Ding! The Hokage Conference is about to begin. Invite new members?
Aoki didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately made a decision.
Invite!
[Ding! Invitation successful.]
Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, has joined the group chat.
The system notification sounded, and Aoki froze instantly.
Minato?!
He scanned the system prompt, his heart filled with astonishment. Minato Namikaze, who had just been reporting to him moments ago, had suddenly joined the group.
The timing was just too coincidental. However, judging from the system prompt, this Minato was the Fourth Hokage from the original timeline, the one he was familiar with. Although he held the title of Hokage, the real power behind the scenes was still firmly in the hands of the elderly Third Hokage.
He wondered which period this Fourth Hokage was from. If it was on the eve of the Nine-Tails Rampage, things would get interesting.
As Aoki was lost in thought, a dazzling array of colorful lights suddenly flashed around him, enveloping his entire being. His consciousness was instantly pulled into the space of the Konoha Hokage Chat Group.
Inside the Konoha Hokage Building.
Minato Namikaze, dressed in a handsome Hokage's Ceremonial Robe, sat before a mountain of documents and reports. His flowing blond hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes were weary as he stared at the pile of paperwork before him.
No way, how can there be so much? Lord Third Hokage, do I really have to process all these documents?
Ever since ascending to the position of Hokage, Minato had been buried under an endless stream of official documents. His daily schedule was packed with paperwork, and the workload only seemed to increase.
Today's documents had piled up into a small mountain, suffocating him under their weight.
Seeing Minato's troubled expression, the retired but still more powerful Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, approached with a pipe in his mouth, smiling cheerfully.
Hahaha, you see, even I couldn't escape this hardship. The position of Hokage isn't so easy to hold.
Faced with Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Minato had no response. He could only grit his teeth and continue burying himself in the work, carefully reviewing and promptly responding to each document.
This sight made Sarutobi Hiruzen nod repeatedly in approval. It seemed he had made the right choice by stepping down and passing the title to the Fourth Hokage. He could firmly hold onto real power without being bothered by paperwork, and he would have plenty of time to fiddle with his Crystal Ball and gather information everywhere.
This master and disciple were truly alike, willing to do anything to fulfill their own agendas.
Just as Minato reluctantly buried himself in the documents, a voice suddenly exploded in his mind.
[Ding! You have joined the Konoha Hokage Chat Group. Group Leader Aoki has initiated a Hokage Conference. Please join immediately!]
Huh?!
Minato froze instantly, stopping his actions and scanning the entire office for the source of the voice.
Apart from him and the Third Hokage, there was no one else in the room.
Lord Third Hokage, did you hear a voice just now?
Minato had heard it clearly. The voice seemed to be related to the Konoha Hokage Chat Group—a channel to communicate with other Hokages. But Sarutobi Hiruzen looked utterly confused.
I didn't hear anything. Where did that voice come from?
Filled with doubt, Minato hesitated for a moment before he couldn't help but speak up.
But I clearly heard it…
He steadied himself, swallowing back the words that had reached his lips. That voice was definitely not his imagination.
[Ding! Group owner Aoki has initiated a Hokage Conference. Please join immediately!]
That was the voice!
The words slipped out of Minato's mouth, and the doubts in his heart were instantly cast aside. He didn't want to spend another second in this office piled high with documents.
I'll join!
Let's see what this is all about!
The moment his words fell, a dazzling rainbow light enveloped him. In the blink of an eye, he found himself in a pure white space.
Seated at the head of the round table was Aoki, wearing the familiar Hokage's Ceremonial Robe.
Seeing Aoki and his attire, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but freeze.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, he finally spoke up: "Are you also the Fourth Hokage?"
In response to Minato's question, Aoki raised a hand and smiled. "That's right."
Aoki was somewhat surprised that Minato remained so calm, showing no trace of shock.
"It seems you already know about parallel universes and crossing over. Take a seat first—not everyone has arrived yet."
Hearing Aoki's words, Minato flashed his signature smile and took a seat at the round table. Just as he was about to ask more about the Chat Group, three more figures suddenly materialized in the chat space.
All three wore the Hokage's Ceremonial Robe, exuding an innate air of authority.
When Minato's gaze fell upon the figure in the middle, his pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed in disbelief:
"The… the First Hokage?!"