Meeting the Third Hokage Again!

The next morning.

After breakfast, Hyuga Setsuna got up and headed for the Anbu base.

After receiving Gekko Hakugetsu's mission notice yesterday, Hyuga Setsuna had been thinking about it.

Since he was now an Anbu directly under the Hokage, this mission was very likely an order personally issued by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

But why would Sarutobi Hiruzen have him carry out a mission alone?

Had he become suspicious because of the previous mission, or was it something else...

Before long, Hyuga Setsuna, wearing a Rabbit Mask, arrived at the Anbu base.

He walked through the pitch-black Anbu passage and entered a prearranged room to wait for Gekko Hakugetsu.

Tap!

As Hyuga Setsuna waited, footsteps began to sound outside the room.

Then the wooden door was pushed open. Hyuga Setsuna looked over, surprise appearing beneath his mask.

"Kakashi?"

That was right. The person who pushed open the door and entered was Kakashi.

Although he wore a dog mask, Kakashi's striking white hair still allowed Hyuga Setsuna to recognize him.

Kakashi entered the room and froze when he heard Hyuga Setsuna's familiar voice.

After a long moment, he spoke uncertainly.

"Setsuna?"

Hyuga Setsuna looked at Kakashi, who was standing dumbly beside the door.

"Kakashi, why are you here?"

"Don't tell me someone also notified you to come here and receive a mission?"

Kakashi entered the room, his expression beneath the dog mask turning strange.

"Setsuna, did you also receive a mission notice telling you to come here?"

Hearing Kakashi's question, Hyuga Setsuna was certain that Kakashi was supposed to go on the mission with him.

But hadn't Gekko Hakugetsu said yesterday that this was a solo mission? Why was Kakashi here too?

Was this also Sarutobi Hiruzen's arrangement?

Sarutobi Hiruzen, was this within your calculations as well?

Seeing Kakashi sitting silently to the side, Hyuga Setsuna spoke up.

"Kakashi, what did the mission notice you received yesterday say?"

Hearing Hyuga Setsuna's question, Kakashi hesitated slightly, his dead-fish eyes beneath the mask flickering.

But in the end, he slowly answered.

"The person who notified me yesterday said I was to complete this mission alone."

After hearing Kakashi's words, Hyuga Setsuna said nothing more and merely sat to the side in thought.

Watching Hyuga Setsuna think, Kakashi quickly realized that Setsuna's mission might be the same one he had been assigned.

Kakashi was not stupid. Otherwise, he would not have become the Sixth Hokage after Tsunade.

It was simply that the young Kakashi lacked experience, while Hyuga Setsuna possessed the memories of two lifetimes and naturally figured it out before him.

Just then, the door opened again, and Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi looked up at the same time.

That was right. The person entering was Gekko Hakugetsu.

She wore a fox mask that concealed her beautiful face and temperament.

The loose Anbu uniform also hid her exceptionally well-developed figure.

Looking at Gekko Hakugetsu as she entered, Hyuga Setsuna said softly,

"Captain Hakugetsu, it seems today's mission won't be carried out by me alone."

Hearing the implication in the brat's words, Gekko Hakugetsu knew that the little rascal was waiting for her to explain the situation.

Although she herself did not know why there was an extra person here, it was all the Hokage's order. As Anbu directly under the Hokage, she only needed to obey.

Gekko Hakugetsu, wearing the fox mask, said indifferently,

"This is the Third Hokage's arrangement. I have been ordered to take you to meet the Third Hokage."

With that, she turned and walked outside on her long, slender legs.

After exchanging glances, the two people in the room followed after her in confusion.

More accurately, Kakashi was somewhat confused. Hyuga Setsuna was not, since he had already anticipated it somewhat.

Outside the Hokage Building.

After Gekko Hakugetsu led Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi through the guards' inspection, they arrived outside the Hokage's Office.

Gekko Hakugetsu raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock!

As the knocking sounded, a deep voice came from inside.

"Come in."

The three of them pushed open the wooden door and entered the Hokage's Office.

Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen sitting behind his desk in the distance, Gekko Hakugetsu spoke respectfully.

"Lord Third, Yagokoro and White Wolf have been brought here."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated behind the desk, clasped his hands before his chest and said,

"You've worked hard, Hakugetsu. Go carry out your mission now."

"Yes, Lord Third!"

As Gekko Hakugetsu left, her eyes beneath the mask involuntarily drifted toward Hyuga Setsuna. Then her figure flashed, and she disappeared from the Hokage's Office.

As Gekko Hakugetsu departed, Hyuga Setsuna looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. This was their second meeting.

In Hyuga Setsuna's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to reveal weariness and heaviness, yet those emotions were ultimately concealed by the smile on his face.

Hyuga Setsuna looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and fell into thought.

Bearing the Hokage's name and taking all pain and sorrow upon himself?

Heh, I really didn't know what to say...

Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated behind the desk, turned his gaze toward Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi. With a kind smile, he said,

"Setsuna, Kakashi, I imagine you're both wondering what exactly is going on with this mission."

Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi both nodded. They truly were puzzled by this mission.

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe, slowly took a puff, and spoke softly with an apologetic expression.

"This mission was originally meant to be handled by others, but certain special circumstances caused some problems."

"So this mission will have to be entrusted to you two for protection."

Listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hyuga Setsuna once again caught the key phrases: "special circumstances" and "protection."

What kind of mission required two ninja who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy to carry it out?

Hyuga Setsuna admitted that he was a genius.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally summoned them to explain this mission, which showed just how important it was.

But such an important mission was being so casually handed to two children who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy and joined the Anbu?

Did that make any sense?

Just then, Kakashi beside him had already asked Sarutobi Hiruzen,

"Then, Lord Third, when will this mission begin?"

After hearing Kakashi's question, Hyuga Setsuna immediately looked at him as though he were an idiot.

Was young Kakashi really this headstrong?

Wasn't he going to think about why such an important mission had been given to them?

Watching Kakashi seriously discuss the mission details with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hyuga Setsuna suddenly felt exhausted.

Kakashi, how did you even become the Sixth Hokage in the future?!

First update!

I looked up Kakashi's Anbu codename, and it seemed the original work never mentioned one, so I just picked one myself.

Of course, if it really did appear in the original work, please let me know in the comments. I'll change it promptly.