Sarutobi Hiruzen's Covetous Return

Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that he was probably getting old and had caught a slight cold, but he could tough it out. However, he still held a thermos in his hand to keep warm, and it was filled with ginger tea.

The old man withdrew the <Clairvoyance Jutsu>, then leaned back in his chair, lost in thought... With the Chakra flow gone, Roy's clear and sharp eyes vanished from the Crystal Ball on the corner of the table.

"Have you seen enough?" The Sun-Earring Boy's words still echoed in my ears.

"I can't get enough of it..." was Sarutobi Hiruzen's answer to the Sun-Earring Boy. Young people don't understand the mindset of the elderly. As the Kage of a village, responsible for countless Ninja... is there anything more gratifying than seeing the village's younger generation of talented individuals emerge?

Unfortunately... he's a troublemaker... a troublemaker from the Uchiha.

The old man shook his head, opened the drawer, and took out the scroll.

The scroll was branded with Roy's name and contained all the information related to him. Unfolding it, scrolling to the end, he picked up a pen and added a sentence...

[The next White Fang of the Leaf... [Lightning Release] isn't weak...]

In Sarutobi Hiruzen threw his pen down, thinking of his good-for-nothing son... Compared to Fugaku, he, as the father, felt an indescribable sense of defeat. "Knock... knock... knock..." Just then, there was a knock on the door... interrupting Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts.

The old man calmly put the scroll into the drawer, and said sternly, "Come in."

"Creak~" The door to the Hokage's office was pushed open, and two figures filed in, one blond and one black, one young and cheerful, the other serious and rigid, both wearing green Jonin vests. They bowed and greeted him, "Hokage- sama."

"You've arrived... Minato... Fugaku..." Sarutobi Hiruzen put on a smile and waved for the two to sit down.

A piece of intelligence was handed to him across the desk.

As the three wars raged on and intensified, the situation on the front lines became increasingly tense, and the need for support grew ever stronger.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out a pipe, lit it, and took a puff. "Jiraiya sent a message," he said, " from Kumogakure..."

Iwagakure has discovered a large force. The day before yesterday, I sent Orochimaru with a force north to deal with Iwagakure.

"Only Kumogakure Remains,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked intently at Namikaze Minato, "Minato, I'm entrusting him to you."

Namikaze Minato, his blond hair fluttering in the wind, carefully examined the intelligence in his hand, paying particular attention to the two individuals. He smiled slightly and said, "Leave it to me."

A and Killer B should be that AB Duo that wreaked havoc on the battlefield... Against Kumogakure, speed... is the first element, and coincidentally... he's fast!

There's nothing wrong with this allocation.

Namikaze Minato carefully tucked the intelligence into his pocket. He knew he'd have to explain things to Kushina again. Fortunately... looking at Uchiha Fugaku beside him, who was frowning and silent, with Mikoto by Kushina's side, often talking to her and going shopping, it seemed... there was nothing to worry about. But...

Fugaku looks... not too happy?

Namikaze Minato noticed Fugaku's unusual behavior but remained silent.

Just as Namikaze Minato had suspected, Uchiha Fugaku was very unhappy, even somewhat angry, simply because he saw his own son... Jin's name on the Uchiha Clan's list of supporters on the front lines!

Not only that, but this list also excludes him... What does that mean?

Uchiha Fugaku suppressed his anger, frowned at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and said, "Hokage -sama, King is still young; he hasn't graduated yet."

Is he small? He could fight Sakumo to a standstill; should we call him "small"?

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe, recalling the Swordsmanship and lightning he had just witnessed. He pushed back his chair, stood up, and looked at Uchiha Fugaku with a deep gaze, saying, "Fugaku,"

I know what you're thinking.

"I can't explain anything to you right now either,"

But, all you need to know is...

"As long as I remain in power, no one can harm Jin, regardless of whether he is Uchiha or not."

Fugaku:

Unmoved, Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring and said, "Let him follow Minato. With Minato protecting him, you should feel at ease."

"I can take care of him myself," Fugaku said in a deep voice.

"The Police Force can't do without you."

3

Fugaku:

"Alright," Sarutobi Hiruzen said firmly, "This is an order, not a discussion."

"Tell Jin to report to Minato on time tomorrow. After the adjustment period, head north as soon as possible."

"Yes..

"Squeak~"

The door to the Hokage's office slammed shut, mirroring Uchiha Fugaku's own feelings of utter isolation.

