Jealous Even of This?

The one who came in was Gekko Hayate.

He wore an ANBU outfit without a mask, revealing that familiar, sickly face.

"Hayate-sensei!"

Uzumaki Hayashi's eyes lit up.

He knew that outfit well.

Hayate had been dressed exactly like that when they first met-back when he had just settled in Konoha, this ANBU member had come to his door to deliver his living allowance.

Even the last time he had been surrounded in the street, Hayate had been the one to help him. Before leaving, he had even offered to teach him swordsmanship.

Uzumaki Hayashi had always had a good impression of him.

Sickly and quiet, yet he handled everything with care.

For the Third to summon a man like him late at night to "receive a mission"-there was no need to ask. It had to be connected to what they had just discussed.

Gekko Hayate looked at him, smiled, and raised a hand in a brief wave of greeting. Then he coughed softly twice, turned, and stood straight before the Third.

"Lord Third Hokage, Gekko Hayate reporting to receive his mission."

The Third smiled at Gekko Hayate's impeccable formality, then turned to Uzumaki Hayashi.

"See, Hayashi?" he said. "How could Grandpa possibly use Naruto as bait?"

"During this covert mission, Gekko Hayate will stay with you the whole time. He won't let either of you suffer any harm."

"But-you still need to get some experience."

Uzumaki Hayashi mulled over that lineup.

Gekko Hayate, plus himself-good grief. A single Mizuki warranted two whole bodyguards, not even counting the ANBU nearby. This trial was more secure than his own front door.

As for that remark about still needing experience, he understood that too.

Bodyguards protected your life; they didn't keep you from stumbling for the rest of it. If Naruto never took a fall, he would never learn just how hard the road outside could be.

The old man might protect his kids, but he was serious about teaching them too.

After saying that, the Third picked up a scroll from his desk and tossed it to Gekko Hayate.

Gekko Hayate caught it with both hands, his movements crisp and practiced. Clearly, he was used to receiving missions.

Then the Third's expression darkened as he looked at Gekko Hayate.

"Jonin Gekko."

"Why is this child, Hayashi, calling you his master?"

"I don't recall anything about that in your last mission report."

Uzumaki Hayashi's heart lurched.

No, this atmosphere wasn't right.

Gekko Hayate unconsciously tightened his grip on the scroll.

Uzumaki Hayashi quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Grandpa Third, Jonin Hayate was the one who helped me last time too! He said he could teach me swordsmanship, so I called him that-is something wrong?"

With that, he looked pleadingly at the Third.

Normally, the Third wouldn't have cared about such things.

A child casually addressing a Jonin-what was the big deal?

But looking at that pleading face, the fire inside him flared up, burning hotter and hotter.

He had wanted to take this child as his disciple for ages.

Kakashi was one thing-he had the advantage of being close by, and he had applied to be the team's Jonin leader. The Third couldn't stop him.

But how had Gekko Hayate suddenly appeared out of nowhere?!

He had accepted Kakashi getting the team. But this Gekko Hayate had quietly gone and secured the title for himself?

Now the child was even calling him "master"!

The Third hadn't even gotten his turn yet!

He knew Gekko Hayate well. The man was always decisive and straightforward on missions, a man of few words who never stole credit. Had he, too, become unable to look away upon spotting a promising talent?

With that thought, the Third gave a sinister little smile and looked at Gekko Hayate.

"Jonin Hayate."

"If I recall correctly, you have someone who is also in the ANBU..."

He left the sentence unfinished.

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Gekko Hayate's back.

"Lord Third Hokage! I had no such intention!" he hurriedly said, his voice anxious. "I just saw how exceptionally talented this child was and wanted to help him practice!"

The Third curled his lip, ignored him, and turned back to Uzumaki Hayashi with a smile once more.

"Hayashi, is everything Jonin Hayate said true?"

Seeing how things stood, Uzumaki Hayashi didn't dare hesitate for even half a second. He nodded like a bobblehead.

"It's all true, all true!"

As he nodded, he muttered inwardly.

What had gotten into old man Third? Why was the look he was giving Gekko Hayate so dangerous?

He had a strong feeling that without his intervention, Gekko Hayate might find himself strapped into an electric chair the very next second, getting thoroughly shocked.

No, I had to save him.

Gekko Hayate really was a decent guy, and he was still counting on him for sword lessons. He couldn't just stand by and watch the old man fry him here.

Hearing those words, Gekko Hayate finally relaxed and let out a small breath.

Watching this, the Third came to his senses too. Had he just lost his composure a little?

Honestly.

Anything involving Hayashi always managed to put him on edge.

Still, when he thought it over carefully, everything that had happened lately had been good. Letting this child practice swordsmanship with Gekko Hayate and gain another means of defending himself wasn't a bad idea.

The Third smiled warmly at Gekko Hayate.

"Jonin Hayate, you did very well here."

"Teaching Hayashi will count as an A-rank mission, funded by the village. Come see me tomorrow for the mission brief."

An A-rank mission?

Standing beside them, Uzumaki Hayashi smiled silently.

What did that mean?

So old man Third was insisting on using Konoha's authority to redefine this master-disciple relationship?

Private instruction became an official assignment-the words "master and disciple" were confiscated on the spot.

The old man even had little tricks like this up his sleeve.

Honestly, it was pretty funny.

"Hayashi." The Third looked at him again. "From now on, go straight to Hayate after school. Prepare well over the next few days."

"All right, you two. You can leave together."

Only after they left the Hokage Building and the night breeze washed over him did Gekko Hayate seem to fully come back to life.

He slowed his steps, turned his head, and said quietly to Uzumaki Hayashi:

"Thanks... for earlier."

Uzumaki Hayashi waved a hand, telling him not to worry about it.

It was no big deal. Besides, he was paving the way for himself too-he would still be relying on this swordsmanship teacher in the future.

"Then, Hayashi." Gekko Hayate coughed twice more. "Shall I come pick you up after school tomorrow?"

"Sure. Sorry for the trouble, Hayate-sensei."

Only when their footsteps had completely faded outside the Hokage Building did the Third withdraw his gaze.

He turned toward the darkness beside the office and spoke.

"Now you can rest easy, can't you?"

"I told you I would keep them safe."

"You can come out now, Kakashi."