The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the wide windows of the Hokage Office, yet it could not dispel the low pressure condensed within the room.
At the desk, Minato pinched the bridge of his nose, deep shadows of exhaustion beneath his eyes.
Documents were piled high like mountains, weighing on his heart like silent reproaches.
Amidst this heavy, stagnant air, the office door was quietly pushed open.
"Senpai, you really are back." Minato looked up, a trace of relief that was hard to detect in his voice.
He saw that familiar figure, Takuno, who walked in with travel-worn clothes but steady steps.
Takuno's gaze bypassed the piles of battle reports and locked directly onto Minato's overly haggard face.
He didn't immediately ask about the war situation; instead, he furrowed his brows, his concern evident. "Minato, are you alright? Your complexion... is very poor."
Minato paused imperceptibly, then forced a faint smile, trying to squeeze out a reassuring look, but that smile was stiff and bitter. "Hmm? I'm fine, senior."
This response seemed pale and weak.
Takuno took a few steps closer and placed a mirror condensed from water in front of Minato.
Minato was also a bit stunned as he looked at himself in the water; he knew his state wasn't great, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad.
"If you can't handle it, don't force yourself; go rest for a while. No matter how much the Village needs a Hokage, you can't let Hokage affairs drag you down," Takuno advised.
Minato let out a heavy breath, as if trying to exhale all the stifling frustration in his chest, and slowly shook his head.
"It's not because of these—" he began hesitantly, his voice trailing off. The words turned in his throat and were ultimately swallowed back down.
Takuno caught this hesitation and asked tentatively, "Is it because of the issues at the front lines?"
Minato fell silent. The air in the room seemed to grow even heavier, with only the occasional cry of returning birds outside breaking the silence.
He did not refute it; silence was a form of admission.
A moment later, he took the initiative to change the subject, as if wanting to shake off this heaviness. "Senpai, you're back this time; do you plan to head to the battlefield to provide support again?"
Takuno stood up straight and nodded with a solemn expression, looking directly at Minato with unwavering determination. "Yes, they need me there."
"Then... I'll leave it to you, senior." Minato's words carried deep gratitude and a hint of relief.
He understood that the tug-of-war between Konoha and Kumogakure had reached a fever pitch, with casualty numbers climbing every day. A top-tier Medical Ninja like Takuno returning to the battlefield was undoubtedly a shot in the arm.
He quickly summoned the Anbu and arranged an elite squad for Takuno to depart for the front lines immediately.
Upon leaving, before stepping out of the office door, Takuno stopped once more, looked back at Minato, whose face still didn't look well, and comforted him solemnly.
"Hokage-sama, please rest assured. With Jiraiya-sama overseeing the command at the front lines and so many Ninja Clans' clan heads working together, we will never lose."
Takuno's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, his footsteps fading away.
Minato stood in place, staring at the empty doorway, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on his face.
The internal torment now exposed his mental exhaustion even more clearly, stemming precisely from this deep hesitation.
Should he go to the battlefield himself? This thought tore at his heart day and night.
As the Fourth Hokage, the sacrifices of the soldiers at the front were like red-hot branding irons, constantly searing his conscience and plunging him into a vortex of inescapable self-reproach.
Every casualty report, every name of the fallen, made his heart ache as if he had failed in his responsibility.
But another voice was equally strong: if he left Konoha, Kushina and the little Naruto just born in her arms would be exposed to fatal risks.
That elusive Masked Man with the bizarre space-time Ninjutsu was always a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
His wife's safety and his young son's life were weights he could not bear.
It was this extreme conflict between loyalty and family affection that pushed him into an invisible abyss, gnawing at his energy.
Lost in thought, time passed, and the twilight outside deepened.
Minato dragged his heavy steps and finally set foot on the path home.
The moment he pushed open the door, a warm scent of milk instantly enveloped him, pulling him back to reality.
Under the bright light, his wife Kushina was humming a soft lullaby, carefully patting the swaddled baby in her arms.
Her lowered eyes overflowed with an inseparable maternal glow, a light so warm and holy that it almost instantly washed away some of the gloom in Minato's spirit.
"Minato, you're back." Kushina looked up upon hearing the movement, a gentle and peaceful smile blossoming on her face like spring snow melting.
"Yeah, I'm back," Minato naturally returned the smile.
In this moment, seeing the two people he cherished most in life safe and sound, that persistent fatigue seemed to be injected with magical vitality, and his whole being relaxed significantly.
Kushina gently placed the sleeping Naruto into the cradle, tucked him in with a small blanket, and closed the door tightly.
Then, with that gentle smile on her face, she walked slowly toward Minato.
However, this smile made Minato's heart tighten suddenly. It was too gentle—so gentle it seemed... intentional?
