One year

The Hokage and Minato opted for the fastest route to the Hokage Tower. They didn't want to attract too much attention, as the village would surely soon be in an uproar if it became known that Minato had returned. The silence between them was tense as they hurried through the streets of the village, each lost in thought about the upcoming discussions.

With a sigh, Hiruzen sank into his chair, leaned back, and regarded Minato with amazement. "It's truly incredible that you're back," he said, his voice full of wonder. The tension in the room was palpable.

Minato couldn't blame Hiruzen for his amazement; he himself was also surprised but at the same time grateful for the return.

Slowly, Hiruzen straightened up in his chair. "Please, tell me what happened and how you returned here," he asked kindly, still keeping his gaze on Minato. His interest was palpable.

Minato nodded and began to recount what had happened since his return, since he regained consciousness. He told of the events and also of the condition attached to his return. The Hokage listened patiently, his attention captivated.

After Minato had finished, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. "I understand," he murmured thoughtfully, and for a moment, there was silence between them. "What do you plan to do now?" Hiruzen finally asked, his gaze fixed on Minato.

Minato sighed softly, unsure of his next steps. He had only been back for a day and hadn't formulated a concrete plan yet. But in one thing, he was certain. "First, I want to bring my family back together," he said firmly, with a determined look.

Hiruzen nodded understandingly. "You want to bring Naruto to you?" he asked curiously, his eyes bright with interest.

Minato nodded decisively. "Not just Naruto, but also Kakashi," he replied firmly. His determination shone through his words, and it was clear that he was determined to have his two boys by his side, no matter the cost. It was more important to him than any political rank or title; his family was his top priority.

Hiruzen folded his hands thoughtfully and raised an eyebrow. "Kakashi? You want to bring the boy to you?" His expression was a mixture of surprise and curiosity as he continued to study Minato attentively.

A strained smile appeared on Minato's lips as he nodded. "She knew our plans, Kushina's and mine. She knew we wanted to adopt him," Minato began, his gaze becoming sharper. "She also knew I wanted him out of the Anbu." There was an accusation in his words. Minato couldn't deny that he was disappointed – not just because of Kakashi, but also because of Naruto.

Hiruzen sighed and leaned forward again, his forearms crossed on the table. "I understand that you're not thrilled, but a lot has happened since you were away." His voice was calm as he tried to reassure Minato.

Minato raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening," he challenged the Hokage, his gaze firm and resolute.

Hiruzen began to explain cautiously. "Kakashi has come under Danzo's influence. He managed to sow doubts in the boy," he explained carefully. "Danzo planned an assassination attempt on me and used Kakashi to gather information. But Kakashi found the right path and made a decision against Danzo. He confided in me." Hiruzen sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Minato. Kakashi was too important at that moment. Both the village and I relied on his abilities."

They stared at each other for a moment, Minato's gaze remaining tense. Then he broke the silence. "If that's the case, why is Danzo still here?" His voice was calm but firm. "An attempted assassination on the Hokage would normally result in the highest punishment. It seems Danzo still holds a high position in the village."

The Hokage lowered his gaze and pensively looked at his desk. "It's not that simple, Minato," he admitted finally, but he didn't elaborate further.

Minato sighed, aware that the Third was always careful in his decisions. But he also knew that Danzo should not be underestimated – it was playing with fire. Doubts nagged at Minato as he pondered whether his task was indeed to become Hokage again. Quickly, he dismissed that thought; for now, his family was the most important thing. "What about Naruto?" he asked finally. "Why was he living in an orphanage? Why wasn't Kakashi allowed to take care of him?"

A weary smile played on Hiruzen's lips as he turned his gaze back to Minato. "The boy was thirteen and traumatized by the war," he began calmly to explain. "He wouldn't have been able to take on the responsibility of caring for a baby. I wanted to protect him from that." He explained calmly.

Minato furrowed his brow. "They could have been a family to each other," he began with a hint of disappointment. "Maybe it would have helped Kakashi recover. It would have given him a purpose away from killing. They could have provided him with support. If they had wanted to, they could have found a solution." His voice was full of accusation. "Instead, they both were left alone. Naruto was a baby and needed someone to take care of him!"

Again, an uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Minato was full of anger; it pained him to know that the two were left alone and how close Kakashi was to the edge. He couldn't hold back his emotions and had to let them out.

Hiruzen decided not to delve further into the topic and steered the conversation in a completely different direction. "What about the Kyuubi? Is it within you?" he asked immediately.

Minato raised an eyebrow, realizing that the Hokage was trying to change the subject. Nevertheless, he decided to address it because for him, the matter was far from over – his sons were too important to him. "Yes, it's sealed within me," Minato confirmed. "Don't worry, it's calm. The seal is stable," he explained calmly.

The Hokage nodded thoughtfully and leaned back in his chair. "We still need to talk about that night," he began with a serious look. "What exactly happened a year ago? So far, we're in the dark about how exactly the Kyuubi could appear in the village." Hiruzen explained.

"There was an attack, an unknown person with a mask managed to break through the barrier and disable the guards," Minato began to explain with a heavy voice, as he didn't like to recall that moment. "He managed to separate me from Kushina and wrest the Kyuubi from her. The unknown person could control the Kyuubi, he possessed the Sharingan," Minato reported with a firm gaze.

The Hokage let his gaze wander around the room. "Indeed, an Uchiha was responsible for the attack. We suspected it, but there was no evidence."

Minato furrowed his brow. "What happened after the attack?" he asked curiously.

"They were more closely monitored. Mistrust against them grew," explained Hiruzen, turning his gaze back to Minato.

Minato crossed his arms. "I had a brief fight against him," Minato began to recount as his gaze wandered out the window. "It sounds unbelievable, but at that time, I suspected it was Madara," he confessed with a furrowed brow, and a hint of tension filled the air as he spoke the words.

Hiruzen sat up in his chair, his eyes wide with astonishment as he looked at Minato. "Madara Uchiha?" he asked incredulously, his eyes widening with surprise.

A sigh escaped Minato's lips. "I know," he said, still keeping his gaze out the window. "It's nearly impossible, but one thing is certain: he must have been an extremely powerful shinobi."

The Hokage sank back into his chair. "We should be cautious with this information for now. It shouldn't fall into the wrong hands," Hiruzen explained seriously. Then there was a short silence before the Third broke the silence. "What's next for you after reuniting your family? We need to discuss what comes next. Do you want to become Hokage again?"

Minato directed his gaze at Hiruzen. "To be honest, I don't know yet. First, I want to see Naruto, I want to finally meet him," Minato confessed, adding, "We can continue this conversation another time. Right now, I want to be with my family."

A smile spread across Hiruzen's lips. "Of course, I understand. Go see Naruto. I'll make sure the orphanage is informed, and you'll get a suitable apartment so you'll have enough space."

Minato nodded gratefully and smiled. "Thank you very much." His voice sounded sincere. "In the next few days, I'll think about what to do next." He assured Hiruzen with determination in his voice.

"Take a breather and find your center. Then we'll find a way together," reassured Hiruzen, indicating that Minato could leave.

With a determined nod and a wide smile on his lips, Minato left the room. Every step was filled with anticipation, finally getting to meet his son Naruto. With purposeful strides, he hurried back to the hospital to pick up Kakashi. Together, they would then welcome Naruto into their midst and be a family.

Despite the brief pang of pain he felt at the thought of Kushina, Minato forced himself to set it aside for now. He focused on the next steps, and the thought of Naruto brought a warm smile to his face.