Namikaze Minato stood silently by his side, offering comforting words. "Brother Fugaku, don't worry, I'm here. I'll definitely protect Jin."

Yeah?

You're still a big kid yourself!

Uchiha Fugaku stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at the blond youth, and said, "Minato, you've never had a son, so you don't understand."

"Once you have a son, you'll never be at ease..."

"Tap... tap..." Fugaku resumed his steps, shook his head at Namikaze Minato, and turned to leave.

Namikaze Minato paused for a moment, standing there silently watching him leave. The desolate figure of his "father" left him speechless, unsure of what to say.

Then, the young man suddenly remembered that Kushina wanted to eat ramen. Namikaze Minato and rushed towards Ichiraku Ramen.

Time always slips away quietly amidst the hustle and bustle.

I walked along the muddy path, which wasn't particularly wide, leading from the Southern Forest to the Uchiha Clan's residence.

Because of the extra punishment and training, Shisui and Itachi were already exhausted and were being dragged along by Roy, one in each hand, towards home.

At that time, night fell and the sun set in the west.

The neon lights of the timber industry business district are flashing, and the lights are already on.

On the far right rock face is the Hokage Rock, where the heads of the First, Second, and Third Hokage Hokage are enshrined.

Roy led the two little ones through the streets. Perhaps seeing the crowds, Shisui, feeling uncomfortable being held like a chick by Roy, Shisui to her feet and reluctantly followed Roy, inching her way towards Ichiraku Ramen...

"Nii-san, let me get down too." Itachi, who was perched on Roy's back, shifted his position when he saw Shisui get down, but...

Before he could even struggle with his short legs, Roy slapped him again, lifted his bottom, and put him on his back to lie down.

"He's like a donkey, hardy and resilient. You don't need to compare yourself to him," Roy said.

Shisui:

Holding Roy's hand, she pouted in dissatisfaction. He trained just as hard... It's all because his older brother is biased!

Seeing this, Itachi gave a soft "hmm," and the child buried his face in Roy's warm back. After a while, he murmured, "Brother, can I be as strong as you?"

Shisui looked up, the lingering sword and lightning light in her small eyes seemingly... hadn't faded yet.

He was staring at Roy expectantly when suddenly Roy flicked him on the forehead. "Watch where you're going!"

"Oh~" A huge puddle was right in front of her. Shisui narrowly avoided it, then looked at Roy and saw him smile slightly, saying, "Is that impressive?"

Isn't that impressive?

"That's Uncle White Fang Teeth!" Shisui was speechless.

"So what?"

"So..." Shisui stammered, Sun-Earring Boy head spinning, before Roy grabbed him in his hand and gave him a good squeeze... and he came to his senses.

His Nii-san, who had somehow gotten ahead of him, was carrying Itachi on his back and steadily walking towards Ichiraku Ramen.

"Wait for me, Nii-san..."

"You still haven't answered Itachi's question, hey~"

"Gurgle..." My stomach was growling loudly... What "amazing"... what "White Fang"... were instantly forgotten.

Shisui shouted as she hurried after him, lifted the curtain, and plopped down next to Roy. She turned her head and was immediately startled, suddenly seeing...

Obito was beaten into Pig-Head's Obito again.

"Obito."

"Hehe, it's Shisui..."

Uchiha Obito seemed to be in a very good mood today. He generously pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, slapped it on the bar, and told the owner that all the expenses for the day were on him.

Roy sat next to the Sun-Earring Boy, and even without [the circle], he could clearly hear his thoughts.

"You won?"

"No,"

Obito scratched the back of his head and gave Roy an embarrassed smile, "But I also gave him a good beating!"

Finally, he could finally hold his head high... Roy listened to Obito's thoughts, his mind flashing back to... him activating his Sharingan, throwing a powerful punch that saw through Kakashi's "Substitution Jutsu," landing a solid blow on Kakashi's handsome face, and incidentally turning him into Pig-Head's head. He nodded in approval and said to Itachi, "Since your brother Obito said so, eat a few more bowls, eat as much as you want."

Obito:".

Her smile vanished abruptly, and she said cautiously, "Actually... you don't need to eat so much, just... be full."

Shisui: "6

Itachi:

Qi Qi looked over, Obito blushed, closing his eyes and shouting, "Oh, eat as much as you want, as much as you like!"

"Oh my god~"

The sounds of slurping noodles filled the air at Ichiraku Ramen.

Waiting for the moon to climb above the horizon, the last ray of light disappearing into darkness...

