Chapter 117: Do You Want to Be Hokage? (2)
"Alright then, Kei-kun. Whatever it is you want to say, I'm all ears."
With Uchiha Kei's assurance, Minato Namikaze finally relaxed a little.
No matter what Kei wanted to talk about—no matter the outcome—he would still get the intel.
And truth be told, Minato was intrigued.
Deep in his heart, he did crave the chance to one day touch that lofty title—Hokage.
If he truly had no such desire, he likely would have turned and walked away already.
It was that tiny glimmer of hope that rooted Minato to the spot.
And Kei's guarantee gave him just enough confidence to stay.
Still, Minato found it almost amusing—the way Kei acted, as if he had him completely figured out and in the palm of his hand.
Sure, Minato admitted to himself he'd "taken the bait," but that didn't mean he had committed to anything yet.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Somewhere in this exchange, he'd come to recognize a flaw in himself:
No matter how distant or unlikely the dream of Hokage seemed, he could never truly let it go.
Even if it might take ten or twenty more years, that didn't stop him from longing for it now.
---
"Captain Minato," Kei asked casually, "on your way back to the village—did you hear any… interesting news?"
Minato raised a brow.
He could tell Kei was now ready for a serious conversation, and so he adjusted his tone accordingly.
"Interesting news?" Minato frowned slightly, thinking through Kei's implications.
"You mean… Lord Orochimaru?"
Minato wasn't naive.
He might not have had any real chance at Hokage, but he paid close attention to what went on behind the scenes.
Take Orochimaru, for instance—there had been a shift in public sentiment surrounding him lately.
Minato had noticed it.
Still, he was wise enough not to take sides or get involved.
Whether for self-preservation or simple detachment, Minato believed such matters would resolve themselves in time—with a result most could accept.
But now Kei was bringing it up—and that alone made it feel off.
Because Kei wasn't just anyone anymore.
If this had been a couple of months ago, Minato might have brushed it aside.
Back then, Uchiha Kei was just a marginal figure within his clan—someone few would take seriously.
But now?
Kei had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and had risen to become the Deputy Chief of the Konoha Military Police.
Not to mention, his strength was terrifying.
He had just defeated and nearly killed Kitsuchi, one of Iwagakure's top-tier commanders.
---
"Yes," Kei nodded with a faint smile.
Position defined power—and while Kei didn't particularly enjoy that reality, he also understood there was no escaping it.
He could see what Minato was thinking, but he didn't mind.
"Yes, it's about Lord Orochimaru. I imagine Captain Minato already has a good grasp on what's happening?"
"Somewhat," Minato answered carefully, his tone more measured now.
"But not in detail. I do believe Lord Orochimaru may have been… misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?" Kei chuckled and shrugged.
"Who knows? Maybe. Maybe not.
But doesn't this seem like… an opportunity, Captain Minato?"
Opportunity?
Minato's expression remained calm, but inside, a storm was raging.
Now he finally understood why Uchiha Kei had gone out of his way to keep him here and talk—the Uchiha clan wanted to push him onto the Hokage's seat!
And with that realization, Minato already had an answer:
No. A clear and decisive no.
First of all, Minato didn't believe the Uchiha had the political power to make that happen.
More importantly, even if they did—aligning with them would mean severing ties with his teacher.
That thought alone was enough to make a bitter smile curl on his face—a rare expression that didn't suit him at all.
Kei caught the shift immediately. Just one glance at Minato's face, and he understood what had just gone through the man's mind.
He felt a wave of frustration.
Damn the Second Hokage and his faction—they had driven the Uchiha into becoming monsters.
And damn the Uchiha too, for spiraling into madness and ruining their own name in the village.
"Kei-kun, I don't think we need to continue this conversation," Minato exhaled, his voice low but firm.
"I still have a chance at the Hokage position in the future. It might take years, but—"
"But you don't want to break with your teacher, Lord Jiraiya, right?"
Kei interrupted, his voice calm, his gaze unwavering.
"You misunderstand something, Captain Minato.
Us helping you won't require any open betrayal.
The methods we use would be subtle, proper, and legitimate—the goal is to make the Third Hokage come to the decision himself."
Minato blinked. His thoughts were now a tangle of confusion.
"Is that so...?" he asked, his tone uncertain.
"Then why? Why choose me? And who exactly is 'we'?"
"The answer's simple, really," Kei said, smiling faintly.
"I'm sure you already know part of it.
The system left behind by the Second Hokage has pushed the Uchiha clan further and further from the village.
And within the clan, there are some calling for more aggressive action.
If things reach a boiling point… no one can predict how bad it might get."
He paused before continuing.
"Why you? Because you're Jiraiya's student. Because you're part of the Hokage's inner circle.
Because you're a ninja of civilian origin—and the only one we believe would treat the Uchiha clan fairly and with true equality."
Kei's words struck deep.
Minato fell silent.
He'd always dreamed of becoming Hokage—so naturally, he had studied the internal workings of the village.
And yes, he had seen the cracks.
The current leadership—the successors of the Second Hokage's will—had consistently alienated the Uchiha.
Minato had long thought that, should he ever become Hokage, he would try to fix that injustice.
But now, hearing Kei's perspective, he realized he had been… naïve.
If this system kept tightening the screws, the tension might someday explode.
And when that day came, it wouldn't be the peaceful change Minato had hoped for.
It would be bloodshed.
At worst—a civil war that would leave both sides in ruins.
While Minato was lost in thought, Kei gave a small, knowing smile.
"As for who 'we' are—it's just two people.
The Chief of the Military Police… and his Deputy."
"Fugaku… and you?" Minato murmured, finally snapping out of it.
For a long moment, he said nothing more. Then he sighed and looked Kei straight in the eyes, his voice calm but serious.
"Can you tell me your plans—your methods and intentions in full?"
"Of course," Kei said with a growing smile.
"After all, we'll be partners from now on… won't we?"
The fish had taken the bait—and it was hooked deep.