Sarutobi Residence.
"Minato, your game has regressed."
Minato looked at the endgame on the board and gave a bitter smile. "I was never very good at chess to begin with."
Sarutobi looked at him with a genial smile and asked, "Is something troubling you?"
"Mm..."
Minato merely responded calmly.
Sarutobi's gaze flickered. Whatever was troubling him was likely something he could no longer help with.
"Tell me about it."
"I want to marry Kushina."
Sarutobi pondered briefly and immediately understood. Given Kushina's special status, Orochimaru likely had not given his permission.
It had originally been a matter that could be big or small. Orochimaru's insistence on making an issue of it was nothing more than an expression of his dissatisfaction with Minato.
A former rival.
But was this merely ordinary harassment, or did he intend to oppose Minato to the bitter end?
Sarutobi fell silent, his eyes quietly fixed on the pieces on the board.
"Have you gone to see him?"
Knowing that he had asked a meaningless question, Sarutobi silently sighed.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" he asked.
"..."
There was truly little he could do. The village had long since ceased to be his to command; all authority now rested with Orochimaru.
Minato raised his head and looked at the old man before him. This was once the Third Hokage. How had he ended up in such a state?
It was as though he had become invisible within the village. There had been no news about him for a long time, and if Minato had not taken the initiative to visit, he would never have seen him at all.
His offer to help was only born of guilt toward Minato.
Disappointment showed in Minato's eyes as he slowly shook his head.
"No need."
Relying on