Konoha.
Gen Takuya walked through the village, watching the smiles on the villagers' faces—and hearing Minato's name spoken again and again.
As expected, the Third Hokage had already begun preparing to hand over the title.
Otherwise, with the Third still alive, this kind of open talk about Minato would've been inappropriate.
If given time, Shimura Danzō would absolutely try to turn Minato into a second "White Fang."
But Minato wasn't Hatake Sakumo.
He wouldn't commit suicide over pressure.
And judging by the momentum, Danzō likely wouldn't have time to lay the groundwork.
He was probably raging in the shadows right now.
Gen Takuya's smile deepened.
After all Danzō had done—he'd even smeared Orochimaru's reputation in the village—
It wasn't hard to imagine how the chain reaction began.
At first, it was rumors and hints—no one dared investigate too deeply due to Orochimaru's status.
But later, when disappearances in and around Konoha were investigated…
The trail would eventually lead there.
Paired with those earlier rumors…
It became inevitable.
As for Orochimaru's feelings about Minato becoming Hokage—
He would probably feel bitter.
But he also knew his own reputation in the village couldn't compete with Minato's.
So he likely buried himself in experiments, using obsession to numb the sting.
"Orochimaru…" Gen Takuya thought.
He needed Orochimaru's research records.
Which meant Orochimaru needed to defect.
That wasn't difficult to arrange.
Honestly, Gen Takuya felt Orochimaru had been pushed by Danzō.
In the beginning, Orochimaru's nature was dark, but he still cared about the village.
He wouldn't have used Konoha's people as test subjects.
Most of his experiments likely used bodies obtained from the battlefield.
But once Danzō approached him for cooperation…
Everything changed.
The "materials" Danzō provided weren't only from nearby villages.
They included Konoha shinobi.
And after that…
It was as if Orochimaru discarded his final restraint and began targeting Konoha's own.
From that moment, he stepped onto a road with no return.
If Orochimaru had only used enemy bodies from war, it might've been forgivable.
Minato didn't seem like the kind of rigid man who couldn't understand practicality.
Even the Third Hokage—Orochimaru's teacher—couldn't bring himself to kill him in canon.
But once the village's own people became test subjects…
That changed everything.
No Hokage could shield him from the village's collective fury.
After Orochimaru defected, his experiments only became more unrestrained.
So when Gen Takuya was ready, all he needed to do was present evidence of Orochimaru's experiments on Konoha's people to the Fourth Hokage.
But he needed the right identity and angle.
A "sealing-technique fanatic" suddenly turning into a whistleblower didn't fit his persona.
More importantly…
After exposing Orochimaru, how would he actually obtain what he wanted?
The records Orochimaru left behind would likely be ongoing notes.
The completed research…
Would probably be in Orochimaru's head.
"In the end, I still have to corner him into a deal," Gen Takuya muttered.
Troublesome.
He submitted his mission report.
The Third Hokage was busy with the succession, so he didn't keep Gen Takuya around for their usual conversation.
Back home, Gen Takuya looked at his simple, bare room and felt a strange sense of contrast.
Not long ago, he'd been snatching a Demonic Statue fragment under the eyes of the Rinnegan and a hidden puppet-master.
Now he was back here—
In quiet, ordinary life.
It felt… surreal.
He didn't waste time.
He created two shadow clones to continue studying sealing techniques.
Then he unsealed the meteor, placed it on his legs, and resumed training.
If he wanted to corner Orochimaru later, strength was the foundation.
He couldn't afford to waste days.
Time passed quickly.
Minato's ascension to Fourth Hokage was no longer rumor—it was common knowledge.
The village celebrated.
Minato's battlefield feats—making enemies flee on sight, saving countless comrades and families—were spoken of everywhere.
Even those who hadn't witnessed it now knew the stories better than the people who had.
Then, one day—
Namikaze Minato came to visit Gen Takuya.
With Uzumaki Kushina beside him.
Gen Takuya opened the door, surprised.
Even now, on days like these, they'd come personally?
"Welcome, Minato. Kushina."
After they sat, Gen Takuya began preparing tea.
He hesitated, then decided against using the cheapest leaves like last time.
"You came at a good time," he said. "I bought some specialty tea during this mission."
"Then we'll look forward to it," Minato said with a smile—clearly remembering the last visit's bargain tea.
Not offended.
Just amused.
Minato glanced around. "Your home is still as simple as ever, senior. Have you thought about buying a new house?"
"Not for now," Gen Takuya replied after a brief pause at the honorific. "I'm away on missions most of the time. A new house would just be wasted."
"I see." Minato nodded.
Kushina studied Gen Takuya closely. That odd sense she'd felt before still lingered in memory, but now she didn't feel it as strongly.
Soon, the tea was ready.
Gen Takuya sat across from them, pouring cups as he spoke.
"Seems I haven't properly congratulated you yet, Minato."
He straightened slightly, making his tone more formal.
"Congratulations. Soon I'll have to call you Hokage-sama."
Minato scratched his head, smiling. "You can still call me Minato in private, senior. Besides, the Third Hokage isn't so old that he has to retire. He's simply… placing too much faith in me."
"Don't be modest," Gen Takuya said calmly. "When enemy villages reach the point where they agree they can abandon missions on sight of you—your strength speaks for itself. And you saved so many comrades on the battlefield. So many families."
"Even in reputation, you're the obvious choice."
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