Early the next morning, Kaeda Arashi placed his long-prepared [Konoha Modernization Reform Plan] on Minato’s desk.
It listed every outdated and decaying part of Konoha that urgently needed reform, all viewed through the eyes of a transmigrator from the modern world.
Abolishing the village’s commission on missions, forming a standing army separate from the ANBU, developing scientific ninja tools…
Every proposal struck at the heart of a real problem, and every one of them was certain to get on someone’s nerves.
“This plan is incredible.
Your wisdom never fails to amaze me.”
Minato smiled as he read the report.
“I wish we could start putting it into action immediately.”
“Then you’ll have to work hard, Hokage-sama.”
That was what Arashi said aloud, but his true thoughts were far less encouraging.
‘Go ahead and try.
Only after you’ve worked yourself to the bone will you realize you can’t accomplish anything.’
His plan had been written entirely from a modern perspective.
It contained countless ideas the conservatives would never accept and would hardly even dare to imagine.
A young, ambitious leader like Minato would naturally love it.
As for those old fossils…
That did not matter.
The plan had never been intended for immediate implementation.
It was merely a stone Arashi had thrown into the water to see what surfaced.
Through it, he could obtain the information and benefits he truly wanted.
Sure enough, he submitted the report in the morning, and an invitation arrived before noon.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had invited him to visit his home that afternoon for a private conversation.
‘They’re not even trying to be subtle.
These old men have ruled Konoha for so long that they’ve become completely shameless.’
Arashi sneered and made several preparations before leaving at precisely the agreed time.
Hiruzen was unlikely to lose his temper and have him killed on the spot.
That was more Uchiha Madara’s style.
Still, caution never hurt.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was currently the only Hokage in history who had lived long enough to enjoy retirement.
Both the First and Second Hokage had remained in office until their deaths.
However, this invitation alone proved that Hiruzen’s retirement was little different from never stepping down at all.
He was not merely controlling Konoha from the shadows.
At least for now, the Fourth Hokage was no different from the Third Kazekage after falling into Sasori’s hands—a puppet.
Otherwise, how could a confidential report submitted directly to Minato appear in Hiruzen’s hands within half a day?
Despite his contempt, Arashi remained perfectly respectful on the surface.
“Third Hokage-sama.”
“There’s no need to be so formal.
I’m no longer the Hokage, merely an old man enjoying retirement.”
Hiruzen smiled gently while puffing on his pipe, looking every bit like a kind and harmless grandfather.
“I invited the Hokage’s chief advisor here because I have a favor to ask.”
He gestured toward the low table, and Arashi sat across from him.
His smile was even brighter than Hiruzen’s, yet he said nothing.
There was no point hiding his intelligence from someone as calculating as the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen had already witnessed everything Arashi accomplished during the Third Shinobi World War and had long since become wary of him.
That was why he firmly rejected Minato’s proposal to appoint Arashi as supreme commander during the latter half of the war.
Therefore, Arashi needed to display enough strength to force Hiruzen to treat him seriously.
This silent refusal to speak first was one way of doing that.
After all, he was the Hokage’s chief advisor.
He could hardly start screaming insults like a fishwife.
Several minutes passed before Hiruzen finally broke the silence.
“I’ve read the plan you gave Minato.
It is undeniably excellent, but several parts still require further discussion.”
“Such as?”
Arashi spoke with a pleasant smile, his eyes narrowing into thin lines.
He was now playing the classic smiling, narrow-eyed character.
People always said those characters were monsters, and Arashi needed to appear dangerous enough to force Hiruzen into retreating.
Of course, that retreat would not mean approving the reform plan.
It meant satisfying Arashi’s personal interests.
“Take abolishing the mission commission system, for example.
Do you know how much of Konoha’s annual budget comes from it?”
Hiruzen shook his head regretfully.
“Forty percent.
That money supports the entire administrative system.
The Elder Council would never approve such a law.”
“Then there is your proposal to establish a standing army.
What is a shinobi at their core?
A flexible and mobile combat unit.”
“A standing army creates a rigid institution, and rigid institutions eventually lose their flexibility.
I doubt the elders would approve that either.”
Hiruzen continued speaking at length, but Arashi ignored most of it and focused only on the useful information hidden within.
Any new law had to be approved by the Elder Council.
