Projection magicians starting from the Uchiha clan

However, Minato did not agree to Iori's suggestion of becoming the Fifth Hokage, even though he also believed that Iori was the best choice for the Fifth Hokage.

But he felt that there were still ten or twenty years to go, and no one could predict what the future would hold. Moreover, it was uncertain whether Iori had leadership qualities.

The position of Hokage is of great importance, and he cannot support it so hastily. He should at least work with the candidate for several years before making a decision.

What he didn't expect was that the time Iori mentioned was actually one or two years later. He just needed some time to conquer the Jonin of Konoha.

After the two reaffirmed their cooperation, Minato bid farewell to Iori.

His heart was filled with longing for his lover, Kushina Uzumaki, who was still waiting for him at home. He wanted to go back as soon as possible.

Recalling Kushina's angry face and her hair that moved without wind, Minato couldn't help but shudder and quickened his pace home.

Iori stood there quietly, watching Minato's figure gradually disappear from sight.

A hint of struggle was visible in his eyes; a fierce battle was raging deep within him.

After much intense deliberation, Iori reaffirmed her resolve.

I'm sorry, but exchanging your and your wife's lives, and the future happiness of your family of three, for the position of Hokage shouldn't be a bad deal, right?

As Iori silently pondered, he recalled the tragic endings of Minato and Kushina in the main story, as well as Naruto's more than ten years of life as a demon fox, which further solidified his resolve to make his choice.

Since we're going to start changing the world, let's begin by changing the fates of those around us. If we're always thinking about grand narratives, we'll end up like Itachi Uchiha.

It's hard to evaluate Minato as Hokage. For the sake of Konoha, he decided to preserve the Nine-Tails and seal it inside his own child. In order for his wife to see their child one last time, he chose to use the Reaper Death Seal and die.

But he didn't consider Naruto's future at all; he simply said he believed in him, and thus placed this incredibly cruel fate upon him.

He's a good husband, and might be a good Hokage, but he's definitely not a good father.

Of course, misjudging the Third Hokage was a huge problem, but at the time no one could have imagined that the Third Hokage would be so cruel to Naruto.

Regardless of whether the leak of information and Naruto's isolation were intentional on the part of the Third Hokage, or whether he had once again failed to control Danzo.

At the very least, he bears an undeniable responsibility for Naruto's painful experiences.

Shisui stood aside, silently observing everything.

He didn't speak, nor did he disturb Iori's thoughts.

He had already made up his mind that he would follow whatever choice Iori made.

The night of the Nine-Tails must come, for me. Until then, I will pretend I know nothing of Obito and Madara's existence.

Iori closed her eyes and then called to Shisui to go back together.

-----------------

Minato walked quickly toward his home. The door was already close at hand, but the closer he got, the heavier his steps became.

Obito's sacrifice filled him with guilt and pain, and he didn't know how to explain Obito's situation to Kushina.

That night, at the gates of Konoha, Obito's hearty laughter and vows still echoed in my ears. His determined gaze and his longing for the future have now become dreams that can never be realized.

Kushina always regarded Obito as her younger brother, and she hoped that her future children could be as strong and self-reliant as Obito, living with their beliefs.

But no one knew that their farewell would be their last. Obito's body had already disappeared under the Earth Release attack of the Iwa ninja.

Minato hesitated outside the door, his palms already sweating.

The aroma of food wafted from inside the door; it was the dinner Kushina had prepared for him.

Thinking of Kushina waiting for him, Minato took a deep breath and finally mustered the courage to push open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Kushina put down the soup spoon in her hand, walked quickly over, wrapped her arms around him, and hugged him tightly.

Her embrace was warm and firm, as if trying to sweep away all of Minato's weariness and pain.

She asked with concern, "Minato, you're back. You must be tired."

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina rarely left the village, and on the few missions she did go, she always set off with Minato.

After going to the battlefield at Shuimen, she was trapped in the village and monitored by the secret police every day.

Now that the war is over, Minato finally has time to spend with her.

Minato felt Kushina's warmth, but the pain in his heart grew heavier.

He hugged Kushina tightly, his voice hesitant: "Kushina, I...I have something to tell you."

Kushina seemed to sense Minato's unusual behavior. She gently pushed him away, looked up at him, and stared into his eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and unease: "What's wrong, Minato? What happened?"

Minato took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Obito... he... he's not coming back."

Kushina's face turned deathly pale, her voice filled with disbelief: "Obito... Obito he..."

Minato nodded, his eyes filled with pain: "He sacrificed himself to protect Kakashi and Rin."

Kushina's tears welled up instantly; she covered her mouth, her body trembling slightly.

Minato held her in his arms with heartache and gently comforted her, "I'm sorry, Kushina, I couldn't protect him."

Kushina buried her face in Minato's arms and sobbed softly.

In the past, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she didn't have many friends or acquaintances. Apart from Tsunade, only Minato and his disciples were close to her.

Of the three disciples, she had the best relationship with the outgoing Obito. In their past training, she had even prepared lunch for Obito.

Hearing the news of Obito's death so suddenly was really hard for her to accept.

