V.1-C.7│Old and New IV│

He had heard, at least he thought he had heard, but he guessed that he was incorrect in his assumption that the jinchuriki was incompetent enough to allow herself to be captured.

In fact, Minato had his eyes on the girl for a long time now.

Minato has blue eyes and spiky, blond hair. Jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. Minato considered himself handsome enough.

Right now, after he had become a full time shinobi that is, he wears a tracksuit with three stripes on the sleeves, mesh under-armor, a pair of black pants, and blue sandals. He of course has the signature Konoha forehead protector, with blue lining atop his forehead.

'Kushina Uzumaki...' Minato narrowed his eyes as he watched Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki, carrying Obito Uchiha, go towards the Hokage's tower. Looking in on the four year old boy, Obito Uchiha, Minato knew that something was up.

Especially since this boy was able to come so far and unlock the Sharingan, a bloodline limit that awakens in only a few of the Uchiha, as such a young age, and even go so far as to fully mature the eyes as well.

Either the boy was incredibly talented, or was incredibly unlucky, for the Sharingan is usually not something someone wants to have unlocked. The process to even gain the Sharingan is intensive.

The reason behind Minato's actions, or more precisely his inaction in preventing the attack on Kushina is because he wanted to gain her trust.

He wanted not only her trust to secure his position as the Hokage, which is something he also wanted to become, but he wanted to get her under his control. Of course, that didn't mean he wanted for any other purpose.

He just wanted the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi to be something within his grasp if he needs it.

From the day she was first introduced in the academy as a transfer student, to him basically stalking her everyone now and then. He figured out she was meant to be the replace for Mito Uzumaki, given that Kushina was the only one to come.

There are multiple factors to consider as to why he thought it would be easy to bring her under his command. One, she is alone and without family. Two, she is, or was, bullied within the academy, further isolating her from everyone else. Three, he wanted to allow her to get into a dangerous situation.

One that would allow him to come in and gain her trust, or at least her gratitude in the form of a debt of life.

With these three things, and her knowing him relatively as an acquaintance at this point, it made all of these things easier for him to make a move.

Given those Kumo shinobi were successful, but obviously they had failed in the end, prompting him to now have an eye on the child known as Obito Uchiha.

Minato had even taken into consideration Kushina wanting to live with Mikoto Uchiha, someone that was within the Uchiha district. It only made it all the more easier for him, and those Kumo ninja to sneak in and try to kidnap her.

Easier for him to be able to take advantage of this fact, and take advantage of the current Uchiha clans importance on other things.

Specifically the war going on.

That aside, he also wanted to now get a grasp on the boy known as Obito Uchiha. Right now he is an unknown, and all Minato knows about him is the fact that he is a part of the Uchiha clan, was an orphan, practically since birth, and knowledge of who his parents were are a mystery.

There is nothing to connect him to anyone, but Minato hadn't done that in depth of a look at things just yet.

Minato entered Konoha's Academy with the dream of earning the villagers' respect and recognition by becoming Hokage. When Kushina Uzumaki moved to Konoha, she was placed in the same class as him.

Minato was immediately drawn to her bright red hair, finding it beautiful.

Or at least that is what he had thought, but there are more things going on behind the scenes when it comes to his thoughts and actions.

When he was added to a genin team under the leadership of Jiraiya, Jiraiya took a special interest in Minato and took him on as his apprentice, teaching him many of his own signature abilities.

Konoha would've mobilized its ninja to retrieve Kushina from the Kumo ninja, but only Minato would've found and rescued her. At least that is what he had planned, not the kidnapping itself, but the rescue.

'Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plans, now do they.' Minato thought to himself, knowing that he may have another chance in the future to gain Kushina's attention.

Minato would go away for now, wishing to find an excuse to talk with Kushina another day.

[]

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is a man that was made Hokage after the death of his teacher, Tobirama Senju, succeeding him and becoming what he is today.

