"Help Hatake Sakumo become the Fourth Hokage? Is that the goal?"
Sarutobi Ryo thought about the message he had just received, nodding to himself.
If Hatake Sakumo becomes Hokage, the Nine-Tails attack and the encounter with Obito won't just end with Obito getting hurt, will they?
No… this was bigger than that.
Now that he had altered Hatake Sakumo's path, Kakashi's future would also be completely different.
And, Obito's future would be affected too.
He couldn't rely on his old assumptions anymore.
The current main mission was already 80% complete. He was so close to being promoted from "Anbu Division Leader" to "Anbu Squad Six Captain."
Defeating Storm Release with Ice Release, and killing Sarui, who was called Black Lightning by the Third Raikage, had once again proven how strong he was.
He just needed to complete one more small task to move things forward. The promotion would happen on its own eventually.
After all, if he climbed the ranks too quickly after just becoming an Anbu Squad Captain, it would raise eyebrows and make others jealous.
"Honorable Hokage, studying enemy remains is the job of the Anbu. As the Division Leader of Squad Six, I'm asking for permission to keep some of the remains for practice..."
Sarutobi Ryo looked at his father.
This respectful way of speaking was his way of separating his personal feelings. He was making an official request as a Division Leader.
"No problem."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was very happy and smiled widely.
He was thrilled to see his eldest son succeeding. The fact that his son had defeated Sarui was a great sign for the future.
"Then, we will leave now."
Sarutobi Ryo turned and left the Hokage Office with Yamanaka Hui and the others.
----
Once outside the Hokage Building, Hatake Sakumo breathed a sigh of relief under the trees.
Sarutobi Ryo had explained the importance of what they were doing these past few days.
Hatake Sakumo now understood that he couldn't hide from certain things.
He needed to face them head-on to protect himself and those he cared about.
"Young Master Ryo, I will secretly talk to the Third Hokage in private..."
Hatake Sakumo planned to follow Sarutobi Ryo's suggestion and ask to join the Hokage's personal Anbu Squad.
If he became a direct Anbu under the Third Hokage, even Danzo wouldn't dare to attack him without a good reason.
It would be different from the original story, when Danzo assassinated Uchiha Shisui by taking advantage of a rare opportunity to strike.
But Hatake Sakumo wasn't the young and naive Uchiha Shisui.
Hatake Sakumo was extremely skilled and experienced. He could easily defeat many attackers and even threaten Danzo.
"No, Teacher Sakumo, it's more than that."
Sarutobi Ryo shook his head.
"You should run for Fourth Hokage."
He meant that only by becoming Hokage could he truly avoid being targeted and escape the conspiracies of those in power.
"Yes, I understand." Hatake Sakumo nodded, looking serious.
The situation had reached a point where he had no other choice.
For Kakashi, to honor his disciple's faith in him, and to change the village and get rid of the darkness…
He needed to aim for the Hokage position.
"From today on, I need to work hard too…"
Hatake Sakumo scratched his head.
How much power would a man who once only wanted to relax unleash when he became serious and aimed for Hokage?
Sarutobi Ryo was eager to find out.
After Hatake Sakumo said goodbye and promised to buy him a meal, Sarutobi Ryo watched him disappear into the crowd.
"Young Master, I think Namikaze Minato seems to have some ideas…"
Yamanaka Hui said.
Hatake Sakumo hadn't been successfully undermined, and he seemed unhappy about it?
"Namikaze Minato has his own concerns, of course."
With that, Sarutobi Ryo walked away.
Next, he needed to visit Might Duy.
And he needed to find a way to study Sarui's remains to see if he could unlock the secrets of Storm Release.
"What is it?"
Yamanaka Hui quickly followed, looking confused.
This had to be explained from Kushina's point of view.
Jinchuriki… or rather, the Tailed Beasts held by Shinobi Villages, were all closely tied to the Kage.
For example, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, was Ai's sworn brother.
In the original story, Yagura sealed the Three-Tails inside himself and became the Jinchuriki.
The One-Tail Jinchuriki was imprisoned and guarded. Later, it was changed to Gaara, the son of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
Many stories from Naruto characters showed that the "Jinchuriki/Tailed Beast" had to be deeply connected to the Kage of a Village.
If Hatake Sakumo became the Fourth Hokage, it would be much harder for Namikaze Minato, who wasn't related to Hatake Sakumo, to marry Kushina.
Politics couldn't be ignored simply because of "love."
And these secrets, including Kushina's identity as a Jinchuriki, were not known to Yamanaka Hui.
Even Sarutobi Ryo shouldn't know that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
It was just that Sarutobi Ryo had the memories of someone from another world, so he could understand this completely and not be held back by his current identity.
Speaking of which…
The problem of Namikaze Minato and Kushina wasn't impossible to solve.
But it was too early to talk about these things.
Only when Hatake Sakumo became the Fourth Hokage would it be worth discussing the future of Kushina and Namikaze Minato's relationship; otherwise, it would just be a waste of time.
----
On the edge of Konoha.
A small bridge, flowing water.
A turning windmill, a peaceful scene.
Namikaze Minato arrived, feeling a bit worried.
"Minato~~."
Kushina, who was working in the yard, waved happily when she saw her lover.
She seemed to have endless energy.
Her beautiful face and bright red hair deeply attracted Namikaze Minato.
"Kushina…"
Namikaze Minato, who had come from the Hokage Building, smiled.
"Minato, what's wrong?" Kushina noticed that his smile was a little forced. She changed her tone and asked softly.
How should he say it?
Namikaze Minato hesitated, unsure how to start.
If he hadn't seen the future predicted by the Great Toad Sage, he wouldn't be so worried.
But after experiencing that memory, which felt so real…
It was as if he had started a "second playthrough."
In that future he saw, everything was so real.
Including falling in love with Kushina, becoming the Fourth Hokage, Kushina getting pregnant, giving birth to… Naruto.
Naruto…
Uzumaki Naruto, his child.
It felt as though he truly existed...
"Minato."
Just as Namikaze Minato was lost in thought, a calm female voice spoke.
Then, a woman with a noble air and incredible beauty walked out of the house.
She had the same bright red hair as Kushina, but it was tied into two buns.
Dressed in a simple white robe, she seemed otherworldly, like a goddess.
This beautiful and noble woman, who looked to be in her 20s or 30s, was one of the signs that the previous future was changing into a new one.
"Lord Mito…"
Namikaze Minato nodded and respectfully said her title.
The wife of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito, who should have died.
She had survived after having the Tailed Beast removed from her.
Why?