A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

85. New Generation: Comparing Hikari versus Minato

"As the Hokage, for the roles of these Commanders, I first propose Orochimaru and Jiraiya for obvious reasons. Both have not only played critical roles in the last world war, leading multiple units and engaging in front-line battles themselves, but they have also continued to serve Konoha through various S-level missions and their recent administrative roles as well.",

"Their reputations alone serve as a powerful deterrent against other villages. Known widely as the 'Legendary Sannin', their prowess was proven in combat against Hanzo, earning them their titles. Their strengths and experiences make them ideal candidates to command our forces...", He spoke convincingly as if he was truly speaking from an 'objective standpoint'.

"I also firmly believe that following behind Orochimaru and Jiraiya in terms of both their contributions in recent years and their formidable strength shown in many S-level missions, Minato Namikaze, and Choza Akimichi, merit consideration as the other two Commanders...",

Hiruzen continued, maintaining a demeanor that suggested he was guided purely by objective assessment and devoid of any personal bias as he observed everyone in the hall, who got increasingly restless at those words, as he continued to speak 'persuasively',

"Judging solely by merit, Konoha has no better alternatives. Those are the first four names currently that make the most sense objectively in terms of merit and likelihood of success."

"Please reconsider the implications of your selections, Lord Hokage...", However, Setsuna, the Great Elder of the Uchiha clan, interjected with a tone laden with indignation. Standing to address the assembly right away boldly, after Hiruzen finished, his voice conveyed a blend of 'concern' as well as challenge.

"Are we to understand that Konoha's defense should only rely on shinobi who operate within the conventional 'mission framework'? What of those shinobi embedded in other specialized units then or those primarily serving their clans? It seems unjust to overlook, marginalize, and even could be said 'discriminate' against such a significant portion of our shinobi overall corps—shinobi who also harbor a deep love for Konoha and are equally eager to defend it in its hour of need.",

"The criterion of mission accomplishment, while noteworthy, should not be the sole measure of a shinobi's suitability for command. Many shinobi undertake missions for compensation as much as for duty, which means that it does not inherently correlate to them having higher loyalty than everyone else.",

"The nominations of Choza Akimichi and Minato Namikaze, while they are undoubtedly skilled, seem to neglect the broader spectrum of shinobi talent within our village, We all understand the rationale behind nominating Orochimaru and Jiraiya, given their exceptional contributions indeed.",

"However, extending the same logic unilaterally to Choza and Minato appears to exclude a wealth of talent from our clan-based shinobi, who are no less capable or patriotic. As Hokage, your judgment should be more objective than that...", He finished and sat back.

"I understand your concerns, Mr. Setsuna, and I appreciate your perspective," Hiruzen responded, his tone firm yet seemingly 'open' to dialogue,

"However, I must ask, do you have any shinobi in mind who you believe are stronger or more qualified than the ones I've proposed? Or, are we to consider candidates solely based on their clan backgrounds and the privileges that come with such affiliations?", His question was direct, challenging Setsuna to provide concrete alternatives rather than general criticisms.

"Yes, indeed, if we are discussing qualifications, we must consider Fugaku Uchiha, the leader of our Konoha's Military Police Force. His leadership ensured Konoha's internal stability every single day, for a decade, a responsibility that I believe is on par with commanding numerous S-level missions...", Setsuna asserted, rising to emphasize his point.

"And when it comes to sheer strength, we cannot overlook Hiashi and Hikari Hyuga. I am confident that in terms of capabilities, they would stand their ground against Choza and Minato, respectively.", His direct and louder tone this time signified the importance he placed on these nominations.

However, the large hall then erupted with a mix of reactions at Setsuna's assertion. Murmurs turned into outright discussions, peppered with gasps and even some bouts of laughter.

The idea that Hikari Hyuga, a 13-year-old with no real-world mission experience, could match the strength of Minato Namikaze, a renowned 20-year-old S-level shinobi with a streak of close to a dozen high-stake, S-level missions under his belt, seemed far-fetched.

While some attendees could believe the thought of Hiashi Hyuga, given his older age, around his prime, and lineage history within the Hyuga clan, potentially standing up to Choza Akimichi, the suggestion that Hikari could be considered equal in strength to Minato was met with widespread skepticism.

This skepticism persisted despite Hikari's celebrated status as a historic prodigy within the Hyuga clan, a testament to his extraordinary talents and abilities. The comparison between a famous shinobi with decades of heavy promotion from Hiruzen's faction Minato and a young, elusive rarely seen outside his compound albeit highly talented Hikari was a stretch for many.

Despite the initial disbelief and murmurs, Setsuna maintained a demeanor of unwavering confidence as he took his seat. A subtle exchange of looks between him and Hirayoshi, the Hyuga Patriarch, hinted that more was to be said on the matter by the latter himself now.

Setsuna, aware of Hikari's impressive victories over his granddaughter, he trusted, from her stories, a shinobi he considered on par with even Fugaku from actual intra-clan 'friendly' sparrings, felt no embarrassment in his claims. He, like Fugaku, recognized Hikari's capabilities, silently asserting the young Hyuga's potential as at least Early Kage level.