The Second Great Shinobi War rages on even now, and there is no reprieve for those that are in it. Sighing to himself, he is stuck within the village, unable to really participate in any battles, given that he is the Hokage.

Like the jinchuriki, the Hokage should only be taken from his home position to fight in very, very important battles. As such, Hiruzen is stuck doing the boring paper work, unable to really enjoy his life even more so due to the war.

He is not even able to spend time with his beautiful wife, someone whom he had been married to for some time now. If he didn't already have a child, Asuma, then he probably would never have the time to have one in the future.

Not with how things are going now.

Below-average stature, all his other attributes having changed over the years. Right now he was tan-skinned and had dark brown, spiked hair, adding a small goatee to his look after becoming Hokage.

He also currently adorns the Hokage outfit upon himself. Everyone was supposed to be a relatively peaceful night, with some level of reprieve in the war, but the next moment two people, no, three people had barged into his office.

The Anbu would of reacted, had they not already known at least one of the intruders. 'What is Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha doing here...?' He was confused, especially since there happened to be a young child being held by Kushina.

"Lord Hokage. I have something to report that is of utmost importance." Mikoto did a small bow as she said this, before giving as detailed information as she could, before producing some evidence in the form of the Kumo shinobi's head bands.

There was no way to fabricate this, especially since Mikoto and Kushina have not been out in the field recently. "Go and check." Hiruzen said to someone, which were in fact the Anbu. "And you believe they were after Kushina."

"Yes." Mikoto answered, Kushina also nodding her head as Mikoto gave her reply.

"Then it is good that nothing has happened to the two, no, three of you then. I do wonder why you have brought a child here?" He asked, knowing about who Kushina is living with now. How could he not? Kushina is important to the village after all.

"He is Obito Uchiha. He is... you could say my little brother." Mikoto replied, deciding to go with this word for now.

"I was aware of an Uchiha member that was called Obito, supposedly he was an orphan. Is this boy the same one?" Hiruzen spoke as if Obito wasn't there right now, but he didn't mind this.

"Yes." Mikoto replied, her Sharingan eyes still active even after the battle being over. It seems like her emotions were still pumping through her in a manner that manifested in her eyes outside of her control.

Even Obito had his Sharingan active without knowing he still has it active. "Interesting. This boy has accomplished something much, much earlier than any of your clan ever has." Hiruzen pointed it out, allowing Obito to finally notice something strange about his look and tone of voice.

Obito calmed himself, allowing his survival instinct to settle down, taking back control of his activated Sharingan eyes. Of course, he was also estranged by seeing his former grandfather figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He was alive before his eyes, and while Obito is happy to see him again, he couldn't possibly just do what he wanted.

Which was to hug the man, especially since he was giving off a totally different aura from before. 'Is this really what he looked like when younger?' Obito thought to himself as he waited and listened.

"And to have such control... very interesting." While Hiruzen didn't hold the same hate his former mentor, Tobirama, held for the Uchiha, even having a close friend whom gave his life for him and his teammate, Danzo, that didn't mean he is completely trusting of the Clan.

In times of war, he needed to question everything he is being told, and do actions that are not very... nice. "Lord Hokage. Obito is someone that has experienced much in his short life. That is why he is like this now."

"That may be so, but I think I heard some details that didn't quite match with a few others. Obito must have helped you." Hiruzen was sharp enough to catch onto this, and Mikoto couldn't come up with an answer.

Kushina spoke up however. "He only did it to protect me!" Kushina would not fail now, and instead would stand up for her little savior.

"There is no need to be so passionate. I understand. Obito Uchiha..." Hiruzen directed his attention to Obito. "What do you want to do? What is your dream?" He asked the orphan boy.

Tilting his head, Obito didn't want to answer to be honest. "I want... I want to do many things." He was vague and didn't say exact things. 'I mean, what can I say? Save the world? Defeat Madara Uchiha before he puts everyone under an eternal illusion that would kill anyone? Isn't that too specific?'

