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Minato thought for a while. "I'll take it as if you really did foresee the future. Then let me ask you a few questions—just answer what I ask."
"The furthest future you foresaw—is Konoha still doing well?"
"In the future you foresaw, did I ever learn about the future from you?"
"Based on your deductions, if I knew about the future, would I change it?"
Damn… The purpose and logic behind these questions were so sharp.
Tōji hadn't expected this either—Minato wasn't asking about his own personal concerns first. He clearly wanted to ask—whether he should know the future.
"In the future I know, Konoha becomes the strongest shinobi village in the world." Since Tōji had only seen up to Naruto's wedding, that was his answer.
"I'm guessing you don't know the future." If he did, how could he not know about Obito?
"If you knew, the future would probably be completely different." Tōji was certain of that.
Minato watched Tōji's expression as he answered, nodded slightly, and fell into a brief silence.
Tōji chose not to say more, giving Minato time to think.
"Then it's better if you don't tell me what you've foreseen." Minato smiled.
"But, Lord Hokage—you might die…" Tōji still wanted to push, to earn Minato's attention.
Being noticed by a big shot was the start of a brilliant turnaround.
But before he could finish, Minato stopped him.
"No need to tell me those things." Minato even raised his palm in a "stop" gesture.
But Minato had still heard that he "might die." He watched Tōji, lips pressed lightly together… His brow furrowed as he considered for a few breaths, then he smiled again. "Let's just let fate take its course!"
"Lord Minato…" Tōji had resolved to tell Minato—of course he hoped Minato would change everything.
If Minato was fine, Tōji would have a powerful backer!
"Alright—I want the future to unfold just as you foresaw it!" Minato's smile was truly like winter's warm sun.
The Third Hokage was also kind, but perhaps because his chakra reserves weren't as vast, he could suppress it well.
The Fourth, on the other hand, was not only a gentle, warm man by nature—even his chakra made people feel close to him. If Karin were here, she'd definitely say Minato's chakra felt incredibly comfortable… Maybe Kushina had felt it clearly too.
But even shinobi who couldn't sense the "warmth or cold, good or evil" of chakra—any random person could feel the comfort Minato brought.
Tōji could analyze it—Minato meant: he could die, as long as the future Konoha was fine!
It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved. Originally, Tōji had mostly been thinking that if Minato survived, he'd get some help out of it—but now he genuinely hoped Minato could avoid his death.
He also wondered—did Minato's choice during the Nine-Tails Incident, when he could have survived but resolutely chose death—have anything to do with this…
"Then…" Tōji's prepared speech had been thrown off by Minato. He hesitated.
"If your precognition is real, I hope you can protect that future for me, Tōji." Minato walked around from behind his desk to Tōji's side—just one step between them.
"Me?" Tōji was a little surprised by Minato's sudden words. "I can't even protect myself—that's why I came to ask for your help, Lord Hokage…"
"You foresaw some disaster, and that's why you came to me?" Minato didn't mind—because he believed a Hokage should help everyone in the village.
Tōji felt a little embarrassed. "Lord Hokage probably knows the general situation with Lord Orochimaru now… I left some very important things in a secret laboratory in the Land of Seas. But now I'm worried Lord Orochimaru might see those things…"
Minato was still calmly thinking over what Tōji had said…
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