For Konoha's Sake, We Can't Delay Any Longer!

However, he was stopped by the head of the teaching department as soon as he reached the door.

"Okabe- sensei, what are you doing again?" Uchiha Shingen looked at his former homeroom teacher with a helpless expression.

"This is the Hokage's order." The middle-aged headmaster named Okabe was even more helpless. "Don't worry about Yosuke. He's just like you were back then, all fighting and no arguing. I know that. From now on, I'll personally oversee his studies and make sure he completes his studies smoothly."

These words made Uchiha Shingen blush.

It used to be very inconvenient for a homeroom teacher to become the dean of students' affairs; it was too difficult to establish a new public image.

Therefore, prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain, especially when it comes to acquaintances, such as the head of the teaching department.

"Mr. Okabe, I've explained this to you many times before. I acted in self-defense and I never cause trouble."

Okabe smiled without saying a word.

You don't start trouble, but you also don't instigate it. When has a fight ever been without you?

"Shingen, the Lord Hokage specifically instructed that you go directly to him after you arrive," Okabe said. "Oh, and this young lady too. The Lord Hokage also knows about this matter, so it's a good opportunity to learn more about her as well."

Uchiha Shingen glanced at Kaguya Otsutsuki.

"The leader of this city? I'd like to meet him too." Kaguya Otsutsuki nodded. "Baldy, lead the way."

Okabe couldn't help but touch his sparsely haired head.

This girl is way too blunt!

However, like everyone else, when Okabe began to seriously examine Kaguya Otsutsuki, he was immediately overwhelmed by her aura.

"Okay, please follow me," he said obediently.

Uchiha Shingen looked at his former homeroom teacher with a hint of sympathy.

Come to think of it, this homeroom teacher didn't have this much hair back then.

Being a responsible teacher is indeed not easy.

The two left the classroom and, guided by Okabe, headed in a different direction than the other parents, entering the Ninja Academy's office area.

Okabe walked to a room and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

That voice belongs to Namikaze Minato.

Okabe opened the door, but Namikaze Minato wasn't the only one in the room.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was sitting inside, perfectly fine.

His expression was quite serious.

Just as Okabe was about to say something, he suddenly felt a tightness in his body.

However, Kaguya Otsutsuki unleashed a Chakra, which transformed into a large hand that grasped him and pulled him aside.

That was truly showing mercy.

Otherwise, with Okabe's small frame, a little effort from him would be enough to Okabe.

Pulling the "obstacle of baldness" aside, Kaguya Otsutsuki appeared before the two Hokage, her Byakugan scanning them from head to toe.

Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen also immediately focused their attention on her.

"Shingen, is this your Hokage?" Kaguya Otsutsuki's gaze lingered less on Sarutobi Hiruzen; she observed Namikaze Minato more closely.

This person also bears traces of Senjutsu.

Although he was a step too late, Uchiha Shingen had already flashed into the room, taking a single step between Kaguya Otsutsuki and Namikaze Minato.

"Lord Hokage, you wanted to see me?"

"Shingen, you've arrived." Namikaze Minato withdrew his gaze, seemingly oblivious to Kaguya Otsutsuki's earlier actions. He looked intently at Uchiha Shingen. "Indeed, something has come up. Do you remember the retirement plan you proposed? I discussed it with the First, Second, and Third, and I feel it's time for me to retire."

Chapter Thirty-Six: For the sake of Leaf Village, we can't delay any longer!

Namikaze Minato is sitting here so seriously saying he's going to retire.

Uchiha Shingen felt that he had understood.

Namikaze Minato, a man barely over forty, is finally going to shamelessly slack off.

Are the goji berries not red enough, or is the washboard at home not hard enough?

"Lord Hokage, you've become complacent," Uchiha Shingen said expressionlessly. "Have you forgotten that roar you gave at your inauguration ceremony back then?"

Namikaze Minato Namikaze's serious expression immediately crumbled.

