Three-Man Squad, Maruboshi Kosuke

Little Shisui showed a pure smile.

"I don't know."

"I only know that no matter what decision big brother makes, I will stand by your side!"

Heh...

"As always, you have no opinion of your own."

"Hehe, thinking is too tiring. Grandma always told me to just listen to big brother about everything!"

"Continue practicing water walking. If you can't walk proficiently within three days, you're not allowed to go out after that."

"Sigh~"

Shisui put on a long face, looking back step by step, and reluctantly walked towards the pool.

He thought to himself.

Itachi is so cute, I want to go play with him...

In the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding his pipe, stood before Namikaze Minato and Kushina Uzumaki.

He glanced down at a report, then looked up.

"You're saying... you want to go on a mission outside the village with Minato?"

Namikaze Minato looked embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.

Kushina forced herself to stand tall and said, "What! You can't?!"

"Old man, I'm telling you, I can control the Nine-Tails very well now!"

"...Don't say it so loudly, Kushina."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and said with a wry smile, "How about this... I'll allow you to move freely within the village?"

"No!"

She cast a pleading look towards Namikaze Minato.

Under normal circumstances, Namikaze Minato would not disobey the Hokage's orders.

However...

An angry Kushina was even more terrifying.

Namikaze Minato pretended not to understand the meaning in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes and patted his chest, saying, "Hokage-sama, I've been diligently practicing Sealing Jutsu and can guarantee Kushina's safety!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply.

He looked at the two of them sternly.

"Have you ever considered that Kushina is the village's last line of defense? It's precisely because of her existence that other villages dare not directly attack Konoha."

"We can choose not to use the Nine-Tails' power, but the village cannot be without the Nine-Tails."

The two were silent for a moment, then Kushina had a flash of inspiration.

"That's not right!"

"Other villages are clearly afraid of you, old man, which is why they don't dare to invade Konoha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen almost couldn't suppress a smile.

"Ahem... what you say does have some truth to it, but..."

"There's no 'but'! You're old, old man, so stay in the village and guard it. I'm going on missions!"

"I'm going to make a name for myself!"

"I'm going to be the first female Hokage of this village!"

Hoo...

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke, looking deeply at Kushina.

He recalled the girl who had just arrived in Konoha and loudly declared her dream in class.

What he hoped for was for everyone in the village to aim for Hokage and unite.

Even...

Even if Uchiha Kagami took action to become Hokage, to win people over, he could accept it.

But his attitude towards the villagers was clearly contemptuous of the vast majority of people outside of the Uchiha.

We're the ones discriminating against the Uchiha, how can the Uchiha discriminate against us?!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's handling of the Uchiha issue was actually quite similar to Fugaku's.

They tended to lean towards whichever side the general tide favored.

When Minato Namikaze rose to power in the original timeline, relations with the Uchiha eased, and he was content with that.

After the Fourth Hokage's death, Danzō secretly targeted the Uchiha, and he went with the flow.

These days, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been pondering one question.

If Kagami Uchiha were to grow up, and he desired not just the Hokage position, but for the Uchiha Clan to hold a status above Konoha, what should be done?

Even now, he made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel incredibly troublesome, unable to act.

Once he truly matured, who could control him?

Perhaps...

He looked at the two people before him.

"I hope you two can form a bond with Kagami..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made a decision that Shimura Danzō and the others would absolutely not agree to if they were present.

He took a deep breath.

"Once Kagami has recovered from his injuries, the three of you will form a team to respond to any unexpected incidents on various battlefields."

"I will also arrange for an old friend to accompany you. This is my bottom line."

This was the final test for Kushina, for Kagami...

"I truly hope... you won't disappoint me."

"Yoho! Old man! It's settled then!"

Kushina cheered and pulled Minato away. "Come on! Let's go make sure that brat Kagami recovers quickly and doesn't do anything strange to extend his leave."

"Hokage-sama, we'll take our leave then." Minato offered a sheepish smile and apology, being dragged away like an accessory.

Night fell.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his work and arrived at a secluded part of the Konoha forest.

By a mountain spring, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the gurgling water and waited quietly.

Soon, a thin, tall ninja, unremarkable in appearance, emerged from the forest and knelt on the ground.

"Third Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the man with a hint of pity, remaining silent for a while before speaking.

"I have a mission for you. I believe only you can accomplish it."

"No matter how dangerous the mission, I will not refuse!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly. "Don't think so little of your own life, Kosuke."

"Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Kagami Uchiha. I've agreed to form a three-person team for them."

"Minato and Kagami are Jiraiya's disciples, and Kushina is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

The identity of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was a closely guarded secret in Konoha, yet the Third Hokage spoke of it to this man as if discussing everyday matters.

Maruboshi Kosuke. He was a man recognized by both the Second and Third Hokage, possessing a strong Will of Fire and a desire to dedicate everything to Konoha.

In his youth, Kosuke had been reckless during a mission, impulsively issuing orders that led to the deaths of two comrades.

Because of this, he swore to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, that he would only ever serve as a Genin.

Despite possessing strength far exceeding that of a typical Jonin, he remained an unknown Genin to this day.

"I want you to join this team and guide them well... especially that child named Kagami Uchiha."

Kosuke listened intently. When Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, he spoke, "He's Kagami-senpai's grandson, right? I've heard rumors about him recently."

"He's a remarkable child."

"Yes... he truly is remarkable." Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed out at the lights of Konoha's homes.

"Kosuke, that child has a rift with the village. I hope you can act as a bridge to connect him with the village."

"If he can become like Kagami... then after I die, I can meet the First and Second Hokage with peace of mind."

"I will do my best, Third Hokage-sama."