Seeing everyone's reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"Since there are no objections, then this matter is settled. In addition, I plan to select two young guards to accompany me to the upcoming Kage Summit."
Two guards? Were they really just guards? No — in everyone's eyes, they were candidates for the Fourth Hokage.
The first gathering of Kage had been similar: the First Hokage's personal guard had later become the Second Hokage. It seemed that Hiruzen Sarutobi was following the same tradition.
But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Hokage-sama, please allow me to serve as your guard. I swear on my ninja way that I will risk my life to protect you."
Minato Namikaze was the first to stand up and recommend himself.
Becoming Hokage had always been his goal, so it was only natural for him to step forward now. Moreover, everyone could feel the unparalleled confidence radiating from him.
That was Minato Namikaze's charm: confident, bright, and dazzling, a man seemingly born to stand in the sunlight.
Everyone present felt the same, except for Danzo Shimura.
"Hokage-sama," said Shikaku Nara, standing up alongside Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka, "we, the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, also believe that Minato Namikaze is the most suitable choice to serve as your guard. We trust he will ensure your safety."
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always acted in unison. Now, the three clans were openly placing their support behind Minato Namikaze.
Even the most politically naive clan heads could see the direction of the wind.
Seeing Hiruzen's silent agreement, the others followed suit, voicing their approval one after another.
As for Danzo Shimura — who sat there with a gloomy face, silent — how could a mere elder compare to the future Hokage?
"You all believe Minato Namikaze is a suitable choice?" Hiruzen said with a smile. "It seems we are in agreement."
Then he spoke again. "However, I would like to bring another guard as well. Are there any other candidates?"
In the crowd, Fugaku Uchiha's eyes lit up momentarily. He wanted to volunteer, just like Minato. The Uchiha Clan had long desired the Hokage seat.
Having awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku believed his strength qualified him. However, when he compared his achievements on the battlefield to Minato's... there was no competition. Minato's victories were far more celebrated, while Fugaku still carried the stain of leading a force that had been decimated.
Moreover, the lingering shadow of Madara Uchiha's betrayal made Fugaku hesitate.
Not now, Fugaku thought, suppressing his ambition. Next time — the Fifth Hokage will surely be from the Uchiha Clan.
Firmly, he remained seated.
While Fugaku gave up on volunteering, Minato stepped forward again.
"Hokage-sama, if I may, I have another candidate to recommend."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow in surprise. The other clan heads murmured among themselves. Minato wasn't unaware of the significance of this choice — so why recommend someone else? Was he confident enough to create a rival?
After a moment of thought, Hiruzen said, "Go on."
Without hesitation, Minato said:
"I recommend Jonin Aoba Kawaki. He has made great contributions to Konoha and possesses the strength needed to ensure your safety."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Was this a matter of strength or something more? What exactly was Minato thinking?
If it had been someone weaker, no one would care. But Kawaki Aoba was strong, had proven himself in battle, and his achievements were impressive. His only "flaw" was his youth — but compared to his proven capabilities, age hardly mattered.
Was Minato really not afraid of creating a competitor?
Everyone — save Danzo Shimura — fell into a strange silence.
Danzo, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes. Interesting. Very interesting.
If Kawaki Aoba harbored ambition, he could split the support Minato had gathered.
Danzo sensed an opportunity.
Meanwhile, Kawaki Aoba — who had no intention of competing for the Hokage position — stood up calmly.
"Thank you very much for Jonin Minato's recommendation. I am honored to serve as Hokage-sama's guard. I pledge to protect him with my life."
The decision was made.
Danzo Shimura's lips curled into a slight smile.
So he agreed... Good. Very good.
He believed Kawaki Aoba had ambition. If he could exploit that ambition, perhaps he could disrupt Minato's rise — and create an opportunity for himself.
It was a pity that Danzō Shimura's joy didn't last long before he heard Kawaki Aoba's next sentence:
"Thank you for your recommendation, Minato. After this mission is over, I will definitely vote for you in the Jōnin selection for the Hokage election."
Kawaki Aoba spoke to Minato Namikaze in a casual, friendly tone, and the latter responded with a bright smile.
"Then I'll be counting on you," Minato replied.
With just this brief exchange, the tense atmosphere that had filled the room a moment ago dissipated almost instantly.
Everyone present quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the two would not be competing after all.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been deeply concerned a moment earlier, glanced reproachfully at Minato, silently blaming him for not informing him in advance about this unexpected development.
For a moment, Hiruzen had feared that Aoba would contest Minato for the Hokage position.
Although Hiruzen was confident he could sway most of the village's support away from Aoba if necessary, considering Aoba's considerable strength — and the feelings of Hiruzen's own young son, Konohamaru — he preferred to avoid such internal conflict unless absolutely necessary.
Thus, Hiruzen breathed a small sigh of relief.
But Danzō Shimura's mood was quite the opposite.
He was so furious he nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
Danzō glared resentfully at Kawaki Aoba.
