Talismans Emerge

"Hidden Organization?"

"So they have finally returned...?"

Uncle stood with his hands behind his back, projecting an air of unfathomable mystery. "They are a group of demons that bring chaos to the world..."

"The little girl you encountered must have called herself 'Jack the Ripper', right?"

Seeing that Uncle knew the Hidden Organization like the back of his hand, Minato suddenly felt his back stop aching and his legs stop hurting. The fight he had just endured felt worth it, and he immediately pressed on:

"Then what exactly is their goal?"

This time, Uncle didn't answer, merely shrugging helplessly. "Regrettably, even Uncle doesn't know what their goal is. Their organization has existed for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, yet people know precious little about them. We only know that they are behind the orchestration of almost every evil event..."

"Even the statue of Shendu, which should have remained buried deep underground, was unearthed by them."

"Is that really the case..."

According to Uncle, this "Hidden Organization" was the source of all evil in the ninja world! "I must report this to the Hokage immediately..."

At dawn, Minato arrived early at the Hokage's office to relay the information about the Hidden Organization to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

"The Hidden Organization, you say..."

Even the trio of high-ranking officials, who had been born during the Warring States period, had never heard of this name and even doubted its existence.

However, they at least knew the true face of the Fog Demon now, though the fact that it was a child surprised the three of them.

But... Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was grim. He had used his prestige as Hokage to temporarily suppress the public's dissatisfaction; if the matter remained unresolved, wouldn't he become a "man who breaks his word"?

"Regarding the Fog Demon, that is, Jack... does Mr. Uncle have any solutions?"

Minato nodded and said, "Old Mr. Uncle says he can use a Qi magic spell to block the fog from encroaching on the village. As for Jack... I'm afraid we can only dispatch more Anbu to patrol at night..."

"Is that so..."

Although it wasn't a perfect solution, according to Minato's intelligence, the Fog Demon Jack usually conducted "ambush-style attacks" under the cover of thick fog. While extremely agile and physically powerful, Jack seemed to have very poor "stamina," to the point where even Minato, whose chakra reserves were relatively low, could wear the opponent down.

If the toxic fog were removed, Jack's threat would undoubtedly be greatly diminished. As long as the Anbu 467 worked a little overtime, it shouldn't be a problem.

(PS: Refers to starting work at 4:00 AM, working two shifts a day, finishing at 9:00 PM, seven days a week, with no holidays.)

On the streets of Konoha--

There was no news of anyone being dismembered this morning, so as soon as the fog dissipated, many villagers returned to the streets. Konoha became bustling and lively once again.

The commoners praised Sarutobi Hiruzen's virtues as Hokage so much that Uncle, who was busy making a "talisman positioning device," felt like he was developing calluses on his ears.

"Chixing! Close the window! The chatter outside is making it impossible for Uncle to concentrate!"

"Understood, Uncle."

Chixing had just closed the window and returned to assisting Uncle when another high-pitched shout rang out--

"One more thing! Pull the curtains shut! It's too bright outside, Uncle's old eyes can't see a thing!"

"Yes, Uncle."

No sooner had the curtains been drawn than Uncle's voice arrived right on cue, though this time it wasn't about trivial matters, but rather that he had successfully located the talisman.

"Aha! This talisman is the Ox!"

The ox horn used as a medium floated slowly, then emitted a green light, pointing in a certain direction.

"Chixing! Pack what we need, prepare to move out!"

Konoha, Training Ground Seven--

"Ahhh! Minato-sensei! You're finally back! I've been bored to death these past few days!"

Having been away on missions for days, Minato was greeted with a warm welcome by the three youngsters of his squad the moment he returned to the training ground.

The spiky-haired boy wearing goggles and orange-blue clothing, "Uchiha Obito," wore an expression of ecstatic joy. With their jonin leader away, their squad could be considered "dead in all but name."

Although Obito could spend every day playing with his goddess "Nohara Rin," the problem was... Rin kept teaching him theoretical lessons, which made his head feel like it was going to explode, much like the pain a high schooler feels when they don't understand a single word in math class.

And then there was Hatake Kakashi, who was even more of a handful. Once Minato-sensei was unavailable, he didn't even show up for the squad's daily "casual gatherings"! He wouldn't even send a shadow clone!

"Na na! Minato-sensei, let's hurry up and take a high-level mission that takes us out of the village! I'm going to burst if I stay here any longer!"

Facing Obito's burning, expectant gaze, Minato turned his attention to the other two members of the squad to gauge their intentions.

Although Rin wasn't as direct as Obito, one could tell she was bored too, just by the way she remained silent while occasionally fiddling with the ends of her short brown hair as she organized her ninja tool pouch.

As for Kakashi... he was still staring at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle with his dead fish eyes, occasionally glancing over with his peripheral vision. It couldn't be helped... after all, Kakashi was already a chunin; surely he must be itching for a fight after having no missions to do?

With the squad's wishes aligned and their opinions unified, it would be impolite for him, as their teacher, to refuse. He would take a low-risk mission that allowed them to leave the village! Consider it a way to relax.

"Alright, since you all want to get some fresh air outside the village, then as you wish. I'll go accept a mission. You all prepare, and meet here before twelve noon."

"Whoo-hoo! Long live Minato-sensei!"

As soon as Minato finished speaking, Obito jumped up in excitement. He could finally leave the village! This time, he would definitely awaken his Sharingan! Then he would beat the idiot Kakashi to a pulp, make Rin look at him with admiration, and finally become Hokage to reach the pinnacle of his life!

Watching Obito's eyes turn into comical shapes, his mouth wide open, and his tongue lolling out like a toad's in a "Kogoro Mouri" style expression, even Minato didn't know how to interrupt. It wasn't until Rin gave Obito a gentle nudge that he was pulled from his unrealistic fantasies back to reality--

"Obito, shall we go restock our ninja tools?"

Rin's gentle smile was like an angel's in Obito's eyes. On the way to the ninja tool shop, he kept grinning foolishly, his mind already filled with visions of his married life with Rin.

Kakashi, on the other hand, felt there was no need to prepare at all... Minato-sensei would at most accept a C-rank mission for their squad, like chopping up bandits or killing wild beasts; he wouldn't even need to draw his White Fang Short Blade...

After the squad members dispersed, only Minato, the little blond, remained. "I've only just returned to the village after so many days, and now I have to head out on another mission... I hope Kushina won't be angry..."

As the "number one henpecked husband in the ninja world," Minato had to report to Kushina every time he left the village for a mission. Part of it was because Kushina, as a jinchuriki, needed emotional stability, but mostly it was because he didn't want her to worry. (Minato: Not henpecked, just respectful of his wife.)