The council currently had four members: Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Shimura Danzo, and the supposedly retired Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Danzo was the only one who frequently opposed Hiruzen.
Homura and Koharu were completely loyal to him.
In other words, no major proposal could pass without Hiruzen’s approval.
“These ideas are all admirable, but they require time to be properly evaluated,” Hiruzen concluded with a vague answer.
It was no different from a teacher confiscating a student’s phone and promising to return it during summer vacation.
The evaluation could continue forever.
Arashi snorted and slammed his palm onto the table directly in front of the Third Hokage.
“Your concerns are certainly thorough, Third Hokage-sama, but perhaps a little too conservative.”
“If Konoha is ever going to change, I may need to cooperate with someone whose vision is broader and more open-minded.”
“Someone like Minato?”
Hiruzen smiled confidently, completely unconcerned.
Arashi returned his smile.
“No.
Someone like Shimura Danzo-sama.”
The smile vanished from Hiruzen’s face.
He was not concerned about Namikaze Minato.
No matter how powerful Minato became, anyone who believed in the Will of Fire was ultimately still meat cooking in the same pot.
Danzo was different.
His ambition far exceeded his devotion to the Will of Fire.
If becoming Hokage required him to hide underground with Root while an enemy destroyed Konoha above, he would do so without hesitation.
Hiruzen had assumed Arashi and Danzo were already mortal enemies.
After all, Arashi had repeatedly ruined Danzo’s plans while helping Minato secure the Hokage’s position.
He had not expected this young man to possess the nerve to threaten him with an alliance with Danzo.
Would Danzo agree?
Of course he would.
Just as Hiruzen understood Danzo, Danzo understood him.
Danzo knew his greatest obstacle to becoming Hokage had never been Minato.
It had always been Hiruzen.
Compared with removing Hiruzen, his petty conflict with Arashi meant nothing.
Arashi was intelligent, ruthless, and deeply trusted by Minato.
More importantly, his achievements during the war had earned him considerable influence among Konoha’s younger generation.
If Arashi truly joined forces with Danzo, they would pose a serious threat to Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage immediately softened his tone.
“Young people are always so impatient.
I merely said these proposals require further evaluation.”
“Your plan contains many other ideas as well, does it not?”
Hiruzen had eaten more salt than Minato had eaten rice.
He could easily see that Arashi was far from selfless.
He spoke constantly of justice and reform, but deep down, everything was a transaction.
Giving someone like that a few benefits would do no harm.
There was even a chance Hiruzen could bring him under his command.
Once Arashi became one of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s men, he would naturally be taught to believe in the Will of Fire.
Hiruzen’s concession was exactly what Arashi had expected.
“That is wonderful news, Third Hokage-sama.”
Arashi’s smile widened.
“I’ve always enjoyed dealing with generous elders.”
Smack!
The old man and the young man clasped hands across the table.
Both wore cheerful smiles filled with thoughts too deep for the other to read.
…
After returning to the Hokage’s office, Arashi immediately began reporting to Minato.
“The Third Hokage truly possesses remarkable foresight.
He pointed out many problems a young man like me would never have considered.”
Arashi’s face was filled with admiration and respect.
“He truly is one of Konoha’s pillars.”
He looked as though he genuinely believed in the Will of Fire and had certainly never slammed a table in front of Hiruzen.
Minato’s expression became strange.
He looked as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately only gave a quiet nod.
Arashi had already taken out another document.
“Comprehensive reform will take time, but we can still begin with several smaller adjustments.”
Besides securing approval for part of his reform plan, Arashi had obtained the two concessions he needed most.
“For example, the Hokage’s office should have independent authority over a limited budget.”
“The amount does not need to be large.
It only needs to cover our daily operations.”
The Elder Council held Konoha’s finances firmly in its grasp.
For now, Arashi had pried away only a small piece, but it would serve as his first stepping stone.
“There’s one more thing.
I need a personal guard.”
“The position of chief advisor is fairly important, and my work will inevitably offend many people.”
“That’s true.”
Minato nodded.
“Do you already have someone in mind?
Otherwise, I would recommend Hatake Kakashi.
He—”
“Kakashi is certainly a promising boy, but I’ve already chosen someone.”
Arashi smiled.
“His name is Uchiha Shisui.”
…