[Chapter Size: 2300 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 42.
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As Minato and all the girls disappeared from the Namikaze estate, in the Senju clan, a meeting was taking place between Tsunade, Nawaki, Hanabi's grandfather, and all the Uzumakis of Mu Uzumaki's delegation.
The place carried a tense atmosphere, as some Uzumakis spoke in anything but calm voices.
"How can you do this to us?" said one of the Uzumakis with anger and frustration over the village's outcome.
"I lost my brother in the war, he gave his life fighting for this village! And now I'm going to die along with my family, because Konoha isn't brave enough to fight for its allies. No... quite the opposite, they are cowards!" said another Uzumaki, growling.
"Calm down. What's done is done. There's no way to undo it. Complaining won't change anything." said Mu Uzumaki in a wiser tone.
"You speak as if we aren't about to die along with our families! I don't care about serving the Land of Fire, I don't care about being subordinate to the Village of Konoha, as long as my family is saved. I no longer want to live with this pride you elders demand from us!" spoke a third Uzumaki.
"I know that, and trust me, I would rather follow that path too. All the leaders had come to the conclusion that it would be better to take shelter in Konoha after Minato's visit, as long as we weren't destroyed. But surely we haven't lost all hope, have we?" Mu added.
"You think a boy will change our fate? Sorry, but I don't believe in that." said another with a skeptical tone.
"Tsk." Tsunade spoke up for the first time. "After everything he's done, you still doubt him?" Tsunade said in a tone full of anger, her voice echoing among the Uzumakis.
"I still don't believe he can do anything. We're fighting against four nations at once. It's not like a boy can simply defeat all four nations by himself!" retorted the same Uzumaki from before.
"Maybe the boy isn't alone." Tsunade paused with a calculating look. "If you don't believe in him, I'm sure he won't go alone, and a perfect jinchuuriki will be more than welcome in the war to protect you." she informed.
"You think Lady Kushina will come as well? The Village wouldn't allow that..." commented Mu, with a tone of surprise.
"Trust me, the Village can't hold back any of them if they decide to go to the Uzumaki clan to fight... Besides, they just arrived. You'll know your answer right this very moment." Tsunade said while looking toward the door, sensing the flow of chakra that had just entered the house. As did everyone else there, since most of them were sensors.
The door opened and Minato approached, with his four companions behind him. All the Uzumakis' eyes turned toward them.
"Minato... you didn't..." Nawaki murmured with wide eyes, stunned to see the headband clutched in his hand, with a visible slash cutting through the Leaf symbol.
"As you can see, we've made a decision. It's time to put plan B into action." Minato spoke firmly.
After all, this had always been the plan in case he couldn't make Konoha partners in war with the Uzumakis: to go on his own to defend the Uzumakis, to not allow his clan to be destroyed, for it was one of the most valuable forces in this world, and his goal was to not let this world grow weaker, whether to face Madara or the Otsutsuki clan.
This world needed to be strong, and even if he had to make questionable decisions, that did not make him a traitor or a villain. He would act believing in what was right.
"This is Minato's decision and we'll support him, dattebane!" said Kushina, raising her headband also with a slash in the middle, representing another rogue ninja.
"Anyway, let's get organized. We'll be going to the Uzumaki clan as soon as everyone is ready, so prepare yourselves." Minato said.
"Wait! Are you sure about this? Won't you regret this decision? This will be a path of no return, Minato... We may not even survive this." Mu spoke up, with a cautious tone, as Minato raised an eyebrow at him.
"What is it, Lord Mu? Don't believe in me now?" Minato asked calmly.
"That's not it, Minato... I'm just a little worried, because if you can save yourself, it's better to stay in the Village. We'll be fighting against four nations. Even though you killed a powerful kage, it still won't be an easy fight, and you could die with us fighting against all the nations." he said.
"Don't worry about that. This is my decision, it's my ninja way... and you can be sure of one thing..." Minato smiled. "We'll be fine. We can win this war. Just trust in my abilities and my companions'. Trust me, I have powerful allies behind me, and there is no doubt we'll do very well in this war." he said with unshakable confidence.
Silence filled the place for a few seconds before Mu opened a small smile, satisfied with the answer. "If you say so, Minato, I believe in you. We will never forget this act, no matter the outcome of this war." the old Uzumaki said, pleased.
"All right, you heard him! Let's gather our things and get moving." said Mu.
The Uzumakis began leaving, and the girls also went to their rooms to grab their things, mostly clothes. Minato approached Tsunade and Nawaki, who were still standing in the room.
"Where's Yamato?" Minato asked. The boy had been in the clan training these last few days while learning the first steps to releasing chakra, though Tsunade had been quite strict with him.
"He went to bed early, after exhausting himself all day training." she said.
"I imagine... Just go easy on him." Minato offered a kind smile.
Tsunade clicked her tongue and didn't respond to the provocation hidden in Minato's words. "Now let me talk about something even more important..." she began. "You'd better take very good care of my daughter and the other girls, are you hearing me, Minato?" she said, with a look that bordered on deadly.
"Seems reasonable, mother-in-law." Minato said, while the woman shot him an even deadlier look at that last word, without him showing the slightest bit of shame.
Minato then continued. "Are you sure you'll handle the questions that will come after our disappearance? We can simply leave through the front gate, fleeing the Village, so as not to cause you trouble." Minato said.
"It's not that simple." Tsunade replied, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter if you left safely, Konoha won't be able to do anything about it. Besides, Hiruzen is about to lose his position as Hokage. A new Hokage will arise..." she commented, pausing.
"With you absent, only two people can be chosen for the position, and you know very well you could win if you stayed, right?" she said.