Hirayoshi then took the floor, his voice carrying a mix of authority and calm, "Elder Setsuna's observations are not without merit...", He began, "His granddaughter has sparred with Hikari, so he was privy of this information probably from there.",

"But, I, and other Elders from our clan too, believe that Hikari could indeed, at least, match Minato Namikaze in battle. Furthermore, Sakumo Hatake himself has recently tested Hikari and can attest to his strength. I doubt anyone here would question Sakumo's judgment."

As Sakumo then nodded in confirmation, the atmosphere shifted significantly. The collective skepticism and irony began to wane, replaced by a burgeoning reassessment of Hikari's capabilities. Sakumo's endorsement, given his esteemed standing and reputation within the village and his shinobi expertise and strength, added a new dimension to the discussion. 

This moment marked a turning point in the assembly's deliberations. With the vocal support of both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, coupled with Sakumo's corroborative acknowledgment, the earlier laughter and disbelief gave way to a more contemplative evaluation of Hikari now.

Especially, given Sakumo's esteemed status and his well-known personality throughout life in general, it was clear he wouldn't compromise his reputation and inner moral code by making unfounded and false claims about Hikari, even though they had the same political alignment. 

Sakumo maintained his composure, his nod a silent testament to his honesty. He hadn't exaggerated Hikari's capabilities; his assessment was based on personal experience, having sparred with the young Hyuga, and given him pointers as he observed his unique skill set firsthand.

Additionally, Sakumo's familiarity with Minato's abilities came from their time on some S-level missions together, a few years ago, before his responsibilities as the Jonin Commander and head of the Hatake clan took precedence for him, and he remained stationary, after clashing with the Hokage's faction at that time and his distancing of himself from the Hokage entirely.

He understood that while Minato's abilities and talents were widely recognized within Konoha and beyond, Hikari possessed his arsenal of unique techniques, many of which were unknown to Minato and the broader shinobi world.

These abilities, with their peculiar and innovative mechanisms, led Sakumo to believe that Hikari could indeed match Minato in combat, due to the information asymmetry, probably leading to a stalemate between them.

However, Sakumo also acknowledged that the outcome could hinge on the advancements Minato had made with the Flying Raijin technique since their last mission together. If Minato had fully developed this technique, it would certainly be a significant factor, yet the lack of widespread acclaim or discussion about a fully realized Flying Raijin, from the Hokage's faction in the village, suggested to Sakumo that Minato's mastery might not be complete.

Meanwhile, Hikari, now thrust into the spotlight, but as he previously agreed to be put on before, and considering the possibility of facing Minato for real, pondered this potential match-up with serious attention mentally once again after today's direct observation of him.

Armed with his deep knowledge from the original series, he was aware that Minato had yet to master the Rasengan, Senjutsu, or fully develop the Flying Raijin technique at this stage. Some of that would probably happen only later during this war, even with his Buttefly Effect.

However, the specific progress Minato had made with the Flying Raijin, potentially altered by Hikari's own interventions in the timeline, remained unclear. An incomplete Flying Raijin was still a formidable threat, capable of overwhelming most shinobi, also including Hikari himself. 

This uncertainty led him to place Minato's capabilities within the Early to Middle Kage level range, acknowledging the possibility that Minato might surpass him, an 'Early Kage' in power.

Yet, Hikari speculated that Minato's lack of knowledge about his unique skillset could offer an advantage. Hikari believed his arsenal of unseen abilities might catch Minato off guard.

Additionally, he considered how the use of ordinary chakra in Ninjutsu could indirectly alter the surrounding natural energy around as he experimented before and found out himself.

Therefore, his unique Byakugan ability might allow him to detect early where Minato planned to teleport next using the Flying Raijin, offering opportunities for countermeasures or traps.

From these reflections, Hikari understood that intelligence and the element of surprise play crucial roles in shinobi confrontations, alongside 'general power' over a majority of shinobi over a lower 'general level' of strength.

The outcome of battles often hinged not just on 'comparative strength' but on the strategic use of unique abilities and knowledge of the opponent's weaknesses in some rare cases.

Additionally, Hikari also began to consider why Choza Akimichi was nominated last alongside Minato, but then he remembered those hidden and mysterious Akimichi clan pills that could result in a fast boost of your baseline level of strength, which would indeed place Choza as the strongest one among this current generation of 'Ino-Shika-Cho' of later generations, and around 'Quasi-Kage' level of strength.

As Hiruzen couldn't nominate Tsunade for obvious reasons, Choza would be the only one left he could use to steal the opposition's bid at the final Commander's place. However, Hikari still didn't think that the current Hiashi of this timeline would be defeated by the Akimichi, they were probably equal at the end of the day.

Meanwhile, Observing Hikari's youthful yet composed demeanor, even as he faced the prospect of matching up against Minato, left a strong impression on the assembly.

His calm acceptance and confidence in potentially facing someone as formidable as Minato Namikaze shifted the room's atmosphere even further.

