章 91: Minato's Renewed Purpose, The Uchiha Reflection

Hikari, always sharp and observant, picked up on subtleties in Hiruzen's introduction about Minato's role and capabilities.

He understood that Minato's impressive mastery of the Flying Raijin technique had not yet reached the pinnacle of speed and versatility depicted in the original series.

It was clear to Hikari that Minato's current proficiency with the jutsu was primarily suited for long-distance transportation and was probably more constrained by its longer casting time in terms of brief combat scenarios.

Hikari understood the nuances between Minato's and Tobirama's use of the Flying Raijin technique.

While Minato's formulas were crafted for greater chakra efficiency, compensating for his smaller chakra pool compared to Tobirama, the real advantage lay in Minato's exceptional reaction speed and reflexes.

These allowed him to deploy the technique effectively in rapid succession, which is particularly useful in close-quarters combat where immediate response is crucial.

Yet, Hikari observed that Minato hadn't fully developed this legendary speed to its maximum potential, limiting his ability to utilize the Flying Raijin under intense battle conditions where split-second decisions were necessary.

Nonetheless, for long-distance teleportation, where a delay of a second or more was inconsequential, Minato's version of the jutsu was already highly effective, demonstrating its unique strengths despite the areas needing improvement.

Hikari wasn't surprised that Minato had achieved such proficiency with the Flying Raijin technique at the relatively young age of around 20. Being Jiraiya's disciple, even while he was still in the Ninja Academy, had its advantages.

It led Hikari to speculate on how early Hiruzen might have, through Jiraiya, introduced Minato to the Flying Raijin technique for practice. This early start under the tutelage of such skilled mentors provided Minato with a significant head start in mastering a jutsu that demanded exceptional precision and control.

However, reflecting on Hiruzen's 'present-day' intentions, Hikari concluded mentally, 'He probably wants to allow him to train harder now in mastering the Flying Raijin completely, amongst other things; that's why he didn't send them on the Fronts to help Jiraiya or Orochimaru, for example...',

'The 'Sage Mode,' 'Flying Raijin,' 'Rasengan,' and possibly even more in this timeline; He is a truly worrisome problem... It would be best if I could somehow take him out before he reaches his full potential...',

With a cold glint, recognizing the implications of Minato's growth, Hikari considered him the most significant future challenge within Konoha from the Hokage's Faction due to his talent.

Despite his reservations about Minato's idealistic outlook, Hikari never underestimated his strength and shinobi talents. He recognized Minato's exceptional potential, believing that if Minato had not met an untimely end during his prime in the original series, his abilities could have developed even further.

Like the other high-ranking members of the Anti-Hokage Faction, Hikari viewed Minato as the most significant future threat to their plans, a shinobi with the potential to match and surpass Hiruzen.

Additionally, Hikari considered the likelihood of Minato stepping out from under Hiruzen's influence and 'shadow' to be slim.

Observing how swiftly Hiruzen reassumed command during the Nine-Tails attack and following Minato's demise, it appeared as though Hiruzen had never truly ceded the Hokage position to Minato.

This seamless transition could be attributed to Minato's brief leadership, possibly not allowing enough time for him to assert his independence fully. Alternatively, Hikari pondered whether Minato, with his less visionary approach, might not have seen the issue with remaining under Hiruzen's sway.

While Hikari remained uncertain about Minato's perspectives on leadership and autonomy, one thing was crystal clear to him: Minato possessed immense potential as a shinobi. However, Hikari concluded that this potential was likely to stay within the sphere of Hiruzen's influence, and it would be very foolish to assume otherwise.

Hikari never let his guard down about the Hokage's Faction, despite there being even much greater threats in this world in his knowledge. He understood that, more or less, it was still the Hokage's Faction that had the dominant position within the Konoha framework currently compared to his faction. It was just that the gap narrowed by the Patriarch's outburst of mysterious power on another level.

Meanwhile, in the hall, Kushina, upon hearing that she might be called upon to fight and lend her strength to the village's efforts, reacted with a fiery spirit and felt excited. While she understood the risks, especially as a Jinchuriki, her primary concern was the safety and well-being of Konoha.

Kushina felt a deep pride in being considered a valuable asset in times of need, ready to do whatever it took to protect her home and loved ones. Until now, her mission assignments have been truly rare, not to mention going to a real battlefield.

And what made it all the better and more positive was that the Minato didn't need to go alone anywhere and that she could even accompany him. Therefore, she looked at Hiruzen gratefully at this time.

She vowed to try to understand and train even harder in her clan's unique heritage and abilities, which her late grandmother, who belonged to the Uzumaki clan, had left her with.

Upon learning of his new position as leader of the Surprise Attack and Rescue Division, Minato accepted the role with a humble yet determined demeanor. Understanding the gravity of the responsibility placed upon him, he felt a renewed sense of purpose.

Minato reflected on the implications of his new role, seeing it as an invaluable chance to dedicate more time to his training,

'This position essentially grants me more time to prepare. I won't let everyone down then. I'll push myself harder than ever to support Konoha's stability and unity and to fulfill my goal of becoming Hokage...', He resolved, his determination evident as he clenched his fists.

Catching Kushina's excited glance, he acknowledged the added responsibility of protecting her, especially given her unique status as a Jinchuriki amidst the escalating internal and external pressures. This realization spurred him to think beyond his current capabilities,

'I've been complacent. It's time to innovate, refine my techniques, and develop new ones. I need to work smarter and harder than ever before...', Minato's commitment to his growth and to Konoha's defense was unwavering, driven by his deep sense of duty and love for Kushina.

Following the decision regarding Minato's new role and division, the assembly meeting moved swiftly toward the conclusion.

