Misunderstanding-It Was All a Misunderstanding!

Misunderstanding—It Was All a Misunderstanding!

As it turned out, the person who had truly backed himself into a corner was Aoba.

Although Jonin Mikawa had paid for the ten skewers of dango afterward, compared to the eighty ryo he had saved, the black-faced Jonin Mikawa was still far more terrifying!

After being carried all the way home, Jonin Mikawa slammed the door shut, then pulled out his favorite little treasure and slapped it onto the table.

Aoba silently swallowed, then looked at the kunai on the table and forced a dry laugh. "Can't we talk this out properly? Why do you have to resort to knives and weapons?"

"What did I tell you before I left? Hmm? It's only been a day, and you've already caused such a huge mess. How am I supposed to explain this to Lord Hokage?"

Mikawa picked up the kunai from the table with his backhand. The angrier he became, the harder he drove it straight through the tabletop. Aoba's heart ached at the sight. If the table was ruined, he couldn't afford to buy a new one...

"It was a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! Besides, Lord Hokage wouldn't stoop to arguing with a child like me. I promise! There won't be a next time!"

When it was time to be cowardly, one had to admit defeat. Aoba didn't think his little body, even after activating Hardening, could withstand the kunai in Mikawa's hand. At least, Level 1 of the skill definitely wouldn't be enough.

Clearly, Aoba's shameless, unkillable attitude made the muscles on Mikawa's face twitch repeatedly, but he couldn't really bring himself to bully a child.

Yet Third Hokage still needed an explanation...

"Hmph! If Lord Hokage weren't broad-minded, do you think you'd still have had the chance to go out and eat dango? You'd be eating prison food instead!"

"Come with me tomorrow to apologize to Lord Hokage!"

When Aoba heard that, he visibly relaxed. It was only an apology. He wouldn't lose any flesh over it. No big deal!

But before he could celebrate, Mikawa's next sentence instantly wiped the smile from his face.

"Also, considering the huge mess you caused this time, your allowance will be cut in half next month. If you don't want to go hungry, stay home and behave!"

"If there's a next time, then even if Lord Hokage lets you off, I'll slap you to death myself!"

After saying that, Mikawa snorted, yanked out the kunai, and turned to leave, completely ignoring Aoba's mournful expression.

Apologizing in person was nothing at most, it would only waste a little time. But having his allowance cut in half was devastating. How was he supposed to live on one thousand ryo a month? Was he supposed to eat instant noodles every day and drink expired milk like Naruto in the future?

The good news was that, counting the one thousand ryo Jonin Mikawa had given him at the beginning, and considering that many days had already passed this month, he still wouldn't starve as long as he spent carefully.

Mikawa had probably calculated that too before deciding on this punishment. Heh, who would've thought he was a tsundere?

And if things really came down to it, once Itachi came looking for him, he could always fleece the rich. The dignified Uchiha clan surely wouldn't fuss over a few thousand ryo, right?

At that thought, Aoba's mood improved again, and he began thinking about what to eat that evening—a typical case of remembering the food but forgetting the lesson.

On the other side, Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage were still handing over their duties, while also guiding Minato, the new Hokage, and continuing to shine for Konoha.

But when Minato saw the documents piled on the desk like a small mountain, all waiting to be processed, he was utterly dumbfounded.

The thought of backing out began pounding wildly in his heart!

"Is this everything?"

"Of course... not! What you see here is only the highest-priority and most urgent portion. Once you finish these, special assistants will organize the rest and bring them over."

Hiruzen smiled with great kindness, looking just like a gentle, amiable old grandfather.

Yet after hearing that answer, Minato painfully yanked at his hair, wishing he could abdicate right then and there!

How was he supposed to know that being Hokage involved so damn much work!!!

Hiruzen, meanwhile, merely smiled sagely. Heh heh, you think I got old this quickly for no reason? It's time to let you young people experience this pain. Every one of you kept shouting about becoming Hokage. Did you really think being Hokage was that easy?

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Minato called weakly.

Mikawa entered, intending to first greet the newly appointed Fourth Hokage. But after standing on tiptoe and looking for a long while, he still couldn't see past the mountain of documents to the person seated behind it. This left him extremely awkward.

"Oh, it's Mikawa. What, have you come to inspect the Hokage's work? Heh heh, thanks for your effort."

The moment he opened his mouth, Third Hokage's talent for sarcastic remarks was fully exposed. His mocking tone instantly made Mikawa's face flush red.

"I'm sorry, Lord Hiruzen! I've already severely disciplined that brat Aoba. I even cut his living expenses in half for next month. He knows he was wrong too. Tomorrow, I'll bring him here to apologize to Lord Minato."

"That's the future Fifth Hokage you're raising, so you'd better educate him properly. If that brat can't become Hokage someday, your crime will be a serious one."

Third Hokage had never truly been angry in the first place. He had lived through most of his life and wasn't so petty as to quibble with a little child.

Mikawa, however, stood there woodenly after being teased, mumbling and unable to get a word out.

He really has no sense of humor at all. Hiruzen could only feel that his retirement might not be as pleasant as he had imagined.

At that moment, Minato finally walked around from behind the desk and asked curiously, "Jonin Mikawa, is that child your son?"

Mikawa didn't answer directly. Instead, he instinctively looked toward the retired Third Hokage with an uneasy expression.

"Answer whatever you're asked. I'm just an old man now. You'd better figure out who the Hokage is."

After Third Hokage pointed that out in an indifferent tone, even cold sweat broke out on Mikawa. He hurriedly explained everything about Aoba, as well as their relationship.

Only after seeing that Lord Minato was still smiling and hadn't become angry over his disrespectful behavior did Mikawa finally relax a little.

Mikawa swore that he had absolutely not meant to disrespect Lord Minato. He fully acknowledged Lord Minato's status as Hokage. It was just that his instinctive reaction had been far too inappropriate. If Minato had been less broad-minded, he probably would have held a grudge against him for a long time.

What terrible luck...

"I see. However, I haven't taken the matter to heart, so there's no need to punish him further. He doesn't need to apologize, either. Also, I've only just taken over as Hokage, and there are still many things I don't understand. I'll need talented people like you at my side to help me, so I hope you'll continue to guide me in the future, Jonin Mikawa."

P.S. The contract has already been mailed, but I don't know when the signing status will be updated. Also, I've had someone make a cover. Please go easy on the criticism when the time comes. After all, it only cost twenty yuan. And even that twenty yuan came from the money Old Faceless saved by eating pickled vegetables every night. Just whispering this: today, Old Faceless made some pickled vegetables at home, but the supermarket outside the neighborhood had sold out of even sunflower seeds and pickled vegetables. It was terrifying! For the sake of poor Old Faceless, could everyone please throw in a few recommendation votes? Also, click on the favorites and investment buttons. You definitely won't lose out!