The Konoha Military Police Force building gleamed with a cold, metallic luster beneath the sunlight. The Uchiha Clan's fan crest at the entrance had been replaced with Konoha's emblem, but the building's sharp, distinctive architectural lines remained. Minato sat in his office before the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor, working nonstop.
A sound from the hallway suddenly made him look up.
"Senior Brother Minato's office is really impressive," Konan whispered to Yahiko, unconsciously twirling a lock of her light-blue hair around her finger.
Just as Yahiko was about to reply, Jiraiya pushed open the door and laughed. "Yo, Minato!"
His voice was like sunlight breaking through dark clouds, instantly making the entire floor seem brighter. Minato immediately wore his trademark warm smile of surprise. "Master Jiraiya!"
Then Jiraiya led Yahiko and the other two inside.
"Minato, let me introduce them. These are the three disciples I took in within the Land of Rain: Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan." Jiraiya introduced them to Minato.
"Hello, Senior Brother Minato," the three greeted in unison. Nagato's voice was the softest, his orange bangs hanging over his eyes, but Minato still sharply caught that fleeting flash of purple light.
"So you're Nagato." Minato walked around the desk. Sunlight struck his blond hair from the side, casting a long shadow across the floor. "Master Jiraiya told me about you. He said you might be the savior who will save the world."
Nagato merely smiled. "I promised Master Jiraiya that I'd give everything I have to make that dream come true."
"No, Nagato, that's not what I meant." Minato shook his head with a wry smile, sunlight dancing over his eyelashes. "I just... forget it. I've never been able to explain it clearly."
"How rare. Even you have something you can't explain clearly, Minato." Jiraiya raised