That was an inaugural speech, how can you call it just yelling? That's so unserious.

Shingen is really mischievous.

"Shingen, ah~~" Namikaze Minato uttered in his familiar accent, "My dream has come true~~"

"Lord Hokage, did you not soak enough goji berries?" Uchiha Shingen's eyes were sharp. "Dreams will never come true, that's why they're called dreams, isn't it?"

In Leaf Village's history, there has never been Hokage who voluntarily retired. You should be ashamed!

You only fought in one Ninja World War during your time as Hokage, how could you possibly retire without fighting through three rounds?

Even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that he doesn't work the full three-wheeled vehicle, he should at least work until he's sixty, right?

"No, no, no, my dream has indeed come true..." Namikaze Minato didn't intend to give Uchiha Shingen a chance to show off. "After all, this is my dream. Whether it has come true or not, I know best. So now we'll have to see what the next generation does."

"Naruto and the others aren't married yet, and the next generation isn't ready," Uchiha Shingen said. "The children haven't even grown up yet. It's the Hokage's responsibility to protect them and help them grow."

"Well said!" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked pleased. "Shingen, now that you say that, this old man is relieved."

Get away from me!

Go look at your crystal ball!

Uchiha Shingen was completely unmoved.

This monkey has long since let loose and loves to watch the drama unfold.

"Even if you wanted to retire, Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama wouldn't agree," Uchiha Shingen said, pointing at Namikaze Minato. "Since taking office, you've worked diligently and responsibly, putting all your energy into your work. You've eaten more goji berries than the entire Hokage Building combined. You've finally achieved such remarkable results; now is the time to continue your efforts. How can you be so disheartened as to retire?"

Namikaze Minato felt this was a veiled attack on him, but he had no evidence.

"I will not allow anyone to covet your position. Just tell me who it is, and I'll kill them right now! As the head of the ANBU, eliminating the Hokage's enemy is my duty! I guarantee his death will be perfectly natural, and no one else will know."

Namikaze Minato glanced to the side.

There are four people in this room alone, so where did this third person come from?

"No, no, no, no one is against me. I really should retire. I've fully discussed this matter with the First, Second, and Lord Third," Namikaze Minato pleaded. "Besides, I've realized you're not suited for the ANBU. This job is too much of a waste of your talents."

"Lord Hokage!" Uchiha Shingen's voice suddenly rose, "If that's what you mean, then I have to argue with you. It's all for the village, so what's this about being suitable or unsuitable? My insignificant abilities are nothing at all. Don't say anything more, I'll definitely keep this position as the head of the ANBU until you retire!"

Now that the ANBU has finally gotten on the right track, his workload as the head of the ANBU has been greatly reduced.

Picking peaches for him at this time? He's dreaming!

He will remain steadfast in his post, unwavering, and unswayed by external temptations; no one can sway him.

"Lord Hokage, I am not power-hungry. Uchiha Madara left the village, and I now have substantial evidence that he, Nagato of Rain Village, and Leaf Village, the escaped Orochimaru from Konoha, are cooperating with him. If you leave now, it will have a significant impact!"

"Really?" Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't sit still any longer.

Nagato Rain Village the one who created the darkness with Danzo, as was Orochimaru, while Uchiha Madara was a remnant of the previous era, possessing the power to overthrow Leaf Village on his own.

At this critical moment, Leaf Village must stabilize; it cannot afford to delay any longer.

"Minato, we can't delay any longer!" The old man's lung capacity seemed to have increased considerably. "If we drag this out any longer, it will be bad for the village."

Namikaze Minato nodded solemnly.

"As soon as I step down, I will immediately take charge of this matter!" he said firmly.

There was even a hint of excitement.

He's Yellow Flash guy who goes "BIU BIU" all the time!

Since becoming Hokage, he's been constantly grabbing goji berries.

He served as Hokage over a decade, and the only time he ever left the village was during the last war.

Is this acceptable?