Obito, rubbing his now-empty wallet, watched Roy leave with Shisui and Itachi, his initial excitement from beating up Kakashi completely vanishing...

"Obito, are you very poor?" Itachi asked innocently on the way home.

"It should be," Shisui said confidently.

Roy held one in each hand, remembering that the other had only recently been promoted Chunin, and that it was only by taking advantage of the war to fill the gap in the generational gap. They hadn't actually carried out many high-level missions, so it was understandable that they were a bit poor.

The Sun-Earring Boy earnestly said to Shisui and Itachi, "So, remember this: being poor is nothing, but never act like a big shot."

Hey~ I haven't gone far! Obito was about to turn around and leave when he heard this, and his face turned as black as ink.

"Hehehe..." Roy Youyou a long laugh, ignoring him, and escorted Shisui home, then went home himself.

The lights were already on at home. Beside the familiar tatami mat, Uchiha Fugaku had returned from his shift, had already finished his dinner cross-legged, and was waiting for him.

"Itachi, go take a bath first." Mikoto grabbed a change of clothes and took Itachi downstairs.

The Sun-Earring Boy glanced at Roy, then at Fugaku, nodded without a word, and in an instant...

In the large living room, only the father and son remained, sitting quietly facing each other.

"The Third Hokage has specifically requested your presence on the battlefield."

"Oh~"

I suspect he has ulterior motives.

"Oh~"

"Don't you have any ideas?" Fugaku frowned at Roy. "If you just tell me you don't want to go, I'll try my best to prevent you from going."

How do we win them over?

"Or are you going to disobey the Hokage's orders?" Roy recalled the few glances he exchanged with Sarutobi Hiruzen across the Crystal Ball, and said expressionlessly, "The situation is beyond my control. He wants me to go, so I'll go. Besides..."

The Sun-Earring Boy grasped the teacup, separating a wisp of "thought" as "water" and another wisp as "wind," which intertwined and condensed into [Ice Release], instantly cooling the scalding tea. He then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, leaving Fugaku alone to take a bath.

"And let my father know that even if he doesn't tell me to go, I will still go, because..."

The Sun-Earring Boy silently added in his mind, "I can't suppress the urge to kill!"

Only on the battlefield can "Life Energy" be harvested, only on the battlefield can "Life Energy" be harvested... This is Roy's secret, something that a cunning old fox like Sarutobi Hiruzen would never have imagined!

"Crack!" The chilled teacup shattered upon contact with the warm tabletop.

Fugaku paused, staring silently at the "ice," then looked up and gazed deeply into the shower room, letting out Youyou sigh... The child is growing up, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to understand. If he wants to go, then let him go.

A wave of fatigue washed over me, followed by a fragrant breeze...

Uchiha Mikoto arrived uninvited, and sat on Fugaku's lap. Her fair, slender arms, as if equipped with smart sensors, automatically wrapped around Fugaku's neck. Her eyes were alluring as she said, "While the child is taking a bath, let's also..."

Fugaku:...

Forcing a smile, she tentatively asked, "How about next time?"

The person was then tackled to the ground...

"Mmm... Ugh..." Night deepened, the moon rose above the willow treetops.

This is the best time for a good night's sleep.

After washing away his fatigue, Roy lay down in his room and gently tucked Itachi in. The child had always loved to cling to him since he was little. Except for the two years after he was born and breastfed, when he was with Mikoto, he had spent most of his time in Roy's arms.

A soft, hoarse snoring sound began...

Itachi rolled over, draping his legs over Roy like an octopus. His precocious face, illuminated by the moonlight, revealed a hint of childishness and naivety.

"Nii-san..." the Sun-Earring Boy stammered, a glistening line of tears welling up at the corner of his mouth.

Roy let him hold him, turning his head to look out the window. The bright moon hung high, just like the moon in the Hunter world, seemingly no different. But... Roy always knew that this moon was not that moon. The moon in the Hokage world was truly inhabited by extraterrestrials, at least...

The Otsutsuki Clan, descended from Otsutsuki Hamura, and... the Gedo Mazo are still on it.

Byakugan... Tenseigan... Kaguya... Chibaku Tensei...

Words burst forth and vanished, becoming an alluring night that gradually lulls people to sleep.

A moment later, Roy gently closed his eyes and fell into Slumber.

The familiar feeling of falling followed one after another. When he came to his senses, he had left the Hokage world and returned to his own Sea of Cognition.