Snow Falls

In the winter of Konoha's forty-sixth year, the first snow fell in the Land of Fire.

On the Cloud Shinobi battlefield at the very edge of the Land of Fire, Konoha's camp lay hidden within the snow-covered mountains and forests.

In all four directions, the camp barriers formed by Earth Release ninjutsu had also accumulated thick snow. From afar, the entire camp looked like an inconspicuous white hill among the woods.

The Cloud Shinobi's final offensive had completely stalled with the arrival of this snowfall. Lying on a sickbed in the camp infirmary, Kato Osamu merely listened quietly to the snow falling outside the tent. Flames occasionally crackled in the stove, as restless and unsteady as his own thoughts.

"Yellow Flash..."

His gaze seemed to pass through the medical tent and settle on the very center of the camp, where Minato Namikaze discussed wartime missions.

Ever since the battle against the Eight-Tails, Minato Namikaze's fame had spread throughout Konoha and Kumogakure. Especially after word spread among the Cloud Shinobi that "if you encounter Konoha's Yellow Flash—Minato Namikaze—there will be no punishment for abandoning the mission."

The title Yellow Flash had thoroughly resounded across the Shinobi World. No one would ever again see that golden-haired man as someone's disciple or someone's mouthpiece, but as a newly risen powerhouse of the Shinobi World!

Kato Osamu did not know what news the other shinobi villages had received, but Minato Namikaze's full dossier was surely already sitting on the desks of every village's Kage.

Yet the more this was the case, the more uneasy Kato Osamu became.

The greater Minato Namikaze's renown, the more it proved how correct Danzo's decision had been—whether made on a whim or after noticing something long ago—to place him in Team Minato. Kato Osamu could even foresee what kind of order Danzo would give him the next time they met.

"Snore... snore..."

Snoring filled the ward. With his mind in turmoil, Kato Osamu irritably turned his gaze toward Obito, who was still sleeping soundly beside him.

Sometimes he scratched at his ears and cheeks, sometimes he ground his teeth and blew bubbles. His bandaged leg was suspended high in the air, yet it did nothing to disturb his sweet sleep.

Kato Osamu's gaze was complicated. Sometimes, he envied Obito as well—a green shoot nurtured by Konoha's spring breeze. His heart, concealing blazing flames, seemed filled with light, love, devotion, passion... Everything about the Will of Fire seemed to be found within him.

Rin lay on her side. The wound on her back had nearly healed completely. With wide eyes, she silently watched Kato Osamu. Girls perhaps had more delicate minds, for she vaguely seemed to sense the conflict and sorrow in his heart.

"Osamu, you're amazing. You've already earned the title Blue Asura among the Cloud Shinobi..."

"I still have a long way to go..."

The world was blanketed in white, and the entire camp was immersed in a realm of snow. Kato Osamu answered in a muffled voice, then silently looked out the window again. Several sparrows landed on a treetop, shaking the silver-white snow from its branches. Perhaps someone had passed by, for they fluttered their wings and vanished into the endless whiteness.

What Kato Osamu did not know was that Jiraiya had happened to mention him inside Minato Namikaze's tent.

"Minato... Dan's nephew, Kato Osamu, came from Root. He may cause some trouble..."

Jiraiya sat across from Minato, steam rolling up from two cups of hot tea.

He stared intently at Minato, recalling what Gamabunta had told him. The image of that blue giant surfaced in his mind as well.

Over the past few days, he had investigated every piece of information on Kato Osamu that he could find. Apart from his experiences in Root, which remained classified and inaccessible for now, the rest of his history was so simple it was hard to believe.

Looking at the dossier between the two teacups, one that practically reeked of fabrication, he had roughly understood Kato Osamu's identity—Danzo's "spy."

He had even begun to question Danzo's intentions. Though he had no desire to interfere in Konoha's upper-level struggles, he could not afford to remain ignorant of such methods.

To understand and remain detached was clarity. To not understand and still remain detached was to be an outsider. The most foolish thing was to not understand and yet become involved; in the end, that would only lead to a miserable fate.

He had never worried about Minato's strength, but he feared that Minato would become a victim of power struggles without even realizing it.

"Jiraiya-sensei, I know..."

Minato had read the documents Jiraiya brought, yet he seemed entirely unconcerned, merely smiling faintly.

"Minato, there are some things I've never told you... But now, I want to ask you a question..."

Jiraiya's gaze sharpened. His carefree expression vanished in an instant. When it came to Konoha, he had always loved it, and he had always taken it seriously.

"It's rare to see you this serious, Jiraiya-sensei..."

Minato remained gentle and humble, but the light in his eyes told Jiraiya that he, too, had become serious.

"Sometimes, I don't want to be like this either..."

Jiraiya smiled silently, then sighed again and frowned.

"Minato! Is your dream to become Hokage?"

"Answer me... seriously..."

Jiraiya stared straight into Minato's eyes. Those sky-blue pupils were clear as a spring in a deep forest, then suddenly glimmered with golden light.

"Yes! Becoming Hokage is not only my dream, but Kushina Uzumaki's as well!"

"I've been working toward it all this time..."

"Jiraiya-sensei... why are you asking me this?"

Minato Namikaze seemed to have grasped something, yet it also seemed like nothing at all. Though Minato was outstanding enough on the battlefield, he still lacked the keen political instincts of maturity.

He looked at Jiraiya with some confusion. Jiraiya seemed somewhat unlike himself today.

"Minato... I've made up my mind!"

"I'm going to nominate you to run for Fourth Hokage!"

Jiraiya's sudden shout startled Minato Namikaze. He had only just turned twenty. Though he had always striven toward becoming Hokage, he had never considered running for Fourth Hokage now...

"Don't joke around, Jiraiya-sensei..."

"For Fourth Hokage, there are so many suitable candidates—yourself, Lord Orochimaru, Jonin Fugaku Uchiha, Lady Tsunade..."

"Minato! I'm not joking... Otherwise, why do you think Danzo sent Kato Osamu to your side?"

"Though I dislike that man, his methods are ruthless enough, especially when it comes to those he sees as obstacles in his path..."

Seeing Minato Namikaze sink into thought, Jiraiya said nothing more. With only a meaningful glance, he changed the subject. It was still too early to expose Minato to too many ugly things.

"Minato, be careful of that subordinate of yours. Though he is Dan's nephew, he is also a member of Root. You should understand what kind of place Root is..."

"Besides, the blue giant born from his Spirit Transformation Technique is far too mysterious. I have searched through all of Konoha's relevant records, yet found no information whatsoever. If he developed that technique himself, then his talent for Soul Secret Techniques is terrifying beyond imagination..."

"Osamu... he's a good kid. I believe in him..."

Minato raised his head and looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes.

"If he truly meant to harm me, he would not have so easily exposed some of his own secrets..."

"Jiraiya-sensei..."

"I believe in Osamu, my junior disciple. He's a good kid..."

Jiraiya sighed softly, both gratified and troubled. He was gratified by Minato's gentleness and brightness. To him, Minato was the most perfect child of destiny, filled with love and hope. Yet he remained worried. With Minato's personality, it would likely be difficult for him to successfully take the Hokage's seat amid Konoha's great whirlpool, even with Jiraiya's support...

"Perhaps that is why you are Minato Namikaze, and not someone else..."

Jiraiya said no more. He merely took a light sip of tea, his eyes seeming to contemplate something.

"Then... can this child be of use to Minato..."