Hatake Kakashi was left alone in the meeting hall, shifting restlessly in his seat.
What should I do if Big Brother Masaki tells me to hide the matter involving the Daimyo from my teacher? Kakashi racked his brain, but still couldn't come up with an answer.
Masaki Uchiha walked in with Uchiha Naoya. They sat on either side of Kakashi, pinning him between them, and simply stared at him in silence.
After a while, Kakashi couldn't take it anymore. He braced himself and said, "Big Brother Masaki, if there's nothing else, I'll be going." He started to get up.
"Sit down."
Masaki Uchiha said just two words, casually.
But Kakashi, sitting right across from him, suddenly felt a terrifying pressure bearing down on him. His bones creaked faintly beneath it.
Seeing that Kakashi looked like he couldn't take much more, Masaki Uchiha withdrew the pressure he had released and suddenly burst into laughter. "I was just joking. Don't be so tense."
What could Kakashi do? He could only say helplessly, "Big Brother Masaki is right. I was too tense."
"You know why I left you here alone today, don't you?"
"I do. I'll selectively report today's intelligence to my teacher." Kakashi was quite skilled at saying one thing while meaning another.
But that wasn't what Masaki Uchiha meant. "You must report everything that happened today to the Fourth Hokage, in full detail."
"Huh?" Kakashi was completely thrown.
What was going on?
He could tell the Hokage about something like this?
What Hokage would tolerate one of the village's ninja clans cozying up to the Daimyo?
Were you trying to get the Hokage to send a large force to surround the Uchiha?
As if he had read Kakashi's thoughts, Masaki Uchiha said coolly, "The Fourth Hokage isn't like Sarutobi Hiruzen. I'm doing this for the village, too."
"Go ahead and report it without holding back. If the Fourth Hokage wants to talk with me..."
"I'll be waiting for him at the Uchiha Clan Compound."
Hearing that Masaki Uchiha was willing to talk, Kakashi finally let out a breath of relief. "You could've said that earlier. Why'd you have to scare me?" His words carried a hint of grievance.
Masaki Uchiha looked at him as if he couldn't live up to expectations, then poked him on the forehead. "Look at yourself. You're gloomy every day. How could you find any motivation if I didn't put a little pressure on you?"
"If it weren't for your father, I wouldn't bother with you."
Back when Masaki Uchiha was practicing swordsmanship, he had visited Hatake Sakumo and studied under him for a time. He had also met Hatake Kakashi, who was only a few years old then.
Hatake Sakumo had taught him the White Fang Sword Technique without holding anything back. After all, Masaki Uchiha had been a renowned prodigy in Konoha.
Because of that bond, during the Third Shinobi World War, whenever he and Kakashi were on the same battlefield, Masaki Uchiha made sure to look out for him.
Obito Uchiha had given Kakashi the Sharingan with Masaki Uchiha's approval, and it had been entrusted to Kakashi.
At the mention of his father, Hatake Kakashi's voice turned quiet. "All right. I'll go report it."
"Wait. Take this and read it." Masaki Uchiha tossed him a copy of the Lightning Release Training Notes.
"Thanks, Big Brother Masaki." Kakashi caught the notes and bowed in thanks.
Masaki Uchiha said nothing more. He lowered his head to drink his tea and waved Kakashi away.
"So that's everything from today's meeting?"
"Yes."
Minato Namikaze rested one hand on the table, tapping his index finger against it as he thought over his student's report.
Kakashi stood off to the side, silent.
After a long while, his teacher finally said, "Then set up a meeting with Masaki for tomorrow at noon."
"Yes." After receiving his orders, Kakashi turned and left.
Watching Kakashi's lonely retreating figure, Minato Namikaze couldn't help thinking of his other two students, who had already died. He sighed.
Then he looked at the papers on his desk and thought, I need to get these done quickly. Otherwise, I'll get home late again today, and Kushina will scold me.
He bent back to his work.
The next day, at noon
The Uchiha Clan Compound
After hearing the day before that the Hokage would be visiting, Masaki Uchiha had already made preparations to welcome him.
"Clan Head, the Hokage will be here shortly," one of the guards who had gone to check reported to Masaki Uchiha.
"Good. Tell everyone to look sharp. Don't let us down," Masaki Uchiha instructed.
The guards began straightening their uniforms.
Before long, Minato Namikaze arrived, accompanied by his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, who was heavily pregnant, and the Hokage Guard Platoon.
"Welcome, Fourth Hokage. I apologize for not being there to greet you. Please forgive me." Masaki Uchiha greeted him with a smile.
Hearing Masaki Uchiha's courteous welcome, Minato Namikaze smiled even more warmly. "You're too kind, Masaki. I'm the one imposing on you today."
"Oh, right. Kushina hasn't seen Lady Mikoto in a long time, so I brought her along today. I hope you don't mind."
You already brought her here. Was I supposed to say I minded?
What a social butterfly.
Masaki Uchiha thought this with some exasperation, but his smile never wavered. "Of course I don't mind. Make yourselves at home."
Minato Namikaze then said to Kushina Uzumaki, "Go find Lady Mikoto. The Hokage Guard Platoon will go with you. Once our meeting is over, I'll come find you."
Kushina Uzumaki had been staring at Masaki Uchiha from the moment they arrived, as if she were trying to find a flower on his face.
So this was the Masaki Uchiha she had heard Minato talk about so often.
He just looked a little handsome. Otherwise, he seemed perfectly ordinary.
Hearing Minato speak to her, Kushina Uzumaki snapped back to her senses and smiled sheepishly. Staring at someone for so long was a little rude.
But when she understood what Minato had said, she pouted. "All right. I'll go ask Big Sister Mikoto about taking care of a baby."
Kushina Uzumaki's curious gaze had already made Masaki Uchiha a little stiff. Hearing the word "baby" reminded him as well.
Kushina Uzumaki's due date was approaching.
In that case, he needed to speed up that plan.
Putting aside his thoughts, Masaki Uchiha said with a bright smile, "Congratulations, Fourth Hokage. You'll be a father soon, too."
Minato Namikaze caught the word "too" and suddenly looked enlightened. "Are you going to be a father as well, Masaki?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll have to come celebrate with a drink when the time comes."
"Of course. You're always welcome. Please, come inside." Masaki Uchiha gestured toward the entrance.