The sight of such poise in a young shinobi, thrust into a glaring spotlight yet unfazed, prompted many present to reconsider the possibility of this matchup more seriously.

Minato, meanwhile, also seated at the table amidst the unfolding discussions, found himself taken aback by the series of endorsements for Hikari.

Initially surprised by the Hyuga and Uchiha clans' confident support for such a young contender, indirectly also positioning the teen as the strongest individual within their clans currently, his shock deepened with Sakumo's unexpected backing—a figure for whom Minato held great respect.

Hikari's calm and assured presence amidst the spotlight also only added to Minato's contemplation, prompting him to acknowledge the possibility that Hikari might indeed pose a credible challenge to him for some reason.

However, despite this whirlwind of emotions, Minato's external demeanor only shifted subtly, adopting a more serious expression. This turn of events was unforeseen, steering his thoughts towards the broader implications, yet he chose to maintain his silence, adhering to his characteristic restraint and humility, refraining from boasting or undermining others.

Kushina, beside him, by contrast, however, displayed a more pronounced reaction. Her fiery nature made it difficult to accept that a teenager, seven years Minato's junior and without any official mission experience, could be considered his equal, let alone potentially more talented.

This notion was particularly jarring, challenging her belief in Minato's unrivaled talent in their generation. Her immediate instinct was one of hostility towards Hikari, whose composed demeanor seemed to her dismissive of Minato's capabilities. Tension visible in her clenched fists and her expression clouding with anger, Kushina was on the verge of voicing her discontent.

Nevertheless, sensing her rising agitation, Minato discreetly took her hand under the table, offering a calming glance.

His silent plea for tranquility was a bid to prevent any outburst, prioritizing decorum in the charged atmosphere of the assembly. 

As the discussion about Hikari's potential parity with Minato unfolded, Hiruzen and his two main advisors, Koharu and Homura, meanwhile maintained a composed silence, their expressions betraying no surprise at the claims of Hikari's strength.

This stoic response suggested they were already somehow privy to the rumors of Hikari's true capabilities beforehand as well. Indeed, many heads of the smaller clans also aligned against the Hokage had learned of Hikari's strength being of Early Kage level, for one reason or another, and it was inevitable that such significant intelligence would eventually reach Hiruzen and his advisors.

Internally, the trio, however, also experienced a mix of regret and wonder at how a child's personality could be so vastly different from his parents, who were known for their village-centric ethos.

They couldn't help but feel a sense of loss that Hikari, unlike his parents, seemed more aligned with clan interests, his demeanor was also often detached and too rationalistic and calculative, totally lacking the 'warmth' associated with the 'Will of Fire' cherished by Konoha and his parents.

Despite their previous efforts to sway Hikari towards a more village-focused path, they recognized their attempts had been futile. In their view, the Hyuga Elders had effectively isolated and molded Hikari to their liking, since the youngest age.

This belief led them to conclude that despite their best attempts, the unique combination of Hikari's natural disposition and the influence of his clan's elders had rendered their efforts to integrate him more deeply into the village's fabric unsuccessful, so they didn't blame themselves for this 'failure' too much.

Orochimaru's face was a mask of curiosity at this time, his serpentine-like eyes gleaming with a mix of interest and calculation as he looked at the 'undisturbed' and 'cold' Hikari at the other end of the table with an area of 'coolness' around his whole presence, in a same way as he, himself, was in the eyes of other people.

His intuition immediately led him to believe that despite the vast difference in terms of age, background, and affiliation, the young teen was, for some reason, very close to himself in terms of his personality and demeanor.

Always on the lookout for exceptional talent, and unique shinobi skillset frameworks, in the world, the notion of a young shinobi from the Hyuga clan rivaling Minato piqued his interest.

His mind likely raced with questions about Hikari's abilities and how they could further his deep-seated ambitions and research into the limits of shinobi power as he nearly habitually licked his lips but managed to control himself.

However, despite the appreciation, he still understood that the boy was destined to probably be his great enemy in the future, due to the difference in political and personal affiliations.

Nevertheless, Danzo's sudden interjection cut through the speculative atmosphere overall, his voice carrying a mix of skepticism and challenge aimed at Hirayoshi's last statements. He also stared at the Hyuga Patriarch with a sharp and even somewhat hostile look in his eyes.

Rising to his feet, he pointedly addressed Hiashi and Hikari, his gesture and commanding tone leaving no room for ambiguity about his stance,

"Let's stop with these speculations, please...", He began, his words sharp and his demeanor authoritative, "Even if those two individuals you mentioned theoretically somehow match the strength of Minato Namikaze and Choza Akimichi, when have they last ventured beyond the confines of the Hyuga compound to contribute to the village's needs?",

"I question whether they have ever witnessed real combat and blood, let alone engaged in any significant missions for the sake of our community. What have they done to earn such high-ranking positions? How can they inspire loyalty and command respect from those they lead if they've remained sheltered and isolated all their lives? What experience do they have in leadership, in commanding a unit on the field?", His words were direct and slightly impolite.