He knew his wife too well; an ominous premonition quietly crawled up his spine, and fine beads of cold sweat couldn't help but break out on his forehead.
"Kushina?" he called out cautiously, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible dryness.
Sure enough! The gentle smile on Kushina's face vanished like a sudden summer rain.
In its place, a violent surge of Chakra erupted from her body like a volcanic eruption!
Blinding crimson Chakra waves rose and flickered like flames, and her signature long fiery-red hair moved without wind, dancing wildly and aggressively!
"This is the Red Hot Chili Pepper Mode!" Minato's pupils contracted suddenly, and his heart nearly skipped a beat.
He never expected that his wife would directly enter such a destructive state at such a peaceful moment!
Kushina's figure flashed, so fast she left an afterimage in place.
Minato was known as the "Yellow Flash," possessing the fastest speed in the Ninja World, but at this moment, caught off guard and suppressed by the momentum of his wife's explosion of fury and determination, he was accurately grabbed by the ear!
"Minato!!!" Kushina's roar was like a sudden clap of thunder, nearly lifting the roof, filled with the anger and sadness of seeing someone fail to live up to expectations. "I really didn't expect this! When did you become like this?! Huh?! How many comrades at the front are bleeding and sacrificing themselves! How many families are being torn apart!! Yet you're hiding in Konoha like a coward?! Are you going to let those subordinates who trust you die for nothing?!"
Every word was powerful and resonant, like a heavy hammer striking Minato's heart.
"No! Kushina, listen to me—" Minato just wanted to explain his internal struggle and his concern for them.
"Shut up!" Kushina interrupted sharply, her grip not loosening at all. The rising crimson Chakra dyed her eyes with a layer of blood-red, showing a look of resolve.
"I know! Aren't you just afraid that bastard with the whirlpool mask will come back?! You're afraid I'm weak after giving birth to Naruto, afraid I can't protect the child, right?! Who are you looking down on?! I am the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina!"
Her words were like burning flames, scorching hot: "I'm telling you! I've recovered now!"
"Even if I really run into that bastard, if he dares to come again, believe it or not, I'll use the Nine-Tails' power to smash that ugly mask of his to pieces! I'll crush his bones along with it!"
Her gushing anger and fighting will even caused the surrounding air to distort slightly.
Minato looked at his wife's face, flushed with excitement, and those eyes burning with fury and unyielding spirit; complex emotions surged in his heart.
He naturally understood his wife's strength, but that "what if" fear still coiled around him like a venomous snake, making it hard for him to let go.
A bitter look appeared on his face. "I just—can't stop worrying—"
Kushina looked at his painful and conflicted expression, and her fury seemed to subside slightly, but her resolve did not waver in the least.
Her tone remained firm, even carrying a hint of burning her bridges. "Fine! 'Can't stop worrying,' indeed!"
"Minato, since you don't dare to go to the battlefield, then I will!"
Her gaze suddenly became even sharper, as if piercing through the roof, pointing directly at that distant and bloody battlefield. "Anyway, isn't Kumogakure clamoring about their Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"I've got the genuine Nine-Tails in my belly! Eight-Tails? Hmph! Leave it to me! I'll go to the front lines myself and beat that stinky octopus back to its Kumogakure home!"
This declaration carried her characteristic confidence, yet it was not a joke at all.
This sudden announcement completely struck Minato's most sensitive nerve, and he almost cried out, "Kushina!"
His voice rose in anxiety.
Frozen by this shout, Kushina paused her movements, and the boiling crimson Chakra also stagnated slightly. She turned back to look at her husband, the depths of the anger in her eyes containing unquestionable concern and responsibility for the Village.
Minato was also gazing at her, seeing the resolve burning in her eyes. This was no longer simple anger, but her choice, her burden to bear.
This courage and resolution were like a flood, breaking down the dam of hesitation in Minato's heart.
A clear thought replaced all conflict. His usual gentle smile reappeared on his face, but this time, the hesitation had faded, replaced by an incomparably firm strength.
"I understand." Minato's voice was low and clear, carrying a solemnity born of relief. "I will go to the front lines. You're right."
He didn't offer any more redundant explanations.
The terrifying aura around Kushina quickly receded like a tide, the crimson Chakra light vanished, and she turned back into that brisk woman with flowing red hair.
"Hmph! Good that you know!"
Then she turned her head away, her tone brook no argument. "As for Naruto and me, you don't need to worry. I will take him and hide in the most secret and heavily guarded place in the Village. Until you return, I will never let Naruto face even the slightest threat!"
"Not just Naruto, but you as well," Minato said gently.
Kushina paused for a moment, then nodded.
Minato looked at his wife's determined expression, having already prepared for everything; a thousand words were stuck in his throat.
The woman before him was both a powerful Ninja and his most solid support and warmest harbor.
