As Long as I Defeat Kakashi Hatake, Is That Enough?

The young Kakashi Hatake stood before Minato, tilting his head as he looked toward Danzo on the sofa. Beneath his cat-faced mask, his youthful face was filled with confusion.

It seems I've somehow gotten dragged into something troublesome...

Kakashi sighed inwardly, letting out a soft, helpless breath.

Though he did not know the full details, he had gathered some information from Danzo's conversation with the Third Hokage and the others.

The so-called "inspection mission" Danzo had assigned him was likely a job that would offend the Hyuga Clan.

Although, as an Anbu member and the Fourth Hokage's disciple, he did not need to worry about the Hyuga Clan causing him trouble in the future, anyone would feel somewhat uncomfortable being inexplicably placed in opposition to one of Konoha's foremost bloodline clans.

What was more, Danzo had screwed him over once when he was younger. Now, he was being used as a weapon again.

However, in a setting like this, no one cared what Kakashi was thinking. Even Minato Namikaze merely lowered his head in silence, considering Danzo's proposal.

It had to be said that although he knew Danzo deliberately wanted to put him and the Third Hokage in an awkward position, the proposal itself was prudent.

No one understood better than he did just how difficult it was to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique. Its difficulty was not limited to learning it—the difficulty of using it was even more hellish.

Space-Time Ninjutsu placed tremendous demands on the user's reflexes. If one lacked talent and ability in that regard, the Flying Thunder God Technique would not become an aid. Instead, it would bring enormous trouble to its user.

The Flying Thunder God Technique was even harder to use than Kakashi's self-created ninjutsu, Chidori. Yet even with Chidori, Kakashi could only be said to have fully mastered it after inheriting Obito's Sharingan.

Even a genius like Kakashi had failed to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique. And with his talent, even if he did learn it, he would not be able to use Flying Thunder God as his trump card and killing move the way Minato did!

Even the genius Kakashi was like this. As for that child from the Hyuga Clan...

At that thought, Shinichi Hyuga's handsome little face surfaced in Minato's mind. When he had first met the child at the Hyuga Clan, Minato's impression of Shinichi had actually been quite good—but that was all.

This concerned the Scroll of Seals. As Hokage, he had to be cautious.

And from another perspective, if Shinichi Hyuga truly lacked sufficient talent, making him completely abandon the idea of learning Flying Thunder God would be a good thing instead.

"Minato, what do you think of Danzo's proposal?"

Just as Minato was thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated on the sofa, suddenly spoke.

Hearing that, understanding flashed through Minato's eyes. They were all intelligent people; sometimes, there was no need to spell everything out. Minato knew that the Third Hokage's question likely meant he had already accepted Danzo's proposal.

"I think Advisor Danzo's suggestion makes sense. This is not only for the village's security, but also for Shinichi's own good."

"I agree with Elder Danzo's proposal."

"Once the Hyuga Clan arrives, I'll explain it to them."

Minato took the troublesome matter upon himself.

He was that kind of person. Once he had made up his mind, he immediately put it into action, without considering whether doing so would benefit him.

"Teacher Minato..." Kakashi seemed to want to say something, but Minato gently shook his head, cutting him off.

As an Anbu member, Kakashi only needed to play the role of a "tool" in this matter.

The more he said, the more mistakes he could make. The more he did, the more mistakes he could make. Minato had already made up his mind: if the Hyuga Clan became enraged over this, he would never allow their anger to fall upon Kakashi.

With the matter settled, the office fell silent again. Everyone quietly waited for the Hyuga Clan to arrive.

Not long afterward, the door to the Hokage's Office was knocked on once more.

At Minato's signal, Kakashi walked to the door and opened it. Standing outside were two males, one grown and one young—though the younger one was more accurately described as a boy.

Kakashi knew Hyuga Hiashi. After giving a slight bow in greeting, his gaze fell upon the little boy whose hand Hiashi held.

Shinichi Hyuga had long hair. His azure eyes were somewhat different from the Hyuga Clan ninja Kakashi remembered, and there was no smile on his handsome little face. At first glance, he looked as stern as Hiashi.

Perhaps it was the aura brought by his identity, or perhaps it was the temperament he had cultivated since childhood, but Kakashi inexplicably sensed a faint air of authority from the young Shinichi Hyuga.

"Sorry."

Kakashi's brief daze caused both Hyuga Hiashi and Shinichi Hyuga, whose path he had blocked, to turn and look at him.

Realizing his lapse, Kakashi murmured an apology and stepped aside. Only after Hiashi led Shinichi into the office did he close the door, then return to Minato's side and stand waiting.

"Did we come at a bad time?"

"The Third Hokage and all the advisors are here? Were you discussing something?"

Hyuga Hiashi discreetly swept his gaze over everyone in the office. He first gave Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi slight bows, then asked with a smile.

Yet at that moment, Hiashi's heart had already sunk.

These people...

As Hiashi spoke, Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and the other advisors all focused their attention on Shinichi Hyuga.

Although Shinichi remained calm before so many important figures, the advisors' faces revealed expressions that were more or less difficult to read after seeing him.

Mockery? Not quite.

Ridicule? That did not feel right either.

If he had to find a word for it, it was disdain. Under their gazes, Shinichi did not feel very comfortable, and he could not help furrowing his brows slightly.

"Hiashi, you're here."

"The advisors heard that the Hyuga Clan wished to borrow the Scroll of Seals. They were concerned, so they came to take a look."

With a single sentence, Minato cleanly sold out all the advisors.

"Hm?" Hiashi's expression tightened, though he pretended to remain calm.

"Hiashi, there is something we need to inform you of after our discussion."

"..."

After weighing his words for a moment, Minato told Hyuga Hiashi about the "borrowing requirement" they had just discussed.

Shinichi Hyuga stood quietly at the side and listened. The excitement he had felt at the prospect of seeing the Flying Thunder God Technique vanished without a trace at that moment.

"So the Hokage and the advisors mean... Shinichi must defeat Kakashi Hatake and prove his talent before he can borrow the Scroll of Seals?!"

After hearing Minato's requirement, Hyuga Hiashi thought he had misheard and could not help repeating it to confirm. As he spoke, he looked toward Kakashi, who stood beside Minato wearing a mask.

Although Kakashi wore an Anbu mask, how could a mask be useful before the Hyuga Clan? Hiashi had long known the identity of that Anbu member.

"Simply put... yes."

"Of course, considering Shinichi's age, we will give the Hyuga Clan sufficient time."

"Five years, or even ten."

"Once Shinichi proves his talent, the Scroll of Seals will be open to him."

With an apologetic expression, Minato rubbed his head as he spoke.

"Is that so!"

"I understand!"

By this point, Hiashi's expression had become extremely ugly. Suppressing the anger in his heart, he replied coldly.

"We were presumptuous!"

"Let's go, Shinichi."

Hyuga Hiashi gently tugged Shinichi Hyuga's hand and turned to leave, but Shinichi did not move.

"Hm?" Hiashi lowered his head in confusion and looked at his son, only to find Shinichi looking back at him in puzzlement.

"Father? Where are we going?"

"Didn't you say I only need to defeat Kakashi Hatake?"

"If that's the case..."

"Then let's begin!"

Shinichi Hyuga stood before the Fourth Hokage's desk. As he spoke, his azure eyes swept toward Kakashi at the side, his tone calm.