At high noon, the blazing sun hung high, and the cicadas droned noisily.
In the shaded backyard, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a chair in casual clothes, reading the Shinobi World Daily.
It carried a report about the theft of graves in Iwagakure.
A sensational event like this could never be concealed from the well-informed Shinobi World press. The details, however, were beyond their reach.
Hiruzen picked up the pipe at his side, took a deep drag, and exhaled clouds of smoke.
"First Hidden Cloud Village, then Iwagakure. The Shinobi World has truly been unsettled lately..."
"Whoosh!" At that moment, a flash of golden light appeared, and Minato materialized in Hiruzen's backyard wearing the Hokage's cloak.
After the attack, Hiruzen had permitted Minato to leave a Flying Thunder God mark in his home, making it easier for them to contact and support each other in an emergency.
"Oh, Minato's here."
Hiruzen set down the newspaper and greeted him with a smile.
"At high noon, instead of going home on time, you came here... Aren't you afraid Kushina will complain?"
Minato scratched his head and smiled. "I informed her at home. I came specially this time to bring you a watermelon to cool off with!"
With that, Minato set down the huge watermelon he had been carrying in a bag.
Hiruzen put down his pipe and held the large melon, feeling its substantial weight. "Hmm... You really went to the trouble. To think you even brought me a watermelon—and such a huge one!"
"Biwako~!" Hiruzen turned toward the house and called out.
"I'm coming. Why, isn't that Minato?" Hiruzen's wife, Biwako, came into the yard in plain clothing. "If you have time to visit a retiree, why aren't you keeping Kushina company? Don't think you can slack off just because she isn't