In the end, all words seemed redundant, melting into a heartfelt whisper that gathered all the unspoken gratitude, guilt, and deep love.
"Thank you, Kushina."
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, sat behind a desk shrouded in shadows.
His iconic, massive red nose wrinkled slightly as he looked at the intelligence coming from the distant battlefield.
——
A fresh scroll was spread out on the rough wood-grained tabletop, its striking symbols indicating the movements of Kumogakure and Konoha.
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—" His low voice echoed in the silent room, carrying a cold edge of surprise, "was actually sent to the front lines of the clash with Konoha? The Hidden Cloud Village, what a grand move!"
His rough fingers brushed over the paper, making a slight rustling sound as he continued to examine the report in his hand line by line.
Konoha's casualty figures showed a tragic surge after the Eight-Tails was deployed, which was within expectations.
However, the information not mentioned in the intelligence was like a sharp thorn, pricking Ōnoki's keen nerves.
"The battlefield is scorched earth, and Konoha's casualties have skyrocketed—but where is the Yellow Flash, Minato?
Ōnoki's brow furrowed even tighter.
The newly appointed Fourth Hokage of Konoha, the 'Yellow Flash' famous throughout the Ninja World, has no movement at all?
He pinched his sparse stubble on his chin, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
"Could it be that the Yellow Flash became more protective of his life after becoming the Hokage?" an Advisor nearby suggested a possibility.
"Hmph! Protecting his life like a rat? What a joke!" Ōnoki snorted in disdain.
He knew Minato's weight better than anyone; he was definitely not a coward who would shrink back in a greenhouse.
"This guy must be entangled by something difficult to escape! An invisible shackle is tightly holding his hands and feet—"
Ōnoki leaned forward slightly, his narrowed eyes as if cold rocks were rolling within them.
What was the truth? He didn't need to get to the bottom of it.
For him, the judgment of 'unable to go to the battlefield' was already enough.
A dangerous, golden opportunity was revealing its secret temptation to him through the war flames ignited between Kumogakure and Konoha.
"How can Iwagakure sit idly by and watch Kumogakure swallow this feast alone?" A fire of ambition burned in his cloudy eyes.
Iwagakure, this sleeping giant, had already sharpened its claws and teeth when the conflict between Kumogakure and Konoha first began, waiting with bated breath in the dark.
At this moment, that golden blade hanging overhead, which once made the entire Ninja World tremble with fear, seemed to be restrained by invisible threads.
This is the chance! It's a once-in-a-thousand-year, golden opportunity for Iwagakure that cannot be missed!
Ōnoki's withered fingers suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white from the strain.
"Summon all Jonin!" His aged voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable iron-blooded will, "Convene a war mobilization meeting immediately!"
However, Ōnoki, blinded by intelligence, did not foresee that within just a few days of making this determined decision, the Minato he thought was 'locked' down had already broken free from his shackles and was heading toward that meat-grinder-like battlefield—without looking back!
If this Tsuchikage-sama, known for his shrewdness, could have known about this rapidly changing moment earlier... perhaps the bitterness of his regret would be much heavier than his current decision.
The cold morning light had just draped the Hokage Building in a faint glow, but the office was already filled with the heavy atmosphere before a great war.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, was making his final deployments. He was about to personally head to the Kumogakure battlefield, so Konoha's daily operations had to be properly entrusted.
Stroking the stacked scrolls, Minato felt a surge of emotions in his heart.
Having suffered a heavy blow from the Danzo incident, the Third Hokage, who already showed signs of old age, had completely retired, making it difficult to ask him to come out and take charge again.
When his gaze fell upon the two Advisors, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, a hint of relief rose in his heart. Fortunately, these two experienced seniors had not stepped down along with the Third.
As pillars of Konoha who had been through multiple Ninja World wars and assisted the Third Hokage, the two Advisors were not only living history but also immense assets.
The intricate network of connections behind them, the seasoned wisdom and steady methods accumulated over decades of handling the Village's complex affairs, were, in Minato's view, the most solid reliance for Konoha's rear stability at this moment.
This reliability, tempered by time, was indeed something other young high-level officials could hardly match.
Perhaps their failure to retire together was due to a craving for power, but so what? As long as they could still be useful and not drag things down, it was enough.
"Two seniors," Minato faced them, his expression extremely solemn, his voice light but every word carrying the weight of a thousand pounds, "During my absence from the Village, I entrust Konoha to you."
Feeling the heavy trust in the Hokage's words, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado exchanged a knowing look; years of cooperation had made them of one mind.
Utatane Koharu spoke on behalf of the two, straightening her back and responding: "Fourth, rest assured. While we dare not boast of being able to handle bizarre events like the Masked Man's sudden attack, maintaining the Village's daily operations, dispatching logistical resources to fully support the front line, and handling internal and external negotiations and coordinating the affairs of various clans..."
