Shinzuki Yu withdrew his gaze from the rising sun and replied in his usual calm tone.
“I don’t have any particular plans for now.”
“I’ll just take things as they come.”
He truly had no grand ambitions.
Getting stronger was merely a byproduct.
Taking life easy had always been his real goal.
“We should deal with the village first.”
Minato nodded.
“Your achievements deserve a reward worthy of them.”
Kushina immediately agreed.
“Exactly!”
“It has to be the highest honor possible!”
Temporary Conference Room, Hokage Building
The atmosphere was solemn.
Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, looking noticeably older than before.
A night of fierce battle, combined with the devastation suffered by the village, had left him utterly exhausted.
Minato sat beside him.
Across the table were Konoha’s two senior advisors—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
Hiruzen spoke first.
“As for Yu’s reward…”
Minato didn’t hesitate.
“I propose granting him a title beyond that of a hero.”
“And the highest level of honors the village can offer.”
Koharu frowned.
“‘Beyond a hero?'”
“That’s excessive.”
“There has never been such a precedent in Konoha’s history.”
Homura nodded.
“His contributions are undeniable.”
“But overturning established traditions could create unnecessary controversy.”
Their concerns weren’t unreasonable.
If one person’s prestige surpassed even the Hokage’s…
It could easily disrupt the village’s balance of power.
“…Tradition?”
Minato’s voice remained calm.
Yet it carried unmistakable authority.
“If not for Yu last night…”
“Those traditions would’ve been trampled beneath the Nine-Tails and the masked man.”
He looked directly at the two advisors.
“You both witnessed his strength.”
“He can no longer be measured by ordinary standards.”
“He saved Konoha.”
“No reward could ever truly match that.”
Hiruzen slowly tapped the table.
“Minato has a point.”
“Yu’s existence is a blessing to this village.”
“We can’t treat him like an ordinary shinobi.”
He turned toward Minato.
“What exactly do you have in mind?”
Minato answered clearly.
“I propose creating an entirely new position.”
“Chief Honorary Advisor of Konoha.”
The room fell silent.
Koharu and Homura exchanged startled glances.
Minato continued.
The position would rank directly below the Hokage.
He would possess advisory authority over major village decisions.
And in special circumstances—such as emergencies threatening the village’s survival or with the Hokage’s authorization—he would hold veto power.
Silence filled the room once again.
A veto.
Even if mostly symbolic…
That was nearly equivalent to the Hokage’s own authority.
Homura hesitated.
“…That’s an enormous amount of power.”
“It’s symbolic more than practical,” Minato explained.
“It’s the village’s highest expression of gratitude.”
“And it reflects my complete trust in Yu.”
“He’ll also enjoy full operational independence.”
“He won’t be bound by the standard mission system.”
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
“I approve.”
“Yu deserves such an honor.”
He understood something very clearly.
A man with power like Yu’s…
Could never truly be restrained.
Rather than leaving him outside Konoha’s political framework…
It was wiser to grant him a position above it.
That way…
His future would become even more closely tied to the village.
Koharu sighed.
“If both the Hokage and Minato agree…”
“I have no objections.”
Homura eventually nodded as well.
The resolution passed unanimously.
“I’ll speak with him myself.”
Minato stood.
Yu’s temporary residence had been arranged in a quiet courtyard.
After explaining the new position…
And all the authority that came with it…
Yu’s reaction remained exactly as expected.
“…Chief Honorary Advisor?”
He rubbed his chin.
“Sounds decent.”
“Is it busy?”
Minato blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
“Not really.”
“Unless something major happens…”
“No one will bother you.”
“…Perfect.”
Yu accepted immediately.
Power itself didn’t interest him.
But the conveniences that came with the office certainly did.
Access to restricted facilities.
Permission to consult confidential archives.
Authority to mobilize resources.
All excellent for future check-in locations.
As for the veto power?
He couldn’t have cared less.
As long as nobody dragged him into endless meetings.
His previous life’s PTSD from corporate meetings hadn’t healed yet.
Several days later…
Minato officially assumed the mantle of the Fourth Hokage.
