Land of Fire.
Konoha.
Regarding the Hokage, blazing brightly.
The night breeze was pleasant.
At least, Senju Yukika thought so.
Glancing at Minato's face, which was full of cold determination, Yukika tossed a robe to him.
"Thank you... Yukika-kun," Minato said, a little embarrassed as he took the robe.
He had finally returned to the village.
The front lines were relatively stable for now, and the new generation like them no longer needed to stay on the battlefield.
After all, their initial role had only been to add to Yukika's burdens.
Such a shame.
The Third Hokage had been wrong.
Instead of being a burden, these young ninjas each found their place under Yukika's command and even forged strong friendships on the battlefield.
"Ask whatever you want," Yukika said casually, leaning against a rock and glancing down at the cleared statue of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He smirked.
The mighty had fallen, and everyone was quick to kick him while he was down. Just earlier, Yukika had seen the exhausted and teary-eyed Third Hokage sweeping up fallen leaves with a broom.
He deserved it.
No one sympathized with him anymore.
Yukika had his reasons for doing this.
If Sarutobi couldn't understand what a village was supposed to be, then he would have to start from the very basics.
"I'm just a little surprised. I didn't expect things to turn out this way," Minato said thoughtfully.
Next to him was a classmate who had graduated the same year.
Once, Minato had hoped to surpass Yukika and had even made plans to do so.
It had made sense at the time.
But now, with Yukika's incredible achievements, he had become someone almost impossible to overtake.
On the way back, Minato had heard about everything that had happened in the village.
And it left him deeply confused.
Naruto.
Or rather, not Naruto.
It had shaken Minato profoundly.
He had always thought that becoming Hokage was the only way to serve Konoha and help it prosper.
But now...
Was becoming Hokage truly the only path?
No, definitely not!
He had taken the wrong direction.
"Yukika," Minato said seriously after a long pause.
"Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi—and even our first-year companions like Hisashi Hyuga—they all want me to talk to you."
"No matter what happens from now on, they will stand by your side without hesitation. So will I."
Friendships forged in the heat of battle had proven unbreakable.
Yukika grinned wildly.
Those comrades would someday become crucial figures in Konoha.
"Also, I want you to know that, except for you, we won't recognize anyone else as Hokage," Minato said, patting his chest solemnly.
"What about you?" Yukika asked, curious. "I remember when you first entered the Academy, your goal was to become Hokage."
He never would have imagined that his actions could influence the "Little Sun" himself.
"It's not about becoming Hokage to gain recognition," Minato said, his expression bright as the sun.
"It's about making the role of Hokage meaningful."
"I've thought it through."
"Even if I can't become Hokage, I won't stop taking care of everyone."
He smiled radiantly.
"I've read the latest Konoha Management Regulations that Mikoto and Kushina issued."
"They said they'll be selecting Konoha's core personnel from now on."
"I want to work hard to become one of them. I don't need the title of Hokage to contribute."
Minato Namikaze.
This was the fundamental difference between him and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Yukika felt a ripple of emotion in his heart.
It wasn't about becoming Hokage.
It was about having the will to protect everyone, no matter what.
He didn't care about power or status.
He only wanted to help.
Looking down, Yukika fell into deep thought.
After a long time, he took a deep breath, pulled out a scroll, and handed it to Minato.
The golden glow of the Flying Thunder God Technique faded.
Something was still missing.
"Take it," Yukika said.
"If you have any questions in the future, come find me at the Senju Clan."
"It's late. Get some rest."
Yukika stood up, took one last look at Minato and the two statues below, then leapt away into the night.
He...
was worth training.
Maybe someday, he could even be recruited into Espada.
But that would be in the future.
For now, Minato Namikaze had little significance to Yukika.