"Lord Hokage," Uchiha Shingen interrupted his reverie, "I've been in charge of this work all along. Changing people midway would be very troublesome. As you know, Uchiha Madara was a ninja born and raised in the Warring States period. People of his generation worked at a very fast pace."

"Don't worry, Shingen, I'll be quick too." Namikaze Minato said confidently. "Shingen, don't underestimate me. I was pretty good at intelligence gathering back in the day."

That's the truth.

"Alright, Lord Hokage, if you insist on doing it this way, I will reserve my opinion." Uchiha Shingen had already decided who he would visit tonight.

Namikaze Minato has many supporters.

They probably won't help him work overtime.

But they certainly can't accept Namikaze Minato retiring so early.

At the same time, as the head of the ANBU, he also has the right to raise objections.

After finishing their business, he stepped back, allowing Kaguya Otsutsuki and Namikaze Minato to face each other again.

"Lord Hokage, it's a pleasure to have you and the Third here. Let me introduce you. This is Kaguya, a descendant of the ancient Ōtsutsuki Clan. In terms of blood relations, the Hyuga Clan all originate from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, so in terms of seniority, Kaguya is of a very high generation."

"Ōtsutsuki Clan..." As a legendary Shinobi Hero, Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as "Professor," was one of the most knowledgeable and insightful people in the Ninja World. He had only seen the name Ōtsutsuki Clan in some ancient mythological texts, but they were all vague and he didn't know what they did.

But he truly didn't know that the Hyuga Clan originated from this lineage.

However, based on his understanding of Uchiha Shingen would never stoop to such a thing as using an obscure surname from ancient texts to claim ancestry.

People from the Uchiha Clan would never do such a thing.

"Does the Hyuga Clan agree with this statement?" Sarutobi Hiruzen felt once again that if you live long enough, you really can encounter anything.

"I have already met with the clan head of Hiashi, and judging from his reaction, I think he approves," said Uchiha Shingen.

Honestly, the only clan in Leaf Village that still has clear records of the Ōtsutsuki Clan is the Hyuga Clan.

As for the Uchiha Clan, this matter has never been mentioned, even from a mythological perspective.

As for the claim that the Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan might be related, it's purely because of the three great Dōjutsu. In a sense, this claim is meant to illustrate from another angle that the Uchiha Clan are the strongest.

"This is..." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself, "I've learned something new!"

If that's the case, then the woman before them is indeed a distinguished guest for Hidden Leaf Village.

Namikaze Minato didn't think that much about it. While Uchiha Shingen and Sarutobi Hiruzen were chatting idly, he had already stood up and welcomed Kaguya Otsutsuki.

After all, Kaguya Otsutsuki's Byakugan felt very familiar to him.

However, Kaguya Otsutsuki clearly had no intention of shaking Namikaze Minato's outstretched hand.

"Are you the master of this city?" she asked again.

She can be forgiven for not answering my question earlier.

After all, Uchiha Shingen was talking to this person, and although he said a lot of random things, since Kaguya Otsutsuki had the idea of recruiting Uchiha Shingen to her side, she wouldn't interfere with his actions.

If Namikaze Minato still doesn't give her a proper answer this time, then she will have to punish him.

The majesty of the Progenitor of Chakra should not be easily offended.

"You're joking. Leaf Village belongs to everyone who lives here. I'm just serving everyone."

Kaguya Otsutsuki raised an eyebrow.

His opening remarks revealed a strong sense of rebelliousness.

I just feel a little itchy to touch it.

"Your strength is among the strongest in this city, yet you lack even the confidence to lead them?" she asked.

"You flatter me." Namikaze Minato flashed his signature sunny smile.

Ah, I see. He understood.

He had always felt that Kaguya Otsutsuki's aura was off, and now, hearing this woman speak, he realized it.

He hasn't truly left Leaf Village in a long time.

Namikaze Minato Hidden Leaf Village, embraced the Will of Fire more deeply than any of his peers at a young age.