Strongest Chunin

Konoha Hospital.

When Baiye pushed open the door to the hospital room, someone was already inside.

Kakashi stood by the window with his back to the door, his silver hair reflecting a little of the afternoon light. He wasn't leaning against the wall as he usually did, nor were his arms crossed—he was simply standing there, both hands at his sides.

Minato was sitting up against the headboard, saying something to him. When he saw Baiye come in, Minato beckoned him over.

"Morning."

Kakashi turned his head and glanced at Baiye, his gaze much calmer than it had been a few months ago. He nodded in greeting.

Baiye walked to the bedside and placed a hand on Minato's shoulder as usual. The green light of Medical Ninjutsu appeared. The wound had healed completely, the muscle tissue had regenerated well, and there was no lingering damage to his Chakra pathways.

"The wound's healed well." Baiye withdrew his hand.

"Good news." Minato rolled his shoulder and smiled.

Kakashi was still standing by the window. He hadn't left. His gaze moved from Minato to the Tachi at Baiye's waist and lingered there for a moment.

"Baiye," Kakashi said. "I want to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"I'm looking for someone." Kakashi's tone was matter-of-fact, as though he were talking about the weather. "A shinobi who's exceptionally skilled with a sword and at healing. You know a lot of people at Konoha Hospital. Any leads?"

Baiye looked at Kakashi. There was a quiet determination in his eyes, but it was no longer as sharp as it had been a few months ago. Back on the Shopping Street, Kakashi's gaze had been shattered, ready to crack at a touch. Now he had put it back together, but one seam had never closed.

"How skilled is exceptionally skilled?"

"Skilled enough to defeat me with a sword without even trying... I don't know much about medicine, but I guess he should be really good at that too?"

"Someone that impressive?" Baiye's expression didn't change. "Never heard of him. Why are you looking for him?"

"To settle a score," Kakashi said, the corner of his mouth seemingly twitching. "Settle it properly."

He sounded as though it was something he had already thought through.

It wasn't anger or resentment, just something that had been pressed down hard but had never gone away.

Baiye spread his hands.

"No leads."

"Then keep an eye out for me." Kakashi headed for the door, pausing as he passed Baiye. "I'll find him, no matter what."

The door closed behind him.

The room was quiet for two seconds.

"Kids these days really aren't cute at all," Baiye said.

Minato leaned against the headboard with his hands behind his head, looking at Baiye with a faint, helpless smile.

"You're only two years older than him."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I'd have forgotten how old I am."

Minato didn't reply. He watched Baiye, as though waiting for him to continue.

Baiye walked to the window and pulled the curtain open a little. Afternoon light poured in, spreading a bright rectangle across the floor. Kakashi hadn't gone far; his silver hair stood out in the crowd, then he rounded a street corner and disappeared.

"He's already suspicious. How much longer do you think we can keep it from him?"

"He still can't hide his feelings very well now..."

"But since he's already suspicious, sooner or later he'll know it was you."

Minato's tone was calm; he had no intention of pressing for answers.

Baiye turned around and leaned against the windowsill.

"Before then, I'll leave it to you, his teacher, to set him straight. Don't let him actually come after me with a sword to settle the score."

Minato fell silent for a moment.

"Now it's my problem?"

"Whose else would it be, Minato-sensei?"

"All right." Minato smiled helplessly.

Baiye walked over to the bed and checked his recovery again.

"Watch what you eat for the next couple of days, don't exercise too strenuously, and avoid too much spicy or otherwise irritating food—"

"What do you mean?" Minato interrupted him.

"I mean you can go home now."

Minato's eyes lit up at once.

He threw off the covers, jumped nimbly out of bed, planted his bare feet on the floor, and stretched at length.

"Great! I've been going stir-crazy these past few days."

He picked up the Jonin vest draped over the back of the chair and put it on. "Come on, let's get barbecue. My treat."

"I just said to avoid too much irritating food..."

"So are you coming or not?"

"...I'm coming."

"Good." Minato tied on his Forehead Protector and headed for the door. "See you at the usual place after work."

The moment he finished speaking, a Flying Thunder God formula flashed, and he was gone. All that remained were the faint ripples of residual ninjutsu in the air and a sentence hanging in the air: "I'll go find Kushina first."

Minato rarely used Flying Thunder God inside the village, so he really must have been in a hurry this time.

Baiye stood in the empty room and shook his head.

He's gone to tell Kushina the good news, hasn't he? They'll probably climb the spiral tower together too, and name the Rasengan while they're at it, with their backs to Hokage Rock.

Tsk, tsk. Sickeningly sweet.

I'd better eat less sweet stuff these next few days.

