In Konoha's Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage sat deep in thought.
He was reading an intelligence report that said Fugaku Uchiha had spent the day teaching a civilian child in the forest.
The Third Hokage could not understand it. Given Fugaku Uchiha's abilities, any of Konoha's Great Families would have gladly sent a gifted child to study under him. Why had he chosen a civilian child?
Was he trying to raise the Uchiha's standing among civilians?
He picked up a scroll containing everything known about Minato Namikaze, from his birth to the present day.
Minato had done well at the Ninja Academy, but he had not been outstanding. He was simply a promising civilian student.
The Third Hokage studied the photograph taken when Minato had enrolled at the Ninja Academy. The boy had a handsome, infectious smile, but nothing else about him stood out.
The report went on to describe Minato's class. The Third Hokage only began to pay closer attention when he spotted one name.
Kushina Uzumaki.
Was Fugaku trying to use Minato Namikaze to get close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? He dismissed the thought at once.
The Third Hokage rubbed his brow. He had no answers, so he set the report down and decided to wait and see. He would have ANBU pay closer attention to Fugaku's movements.
Fugaku had made quite a name for himself in the village. There was no reason to target him when he had done nothing wrong.
At Konoha Barbecue Restaurant, the three of them had already started eating.
"Fugaku, nothing you've told us about him sounds remarkable. What made you take him on as a disciple?"
Fugaku smiled faintly. "Maybe it was fate. The moment I saw him, I wanted to take him on as my disciple."
Fujimoto smiled helplessly. "Fate works