Namikaze Minato sat in the Hokage’s chair and slowly released a long breath.
To him, it was merely an ordinary chair, but to certain people, it was no different from the daimyo’s throne.
Someone like Danzo-sama, for example.
Danzo had pursued the Hokage’s position with almost insane persistence.
He had openly opposed the Third Hokage and secretly placed countless obstacles in Minato and Kushina’s path.
In the end, however, Danzo had still lost to Minato and watched the position slip through his fingers again.
And the greatest contributor to Minato’s victory was undoubtedly…
Minato raised his head and sincerely thanked the young man standing across the desk.
“Kaeda Arashi, I owe all of this to you.”
In Minato’s eyes, the young man he had stumbled upon by chance possessed a frighteningly sharp mind.
Arashi had contributed more than anyone to placing him in the Hokage’s seat.
Minato did not particularly care about becoming Hokage, but he certainly did not want Danzo or Orochimaru taking the position.
Arashi also made up for Minato’s lack of political awareness.
During the Third Shinobi World War, Arashi had devised one brilliant strategy after another, leading Minato’s unit to victory without fail.
Unfortunately, the Third Hokage had refused to grant him overall command no matter what.
Otherwise, Konoha’s casualties might have been far lower.
Standing across the desk was an ordinary-looking young man who appeared to be around Minato’s age.
“It was all because of your own efforts, Minato…
Or should I call you Fourth Hokage-sama now?”
“Please don’t.”
Minato hurriedly waved his hands.
“We’re good friends, and you’re the person I trust most.
Just call me Minato.”
‘Good friends, huh…’
A complicated expression briefly crossed Arashi’s face.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Those two words carried far more meaning than Minato could have imagined.
Arashi was a transmigrator.
When he first arrived in the world of Naruto, he had been quite excited.
It did not take long, however, for him to realize that he had received none of the privileges a protagonist should have.
He had no prestigious bloodline, no legendary teacher, no reincarnated power, and not even the system that had become standard equipment for modern transmigrators.
‘What a tragedy!’
Of course, no matter how unlucky someone was, there would always be moments when fortune smiled upon them.
The first shinobi Arashi encountered after transmigrating was Namikaze Minato.
Rather than saying they met, it would be more accurate to say that Minato picked him up.
Arashi had been lost in the forests of the Land of Fire, exhausted and starving.
He had nearly died before Minato found and rescued him.
Minato was the father of Uzumaki Naruto, the protagonist of the original story.
He was handsome, bright, generous, and gentle.
Although serious and cautious in battle, he often revealed a surprisingly innocent and absentminded side around his companions.
Such a person perfectly met all of Arashi’s requirements.
The requirements for a powerful backer and obedient fighter, that was.
The moment Minato appeared, Arashi realized he had not arrived during the main storyline.
Using his knowledge of the plot, he learned the exact period after only a brief conversation.
It was shortly before the Third Shinobi World War.
Afterward, Arashi stubbornly clung to Minato and eventually secured a place in Konoha as a sheltered refugee.
But as a transmigrator, how could he accept living his entire life as nothing more than a refugee?
When the war began, Arashi volunteered to join a labor unit responsible for transporting supplies to the front lines.
Using his knowledge of the plot, he avoided danger several times before eventually being picked up by Minato once again.
Of course, Arashi had carefully arranged their second encounter.
By then, Minato’s unit had already penetrated deep behind enemy lines.
Sending Arashi back was no longer possible, and with Minato’s personality, abandoning a companion was completely out of the question.
Arashi was therefore allowed to join Minato’s unit.
With the military knowledge of a modern man, he quickly distinguished himself and became the unit’s strategist and advisor.
By the end, he was practically its commander.
When the war ended, Namikaze Minato shocked the shinobi world under the title of the Yellow Flash.
Few people outside Konoha knew that a brilliant strategist had been working behind him.
Within the village, however, Arashi had already earned considerable respect among the younger generation.
Arashi did not care about any of that.
All he wanted was Minato’s trust.
After all, Minato was destined to become the Fourth Hokage.
If the Hokage trusted him completely, then naturally, Arashi would become…
Just as he had predicted, Minato rose from behind his desk.
His expression was earnest and solemn, carrying the air of a leader personally seeking the service of a talented subordinate.
“Arashi, are you willing to help me again?”
“What do you mean?”
Arashi put on a convincingly puzzled expression.
“Would you become the Hokage’s advisor?” Minato asked seriously.
“Aren’t there already several advisors?”
Arashi took the chance to probe for information.
These were matters he could never have learned while living as a refugee.
“Can the Hokage appoint another one?”
“You’re talking about the advisory council formed by the village elders.”
As expected, Minato showed little caution around someone he trusted.
“The position I’m offering you is different.
I want you to become the Hokage’s chief advisor.”
“Only the Hokage can appoint someone to that position.
It is reserved for the person the Hokage trusts most.”
“I see…”
Arashi pretended to consider the offer for a moment.
“Very well.
You saved my life, so naturally, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
“That’s wonderful!”
Minato immediately broke into a bright smile and patted Arashi on the shoulder.
“If we work together, I’m certain we can make Konoha a better place and spread the Will of Fire!”
‘The Will of Fire, huh?’
Hearing those four words, Arashi barely stopped himself from laughing.
The Will of Fire?
To put it bluntly, had the entire shinobi world not been ruined by those very words?
Just look at Konoha’s current leadership.
It was filled with old monsters who refused to release their grip on power.
There was the Third Hokage, who had supposedly retired yet still controlled things from the shadows.
Then there was Danzo, whose noble words concealed nothing but selfish ambition, along with his organization, Root.
As for Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, those two old fossils hardly required an explanation.
Konoha’s civilians were even more impressive in their own way.
They bullied everyone equally, sparing neither the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki, the Hyuga heiress, the last Uchiha, nor even the girl with the wide forehead.
What was there to protect about people like that?
Arashi had not clung to Minato because he was a rare light within this rotten world.
He had done it because Minato was powerful and easy to influence.
After all, this was the man capable of inventing names like “Halo Popsicle-Inspired Whorl-Haired Jiraiya Twin Formula Sphere.”
There was also “Scorch Release: Halo Gale Jet-Black Arrow Style Zero—Spiraling Flash Super Round Dance Roar Style Three.”
Calling Minato’s political ability childish would be generous.
In truth, it was almost indistinguishable from children playing house.
This was not some dark conspiracy theory Arashi had created based on the original story.
It was the conclusion he had reached after spending years beside Minato and speaking with him honestly.
As for the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen…
Few Naruto characters had sparked as much debate among fans.
Kishimoto had clearly intended him to be a kind and gentle grandfather, but the story contained far too many contradictions to support that image.
Combined with Danzo conveniently appearing to shoulder every crime, many fans naturally suspected that Hiruzen was an old schemer hiding behind a friendly face.
Arashi had not interacted with that great figure often enough to reach a firm conclusion.
But that did not matter.
The first thing he intended to do after becoming chief advisor was test him.
Minato now trusted him completely.
Arashi could use the Hokage’s authority to accomplish many things, and he could also ask Minato to teach him ninjutsu as a friend.
The Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan were among the greatest techniques a civilian without a special bloodline could ever obtain.
Arashi’s goal had never been to protect Konoha.
He only wanted to live a better life in this bloody and merciless shinobi world.