An Anbu handed over a thin scroll:
"Over the past three generations of Minato Namikaze's ancestors, there were no records of any special bloodlines.
His great-grandfather was a farmer who moved from the countryside of the Land of Fire during Konoha's founding period. His grandfather was an ordinary craftsman, and his father, Mianmen Namikaze, was a second-generation civilian ninja after Konoha was established.
There were no records of any Kekkei Genkai or special physiques within the clan."
Kumoi took the scroll and quickly skimmed through it.
Sure enough, spotless through and through—a complete civilian.
He set down the scroll, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"So those speculations... were simply overthinking it."
The Senju Bloodline, atavism—all of it was nothing more than explanations imposed by later generations to account for the birth of a genius.
Minato Namikaze was simply Minato Namikaze: a civilian with no background and no bloodline advantages, who had reached the pinnacle of ninja through his own talent and hard work.
Kumoi recalled a sentence he had seen before crossing over: true geniuses needed no excuses.
"Alright, I understand."
He nodded to the Anbu. "You may leave."
The Anbu vanished.
Kumoi looked again at the documents, his gaze lingering for a long time on that small blond face.
"Civilian-born... that's good too."
He murmured, "That makes it more convincing."
He filed the documents separately and placed them in the drawer on the right side of his desk.
Then he picked up his pen again and continued reviewing the remaining documents.
The second phase of the West District project needed approval, Konoha University's faculty assignments needed confirmation, and next month's procurement list needed signing...
One official document after another passed through his hands.
Outside the window, the sun gradually rose, then slowly slanted westward.
Kumoi occasionally glanced