After a busy day, Uchiha Kō collapsed onto the sofa when he got home, looking utterly dejected.
"What is it, honey?" Tsunade heard the noise and came out of the bedroom, making a pot of tea for Uchiha Kō.
After drinking a cup of tea, Uchiha Kō's expression of utter despair finally eased, and a faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"Today, the Raikage of Kumogakure has sent an envoy to Konoha, inviting us to attend the ceremony," Uchiha Kō said leisurely.
Tsunade taken aback at first. "Well, fine, I'll go. It's not like I can't go." Tsunade a little confused. This was just going to watch the fun, so why was it so painful?
Uchiha Kō a bitter smile. "The key is that we still have to give them 500 million taels of silver. This is worse than killing me." He immediately pounded his chest and stamped his feet, feeling extremely depressed.
Tsunade understood, and her lips twitched. Well, so her husband couldn't bear to part with those 500 million taels of silver! Sure enough, the rumors circulating outside weren't without reason.
Uchiha Kō is a money-devouring beast; taking his money is like taking his life.
"And then what? Did you give it to them?" Tsunade asked.
"It's been given, Lu Ming made the decision, but I've come up with an idea, a way to make the money back: I'll pass the Hokage to Minato, and when Minato becomes Hokage, we'll send out invitations to various countries. That way, we'll not only have the 500 million, but we can also make a profit." Uchiha Kō curled his lip.
Tsunade was startled. "Lu Ming agreed?" No, that couldn't be right. Knowing Lu Ming as she did, there was no way Lu Ming would agree to such a condition.
"He refused, and he gave me a severe scolding, making me feel emo." Uchiha Kō forced out a few crocodile tears.
Tsunade's lips twitched. "You deserve it. Throughout the entire history of the Ninja World, there has never been a Kage who stepped down and made back the money because of 500 million taels of silver!"
"I know I was wrong." Uchiha Kō pouted and lowered his head even further.
Tsunade her forehead. "Alright, go take a shower and get ready for bed. Let's not do 'that' for the next few days. Get plenty of rest so you can represent Konoha in Kumogakure." She blushed slightly.
Uchiha Kō straightened his back and said, "OK! I'll go take a shower now!" With that, he transformed into a golden light and rushed into the bathroom to start taking a bath.
He hummed a song while washing, in a good mood. After he finished washing, he went to sleep with Tsunade, and the night passed uneventfully.
The next day
Uchiha Kō got up very early because an envoy from Kumogakure had come to Konoha to invite the Hokage to Kumogakure, Uchiha Kō had agreed, so he had a lot of things to take care of.
The most important thing is who to take to protect the Hokage, Hatake Sakumo of the Anbu, is already a certainty.
There's another spot to discuss today. On his way to the Hokage Building, Uchiha Owl spotted Minato Namikaze's team returning from a mission, and his eyes lit up.
"Minato, just finished the mission?" Uchiha Kō stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
Namikaze Minato was taken aback, but upon seeing Uchiha Kō, he quickly nodded, "Yes, teacher!" His subordinates, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Nohara Rin, also bowed in greeting.
Uchiha Kō smiled. "In that case, how about I assign you a mission?" He looked at Minato and the members of Team Minato.
Namikaze Minato replied, "Hokage, just give the order, Minato I will do my utmost to complete it!"
Uchiha Kō nodded. "In six days, it will be the inauguration ceremony of Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure. I want your team to become my guards and come with me to Kumogakure to attend the ceremony."
Namikaze Minato breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the details of the mission. He had thought it would be some difficult task, but it turned out to be about protecting the Hokage and attending a ceremony in Kumogakure.
With the passing of the Third Raikage and the departure of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Kumogakure, the only one left to stand up Young Lord A is about to succeed the Fourth Raikage.
Therefore, Namikaze Minato felt that the difficulty was not that great, but he did not say it outright, "Since the teacher has given the order, we will do our best to protect the teacher's personal safety."
Uchiha Kō nodded. "Not bad, not bad. As for the matter of guards, let's forget about it and discuss something else."
And so, Uchiha Kō led Namikaze Minato and his group to the Hokage Office. Nara Rokumei was dealing with government affairs when he looked up and saw Uchiha Kō leading Namikaze Minato and the others in. He immediately understood what Uchiha Kō meant.
He smiled slightly at Minato, and Minato returned the smile.
Then Nara Rokumei looked at Uchiha Kō, "Have you finished searching for the guards?"
Uchiha Kō nodded. "The search is complete. Sakumo and Minato will be the main and secondary bodyguards, respectively, and Minato's disciples will be the team members."
Nara Rokumei thought about it for a moment and agreed, which was fine. Then came the long and tedious discussion of etiquette and monetary gifts.
Obito was getting sleepy, Rin was also somewhat distracted, and Kakashi leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, resting.
Only Namikaze Minato stood upright, listening to the conversation between Nara Rokumei and Uchiha Kō.