Her tone carried an unquestionable certainty, "Leave them to us, and we will ensure Konoha runs as usual, in perfect order."
Homura Mitokado followed with a nod, adding: "We will guard the Village so you have no worries."
With his heart slightly more at ease, Minato was about to activate his Flying Thunder God Mark to rush directly to the front line of the fierce battle with Kumogakure when the office door was suddenly slammed open with a "bang"!
A Ninja belonging to the intelligence department, travel-worn and not even having time to catch his breath to calm his rapid breathing, rushed in holding high a scroll wrapped with a vermillion sealing thread representing the "highest emergency level."
His voice was hoarse from tension and exhaustion, "Hokage-sama! It's an emergency! Top-level emergency intelligence!"
A chill instantly shot up Minato's back. Had something already happened on the front line? How could it be? With Jiraiya-sensei there, even if the Eight-Tails and even the Fourth Raikage were present, it shouldn't be possible to collapse so quickly?!
He quickly took the scroll and forcefully tore open the sealing cord with his fingertips.
As his eyes swept rapidly over the encrypted text, that habitually gentle and calm face suddenly became extremely solemn, his eyebrows tightly locked together, finally turning into a cold cloud.
"Fourth?! What happened?" Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu's hearts instantly jumped into their throats. Minato's sudden change in expression was like a silent alarm, and an ominous premonition wrapped around the two Advisors' hearts.
Minato said nothing, only handing the heavy scroll to the two Advisors.
The two old Advisors almost snatched the scroll, their eyes like lightning as they quickly scanned the text on it.
In just an instant, a look of immense shock and disbelief appeared on their weathered faces simultaneously.
Homura Mitokado cried out in shock: "This, this is impossible! Iwagakure?! How could they at a time like this—"
The information on the scroll was like a thunderclap: Iwagakure's main force was launching a fierce attack on another side of Konoha's defensive line with lightning speed!
The ferocity of the offensive and the malice of the intent were plain for all to see!
"Currently, seventy to eighty percent of the Village's elites have been deployed to the Kumogakure front line to fight, and the defenses are empty—" Minato's voice was frighteningly low. He walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the peaceful Village awakening in the morning light, still unaware that a massive crisis had arrived.
"To try to organize a defensive force capable of dealing with such a large-scale Iwagakure invasion on short notice... is already very difficult."
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were speechless, seeing deep worry and urgency in each other's eyes.
Iwagakure taking advantage of the situation and choosing to strike at this critical juncture was almost fatal for Konoha's currently scarce military strength.
"Two seniors," Minato's voice rang out in the silence, carrying an unquestionable determination. He turned abruptly, his gaze sharp as a sword, "I'll have to trouble you two to act immediately! In the name of the Hokage, urgently summon all the Ninja forces in the Village that can still be mobilized! All the clan forces capable of fighting! Be quick!"
The two Advisors instantly understood Minato's meaning; this was to gather the last of their strength for a final stand!
"Fourth, do you intend to—" Utatane Koharu's voice carried shock and a hint of realization.
"Exactly!" Minato nodded heavily, his gaze turning to the window again, but this time it was no longer filled with worry, but with the resolve to face the storm, "The situation allows for no hesitation. I'll leave it to you two to sit and coordinate the Iwagakure front; I will take what's left of Konoha's strength to deal with it!"
After the two Advisors looked at each other, they also understood that the current Konoha had no other choice. They immediately nodded quickly, and both began to take action.
In this moment where every second counts, not a single bit of time could be wasted!
In an instant, a team composed of the remaining Shinobi of Konoha as its core assembled before Minato.
His gaze swept over the crowd, a hint of complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
In the crowd before him, although a few individuals emitted the steady aura unique to Jonin, standing among them like pillars of support.
But what most of the Shinobi revealed was an unmistakable sense of youth and thinness of strength; this was undoubtedly just a supplementary force of Genin and Chunin, meant to be expendable.
A silent sigh swirled in his heart.
However, Minato clearly recognized the reality.
After having already sent most of their main forces to the Kumogakure battlefield, the fact that Konoha's various Ninja Clans could grit their teeth and squeeze out such a force again was almost their limit.
He deeply understood the difficulty behind this, so how could he demand they empty their entire family fortunes and bet all their trump cards?
His gaze instantly turned firm. Minato straightened his body, his voice steady and penetrating, as he gave a brief and powerful, stirring pre-war mobilization speech to this silent team.
Without lengthy preaching, just a few words ignited the spark in everyone's hearts—the determination to protect their home overwhelmed the fear of the unknown future.
Immediately, he no longer hesitated, waved his arm, and led this temporary, heavily burdened team, resolutely racing toward the war-clouded northwestern border.