Hiruzen sat at his old desk in his room, reflecting on the worst day of his entire life. He faced a multitude of choices, each requiring careful consideration. The day before had seemed so promising—the son of a Hokage was about to be born, and he had been enjoying his retirement, with everything going smoothly and no cause for concern.

Now those thoughts of peaceful days ahead. Those thoughts and dreams were gone, dashed on the sea of memories as he couldn't do anything about it. Things had changed so absolutely that night, and in the worst possible ways. The 4th Hokage was dead, along with the Hokage's loving wife and the former jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, leaving behind their newborn son. It was tragic and heart-wrenching. The Hokage had asked him to watch over his son, and now Hiruzen had lost even more, as his own wife had also been killed in the attack. To make matters worse, they had no idea who had orchestrated the attack, but it was clear that someone powerful had done it, even taking control of the Nine-Tails.

Hiruzen rubbed his temples, trying to decide what needed to be done. He knew he could assume the mantle of Hokage again and had almost done so. However, something—or perhaps some feeling—had caused him to hesitate at the last moment. He realized that if he became Hokage again, he would be confined to a position that would limit his ability to act in many ways. To uncover the truth about his wife's death and to address the current crisis, he needed a more hands-on approach. Furthermore, to fulfill his promise of taking care of little Naruto, he couldn't also be in charge of the village. Managing the village at his age would consume all his time and energy, leaving him little room to raise the boy or address pressing issues.

This led him to the crucial question: Who should replace Minato as the Fifth Hokage? He needed someone he could support and trust, someone who would not let Danzō take over indirectly. He needed a wise and capable individual who would prioritize the village's interests, as the future of the entire village would likely rest on this person's shoulders.

This was a daunting task, more challenging than one might expect. His first thoughts turned to his former students. However, Orochimaru had fallen too far from what he could have been, Jiraiya was not the type to take on such responsibility, and Tsunade was at odds with both him and the village. Convincing her to take the role seemed improbable, especially given her mental state and her clear reluctance to see him at that point.

Thus, he had to consider other potential candidates. He needed someone capable, strong, with leadership experience, and accepted by the village. Fugaku Uchiha was an obvious candidate, but there were many unknowns surrounding him, and the constant tension between the Uchiha clan and the rest of the village was a concern. The leader of the Hyūga clan was another option, but Hiruzen was uncertain about the internal issues there.

This wasn't going to be an easy answer for him. He knew that he was going to have his handful, dealing with this problem. He would be busy getting ready for his wife's funeral as well as that of Minato and Kushina. He knew that he would have to get his home ready for a baby to move in. Lastly, he was going to have to look into the possible candidates for Hokage in more depth. He wasn't going to be it again, but he could play a large role in who was chosen.

As Hiruzen's mind went over the many issues that were at hand. He heard a knock at the door, and then he saw as his son walked into the door, or rather one of his two sons. He looked at Asuma, the brash and proud young man. There was so much that Hiruzen saw in Asuma, so much potential and so much of himself too. He gave his son a rather sympatric look as he knew that he was hurting too. After all the boy had just lost his mother, someone he knew was closer to him then he was. He had not always been as good of a father as he might should have been.

Asuma was still beset by grief and sadness. Losing his mother had not been easy, and the fact that he couldn't get involved in the fight—being held back by those who didn't want to see a young boy run to his death—had left him deeply troubled. Yet at that moment, he was just a son clinging tightly to his father, finding solace amidst the turmoil.

His voice, choked with emotion, was barely a whisper. "Dad...what are we going to do?" The question was simple, but it carried the weight of his helplessness and the uncertainty of their future.

Asuma pulled back slightly, looking up at his father with a mix of determination and despair. "We can't just let them get away with this. We have to do something." His hands clenched into fists, knuckles white as he struggled to keep his composure. "I want to help. I want to make sure that whoever did this...they don't get away."

Hiruzen knew that Asuma was growing up fast and that he was going to be a great ninja when he got a bit older. If he wasn't already, he had dealt with war and violence far more than a 15-year-old should have to.

"Asuma, I am not going to take over as Hokage. My time is over, but I plan to make sure that this is all figured out. I am going to focus on helping you, helping Naruto Uzumaki, and figuring out what happened. That is my goal, my son, and I promise to do my best. My aim is simply to find the best person to replace Minato right now."

Hiruzen looked at his son, his expression still solemn. "I am also going to need your help with Naruto. I promised Minato that I would take care of his son. Naruto is a newborn and will undoubtedly be a handful, especially if he takes after his parents."