'I am not even sure of my dream to be Hokage anymore...' Obito as Naruto wanted to do many things, especially become Hokage, but things are different now.

That is not even to say that he is much different from another version of himself.

Obito is a little more educated, and has been making use of the Sharingan as much as possible, furthering his own knowledge. Then there is all of the other training methods he had been using as well, which only further helped him.

"Like...?" Hiruzen wanted a more clearer answer. If the boy said he wanted to become a shinobi, he would immediately put him in the academy, and then watch his progress closely. If said he wished to be a doctor, he would do the same and place him with some medical ninja instead.

Whatever choice he makes, Hiruzen now wanted to sponsor him in a way. To give him a quick start, having this strange feeling that the boy would somehow change the world.

"..." Obito was also now aware of the worried looks of Kushina and Mikoto. He needed to come up with a normal answer, and one that would set him up for the future without impeding what he wants to do.

Becoming involved with the village's shinobi system is both a good and bad idea. He didn't want to be under the watch of Danzo, but if he wanted some more protection from that man, he needed an environment he could grow stronger, safely and quickly.

"I want to be..."

[]

Upon finding out his love interest, Mikoto was placed under attack, he immediately went over towards the place she was staying in. As leader of the Uchiha, Fugaku was focused on the clan's interest and welfare and had a strong sense of responsibility.

While this may be so, he is also interested in making sure his position as the leader of the Uchiha is solidified, and he could do that much easier with Mikoto Uchiha's help.

Her wealth to be exact, and while she is beautiful, which certainly helps make his decision easier, that didn't mean she would accept his offer.

He is also young, inheriting the position quite young means that there is a lot of responsibility placed on him.

A stern and uncaring man. He was only impressed by great feats and rarely praised anyone, having high expectations. Fugaku was very serious, hardly smiling most of the time.

He had interests, yes. Interests that involved a lot of things, but for now he needed to place his focus on the internal security of the village.

Much, if not most of the Uchiha police would have to stay within the village to help better flush out traitors and criminals from within. Especially during these hard times, meaning that it is also his responsibility to respond to the call that happened at Mikoto's place.

A lucky coincidence that he would try and take full advantage of. He had become aware of an obstacle in his path to further securing his position as well, that obstacle being the orphan called Obito Uchiha.

While he wasn't a full grown man, or even a boy that had reached puberty yet, Fugaku still felt threatened by the boy and his mysterious presence. Especially since he had awakened the Sharingan, something that had been going around for a while now.

Like an upstart, Fugaku wanted to quash any thoughts of the boy rising to a position of leadership within the Uchiha.

It helped that he was already isolated enough from others due to his status as an orphan. Especially since he was taken in by the older woman known as Masumi, someone, that while respected, was also sort of an outcast herself.

Looking around the apartment, Fugaku identified the dead bodies of many individuals. Clicking his tongue, there was a small trace of annoyance on his face.

He thought that he could've come faster and tried to help, thus leading to him gaining some points in Mikoto's books. Unfortunately, that looked like it wouldn't be happening.

Short, brown hair that reached to his shoulders and onyx-colored eyes, with visible creases below them made more pronounced whenever he adopted a stern look.

While on duty, he wore the standard flak jacket, along with a black shirt with the Konoha Military Police Force symbol on the shoulders, shin-guards and a black, open-front apron with white diamonds on the bottom.

"Lord Fugaku." An assistant in the investigation came up to him.

"Yes...?" Fugaku questioned the man.

"We found some tracks leading outside of the Village. We believe these to be those that escaped."

"Good job." Fugaku replied.

"... Shouldn't we form a team to track them down?"

"No. This is a time of war, and the job of the Uchiha is to police within." Fugaku shook his head, even if he wanted to prove to Mikoto his capabilities, he wouldn't be able to do so due to his responsibilities.

"Right..."

"Report to the Hokage, and ask to form a team to track them down. If he lets us, I will lead this team myself." Fugaku added, seeing said clansman's disappointment.

"Yes!"