The final steps involved the signing of important documents and transcripts that officially recorded the meeting's outcomes.

Each leader and participant methodically affixed their signatures, formalizing the commitments and strategies that had been agreed upon. There were brief exchanges of farewell words, a mixture of formal acknowledgments, and more personal sentiments reflecting the gravity of the situation facing Konoha and the unity required to address it.

As these formalities were completed, the atmosphere in the room, though still charged with a sense of urgency, began to ease. The leaders and participants, having reached critical decisions for the village's future, prepared to leave the clandestine space that had hosted their deliberations.

One by one, they exited the underground assembly hall, a secret chamber hidden beneath the iconic Hokage Rock. Stepping from the dimly lit confines into the brightness of Konoha's streets marked a transition back to the everyday world, but each carried with them the weight of the decisions made and the tasks ahead.

The light of the village streets seemed to welcome them back, a reminder of the home they had vowed to protect and serve. At the end of the day, this bolstered their resolve as they departed to undertake their respective duties.

As the Hyuga and Uchiha members exited the meeting side by side, with the rest of the Anti-Hokage Faction nearby, Hirayoshi spoke up, his demeanor unchanged before the meeting.

"Sakumo-san, let's connect later again. Congratulations on this meeting's results..." He strangely only addressed Sakumo by name, perhaps because of his status or because he was the only one about to speak for his clan at that time when the Hokage pressured them.

"There is still much for us to process internally after returning to our clans. We will contact you later; for now, let's part ways...", He stated, indicating a need for reflection and strategic planning within the confines of their own clans.

Hikari, Takumi, Hiashi, and the other Hyuga clansmen nearby nodded in understanding, ready to deliberate on the meeting's outcomes and their implications.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Anti-Hokage faction felt uncomfortable as they considered the earlier part of the meeting.

Before Hirayoshi demonstrated power, there had been a noticeable lack of support for the Hyuga clan's proposition, particularly from the Uchiha clan, who had secured their demands first and then stopped advocating for the Hyuga's interests.

This prior inaction now cast a shadow of awkwardness, especially among the Uchiha, who recognized the potential rift their earlier stance might have caused.

However, Hyuga's decision not to dwell on these past tensions and instead focus on future coordination and strategy relieved the group.

This gesture of looking forward rather than holding onto grievances signaled a willingness to maintain unity within the Anti-Hokage Faction despite the complex dynamics and competing interests that had emerged during the meeting.

The Uchiha clansmen found themselves caught between conflicting feelings following Hirayoshi's unexpected demonstration of power.

On the one hand, there was a sense of satisfaction and relief. Having such a potent ally undoubtedly strengthened their position against the Hokage's faction, offering more hope in their struggle to regain influence within Konoha.

This new development promised a more robust defense and a strategic edge they had not anticipated, which could significantly alter the balance of power in their favor.

However, this positive outlook was somewhat overshadowed by a less comfortable realization.

The Hyuga's sudden assertion of dominance, spearheaded by Hirayoshi's display, had unexpected implications for the internal hierarchy of the Anti-Hokage Faction.

The Uchiha, a clan with deep-rooted pride and a long-standing sense of prominence within the village, now faced the reality of another clan ascending to a position of clear leadership within their coalition.

In the face of these developments, the internal rivalries within the Uchiha clan momentarily took a back seat as Great Elder Setsuna and Patriarch Fugaku shared a significant glance.

This exchange was laden with unspoken understanding and concern over the escalating situation in Konoha and beyond, recognizing that the dynamics of power were shifting rapidly and unpredictably.

The revelation of the Hyuga clan's ancient and formidable power, juxtaposed with the Uchiha's lack of recent Mangekyo Sharingan awakenings, underscored a growing concern.

The Uchiha had long prided themselves on their powerful kekkei genkai, yet the absence of new Mangekyo Sharingan users within their ranks, coupled with no equivalent secret power to the Hyuga's, highlighted a pressing need for action.

Fugaku and Setsuna realized the urgency of unlocking the Mangekyo Sharingan's potential within their clan.

For Fugaku, this meant embracing the inevitable conflict of the upcoming war as an opportunity to push his limits and achieve the awakening.

His resolve was clear, understanding the sacrifices and risks involved in pursuing such power.

Setsuna, on the other hand, saw his granddaughter Kiyomi as another beacon of hope for the clan's resurgence.

The expectation that she, too, might awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan placed a heavy burden on her shoulders, a burden Setsuna acknowledged with a mix of hope and apprehension.

His concern for Kiyomi's well-being added a layer of complexity to his determination, reflecting the personal stakes involved in the clan's quest for power.

Meanwhile, also as the meeting dispersed, Kiyomi found herself still grappling with the aftermath of the Hyuga Patriarch's display of power.

She secretly waved goodbye to Hikari, her mind racing with thoughts of the chakra explosion that seemed like an ocean's force unleashed by his Patriarch.

This unexpected revelation thoroughly shattered her preconceived notions of the Hyuga clan, which, like many in her clan, she had always considered to be a step behind the Uchiha in terms of sheer power.

The reality that the Hyuga possessed such a profound secret strength, capable of bending the Hokage's Faction to their will and intimidating them during such a broad assembly, was unprecedented.

Kiyomi reflected on this moment as a historic shift in the dynamics of power within Konoha.

For the first time, a major shinobi clan leveraged its hidden power to such a dramatic effect that it fundamentally altered the village's political landscape.

This realization sparked a mix of emotions in Kiyomi: awe at Hyuga's hidden capabilities, a reassessment of her understanding of her village's dynamics, and a newfound sense of competition.