"Um, Kotetsu Hagane, right? You just said there's no record of me leaving the village, right?" Uchiha Gen suddenly stepped forward and asked.
"Uh? Yes, that's right. There isn't!" To be safe, Kotetsu Hagane even checked Konoha's travel records for the period again. Sure enough, there was no signature from Uchiha Gen!
"No record of me leaving means what? It means I never went out! I never left, so what gives you the right to keep me out?" Uchiha Gen laid out his logic.
"Huh? Is that how it works? Now that you mention it, it does sound reasonable!" Kotetsu Hagane had never encountered this kind of reasoning before, and for a moment he didn't know how to argue back.
"But I clearly saw you come back from outside the village. That means you left without permission, and you even brought a Sunagakure elite jonin with you. Taken further, that means you're colluding with the enemy!" Kotetsu Hagane's straightforward partner, Kotetsu Hagane, patiently explained.
"Come on, you must've been on watch too long and mistaken someone else for me. I've been right there in the Uchiha Clan Compound the whole time. I've never gone out. If you don't believe me, you can ask any Uchiha!" Uchiha Gen shamelessly tried to talk his way out of it.
"Then what about her? How do you explain that?" Kotetsu Hagane pointed at Pakura beside him. You really think we're blind? That's a bit insulting!
"Her? Didn't she accompany the Fourth Hokage on a mission to Sunagakure? We had a chance encounter, and two lonely souls fell in love at first sight—or maybe it was love at first sight because she was beautiful! The rest is private. I never expected Pakura to be willing to turn her back on Sunagakure and join Konoha for our love, but I'm really touched. Well, that's the whole story. Simple and boring! If you don't believe me, I can make up another one!" Uchiha Gen said shamelessly.
Pakura rolled her eyes at that.
The Fourth Hokage had arrived!
"Fourth Hokage!" Kotetsu Hagane and Kotetsu Hagane hurried over to greet him.
"Gen, what's going on?" Namikaze Minato looked completely baffled. His subordinates had suddenly reported that Uchiha Gen had left the village without permission and brought Pakura of Sunagakure back with him! Uchiha Gen had certainly looked at Pakura strangely during their mission to Sunagakure, but hadn't he moved a little too fast? It had taken Minato years of pining to win Kushina over, while Uchiha Gen had managed it in just a few days?
And he'd brought her straight back to Konoha? What was going on with Pakura? Was she so lovestruck that she'd betray her village for love? Based on what Minato knew of her, she didn't seem like the type.
"Fourth Hokage, you're just in time. You were there on our last mission to Sunagakure, so you know Pakura and I are in love with each other. Kushina said she'd introduce me to someone, but nothing ever came of it. Now that a girlfriend has finally shown up on my doorstep, you can't play the bad guy and get in our way! After all, I was the one who saved Kushina back then!" Uchiha Gen dredged up an old favor and used it to demand something in return.
"Uh, but Pakura is an elite jonin from Sunagakure! It's a little suspicious for her to join Konoha as a missing-nin, and it'll be hard to explain to Sunagakure, too. Also, I've been meaning to ask—what's going on with your appearance?" Namikaze Minato looked at Uchiha Gen's ghostly, translucent form and felt a headache coming on.
"Now that you mention it, I have something to say. You know I studied the Spirit Transformation Technique, right? This is the result. I'm in a spiritual state right now, but my body is still in the Uchiha Clan Compound! Does that count as leaving the village without permission? Which law in Konoha says a soul can't leave?" Uchiha Gen protested indignantly. As he spoke, he turned to look at the two gate guards, Kotetsu Hagane and Kotetsu Hagane.
"Uh, the Spirit Transformation Technique? There isn't a rule about that yet. I'll add one later. We'll let it go this time!" After hearing Uchiha Gen's explanation, Namikaze Minato waved a hand, deciding to make a small matter of it.
"What do you mean, you'll add one later? I'm the only person in Konoha who can use the Spirit Transformation Technique. You're clearly targeting me!" Though he said it, Uchiha Gen's expression remained perfectly calm. As if. Now that I know what to expect, next time I'll just avoid the main gate! If Pakura hadn't needed to register and get proof of her identity, I wouldn't have been caught this time.
"All right, everything we do is for Konoha. It's not about targeting anyone; we still need proper rules. Who knows, someone else might learn the Spirit Transformation Technique someday. As for Pakura, we can register her. We'll put her on your household registry. After all, she'll take the Uchiha name when you get married, so you might as well do it now. We can keep it under wraps for as long as possible. But if Sunagakure finds out, you'll deal with any fallout yourself!" Namikaze Minato gave in. There was no guarantee he could beat Uchiha Gen, and if Gen really wanted to do something against Konoha, Minato might not be able to stop him anyway.
Besides, after getting to know Uchiha Gen for a while, Minato knew he wasn't that kind of person. So why not take the chance to do him a favor?
Well, it wasn't exactly a favor. Minato still owed him for saving Kushina, after all. This should settle things between them.
Though Kakashi had mentioned that Uchiha Gen was dating Kurenai Yuhi. Why had he brought Pakura back now? Could it be that he and Kurenai Yuhi had broken up? It had only been a little while! Were young people really that quick?
What was happening to Konoha? The older generation was getting up to all sorts of mischief, and the younger generation was a mess. Minato was the only one faithfully keeping to Kushina!
"Mm, that's the best way to handle it. Thank you, Fourth Hokage!" Uchiha Gen finished speaking and led Pakura off to register.
Hmph. When he needs something, it's 'Fourth Hokage.' Otherwise, he doesn't even bother to say hello! Namikaze Minato thought awkwardly, baring his teeth in a strained grin.
"So that's Namikaze Minato. He doesn't look all that impressive. I should spar with him sometime!" Pakura watched Minato walk away, then turned to Uchiha Gen and made her suggestion. After all, they were both renowned strong shinobi of the same era. Namikaze Minato had become famous a few years before Pakura, thanks to his age.
But Pakura had also risen to prominence during the Third Great Ninja War, and she didn't think a gap of just a few years could make much difference. Rasa was a whole decade older than her, and he was still so weak!
"Uh, don't even think about it. That guy is famous for his speed. Until you can counter it, don't even consider challenging him! There aren't many people in the Ninja World today who can fight him head-on," Uchiha Gen hurriedly warned her. The Flying Thunder God Technique was just too troublesome. He couldn't think of any way Pakura could counter it. Her Scorch Release techniques were incredibly powerful in a direct clash, but they'd be useless against someone like Minato, who refused to fight head-on.
"Hmph, is he really that strong? How does he compare to you?" In Pakura's mind, Uchiha Gen was the strongest ninja she'd ever met in her life. She sounded a little unconvinced.
Before you continue