These actions were also observed by Uchiha Kō and Nara Rokumei, and this time Lu Ming developed a good impression of Namikaze Minato.
As for the other three children, they are still young, so there's no need to worry about them.
Suddenly, their conversation ended. Nara Rokumei, seeing Namikaze Minato's earnest gaze, couldn't bear to let him look at him like that, so he asked, "Minato, what do you think about this?"
Namikaze Minato thought for a moment and then said, "Actually, I think the main purpose of Kumogakure's grand succession ceremony this time is to take advantage of the situation."
"Oh?" Uchiha Kō's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected Namikaze Minato to have such insight!
After Namikaze Minato finished explaining how to "borrow momentum," Uchiha Kō and Nara Rokumei immediately understood his meaning. However, to test his abilities, Nara Rokumei asked, "How exactly do you borrow momentum?" His eyes were filled with encouragement.
Namikaze Minato, bowed, and then straightened his back. He began, "What I am about to say are my own humble opinions. If there are any shortcomings, please point them out, Master and Vice Lord Hokage Lu Ming."
The two exchanged a glance, and finally Uchiha Kō spoke, "Minato, don't worry, there are no outsiders here."
Nara Rokumei nodded.
Namikaze Minato said seriously, "As everyone in Kumogakure knows, the Third Raikage died in battle, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is now living in seclusion in Konoha. The only Kage Level fighter who can be considered for the occasion Young Lord A."
"At this time, Iwagakure is powerful. With Ōnoki, a veteran strongman in the village, plus Kitsuchi, and Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, that makes three."
"Deidara, the disciple of the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, is said to also possess Kage Level strength and once blew up the Tsuchikage Building," Uzumaki Nagato said calmly.
Nara Rokumei nodded. Namikaze Minato's analysis was correct. Everything was just as he said. Iwagakure's strength now completely overwhelms Kumogakure.
Uchiha Kō chuckled unkindly upon hearing Deidara's name and what he had done, feeling a pang of sympathy for old man Ōnoki, who had to care about the village while also tolerating Deidara.
"King Owl?" Nara Rokumei frowned, looking at Uchiha Kō. "We're discussing something, why are you suddenly laughing!"
Uchiha Kō coughed twice, then looked at him seriously. "Sorry, I just thought of something interesting. You guys continue."
Nara Rokumei rolled his eyes, then gestured for Minato to continue.
Namikaze Minato nodded. "Therefore, Kumogakure wants to use our influence to tell all the ninja villages, or rather, to tell Iwagakure."
"Our Kumogakure is recognized by the Hokage of Konoha. If you want to attack our Kumogakure, you'd better consider Konoha's attitude."
Uchiha Kō smiled. Minato has really improved a lot over the years. He analyzed the Kumogakure's motives so quickly, and every word he said was spot on. It seems that it's time to put the matter of making him his successor on the agenda.
Nara Rokumei nodded. He looked at Namikaze Minato, who already knew that Namikaze Minato was the next Hokage chosen by Uchiha Kō. What had just happened was a kind of test.
Judging from his current understanding, Namikaze Minato was quite politically astute.
Nara Rokumei glanced at Uchiha Kō and gave him a wink, indicating that Namikaze Minato had passed through his hands.
Uchiha Kō chuckled and said, "Minato, what you said is very good and comprehensive. I think you can take over now." He patted Namikaze Minato on the shoulder.
Namikaze Minato replied, "Master is in his prime, in the very years of his life. Minato am still young, and there are many things I haven't done as well as you have. I really dare not take over."
Uchiha Kō looked at him seriously and sighed inwardly. Minato was good in every way, except that he was too obedient and too fearful.
"Minato, you need to understand one thing: there are many things that don't require you to perfectly replicate the path your predecessors took to be considered competent and competent."
"How do you know if it's right for you if you haven't even tried? Summon your courage. I hope that next time I ask you, you can resolutely say, 'I can.'" After saying that, Uchiha Kō patted him on the shoulder.
Then they continued discussing other things. Nara Rokumei was quite optimistic about Minato at this point. The young man was calm and composed, gentle, and able to see through appearances to the essence of things, which was the most valuable quality.
Finally, the three talked until sunset, which was considered a preliminary agreement on how to deal with various situations.
Namikaze Minato pushed open the front door and saw Naruto lying on the sofa with the TV on in front of him. He couldn't help but smile slightly.
He took a thin blanket from the bedroom and gently covered Naruto with it.
Then go to the front and turn off the TV.
Hearing the noise, Kushina, who was cooking in the kitchen, opened the kitchen door a crack and said, "Husband's back?"
"Yes! Kushina, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I just finished a mission, and then the teacher pulled me aside to discuss something." Namikaze Minato's signature sunny smile appeared on his face.
"Huh? Brother-in-law? What did he want to discuss with you? Why so urgently! We just got back to the village, and this is already happening! That's too much! I'm going to tell Tsunade tomorrow." Kushina pouted, dissatisfied with Uchiha Kō's exploitative behavior!
I accidentally dropped my hand!!!