Heading to Impel Down

In Kaze's view, even someone as gifted in Taijutsu as Garp could not possibly master the Eight Gates overnight.

He would probably need to train under Might Guy for quite some time.

And naturally, Kaze could not accompany him the entire way.

After handing Garp over to Might Guy, his "teacher,"

Kaze hurried back to the village.

Then he summoned Hashirama and Kakashi.

The former was Konoha's strongest person besides himself.

The latter's main duty was helping him handle the village's affairs, great and small.

It could be said that they were Kaze's martial and civil pillars.

"Hashirama."

"I'm planning to leave the Land of Fire for a while."

After calling the two of them to his office, Kaze got straight to the point.

What he meant was that he hoped they could protect Konoha while he was away from the village.

But even if Kaze had not said so, Hashirama and Kakashi would have done exactly that.

Still, the moment he said it, both Hashirama and Kakashi were shaken.

Hashirama in particular.

He stepped forward, spreading his hands, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Why?"

According to Hashirama's estimation, Kuzan would catch up to the warship within a few days.

Then he would arrive at Marineford.

And report the Land of Fire's existence to the World Government.

Even if they bore no hostility toward the Grand Line,

the other side would likely not simply do nothing.

This was precisely when Kaze was needed.

Yet he intended to leave the village at such a time.

It truly caught Hashirama by surprise.

"Kaze, I don't agree with this decision either."

Kakashi echoed from the side.

He felt that any problem could be handed over to Konoha's shinobi.

There was no need for Kaze, the Hokage, to handle everything personally.

Yet in the