"Old Minato... no—Fourth Hokage-sama."
In the Hokage's office, Hatake Kakashi, clad in his ANBU uniform and signature mask, knelt before the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
There was no warmth between them, no sign that this was once a relationship between mentor and student. Instead, it was a formal exchange between superior and subordinate.
Kakashi's voice was still cold and distant. Minato could tell—the boy still hadn't let go of his grief.
"Kakashi, at ease. It's just the two of us."
Minato gave a weary sigh. "Your current state worries me. Perhaps it was a mistake to assign you to the ANBU so soon."
"No, Sensei, I—"
Kakashi began to speak but stopped himself. He changed the subject, focusing on the mission instead. "As ordered, I visited the Konoha Police Force. Kai has resolved the issue."
Uchiha Kai—Minato had been watching his rise carefully. Kai's bid to become the head of the Konoha Police was mostly an internal Uchiha matter, something the Hokage generally only approved on paper.
But Uchiha Fugaku, ever cautious and respectful, had formally submitted the appointment as protocol demanded. Minato, honoring that cooperation, had signed without hesitation.
Still, what concerned Minato wasn't formality—it was the method Kai used to get things done.
Minato hadn't forgotten how Kai had maimed Iwa's Loess during the war. Anyone capable of severing the arm of an elite like Loess had the power to shake the village—or fracture it.
"I'm not worried about whether he succeeded," Minato said softly, "but about how."
"Kai wasn't excessively ruthless," Kakashi reported. "He defeated the two previous sub-captains swiftly, but he didn't kill them."
Minato nodded but saw the frown forming beneath Kakashi's mask.
"Something else?" he asked.
Kakashi hesitated a moment. "…Yes. I believe Kai may have eliminated Uchiha Shin. And... he wasn't alone. Several elders are likely dead—at his hand."
Minato was silent.
He had expected internal purges; Fugaku and Kai had warned him as much. But knowing didn't ease the unease.
"...I see," he said finally. "A necessary evil, perhaps. Still... we're all from the same village."
His thoughts drifted to Orochimaru. He had ascended to Hokage partly because of the Uchiha's support—but also because of the controversy surrounding Orochimaru's dark experiments.
Minato knew he couldn't let those same shadows fall over his rule.
"Kakashi," he said after a pause, "forget what you heard today."
The young ANBU looked up sharply.
"There are conflicts you can't be part of yet," Minato continued. "And frankly, you need rest. I've reviewed your mission record—you're overworking yourself."
"I don't need rest," Kakashi replied quietly. "I need... missions."
"To numb yourself with missions, you mean?" Minato shook his head.
"I had hoped your time in the ANBU would help you understand the value of life. Didn't Kai tell you? Obito and Rin wouldn't want you to throw your life away. Real heroes suffer—but they live. Go spend time with your friends. I'm giving you a week off."
"I..." Kakashi paused, then nodded. "Understood, Sensei. I'll take my leave."
After the door closed, Minato rubbed his temples. Kakashi had become a burden he didn't want to see break under the weight of grief.
Maybe it's time I assigned him a genin team... he thought. But not just yet.
Walking to the window, Minato looked up at the sun, its golden light cutting across the rooftops of Konoha.
"Everything's just beginning... and I'll make it better," he murmured. "Come on, Minato Namikaze—you're the Fourth Hokage now."
Konoha Police Headquarters
At the desk of the Police Chief sat Uchiha Kai.
Before him stood three shinobi—Uchiha Kawa, Uchiha Jun, and Imai Kenta.
Uchiha Tsubasa and Uchiha Chiya hadn't posed much resistance. Kai had defeated them swiftly but had spared their lives—partly to honor a promise to Fugaku, partly to send a message. He didn't need to kill to prove his strength.
Their subordinates had been stunned. But Kai's own team was elated. Their leader had risen to ministerial rank at barely fourteen years old.
Some whispered he was Fugaku's pawn, placed to appease Hokage Minato. Others remembered the brutal mission where Kai had taken Loess's arm. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, sharp as ever, had watched Kai with wary interest.
Kai couldn't afford to let anyone see through him.
"Let's not waste time," Kai said coolly. "Kawa, do you have your unit ready?"
"Yes, Minister. Half Uchiha, half civilian. Hangtai helped select the civilians. They'll need time to bond."
"I'll give you a month," Kai nodded. "As for Hangtai—discuss with Kenta if he can be made your vice-captain."
Kai no longer micromanaged squad details. As Minister, his role was to guide and approve—his subordinates had to work out the rest.
"Yes, sir. I'll coordinate with Captain Kenta," said Kawa promptly.
Kai turned to Kenta. "I'm officially handing my old team over to you. You're the first squad captain outside the clan. I trust you'll handle it well."
"Yes, Minister," Kenta replied, bowing. His smile looked harmless—but inside, he cursed his luck. He hadn't asked to be part of Uchiha politics, yet here he was, pushed by both Kai and his own family elders.
"Thank you, Kenta," Kai said with a warm smile that made Kenta shudder.
Then Kai turned to Uchiha Jun.
She stood straight, her expression disciplined. Gone was the flirtatious air she once carried—she knew her survival here depended on performance.
"You've never worked in the Police Force," Kai said, "but the Patriarch recommended you. I trust him. Don't make him regret it."
"Yes, Minister," Jun replied, bowing. "I won't disappoint either of you."
"Good. You'll have extra responsibilities. Study the conduct guidelines I've issued. You'll also need to build your team. Can you handle that?"
"No problem," she answered. "Should I follow the same model—half Uchiha, half civilian?"
"Yes," Kai said. "But think broader than that. Uchiha isn't the only clan. I want you to form a squad that reflects all of Konoha's diversity. Can you?"
"I..." Jun's eyes widened slightly. Was this ambition—or a trap?
But she had no choice.
"Yes, Minister," she said firmly. "I'll do it."
"Excellent." Kai leaned back. "Then I look forward to your results, Jun."