He placed a comforting hand on Asuma's shoulder. "I would very much appreciate your help when you can offer it. Your support will be crucial as we navigate this difficult time and ensure that Naruto grows up surrounded by care and protection. We have a lot to face ahead of us and having you by my side will make a world of difference."

Hiruzen's gaze softened, his voice earnest. "I know it's a lot to ask, but together, we can honor Minato's memory and ensure that Naruto has the best chance at a future. We owe him that much for protecting us and saving our village. What you don't know is that the last thing Minato did was seal the Nine-Tails jinchuriki inside his son. I believe he did this because he saw his son as vital to the future of our village and maybe even the ninja world. Minato would not have taken such a serious step lightly."

Asuma nodded, his face still etched with grief but now marked by a new resolve. "I understand," he said, his tone calm yet carrying an undercurrent of sadness. "I will help as I can, and I will be here for you. Minato wouldn't have trusted you if he didn't believe in you. It's only right for you to help with his son."

His eyes reflected a determined glint as he continued, "We have a lot of work ahead of us. Naruto will be a handful, and we'll need to put in a lot of effort to keep him safe. I agree—it might be wise to bring in Kakashi Hatake. He was Minato's student and, as you know, he's incredibly talented."

Asuma's expression grew serious. "We need to uncover the truth and ensure Naruto is protected. We can't afford to fail in living up to the promise we made to his father."

Hiruzen nodded, appreciating Asuma's commitment and insight. "You're right. Kakashi will be a valuable asset, and together we'll face these challenges head-on. We owe it to Minato and to Naruto to see this through."

Asuma's resolve was clear as he spoke. "I'll find Kakashi in the morning and bring him here. I'm sure you'll be busy reviewing the candidates for Hokage to replace Minato if you're not already."

He paused for a moment, considering the next part of his suggestion. "Try reaching out to Tsunade. Have an honest, heart-to-heart conversation with her. Despite the past, she does care about the village. If you lay everything out and show her the gravity of the situation, she might consider taking up the position."

Hiruzen looked at his son with a mix of appreciation and contemplation. "You're right. I'll try to reach out to Tsunade. It's worth the effort to see if she can be persuaded to step up. Thank you, Asuma. Your support means more than you know."

Come early the next morning Hiruzen was up and about, ready to get to work. he had even written a message to Tsunade. He had made it a respectful message where he was going to simply ask her for advice. He wasn't going to try to force his former job onto her, but if he could talk into it great. If not, then maybe she could help him find someone who was worthy of the position among the village. If not, then he would be back at square one, which meant more conversations, and interviews with others.

Right after he finished, he heard someone enter his home after knocking. He looked to find that the person was. Kakashi Hatake, a young talented ninja, who was the same age as his own son Asuma. An Anbu, and genius, whose father had been a great ninja too. If his father was around, most likely he would have been the one to take up the role of Hokage in that moment.

"Good morning, Kakashi," Hiruzen began, his voice filled with sympathy. "I know this must be a very hard time for you. Losing Minato—your teacher and mentor—is undoubtedly challenging."

Kakashi's expression was somber but composed as he looked at Hiruzen.

"I wanted to speak with you about a mission I need your help with," Hiruzen continued, his tone shifting to a more formal and focused one. "Given your close relationship with Minato and your skills, I believe you're the right person for this task."

"I need you to take on an important role, Kakashi," Hiruzen said firmly, his tone serious. "I want you to protect my newest charge, Naruto Uzumaki, Minato's late son.

"You'll be his guard and watch over him when I can't. I also want you to watch out for the boy and help him out too." Hiruzen commented pausing for a moment before his tone softened slightly. "Naruto will want to know about his father someday. Either I or you will have to tell him about the hero his father was when the time comes."

He looked at Kakashi with a mixture of confidence and reassurance. "You are the best young ninja in the village, and I believe you have the potential to be as great as your teacher or your own father. I have faith in your abilities and your commitment. This responsibility is significant, but I trust you to handle it with the dedication and skill that Minato would have wanted."

Kakashi nodded, his gaze resolute. "I understand, Hiruzen-sama. I'll make sure to keep Naruto safe and guide him when the time comes. I'll be ready to share the truth about Minato with him when he's old enough to understand."

He gave a small, determined smile. "Thank you for your trust. I won't let you or Naruto down. I'll do my best to live up to the legacy of those who came before me."

"Good, I know these are hard days, but together we will figure them out. I believe that we can turn this horrible event in time into something better. We can make a future where this doesn't happen again," Hiruzen said as he then dismissed Kakashi for the day, having heard enough to fill confident.