingan wielders. The progress he'd made seemed to evaporate whenever matters concerning the Nine-Tails arose.
"What alternative do the elders propose?" Minato asked evenly, maintaining his composure despite his growing irritation. As Hokage, he knew the importance of considering all perspectives, even those he disagreed with.
"Hatake Kakashi should be assigned as the Jinchūriki's jōnin instructor," Danzō replied without hesitation. "The White Fang's son has established himself as one of our most capable shinobi, respected across all five great nations. He would be the ideal candidate to guide and protect the Nine-Tails vessel."
Minato couldn't help but smile slightly. At least the elders were genuinely thinking of the village's interests this time. Choosing Kakashi—Minato's former student—was a calculated move, one they knew the Fourth Hokage would have difficulty rejecting.
"Kakashi is certainly qualified for the position," Minato acknowledged, folding his hands on his desk. "However, the elders should understand that Naruto is about to begin his journey as a shinobi. As his skills develop, his chakra usage will intensify dramatically during missions."
He leaned forward, his expression growing more serious. "Even with the sealing technique I've implemented, there's no absolute guarantee that the Nine-Tails' chakra won't manifest when Naruto is operating beyond our village boundaries. Shisui possesses the Sharingan—his eye powers can prevent dangerous situations from escalating if such an event occurs."
Minato's explanation was strategically balanced between truth and omission. The Eight Trigrams Seal he had placed on Naruto wasn't designed to completely suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra. His long-term goal had always been for his son to eventually master and control the tailed beast's power.
What Minato deliberately withheld was that Shisui possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan—a fact known only to a select few in the village. Among the senior leadership, only the Third Hokage was aware of this secret. Minato intended to keep it that way. Shisui's unique Mangekyō abilities were too valuable to risk being discovered by the masked man who had attacked the village years ago—or by power-hungry individuals within Konoha itself.
"The power of the Sharingan can also control tailed beasts," Danzō countered, his expression growing darker. "Aren't you concerned about placing your own son in such jeopardy?"
The atmosphere in the room chilled as Minato's expression hardened, his legendary patience wearing thin. "I appreciate the elders' concern for Naruto's wellbeing," he said, his voice carrying an edge that rarely surfaced. "But Shisui has been my disciple for years—I know his character better than anyone in this room."
As the Fourth Hokage, Minato was far from naive about clan politics. He maintained a healthy vigilance regarding most Uchiha affairs, but certain individuals had earned his complete trust through years of loyal service. Uchiha Yoruki, the head of his ANBU, and Shisui had repeatedly risked their lives for Konoha without hesitation.
"Regardless of your personal assessment, Uchiha Shisui remains a member of the Uchiha clan," Danzō pressed, emboldened by the silent support of his fellow advisors. "Even if you disregard concerns about your own child's safety—which is your prerogative as a father—as Hokage, you have a duty to eliminate any potential threats to the village."
Danzō rarely challenged Minato so directly, but with Koharu and Homura aligned with his position, he recognized a rare opportunity to check the Hokage's authority. Even Minato couldn't easily dismiss the unified front of three senior officials.
"Shisui has served under my direct command since childhood," Minato replied, his voice steady but firm. "First as my student, then as an ANBU operative. While he bears the Uchiha name, his loyalty to me and to Konoha has been proven countless times on missions that none of you are privy to discuss." His blue eyes swept across the three elders. "I believe you're all well aware of this."
He stood up from his chair, his tall figure casting a shadow across his desk. "There will be no further debate. Shisui will oversee Naruto's training. This decision is final."
Minato had explained his reasoning as thoroughly as he intended to. Both as a father and as Hokage, he knew this arrangement would best protect Naruto while providing him the guidance needed to grow into his potential. More importantly, Shisui possessed the unique abilities necessary to intervene should the Nine-Tails' chakra manifest unexpectedly.
