Konoha. Early morning.
The Hokage's office, once filled with the burning resolve of the Yellow Flash, now flickered under the dim glow of a half-spent candle. Its light cast long shadows across the walls—walls that had heard countless plans, strategies, and dreams.
The great desk once stacked with scrolls and missions sat eerily bare. Only a few personal items remained—a pen, some half-filled paper, and two picture frames. One held the photo of a young couple, grinning as if tomorrow would never end. The other, a youthful girl beaming brightly, frozen in time.
Beyond the open window, Konoha stirred. The wind carried the smell of burnt wood and cold ash. Patrol shadows moved silently over cracked streets and ruined rooftops.
In the chair behind the desk sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, pipe in hand. He exhaled slowly, filling the room with heavy smoke that even the breeze couldn't quite clear.
A rustle of turning pages was the only sound—until a voice called out beyond the door.
"Lord Third, the advisors have arrived. May they enter?"
Sarutobi closed the weathered notebook in his hand and nodded.
"Let them in."
The door creaked open. Four familiar figures stepped in. His old comrades—Koharu, Homura, Danzo, and Torifu. Veterans, survivors, tired pillars of the village. They sat quietly, though Danzo's sharp tongue wasted no time.
"So, you're back behind the desk, Sarutobi. Planning to reclaim your title, are you?"
"Cut it out, Danzo," Sarutobi said, unbothered. "Was there any unrest?"
Danzo huffed.
"A mess. Spies sniffing around. Mercs looting. Deserters slipping out. But it's under control—for now. We've got people back in their homes, others in emergency tents. Nothing we haven't handled before."
Sarutobi nodded. He suspected as much—and knew some of the Uchiha were still unconscious at the hospital. The rest of their clan had likely stayed close to protect them.
Homura followed up with tired eyes, looking more exhausted than usual.
"Barriers are holding. The clans are... uneasy. The Sharingan in the Nine Tails' eyes hasn't gone unnoticed. I did what I could to keep suspicions from spreading, but... tensions are high. Especially regarding the Uchiha."
"To be honest, the Uchiha paid a heavy price. That calmed things down... for now. The rest of the complaints are what you'd expect—losses, compensation, Minato, Kushina, and the Nine Tails itself. I told them we'd address it during the next jōnin council."
Sarutobi gave a quiet nod. He'd expected as much.
"Torifu?"
Torifu Akimichi, usually a mountain of a man, looked thin and drained—likely from stress and running the village's financials during crisis, face pale from lack of sleep.
"Bad. Real bad. Walls, streets, water lines, homes, barriers—you name it, it's broken. I estimate we'll need two years of nonstop work just to recover. That's not counting the long-term economic damage. Honestly, once this is over, I'm handing my post to that smart Nara kid and retiring. The full report will be on your desk in three days."
Then he slumped into a chair and stared at the ceiling, defeated.
Sarutobi rubbed his eyes and finally turned to the person whose words he feared the most—but needed the most.
"Koharu?"
She inhaled deeply before speaking.
"150 shinobi dead. Another 450 wounded. Civilians—we lost about a hundred, with more injured.
Your wife is alive, but weak. Needs rest.
As for Kushina's children... they're healthy. The Jinchūriki is stable, overflowing with vitality, not a scratch on him.
But Kushina..."
Her voice faltered.
"She's... unresponsive. Weak pulse. Shallow breathing. Her life force is low. We can't figure out why. She's in a coma—deep and unnatural. I'm sorry, Sarutobi... but this is beyond us. You may need Tsunade."
Sarutobi felt the weight of it all at once—his age, the loss of Minato, the betrayal of peace, and now the uncertainty of the only Uzumaki left in the village.
Just when he hoped for the strength of his former students, there was no one left to lean on.
"I've already sent word to both Tsunade and Jiraiya. We'll wait for their counsel before we make a decision."
Danzo leaned forward.
"And if she doesn't survive that long? I can seal the Nine Tails' other half until we find another Jinchūriki."
Koharu's voice rose instantly.
"That would kill her! After everything that family gave up for this village?!"
Danzo's tone sharpened.
"She's a liability. A comatose Jinchūriki who may die any day isn't a good asset. We can store the beast temporarily. I'll handle it—discreetly."
Sarutobi stopped them before they started to fight.
"We'll do what we must. But no premature sealing."
"No," Sarutobi said flatly.
"You'll regret this, old friend. But when your plan fails, I'll be ready. I'll seal it—her and the beast—in Root's vault."
"Maybe. But I won't go that far, I hope."
"And the other child?"
"If Kushina wakes up, she'll decide. If not, I have an idea. It's immature… but it might work."
"Hmph... I'll keep those plans as a last resort."
Sarutobi looked down at the notebook again, eyes heavy.
Without a word, Sarutobi pushed the notebook toward the others. They picked it up and scanned the contents quickly, their expressions tightening with every line. Then they turned back to him
"Minato left this. His final report. After the Nine Tails was unleashed, Minato fought back. Before he died, he left this record behind using a shadow clone. What's written there could save lives. Read it."
The others took turns reading through its few pages. Danzo scowled deeper with each word.
Danzo, having already heard about the dead ANBU discovered in the underground prison, immediately connected the dots.
"This is absurd. A new Uchiha? Successor to Madara? A Mangekyō Sharingan, phasing abilities, teleportation, master-level intelligence gathering? Even Madara couldn't do all this! This reads like fantasy."
"Whether it's unbelievable or not, this is what Minato left us. We can't afford to ignore it. He is the only one who fought him directly."
Danzo grumbled. Koharu and Homura exchanged glances. Even Torifu looked troubled.
"Fine. I'll have Root investigate. And I'll keep a watch on the Uchiha. Surely you don't object?"
"Don't go too far, Danzo. If this is true, they may be targets too. We can't afford more division. Not now."
They discussed contingency plans, risk management, and the logistics of orphan guardianship—but Sarutobi was already drifting back into silence.
Danzo also wanted to push further—perhaps even float the idea of a Fifth Hokage—but sensing the mood, he backed off. The meeting ended with little more said. One by one, the advisers left the Hokage's office.
One by one, the advisors left, leaving the Third alone again—Sarutobi was alone again. Just him, the candle, and the slow approach of dawn.
---
One Week Later
The funeral was quiet, dignified, and far too early. The funeral was for those who perished fighting the Nine Tails and protecting village.
A sea of white flowers blanketed the cemetery grounds. At the center, two large coffins—those of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki—rested in silence. The village stood solemn, dressed in mourning. The wind was still.
The village had gathered to mourn. Shinobi. Civilians. Children. Some cried. Some stood silent. Others clenched their fists and vowed revenge on shadows.
At the front, Sarutobi stepped forward—black kimono pressed, pipe tucked away. In his arms, he held the hands of two babies—Naruto and Menma Uzumaki. The weight of the future was already upon them.
Sarutobi stepped up to the altar. He looked out over the crowd, then down at the closed coffins. He faced the village. His voice, though aged, cut through the morning air.
"Minato. Kushina. You gave your lives to protect Konoha"
"You left behind your newborn child—alone in this world. But hear this: he will not be alone."
"From this day forth, he will be the Prince of Konoha."
"And to protect the village, you sealed the Nine Tails inside the last orphan of the Uzumaki clan.
We will guard him, raise him, and honor him as his clan once honored us. He will be honored, not feared. Two children. Two legacies. Two bloodlines. They will bring light to our lives. May you rest in peace."
He bowed his head as the wind picked up, rustling the flowers. And he silently sounded in his heart
"Rest well, Minato.
We'll carry your will from here."
And in the silence that followed, a new era of Konoha quietly began.
---