"I know you're referring to Sakumo and Jiraiya... or even to yourself as a candidate." Minato said.
"But none of us would have as much chance of winning as you. The Village trusts you. Even if you hadn't acted that night, with the strength you possess alongside the girls, you created enormous pressure on the Village when you formed your marriages, linking several powerful clans and even people already at the top of Konoha..."
"There's no one more suitable than you to take on that role. After all, another Hokage would have many problems leading the Village while everyone awaited the opinion of the most powerful family in Konoha after you all got married..."
Tsunade stated the obvious. The Village wouldn't do anything without Minato's opinion, not only because of him, but because Kushina, Tsuna, Hanabi, and Mikoto had ties and powers known throughout the Village after that night. Even though the latter hadn't been seen fighting, everyone knew she couldn't possibly be weak.
"Even so, that would come at a great cost, and I won't allow the Uzumaki to be destroyed. It's not the time for me to become Hokage... Tsunade, the Village is already thriving even without me and my companions. We still have many powerful ninjas. You'll be fine. Maybe I won't become Hokage now, but I don't think that dream will be lost forever." Minato said with surprising calmness.
"If you think this is the right path, I won't stop you. Just take care of my daughter and the other girls." she repeated.
"It'll be fine. There's one more thing... I wanted to ask for your blessing. Since we'll be away from the Village and with Mikoto pregnant, I'll marry her. And I also want to marry your daughter and the others as well, we're adults. I just wanted your permission for this since..." Minato didn't finish, as he should ask Dan's permission as Tsuna's father. "It will probably happen in the coming months, and it will be at the Uzumaki clan." he said, while noticing Tsunade grow a little angry, and not because of the near mention of Dan.
"You bastard! You won't even let me go to my daughter's wedding! Do you have any idea how angry I am at you right now?" she said, a little upset.
"Sorry about that, but the circumstances aren't in our favor. Still, I'm sure you'll love seeing your grandchildren soon." Minato said.
"You'd better give me healthy grandchildren, you idiot!" Tsunade replied, seeming a little calmer, while Nawaki scratched his head beside them, thinking Minato was playing with fire with every comment.
Minato himself, however, seemed to already know how to deal with that woman.
"Anyway, this won't be a goodbye. We'll be back soon. And when that moment comes, Konoha will never have been as powerful as it will be then. So powerful that no other village will dare challenge us again. I promise." Minato said with surprising confidence.
Tsunade nodded in acknowledgment before Minato raised his hand for a shake, while Tsunade grabbed it and pulled him into a hug.
"I want you to also take care of yourself, Minato. You're important to us too, you've always been considered family, and my grandfather made that very clear more than 10 years ago... And thank you for always protecting my daughter. I don't think I could ask for a better son-in-law. Just as I thank you for everything you've done for us, for saving my brother. Your achievements are only beginning and the entire world will undergo immense changes with your actions." she said, emotional, with him returning the hug.
He let go of her a moment later, as he walked up to Nawaki.
"Well, it seems you'll have some problems with our disappearance, but now you're the leader of the Senju clan. I'm sure you'll have a place on the council." Minato said to Nawaki. As it always should have been, and not a bunch of lesser clans who were lucky enough to be Tobirama's disciples." Minato mocked, for the village should always have had its founders making the decisions in a council, something that never happened thanks to Hiruzen, Danzou, and the others.
"Thank you for everything, Minato. Thank you for saving me in the war and for helping me so much when I was in depression, or even with my new arm." he said, as he shook Minato's hand, who gripped his forearm firmly in a gesture of camaraderie.
"Soon we'll all be reunited again. I hope to see you married to Miss Senju as well, whoever she may be... the next time we meet." Minato said, while Nawaki just nodded, laughing. He didn't seem so embarrassed anymore when it came to women.
"Anyway, good luck with the Village too. If you need anything, use your chakras... but it wouldn't be good for me to come back here for a while." Minato said.
"Are you sure it won't be some other member of the Village trying to use it to set you up in a trap?" Nawaki asked.
"I can feel the chakra that calls me, so I'll know very well if it's you or not. Either way, this is a temporary farewell." Minato repeated, while Yamato's training would remain with Tsunade, with the Senju clan's scrolls at his disposal, as well as being trained by a Senju to improve the boy's chakra. Yamato could even become more powerful than the original if he had better guidance during his developmental years as his body grew.
The girls appeared a moment later, carrying bags they had taken from the room, and began saying their goodbyes to Tsunade and Nawaki as well. Uzumakis also appeared, giving a brief farewell, while everyone headed to the main hall, where Minato was finishing writing his last scrolls, informing some people in the village of his departure and why he was making his decision that night.
He was officially declaring himself a rogue ninja.
This message would go to Sakumo Hatake, Mizu Uchiha, and Shikaku Nara's father, informing them of his decision that night, as he placed the rogue ninja headband on his forehead and tied the knot behind his head.
Kushina, Tsuna, Hanabi, and a blindfolded Mikoto made the same gesture.
"Let's go." he said, as four clones appeared around the group, forming hand seals and connecting to each other with fuuinjutsu that spread across the floor. In the next moment, everyone else began disappearing at the same time.
He had to use clones to increase the intensity of the teleportation technique, since the trip to another country was longer than they could usually manage. That's why Minato needed to focus more of his chakra. He teleported himself, more than a dozen Uzumakis, his brides, and Hanabi's grandfather, who could not stay in the village.
And so, at that moment, Minato and his companions left the Leaf Village, which would throw the entire village into massive confusion. That night, Konoha's power dropped drastically as its strongest ninja, the jinchuuriki, and other precious members left Konoha as rogue ninjas.
They advanced toward the Uzumaki clan, where true life and the real challenge would begin