Recognizing Minato's resolve, Danzō's complexion paled with barely contained frustration. He exchanged meaningful glances with Koharu and Homura, who seemed to waver in their determination. They all understood that directly opposing the Hokage would ultimately prove counterproductive to their own standing in the village.
Without hiding their intentions, the three elders turned their backs to Minato and huddled together in quiet deliberation. Their whispers were just loud enough for Minato to catch fragments of their discussion—a deliberate tactic to ensure the Hokage knew they weren't backing down entirely.
After several tense minutes, they appeared to reach a consensus. This time, Koharu took the lead, with Homura stepping forward as their spokesperson.
"Lord Fourth," Homura began, his tone more conciliatory than before. "You undoubtedly overheard our discussion. While Uchiha Shisui may indeed be the loyal shinobi you've cultivated since his youth, the fact remains that he carries the Uchiha bloodline."
The elderly advisor adjusted his glasses before continuing. "Your trust in him is not in question, but there are inherent risks that cannot be dismissed. We will withdraw our opposition to your decision on one condition. Should you refuse, we would be compelled to bring this matter before the Fire Daimyō."
Minato's expression remained neutral, though his eyes narrowed slightly at the thinly veiled threat. "What compromise do the elders propose?" he asked.
The three advisors had cleverly analyzed the situation regarding the year's graduating class. They were aware of the imbalance in numbers that created allocation challenges for the new genin teams. Their plan was to consent to Shisui's appointment as Naruto's jōnin instructor, while simultaneously placing one of their own operatives on the same team.
Most Konoha citizens and shinobi now supported Minato's leadership without reservation, but these three advisors had maintained their own network of loyal ninja—operatives they had personally identified and trained over the years. As veterans of Konoha's political system, they understood the importance of maintaining independent sources of influence.
Even Danzō, with his quasi-official ROOT organization, possessed such resources, and Minato permitted this arrangement as part of the village's complex system of checks and balances. As long as politics existed within Konoha, this delicate equilibrium would persist.
When the Third Hokage had transferred power, he had officially handed control of the ANBU to Minato, but Hiruzen still commanded the loyalty of the entire Sarutobi clan. Such was the nature of village politics.
The addition of this third team member would effectively place a spy among Naruto's squad, though no one would acknowledge this fact openly. It was an understood but unspoken arrangement—everyone involved would recognize the situation for what it was, but protocol dictated that it remain officially unacknowledged.
"Among the graduates from the previous two classes," Homura explained, "there is a promising genin named Shin. He has already completed several missions as part of Kakashi's temporary squad. I believe you're familiar with him, Lord Hokage."
Minato nodded in recognition. This ninja called Shin had demonstrated exceptional talent during his time at the Academy. After graduation, he had completed all his assigned missions with remarkable efficiency, though he had curiously never applied to participate in the Chūnin Exams despite his obvious capabilities.
It became clear to Minato that the three advisors had been grooming this particular operative long before Naruto had even entered the Academy, preparing for precisely this type of situation. After decades of supporting the Third Hokage in governing Konoha, their foresight and political maneuvering shouldn't have surprised him.
"Very well," Minato conceded after a moment's consideration. "Shin will join Shisui's team alongside Naruto."
Relief visibly washed over the three elders, and they bowed respectfully before taking their leave from the Hokage's office.
Once alone, Minato sank back into his chair, his mind already analyzing the implications of this arrangement. As Hokage, he had access to detailed information on every shinobi in the village—Shin was no exception.
His intelligence reports painted an intriguing picture of the young ninja. Shin wasn't merely skilled; he possessed a rare intellect coupled with remarkable adaptability in the field. Despite being raised under Danzō's influence since childhood, the young man had somehow maintained an ethical compass and compassionate demeanor that stood in stark contrast to his mentor's cold pragmatism.
Minato allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. By placing Shin under Shisui's guidance, he might accomplish something beyond his original intention—he could potentially add another exceptional ninja to Konoha's ranks, one who might eventually break free from Danzō's shadow completely.
Sometimes, Minato reflected, compromises created unexpected opportunities.