Late at night, the Platoon gathered in the Hokage Residence's living room for an impromptu meeting; they stood, leaned against a wall or sat, according to their preferences. "Alright," Daifune stated briskly, "now that everyone except Kasumi is here, settle down. Our first concern: Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shikaku and Inuzuka Te have ostensibly been named as potential candidates for Hokage. Discuss."
The only other member who was standing wore his customary expression of distaste. "Involving the Uchiha will not end well," the young man with close-cropped raven-blue hair said darkly.
"They're not actually going to succeed, Senri, so your bigoted heart can rest in peace," Genma commented from where he sat, leaning back on the low table. "For one, Fugaku pointed out, and I agree with him, that none of them are going to defeat Minato in a sparring session anytime soon. For another, these guys are meant to be a somewhat different kind of backup plan. The succession question was just an entrance exam."
"In what capacity?" Raidō enquired, puzzled. "If you happen to know, that is."
"Fūinjutsu," his partner replied. "The heavyweight stuff, as opposed to our playing around, if all goes as hoped." Raidō's confused expression did not change.
Senri sighed. "What Genma cannot be bothered to explain properly," he informed the rest, "is that the Fourth intends to teach them sealing techniques, so that they might be able to contain the Kyūbi, should it become necessary. Assuming" the ANBU member placed a delicate stress on the word "that Uchiha Fugaku can be trusted, the Yondaime likely intends for him to use the Sharingan to assist in such an endeavour."
"That assumes that Fugaku-san knows how to apply his eyes in such a manner," Daifune noted, "as well as that any of them will have more luck mastering fūinjutsu than we did."
"Why Inuzuka-sama and Nara-sama, though?" Raidō wondered. "They have sharp minds and attention to detail, yes, but why not Minato-sama's own student?"
"Whoever said Minato wasn't bringing Kakashi into this?" Genma remarked. "It's just that he needs a few relatively sane adults on the case too, so if he drops dead prematurely-"
"If he what?" a few of the Platoon exclaimed simultaneously.
"What do you people do with your free time?" Genma said incredulously. "And keep your voices down- oh, too late. Look, go to the hospital, have Hyūga Hitatsu show you Minato's records, get yourselves up-to-date on stuff you should already know; I'll be here, taking care of the baby you woke up."