Though still scarred by the Nine-Tails’ attack…
Konoha now radiated quiet hope.
Wearing the white Hokage cloak…
Minato stood atop the ceremony platform beneath the Hokage Monument.
Sunlight reflected brilliantly from his golden hair.
Beside him stood a tall young man.
Shinzuki Yu.
He wore no elaborate ceremonial robes.
Only his usual simple clothing.
Yet no one dared underestimate him.
When Hiruzen formally announced Minato’s succession…
He also revealed the creation of the new office.
Chief Honorary Advisor of Konoha.
To be held by…
Shinzuki Yu.
The crowd fell silent.
Then erupted.
“Lord Minato!”
“Fourth Hokage!”
“Lord Yu!”
“Konoha’s Guardian!”
The two names echoed together.
The twin pillars of Konoha’s new era.
Yu ignored the deafening cheers.
Instead…
He simply looked toward Minato.
The young Hokage truly was worthy of leading the village into the future.
As for himself…
He only needed to lend a hand whenever necessary.
And…
Check in along the way.
After the ceremony…
Minato invited Yu into the Hokage’s office.
“This will be your office as well.”
He smiled while pushing open the heavy door.
The room was modestly furnished.
Yet carried the unmistakable weight of history.
Every Hokage had once governed Konoha from here.
Yu slowly looked around.
His eyes lingered briefly on the Hokage’s desk.
Ding!
Check-in successful at: [Hokage’s Office]!
Reward obtained: Multi Shadow Clone Technique (Greatly Reduced Chakra Consumption Version)!
Yu’s eyes brightened.
An upgraded Multi Shadow Clone Technique?
Originally…
With his Sage Body and enormous chakra reserves…
The technique was already extremely useful.
This enhanced version reduced chakra consumption even further.
Each clone could retain a much larger percentage of his original strength.
And when dispelled…
Their memories, combat experience, and accumulated knowledge would return far more completely.
Which meant…
He could create far more versions of himself.
To train.
To conduct research.
Or…
To check in at multiple places simultaneously.
“…Excellent.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Minato noticed.
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
Yu answered casually.
“I was just thinking…”
“The feng shui in this office is pretty good.”
Minato laughed, accepting the explanation without question.
He then began introducing Yu to the office’s daily operations…
And even showed him where confidential documents were stored.
Officially…
Yu was merely the Chief Honorary Advisor.
In practice…
Minato trusted him almost as much as he trusted himself.
Before long…
Yu became Konoha’s uncrowned king.
He held tremendous authority…
Yet almost never interfered with the village’s daily affairs.
His very existence alone…
Steadied Konoha internally…
And intimidated every foreign nation externally.
Most villagers and shinobi felt immense pride.
With someone like Yu protecting Konoha…
They finally felt safe.
But not everyone welcomed this development.
Deep beneath the village…
Inside the hidden headquarters of Root…
Danzō Shimura sat silently within the darkness.
The bandages covering his right eye concealed his expression.
A Root operative knelt before him.
“…Shinzuki Yu has become the Chief Honorary Advisor.”
“…He now possesses special decision-making authority.”
“…Hmph.”
Danzō let out a cold snort.
His exposed left eye gleamed ominously.
“Hiruzen.”
“And Minato.”
“They’re naïve.”
“Placing such an uncontrollable force in such a lofty position…”
“…is no different from raising a tiger.”
“A young man of completely unknown origins…”
“Who suddenly possesses power rivaling a Tailed Beast…”
“And now stands almost alongside the Hokage himself…”
“That alone makes him Konoha’s greatest source of instability.”
His raspy voice echoed through the darkness.
“He must be restrained.”
“…Or controlled.”
Like a venomous serpent tasting the air…
Danzō quietly revealed his intentions.
Beneath the calm surface…
The undercurrents had already begun to stir.
Yu stepped out of the Hokage Building.
The sunlight was pleasantly warm.
Stretching lazily…
He felt the refined golden chakra flowing effortlessly throughout his body.
“…So.”
“Where should I check in next?”
He strolled leisurely through streets already beginning to take shape under reconstruction.
A new destination…
Awaited.