With Your Abilities, You Can Probably Guess

"Why do you want to live next to Minato?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, his gaze shifting between the two of them.

"The safety of the village's Jinchūriki..."

He murmured, but before he could finish, Minato suddenly took half a step forward.

"I actually think having Orochimaru live next to me would be fine."

Minato smiled, his azure eyes curving into crescents.

"After all, I'm the Hokage. I can keep a closer eye on him. Besides..."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"Didn't Lady Tsunade just say that Kushina might need Senjutsu from Ryūchi Cave at any time?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for two seconds and asked no more.

The area around them was quiet, with only the wind at the forest's edge rustling through the leaves.

"I'll vouch for Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya suddenly jumped forward and slapped his chest with a loud thump.

He dropped his usual cheeky grin, his eyes serious.

"I stake my life on the fact that this Orochimaru won't do anything to harm Konoha. If he really dares to cause trouble..."

He drew a deep breath, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"I'll give up everything and kill him with my own hands."

"That's what I think, too."

Tsunade cut in, crossing her arms and tipping her chin toward Lin Zi.

"If he does anything to harm Konoha, Jiraiya and I won't stand by and watch. We'll kill him ourselves. No problem."

Lin Zi tilted his head, his golden slit pupils sweeping over the two of them. He slowly licked his lips.

"Kill me yourselves?" He gave a soft scoff, his voice cool. "Jiraiya, Tsunade, you've got some nerve."

He turned to Minato. The amusement in his snake-like eyes faded, and his tone grew serious.

"Fourth Hokage, you probably know some of the details. Once we're in the village, I can tell you a little, but I don't want to keep explaining the same tedious thing—that I'm not a rogue ninja."

"Well, yeah."

Minato gave a dry laugh and scratched the back of his head.

"Being mistaken for a rogue ninja all the time must be rough."

He held out a hand, palm up, as if offering a welcome or seeking confirmation.

"Welcome back, Lord Orochimaru."

Lin Zi stared at his hand for two seconds before finally taking it. His pale fingertips briefly met Minato's warm palm, then quickly drew away.

"Mm." He pulled his hand back and tucked it into his sleeve. "I'm back."

Shizune stood off to the side, clutching Tonton. Only now did she dare to let out a long breath.

The little pig in her arms gave a faint grunt, as if echoing her nerves. Shizune quickly covered Tonton's mouth and muttered under her breath.

"Don't squeal... not now..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi regained his usual mild expression and waved everyone along.

"All right, let's head back to the village first. Orochimaru, come with Minato and me to the Hokage Office."

"Got it, old man."

Lin Zi answered and turned to follow. Jiraiya and Tsunade came over before he could leave, one on each side, and patted him on the shoulder.

"We're going to see Kushina first. Remember to come by later."

Jiraiya waggled his eyebrows.

"Got it."

Lin Zi brushed their hands away, his black ponytail swishing in the wind.

"You two are so long-winded. I'm back already. It's not like I'm going to run off."

He paid them no further mind and set off alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze toward Konoha's entrance.

Sunlight streamed through the streets being rebuilt, casting the three men's shadows across the stone road. Along the way, villagers stopped and stared at Lin Zi, who walked between the two Hokage.

"Is that Orochimaru?"

"He looks like him... but why is he walking alongside both Hokage?"

"That presence just now scared me half to death. I thought the village was under attack again..."

"Don't say that. Lord Hokage's right there, so he can't be an enemy... right?"

Hearing the whispers rise and fall around him, Lin Zi slowed, raised a hand to his forehead, and let a trace of helplessness flicker through his golden slit pupils.

"...This is getting ridiculous."

He muttered under his breath.

"Why does it always look like I'm here to destroy the village, wherever I go?"

Minato heard him and his shoulders shook slightly, as if he were suppressing a laugh. Hiruzen Sarutobi kept his eyes ahead, but the corners of his mouth turned down. He said nothing.

With countless fearful, puzzled, and wary eyes fixed on them, the three walked step by step into the heart of Konoha.

The three of them walked to the Hokage Office. Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door, Minato followed close behind, and they filed inside.

Kakashi stood leaning against the wall, holding a document. Beside him was an ordinary Anbu wearing an animal mask.

At the sound of the door, Kakashi instinctively looked up. His whole body tensed in an instant, and his hand went to the Kunai at his lower back.

But when he saw who had entered—the familiar man with pale skin, a black ponytail, and golden slit pupils, along with the two Hokage behind him—his tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

"Minato-sensei, what's...?" Kakashi's voice held a barely perceptible tremor.

"Oh, an old acquaintance."

Minato smiled and patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

"Kakashi, you can go."

Kakashi nodded and turned toward the door.

But he walked slowly. When he reached the doorway, he couldn't help glancing back at Lin Zi twice. The exposed fish-like eye was full of complicated emotions: shock, confusion, and a hint of awe he couldn't quite explain.

"That's enough, Kakashi. You may leave."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.

"Yes."

Kakashi finally went out, and the door closed softly behind him.

Minato walked to the wall and pressed the switch. The fluorescent light snapped on. Then he went to the window and drew the heavy curtains, shutting out the glaring sunlight entirely.

The office was suddenly filled with a dim, enclosed feeling. Only the lamp overhead cast a pale circle of light, stretching the three men's shadows long across the room.

Minato turned and leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, then finally spoke.

"Then we can start talking, Orochimaru... or should I call you something else?"

Lin Zi sighed and found a corner of the room to lean against casually, like a languid snake. He glanced at Minato, then at Hiruzen Sarutobi standing nearby, the glow of his pipe flickering.

"Just Orochimaru."

He shrugged, his golden slit pupils gleaming coldly in the dim light.

"Names don't matter."

Minato nodded, his expression turning serious. Beside him, Hiruzen Sarutobi took half a step forward, lowered his pipe, and fixed his gaze on Lin Zi.

"So, what you said earlier..."

Minato's voice was soft, as if he were confirming something.

"The thing you promised someone... what was it?"

"Oh? You remember that."

Lin Zi raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curving in an almost-smile.

He lifted a hand, his pale fingers nearly transparent in the lamplight, and lightly tapped the wall behind him.

"I can't say much, but I really did come to bring Tsunade back to the village because a blond kid asked me to."

"A blond kid?"

Minato's pupils contracted sharply. His crossed arms fell to his sides unconsciously, and he leaned forward slightly.

"So... are you from the same world as him?"

His voice carried a tremor he hadn't even realized was there.

Lin Zi watched Minato's eager expression, fell silent for two seconds, then shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but we're not from the same world. I just... accepted his request."

"But..."

He paused, his snake-like eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze scraped across Minato's face like a blade.

"With your abilities, you can probably guess who it was, right?"

Minato froze in place.

The air in the office seemed to congeal. Only the embers in Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe continued to flicker.