Stage

Kakashi's scroll did not record much; everything on it was relatively crucial.

For example, Natsuhiko's uncertainty over Kakashi's situation, and his warning to Kakashi that "the Hokage's actions might be misunderstood."

Namikaze Minato was no fool. Though he was gentle and friendly toward others, that did not mean he was some naïve idiot.

He had possessed a high intelligence quotient since childhood and could see through and think through many things.

Especially after being tempered on the battlefield, his judgment and thinking abilities had improved enormously.

Kakashi had been assigned a mission the moment he arrived in the Anbu. If it was not because, as he himself believed, "Kakashi is strong enough," but rather as Natsuhiko had said—

Then it was a show of force, one aimed at Kakashi.

Coupled with the remark that his actions might be misunderstood, Namikaze Minato immediately connected it to many things.

He had only just taken office. Though he was the Hokage in name, there were many things he simply could not command.

Such as the Anbu.

The Anbu was one of the Hokage's core powers. In principle, now that the Third Hokage had stepped down, he, as the Fourth Hokage, should have had complete control over the Anbu.

Yet he had merely placed Kakashi inside, without any further intentions, and this problem had already surfaced.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it."

Namikaze Minato suddenly realized that his train of thought seemed rather dangerous, and immediately extinguished the urge to keep dwelling on it.

He glanced at the scroll in his hand, then sensed the Anbu still hidden around him, and sighed softly.

Putting away the scroll, he decided it would be better to take it back with him. Leaving it here would likely invite unnecessary trouble.

"Fukami Natsuhiko—or rather, Senju Natsuhiko. That child is rather