After calming down, she couldn't help but ask, "What about Kakashi and Rin? Are they alright?"

Minato hesitated for a moment before saying, "Rin is fine, but Kakashi has lost sight in one eye. Obito gave him his eye before he died."

"Although Iori has agreed to help resolve this matter, whether it will be completely successful is still a question."

Kushina looked at Minato and said, "Help him. I'll go see Tsunade tomorrow. It seems like the Senju clan is undergoing a reorganization recently, and their relationship with the Uchiha has improved."

"She might be able to help."

Minato nodded, and the two sat down and slowly began their dinner. However, under these circumstances, they really had no desire to celebrate.

Although Minato has accepted the fact that Obito is dead, Kushina has only just learned of the news and will probably find it difficult to accept without some time to adjust.

But neither of them expected that Obito would not only survive, but would also come to Konoha one day, intending to kill them.

Chapter 125 The Helpless Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Great Changes in the Senju Clan

After parting ways with Jiraiya, the Third Hokage slowly returned to the Hokage Building alone, his steps heavy.

The night was as dark as ink, and the building's silhouette appeared particularly lonely under the moonlight.

He pushed open the office door. The room was dimly lit, as if even the air had frozen.

He sighed softly, lit a cigarette, and the faint flame flickered in the darkness, the smoke swirling around him like the heavy thoughts in his heart.

Minato and Jiraiya's sudden betrayal caught him off guard, disrupting all his plans and leaving him in a dilemma.

However, even Jiraiya stood on the opposite side, which made him reflect on whether his view of Uchiha Iori was influenced by prejudice.

He sat at his desk, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the surface, lost in thought.

In the eyes of the Second Hokage and himself, the Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha clan was always an unstable factor.

Not only does the awakening of the Mangekyou Sharingan result in the birth of a powerful Kage-level ninja within the Uchiha clan, disrupting the balance of power.

Furthermore, the extreme circumstances that occur when the Mangekyou Sharingan is awakened often lead to mental paranoia in its users, making them prone to becoming a potential threat. This is a major reason why the village has always been wary of the Uchiha clan.

However, when the Third Hokage thought of his friend Uchiha Kagami, his heart softened. Not all Uchiha were crazy; there were good people, even saints.

If Iori wasn't truly blinded by the Mangekyou Sharingan, then the Uchiha clan might actually be able to integrate into Konoha this time.

His eyes gleamed with a complex light in the dim light, a mixture of hope and doubt, to which he struggled repeatedly.

Because of Iori's actions, Konoha did not suffer as many losses in the Third Shinobi World War, and the Third Hokage was not required to resign. However, dragging things out in this way would actually benefit Iori.

The Third Hokage's bottom line was that the Uchiha clan could not be allowed to become Hokage.

The Third Generation took a deep drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled. The smoke diffused slowly in the air, just like his thoughts, which gradually became clearer.

As the smoke dissipated, the struggle in his eyes also vanished. Now that he had chosen Minato as his successor, he had no choice but to trust him.

"Minato, I hope you won't disappoint me this time, just like in the past!" The Third Hokage murmured to himself, but ultimately chose not to interfere and let Minato decide his own future.

-----------------

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, gently falling on Kushina's face.

Kushina got up early and busily began preparing breakfast, her movements practiced and efficient.

As a devoted husband, Minato naturally wouldn't let her work hard alone, so he joined her in the kitchen. The two worked together seamlessly, filling the air with the aroma of food and the warmth of home.

Since Minato Namikaze returned, the number of ANBU personnel monitoring Kushina has been reduced to a minimum, allowing her to feel a long-lost sense of freedom and ease.

Although she was used to being watched by the Anbu as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, no one likes the feeling of being watched.

If it weren't for the fact that Minato quickly defeated Kurama after it went berserk in the past, it would prove that Minato had the ability to quickly control Kurama.

Otherwise, even if Minato arrives, the surveillance team in the shadows won't show much change.

The Hokage must be responsible for the village and treat everyone equally, regardless of who they are. The Nine-Tails is far too dangerous, and no matter who the Jinchuriki is, they cannot escape being monitored.

This is the real reason why Minato had to become Hokage; it wasn't just a childhood dream, but also a practical consideration.

Only the Hokage can decide the future of a Jinchuriki, and Minato could not entrust his wife's safety to someone else.

After breakfast, Kushina led Minato on their journey to the Senju clan's territory.

Since Mito Uzumaki's death, she has rarely set foot there again.

Mito's death and Tsunade's long absence from the village made that place, once full of kinship, feel unfamiliar.

In her heart, she would rather be with Minato and his disciples; that was her new home.

However, when Kushina thought of Obito, her mood couldn't help but sink again.

Minato keenly sensed this and reached out to take her hand, offering her support.

After crossing the street, Kushina suddenly stopped and looked at everything in front of her in surprise.

In just a few months, the Senju clan's territory had changed beyond recognition, completely different from the desolate place she remembered.

The once empty streets are now bustling with activity, with countless ninjas bustling about within the clan's territory, like a vibrant beehive.

Minato and Kushina watched Tsunade busy at work and felt a little embarrassed to interrupt.