"Paying respects to Minato-sensei, is it?"

Kakashi mumbled, unsure of what he was thinking.

Indeed, following behind Minato back then was an incredibly reassuring period.

A prodigy dying young is perhaps the best explanation for Minato’s life.

At the peak of his life, he chose a departure from the world that many are unwilling to consider.

"Yes, speaking of which, I heard that Minato-sensei became the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki, is that true?"

Obito suddenly recalled something and asked.

"You mean Naruto? That child’s situation as a Jinchuriki isn’t that good."

Kakashi sighed.

He wished to raise him, but unfortunately, even someone like Jiraiya of the Three Sannin couldn’t gain custody of Naruto. He ended up leaving Konoha to avoid trouble outside the village. As an Anbu Squad Captain, what power did he have to change the Third Hokage’s mind?

The Third Hokage has run Konoha for decades. Even though his prestige has slightly declined with age, he remains the unchallengeable authority in Konoha.

Danzo’s Root can only engage in petty actions in the shadows, unable to openly contend with the Third Hokage. Once Root shows signs of rising, the Anbu will suppress them.

With control over the majority of Konoha’s ninja resources, the Third Hokage can always replenish the sacrificed Anbu personnel, a gap Root cannot bridge.

No matter how Root pressures, creating public opinion, the custody of the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki remains firmly in the hands of the Third Hokage, and Danzo cannot touch it at all.

Let alone an Anbu Squad Captain like him, if he dared to propose taking custody of the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki, the day of his removal wouldn’t be far off.

"What is the Third Hokage thinking, really? I understand somewhat about the Jinchuriki situation, but if Naruto’s identity as the son of the Hokage were made public, things should improve a lot, right?"

Obito frowned.

Jinchuriki, due to the instability of the Tailed Beast within them, face rejection from the villagers in the Ninja Realm, which isn’t something unusual.

But Uzumaki Naruto is not an ordinary Jinchuriki. His father was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, and his mother was from the Uzumaki Clan, a ninja who made great contributions to Konoha. He shouldn’t be treated so casually as a target of resentment by the villagers.

"It’s impossible." Kakashi took out "Icha Icha Paradise" from his Ninja Tool Bag, leaned against the wall, and turned to the previously bookmarked page, resuming his reading while saying to Obito, "Minato-sensei was in power for only a year, with few subordinates left, and most have been absorbed by the Third Hokage now, myself included. I was spared unnecessary suspicion because I saved Jiraiya, but that’s not the case for others. While Nara Shikaku was appointed as Jonin Squad Leader, it was merely based on the agreement between the Nara Clan and the Sarutobi Clan. As for trust... he’s likely already on the Third Hokage’s list of concerns."

"The situation in Konoha is really complicated."

While in the Land of Demons, Obito had some understanding of Konoha’s situation, but now listening to Kakashi, he realized how severe the internal discord in Konoha was.

"Without external pressure, internal governance naturally falters. The Third Hokage’s energy isn’t as seamless as before. The one who exposed Naruto as the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki was Danzo, using it to probe the Third Hokage’s reaction. Since then, Root’s expansionist intentions have grown stronger, becoming one of the primary targets of the Third Hokage’s efforts."

As for another target of suspicion, Kakashi didn’t say it out loud, because it was Obito’s clan—the Uchiha Clan.

Due to the Nine-tailed incident, the village’s top leaders were already deeply wary of the Uchiha.

This was something Kakashi only learned after becoming an Anbu Squad Captain.

Because he was the one currently in charge of monitoring the Uchiha.

Moreover, the Uchiha Clan’s internal meetings were becoming increasingly frequent. If this continued unchecked, the conflict between Konoha’s leaders and the Uchiha Clan would eventually escalate into direct confrontation.

If that happened, Konoha’s internal situation would surely become turbulent.

Kakashi didn’t know what the Third Hokage was thinking, but he couldn’t believe that the Third Hokage, with decades of governance experience, couldn’t see this hidden threat.

Yet allowing the Uchiha to act so freely while intensifying Anbu surveillance—indeed, that was a top-secret order from the Third Hokage himself.

The previously gentle conciliatory policy towards the Uchiha, focusing on peaceful negotiations, was replaced by this active surveillance, a first-of-its-kind overreach.

This was something Kakashi couldn’t comprehend.

"It’s really troublesome after all; never mind, this is Konoha’s family affair, and as an outsider, I have no right to comment on it."

Obito’s feelings toward Konoha were very complex.

In the past, he advanced with the goal of becoming Hokage.

But when Rin ’died’, he truly understood his heart.

The thing he treasured most was never becoming Hokage.

He just wanted to gain the recognition of a certain girl and have her more involved in his life.

Becoming Hokage was just an excuse to become stronger and hide his true feelings.

Besides, he was doing quite well living in the Land of Demons now, gradually settling there, and his thoughts of returning to Konoha had faded.