"Then... from now on, from now on, I'll leave it to you, Minato... no, Lord Hokage."
The last trace of life slowly faded from Hokoma's eyes. The hand tightly clasped in Minato Namikaze's slowly slipped free and fell to the floor with a slap.
"Teacher Minato, how is Senior Hokoma?"
At that moment, the tightly shut door was abruptly and recklessly thrown open with a crash, followed by Chiba's anxious voice.
Yet Minato Namikaze did not react to that call. He merely slowly closed his eyes, his brows knitting tightly and his face gradually tensing, without saying a single word.
Was I... too late?
Seeing Minato Namikaze's reaction, Chiba, who had burst through the door, slowly lowered his gaze to that pale face and the faint smile that had already gone stiff.
Hokoma had stopped breathing.
He had not made it in time.
"Time of death: October 27th, 2:47 p.m."
At that moment, Yuriko's voice sounded as she confirmed the time of death.
"I understand. Hokoma, this time, we'll still do as you wished."
Then Minato Namikaze's calm voice, trembling ever so slightly, slowly rang out.
But this time, no joyful "Yes" answered Minato Namikaze's words.
The wise and capable assistant who had supported him since he took office, offering suggestions such as "placing the entire village under martial law," "the expansion plan," "reorganizing the Anbu," and "Anbu acting appointments"—the assistant who had truly stabilized his position—had closed his eyes forever.
He would never hear that response after accepting one of Hokoma's proposals again.
"Then, Lord Fourth Hokage..."
At those words, Yuriko, whose eyes had already reddened slightly, turned to Minato Namikaze and asked.
"Follow Hokoma's wishes. Cremate him, and bury him beneath this house."
Hearing this, Minato Namikaze seemed to know what Yuriko wanted to ask. He cut her