Publicly declaring support for Minato Namikaze in such a formal setting was a significant move. It was one thing to offer private support; it was another to do so openly, in front of the village's leaders.
With Aoba's endorsement now clear, many jōnin who might have hesitated would surely rally behind Minato.
What was worse: currently in Konoha, the only people capable of seriously challenging Minato for the Hokage title were Kawaki Aoba — and Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru, after returning from the war, had locked himself away in his laboratory, even declining Hiruzen's summons to this critical meeting.
Thus, the final decision for Hiruzen's bodyguards at the upcoming Five Kage Summit was made:
Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash of Konoha — and Kawaki Aoba, the mysterious prodigy, famed for his strength across the Great Ninja War battlefields.
After confirming the bodyguards, there were no other pressing matters to discuss.
Even whether to take action against threats like remnants of Uchiha Madara's forces or the rogue mist-nin Smoker would be decided only after the summit.
When the meeting ended, Minato and Kawaki Aoba walked out together.
"You really know how to scare people," Minato said, laughing as he scratched the back of his head. "You should have told me earlier. For a second there, it looked like you were about to become my competition."
Kawaki Aoba simply smiled.
"I only found out about today's session shortly beforehand. But even if I had run against you, I wouldn't have regretted it."
Minato's face turned serious. "I really owe you too much."
The "debt" Minato referred to wasn't trivial.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Minato had led the forces that decisively defeated the Kumogakure (Cloud) army, while Kawaki Aoba had crushed the Iwagakure (Stone) front.
Later, both had worked together to force a surrender from Sunagakure (Sand) in the Wind Country campaign.
While Minato's achievements were unparalleled, especially his solo blitzing of enemy forces, in the final stage, it had been Kawaki Aoba's efforts — developing unique, devastating techniques — that had turned the tide most significantly.
Yet after their return, it was Minato who basked more in the village's adoration, while Aoba remained somewhat in his shadow.
"Minato, your honest nature isn't suited to managing a village," Kawaki Aoba said calmly.
"Is that so?" Minato laughed. "I think the Hokage must guarantee fairness for everyone. If I can't do that, then I have no right to sit in that chair."
"That's why I said you're not suited to being a leader. Managing a village requires hard decisions, ones where fairness alone won't solve everything."
"Maybe so. But no matter the reason, heroes who fight for the village shouldn't be discarded like tools."
Kawaki Aoba smiled faintly.
"As expected of you, Little Sun. Well then, I'll wait and see."
"Don't worry," Minato said confidently. "I won't let you down."
Talking and laughing, the two walked farther and farther away from the Hokage Building.
Behind them, the clan heads who had witnessed the exchange let out collective sighs of relief.
Among them, a figure with pure white eyes — the Hyūga clan leader — watched the pair leave with a complicated expression.
If there was anyone in Konoha who did not want to see Kawaki Aoba continue to rise, it was the Hyūga clan.
But to their dismay, Aoba's strength had already reached heights they could no longer fathom.
The Hundred Forms of Avalokiteśvara, a secret technique Aoba had developed after studying traces of the First Hokage's Wood Release, allowed him to easily suppress tailed beasts — forces that entire villages struggled to contain.
Damn it, thought the Hyūga patriarch bitterly. If only we hadn't given up so easily back then... If only we had claimed his techniques as the Hyūga clan's heritage.
But it was too late now.
Even using treachery, the Hyūga had no one capable of defeating Kawaki Aoba.
And their cursed branch house — weakened after losing many Byakugan users in the war — was now a shadow of its former self.
The clan head's face twisted in frustration. If he could, he would have reinstated the cursed seal immediately to keep the branch house in absolute check.
But Kawaki Aoba paid the Hyūga no mind.
The Hyūga were now no more than prey waiting for the knife.
Once Minato was inaugurated as Hokage, Aoba would find his opportunity to settle old scores.
As for why he didn't move now, under Hiruzen's leadership?
It wasn't out of fear — it was to avoid creating complications during the delicate Hokage transition.
---
When Kawaki Aoba returned home, he was surprised to find Yuhi Shinku — his mentor — waiting for him, along with Shinku's daughter, Kurenai.
Had it just been Kurenai, it wouldn't have been unusual.
But with Shinku there as well, something important must have been at hand.
Still, judging from Shinku's relaxed attitude as he sat sipping tea at the brand-new coffee table, it was likely good news.
And indeed, Kawaki Aoba's instincts were correct.
"Father, aren't you going to give Aoba his surprise already?" Kurenai urged impatiently, unable to contain herself as she saw her father sitting there without making a move.
Yuhi Shinku sighed, pretending to be annoyed.
My sweet little daughter can't keep a secret to save her life, he thought helplessly.
With a small glare at Kurenai, Shinku finally reached into his robes and pulled out a carefully wrapped notebook, placing it on the table before Aoba.
"This," Shinku said, "is the complete Eight Inner Gates Formation — along with Might Duy's personal cultivation notes."
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters