The Land of Waves Mission Begins 2/2

When he received the summons from the Hokage, Hayato found it a little strange.

Ordinary missions were relayed by other ANBU colleagues, while important ones were received by Captain Hatake Kaito.

Could it be about Naruto stealing the Book of Seals earlier?

Hayato didn't remember doing anything out of line... Uh, did letting Naruto communicate with the Nine-Tails count?

Probably not~~~?

"Lord Hokage." Hayato dropped to one knee and lowered his head.

"All right, Hayato, there's no need for such formalities in private." Sarutobi Hiruzen said kindly. "I know you dislike these tedious customs. Take off your mask."

If it had been anyone else, they would probably have been moved to tears.

Well, Hayato wasn't completely unmoved either.

His favorability toward Sarutobi Hiruzen increased by 1%.

Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and gestured with it. "You don't mind, do you?"

Would you stop smoking if I did?

"I don't mind."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed at himself. "They say smoking is harmful to your health, that smoking is slow suicide. They're right, but without this stuff, I couldn't go on living."

How was he supposed to respond to that?

Something like, you're nearly seventy anyway, so smoke while you can? Every extra puff is a profit?

Or, you're the Hokage, so you should set an example and stay away from tobacco. Quitting starts with you?

The gap in their status was right there. Nothing Hayato said would be appropriate.

When you didn't know how to respond while talking to your superior, and didn't know how to steer the conversation elsewhere, it was best just to smile stupidly.

So Hayato gave a stupid smile, the stiff kind.

Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't leave him embarrassed for long. "You know Naruto? How are you two getting along?"

Hayato's heart skipped a beat. Had getting too close to Naruto drawn Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention?

Keeping his expression calm, Hayato said, "I've known him for quite a while. We occasionally eat ramen together. The kid likes pranks and wants attention, but he doesn't actually mean any harm."

Sarutobi Hiruzen burst into hearty laughter.

Hayato: ???

Did I say something funny?

Could Sarutobi Hiruzen's sense of humor be even stranger than Takaya Hyuga's?

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "You're only a year older than Naruto, aren't you? Yet you keep calling him 'the kid.' Look at you, acting all old and mature."

Uh~~~ Well, his mental age was over thirty when his past and present lives were added together, so he subconsciously treated Naruto like a child. But he didn't think that way when he was with Shishin, Neji Hyuga, and the others.

Was it because Naruto had lacked affection since childhood, awakening Hayato's maternal instincts?

Wait, weren't maternal instincts something only women had...?!

Hayato smiled awkwardly, showing that he had no idea how to explain himself.

After laughing, Sarutobi Hiruzen got down to business. "You know Naruto is special, don't you?"

"Yes."

Hayato neither denied it nor needed to. The mass of chakra in Naruto's stomach was as dazzling as the sun to the Byakugan. As long as he wasn't blind, Hayato could see it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "How much do you know?"

"The demon fox inside Naruto should be the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that attacked Konoha twelve years ago. It is a chakra aggregate known as a 'tailed beast,'" Hayato replied. "People like Naruto, who have tailed beasts sealed inside their bodies, are called jinchuriki."

"As expected of a descendant of a prestigious clan," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Hayato: ...

The Hyuga Clan surely had records concerning tailed beasts, but they were top-secret and beyond Hayato's access. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had filled in the blanks himself, that was all the better.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Your parents also died on the night of the Nine-Tails Uprising. Don't you hate Naruto?"

"I don't." Hayato shook his head. "Naruto is Naruto, and the demon fox is the demon fox. Naruto used his own body to imprison the demon fox. We should be grateful to him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "If everyone could think as you do, it would be wonderful."

"That day will come," Hayato said. "Naruto has the ability to make it happen."

"You're right," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. Then he sighed inwardly. It's a pity I won't live to see it.

"Jinchuriki are sharp weapons. Used well, they can intimidate one's enemies; used poorly, they can hurt their wielder instead. Even so, jinchuriki are coveted by every major shinobi village. Unless there is war, most jinchuriki can only remain in their villages for their entire lives," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "I hope Naruto can exist as a shinobi, rather than as a weapon."

Heh. Hayato laughed inwardly. And shinobi aren't weapons?

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "The village has decided to send Naruto out of the village to carry out a mission. An ANBU squad is needed to protect him in secret."

"Yes."

What else could Hayato say? He would accept the order.

"Unless it is a life-or-death situation, you must not intervene," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Hayato indicated that he understood. It was the same as last time: they were worried for Naruto's safety, yet they also wanted him to grow quickly through danger.

Lord Hokage! Being a bodyguard is hard work. Do I get a promotion and a raise?

That was only Hayato's inner complaint. In truth, this mission was quite easy.

Because the core of the mission was ensuring Naruto didn't die.

But would Naruto die?

Just take a look at Naruto's attributes and equipment.

--Uzumaki Clan physique, stamina and recovery +9.

--The Nine-Tails sealed within his body; carries a level 99 pet with him at all times (the max level is the level 100 Ten-Tails).

--The lingering chakra remnants of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, the protective power of great parents.

--Ashura's reincarnated chakra; even Naruto follows the trope of a master bestowing inner power.

--The Six Paths Sage's lingering protection. G is watching over you—how could the word "death" ever be written?

Naruto was very weak at this stage, but trying to kill him was truly hell-level difficulty. Even if someone did kill him, the Pure Land might not dare accept him.

With that, the briefing was over.

Hayato: "..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

"Lord Hokage, where is the mission document?" Hayato asked.

"Oh, I gave it to Kaito," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Hayato: "???"

The mission had already been assigned, so why had you called me here? To chat and kill time by messing with me?

That was Hayato's powerful inner rant.

In fact, Sarutobi Hiruzen had put much thought into this. He hoped there would be someone among Naruto's protectors who understood him. That way, protecting Naruto would no longer be merely a cold mission written on paper.

But that also meant the mission would inevitably be mixed with personal feelings.

So, Lord Hokage, did you trust me that much? Or had Hatake Kaito secretly received another mission, one that would ultimately patch every loophole?

Back at the ANBU office.

Sarara said, "Where did you run off to? We have a mission."

Hayato had complained too much and felt mentally exhausted. He said weakly, "Got it. Where's the captain?"

"He went looking for you. I'll go find the captain!"

Hayato grabbed Sarara and said, "Don't go. Just wait here. Otherwise, when the captain comes back in a moment, I'll have to go look for you. Then you'll come back while I'm gone, and the captain will go looking for me again... An infinite loop, get it?"

Sarara pouted. "I don't get it, and I don't want to! Isn't it just waiting? Why make it so complicated?"

Hayato felt even more tired. They simply had no common language.

That was why Shishin was such a good comrade. No matter what kind of joke it was—dirty or clean, obvious or subtle—he understood it instantly and could play along.

Which also proved from another angle that Hayato and Shishin were birds of a feather.

[PS] Thanks to 1A90 for the recommendation vote, Wuse Lingren Muming for the recommendation vote, Hua Jiu Laobing for the recommendation vote, and Guyue Xingde Pangzi for 6 recommendation votes.

[PS] See you tomorrow afternoon in the next chapter. Today, Directionless Fungus received notice of a Sunday trial promotion, so it's time to head into battle. Asking for equipment—bookmarks; asking for provisions—recommendation votes. Give me strength.