Three years

Minato grew more confused the longer he listened. The man who had brought him out for noodles said he wasn't from Konoha, yet the ramen shop's owner said he had known him for years, and the owner had always lived in Konoha. Didn't those statements contradict each other?

The more Minato Namikaze tried to work it out, the more confused he became, until his attention was focused entirely on the conversation between the two men.

The owner of Ichiraku noticed Minato beside them and asked Hatake Ziyan, "Is this a disciple you've taken in? Judging by his forehead protector, he's a Konoha ninja! Since when were you willing to take a ninja as your disciple?"

Hatake Ziyan glanced at Minato and said, "He's not my disciple. His name is Minato Namikaze, and he's the disciple of that white-haired brat, the Perverted Toad!"

The owner studied Minato's face. "Now that you mention it, I remember. I've seen Jiraiya bring him here before. But you're the only person who can call Jiraiya a brat. He'd chase anyone else down eight streets for saying that!"

Hatake Ziyan smiled without answering.

Minato Namikaze stood up and asked Hatake Ziyan, "Are you Lord Sword God, who founded Konoha alongside Lord First?"

Hatake Ziyan nodded at Minato's sudden interjection, inwardly marveling that the future Fourth Hokage certainly had a good head on his shoulders.

"That's right, I am! But aren't you afraid of me? Jiraiya must have made me sound pretty terrifying, right?" Hatake Ziyan teased.

Minato Namikaze shook his head. "My teacher respects you deeply. He said you're a truly great man with a strong sense of justice, and that you're very easygoing, not bloodthirsty like the legends say!"

Hatake Ziyan gave Minato Namikaze a peculiar look. "Jiraiya really said that about me?"

Minato Namikaze nodded, indicating that he wasn't lying.

The owner was struggling to hold back his laughter, afraid Minato Namikaze would ask questions if he let it out.

"I'm glad your teacher speaks of me that way. In that case, if you have any questions about your training in the future, you can come to me. I'll do my best to clear things up for you. Consider it a little compensation for Jiraiya!" Hatake Ziyan replied, also struggling to suppress his laughter.

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Lord Ziyan. It would be an honor to have your guidance!"

Then Minato Namikaze added, "Thank you for treating me today. I'll take my leave now!"

Hatake Ziyan nodded, and Minato Namikaze walked out.

The moment Minato Namikaze left, Hatake Ziyan and the owner could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

Minato Namikaze had barely stepped outside when he heard laughter from within. Thinking he had done something wrong, he hurried back inside.

But as soon as he entered, everything fell silent again, and Hatake Ziyan asked, "What's wrong? Did you need something else?"

Minato Namikaze realized that barging back in had been rude and quickly apologized. "Sorry, Lord Ziyan. Please, carry on!"

Minato Namikaze withdrew again, only for laughter to erupt inside once more.

Hearing the laughter again, Minato Namikaze wanted to go back and ask about it, but he realized they were deliberately avoiding the subject around him, so he didn't return.

"That brat Jiraiya suffered so much under your training back then, yet he still speaks of you like that to other people. Don't you feel even a tiny bit guilty now?" After laughing for a while, the owner stopped and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Forget it. I'm just glad I only trained him back then instead of taking him as my disciple. Otherwise, the good reputation I've maintained all these years would be ruined!" Hatake Ziyan took a couple of deep breaths as he spoke.

Looking at the still-youthful Hatake Ziyan, the owner said with a trace of envy, "Sometimes I really envy you ninja. You're already so old, yet you still look so young!"

"Want to learn? I'll teach you!" Hatake Ziyan said casually. "Besides, I'm not a ninja!"

"No, no, no!" The owner hurriedly waved his hands. "You'd better not teach me. I'm afraid that once I've learned, you'll find another excuse to beat me up!"

Hatake Ziyan's face darkened at his words. Am I really that unreasonable? Besides, I only beat you up once! Sure, I nearly sent you to the next world that time, but surely you don't need to hold a grudge after all these years.

Seeing Hatake Ziyan's constipated expression, the owner burst out laughing again.

Three years later.

Over those three years, Hatake Ziyan usually spent his time teaching the three children, occasionally giving Minato Namikaze some guidance when he came over on his own.

Of course, his greatest pleasure during those three years was scaring Danzo. Every time, Danzo felt as though Ziyan was about to kill him, but in the end, Hatake Ziyan always gave a reason for sparing him.

It was entertaining at first, but later it became something of a headache: he had to keep finding reasons to spare Danzo.

Eventually, Hatake Ziyan couldn't be bothered to come up with excuses anymore. Every day, whenever he had some spare time, he would find Danzo, beat him up, then wipe his hands and leave. It got to the point where Danzo didn't dare appear anywhere crowded.

That morning, Hatake Ziyan gathered the three children together. After arranging their training, he went to Hokage Rock alone.

Shortly after Hatake Ziyan arrived, a man wearing a black samurai uniform approached him.

"My lord, Jiraiya has left. Our people are already making contact with those three," the man said.

"Mm. Don't make your approaches too obvious. Those making contact should be careful, too. Don't reveal anything about us. Others are watching those three as well, especially the boy with the Rinnegan!" Hatake Ziyan said.

"Yes, my lord! What should we do next?" the man asked.

"Whatever they do, give them your unconditional support. Do your best to earn the trust of the boy leading them, and work toward joining the core of their organization!" Hatake Ziyan said.

"Yes, my lord!"

With his orders received, the man left immediately.

Hatake Ziyan stood up and murmured, "The wind is about to rise again!"

Then Hatake Ziyan jumped down from Hokage Rock and returned to Hatake Sakumo's courtyard.

"Uncle Ziyan, are you leaving?" Hatake Sakumo asked, looking at the bundle in Hatake Ziyan's hand.

"Yes! There are some things I need to take care of. These are gifts for the three of them. I won't say goodbye to them in person!" Hatake Ziyan handed the bundle to Sakumo.

Sakumo took it and asked, "Then when will you be back?"

"I'll come back when it's time! Tell those three children that the Shinobi World won't be peaceful much longer. They need to work hard to get stronger. I don't want anyone missing the next time I return!" With that, Hatake Ziyan waved and walked out.