He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Several patients passing by took the initiative to greet him when they saw him: "Doctor Baiye," "Thanks for your hard work," "He's the one who..."

He had become "famous" lately.

The Nine-Tails' rampage was naturally top secret, known only to a select few, but a mobilization of shinobi on that scale couldn't simply be suppressed.

The village's public account was that they had conducted an operation against an outside invader—and that it had been a great success.

And since the operation had succeeded, those who had contributed deserved recognition.

Then, among familiar names like the Sannin, everyone saw an unfamiliar one.

Gekkō Byakuya.

So people began asking about him of their own accord.

A twelve-year-old medical-nin, a Chunin, the first to rush to the scene of the invasion, who had even saved Minato and the other Jonin...

People repeated these details over and over, and then a title was pinned on him.

The Strongest Medical Chunin.

Later, people decided the title was too long and changed it to the Strongest Chunin.

What an awful-sounding title, and one that's bound to attract trouble...

Baiye pushed open the door to the barbecue restaurant, and the smell of charcoal came pouring out with the smoke.

Minato was already there, waving to him from a booth in the corner. Two plates of meat were already on the table, their marbling glowing warmly in the light of the charcoal fire.

"Famous already, after just a few days?" Minato watched him sit down with a smile. "Strongest Chunin?"

Baiye raised an eyebrow.

"Boss, a few more plates of your most expensive meat."

The owner called back from inside. Minato didn't protest; he was still smiling.

Baiye looked at that smiling face and suddenly spoke.

"When are you getting married?"

Minato choked on his tea.

"Huh?"

"Seeing that greasy smile on your face, I thought you'd proposed and she'd said yes."

"Greasy?!" Minato's smile froze, and he unconsciously touched his face.

Baiye picked up his chopsticks and placed a slice of meat on the grill. The fat hit the hot iron grate with a sizzle.

"So you really care about your image?"

Minato came to his senses and realized he'd been toyed with. He leaned back in his chair, set down his cup, and gave it some serious thought.

"Probably next year."

Baiye's chopsticks paused.

"What?"

"Getting married," Minato said. "You know I'm an orphan, and Kushina doesn't have any family left either... We both really want to start a family soon."

Baiye put down his chopsticks.

Next year.

Konoha Year 45, the beginning of the Third Shinobi World War. He ran the number through his mind, his face expressionless.

Even though he had been preparing all along, now that he really had to face war, Baiye still felt a heavy weight in his chest.

Minato didn't notice his pause. He was concentrating on turning the meat on the grill. Fat sizzled over the charcoal, and the smell of grease and sauce filled the air.

"About the Sealing Jutsu I mentioned last time."

Baiye changed the subject. "What did Kushina-senpai say?"

"She agreed." Minato took a scroll from his Ninja Tool Pouch and handed it over. "This is a basic introduction to Sealing Jutsu. But it might not be convenient for you to go directly to Kushina for guidance right now—a lot of people have been watching lately... If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

Baiye accepted the scroll, weighed it in his hand, then tucked it inside his clothes.

Minato was the greatest Sealing Jutsu master since the First Hokage, certified by the Nine-Tails himself.

Of course Baiye wouldn't turn his nose up at a teacher like that.

"Can we eat in peace now?" Minato picked up a slice of cooked meat and put it in Baiye's bowl.

"Thanks."

Baiye put the meat in his mouth. It was cooked just right, and the fat melted on his tongue.

He really does know how to grill.

He chewed a couple of times and, seeing Minato also dig in, suddenly remembered something.

"Speaking of which, have you named that jutsu yet?"

Minato looked up, his eyes lighting up.

"Rasengan. Kushina said I should just call it that." He rubbed the back of his head and smiled a little sheepishly. "It's better than that whole string of names I came up with before."

"Of course it is."

"...That stings a little."

"So can I still eat?"

"Go on, eat..."

They ate for about an hour and a half. Minato paid the bill. When they came out of the restaurant, the night wind sent fallen leaves rolling past their feet from the street corner. Baiye felt the scroll tucked inside his clothes and looked up at the night sky.

The stars were bright.

"Go home and get some rest. You only just recovered from your injury, after all," he said.

"You too." Minato tugged at his collar. "Once I've completed a few more missions, I'll propose..."

"What is it?"

"Never mind, it's nothing."

Baiye turned and headed toward home. Behind him came a quiet chuckle from Minato, followed by footsteps that gradually faded away.

The night wind rustled the leaves on the trees at the street corner. He walked slowly, feeling the weight of the Zanpakuto in its sheath at his waist. The scroll inside his clothes rested against his chest, and he could feel the lingering warmth of Chakra through the fabric.

Konoha Year 44 was nearly over. He calculated the time in his head. Then he quickened his pace.