Where Did My Third Hokage Go?

The next morning, Oto Uchiha woke up leaning against Zou Hyuga and noticed something.

Every member of the ANBU squad except her had dark circles under his eyes. Something extraordinary must have happened last night to keep even jonin and chunin from sleeping well.

After briefly clearing away the traces of their campsite, the squad headed back toward Konoha. Naturally, they ran into plenty of trouble along the way, but once those troublemakers saw the squad's Konoha forehead protectors, they chose to retreat.

"Why aren't these bandits so sensible when I'm out on missions?"

Zou Hyuga sighed.

Oto Uchiha gave Zou Hyuga a sidelong look. That was because whenever they encountered bandits, they took the approach of striking first, robbing the rich to help the poor at the bandits' expense.

After several days, the squad returned safely to Konoha.

Without being stopped, the ANBU squad entered the Hokage Office inside the building and met the Third Hokage, who was busy attending to countless affairs...

Wait... that didn't seem to be the Third. It was that incredibly fast man instead.

Konoha's Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze!

Zou Hyuga rubbed his eyes, unable to quite believe it.

I was just forced into ANBU, went out on my first mission, and now you're telling me we have a new Hokage?

Where did my whole Third Hokage go? Did he just run off to join the council of elder advisors?

Still, having Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage seemed pretty good.

At least Asuma could no longer do whatever he pleased by relying on his status as the Hokage's son!

Sneaking a glance at Asuma, Zou Hyuga smiled even more broadly, his smile becoming even more captivating than Minato Namikaze's.

Newly appointed as Hokage, Minato Namikaze accepted the mission report his student handed him and read through it carefully.

When he saw that the squad had encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Minato's expression shifted. He feared he might have failed to save his student again, just as before.

But when he read that Suikazan Fuguki had been killed by the four-man squad, a smile returned to his face.

His gaze held a little more approval as he looked at Kakashi and the others.

In the report, Kakashi had recorded everything truthfully, recounting all their experiences over the past few days.

That included Zou Hyuga's contribution in defeating Fuguki, his earlier remarks about running away, and some of Kakashi's own observations.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Minato Namikaze studied his only remaining student for a long while, feeling gratified.

Kakashi's spirits had improved somewhat over the course of the mission. It seemed that teaming up with those two had helped him emerge a little from the shadows.

Perhaps, after some more time, he would be able to tuck the past away in his heart and embrace a brighter future.

It looks like I should send them on more missions together.

With that thought, Minato Namikaze made his plans.

Although he was the village's Fourth Hokage and ought to treat every villager impartially, he still had his own selfish concerns. He would quietly use a little of his authority to help his student escape the shadows sooner.

Besides, Kakashi was still young, part of Konoha's future, and possessed tremendous potential.

"Zou Hyuga, you have Samehada, don't you?"

After a moment's consideration, Minato Namikaze smiled at Zou Hyuga and said, "That should be one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swords. With it taken away, the village will face pressure from Kirigakure."

"Lord Fourth, that's my spoils of war!"

Steadying himself, Zou Hyuga adjusted his manner and said, "Even if the village wants it, you'll have to pay. A ninja blade is worth a fortune. At least ten million!"

Minato Namikaze smiled as he looked at Zou Hyuga. He really was just as Kakashi had described in the report.

Although Zou Hyuga was an excellent ninja, his extreme love of money and cautious nature made him rather peculiar.

Still, a Hyuga and an Uchiha staying on the same team for three whole years was strange in itself.

"There's no need!"

Minato Namikaze interlaced his fingers and rested his chin on them. "Kirigakure raided the Land of Fire's coast. They have only themselves to blame for losing their ninja blade. You're quite right. This blade is your spoils of war."

"As for Kirigakure, let them apply pressure if they like. It'll give us the perfect chance to question them about raiding the coast..."

Those words considerably improved Zou Hyuga's opinion of the Fourth. At the very least, he seemed much more approachable than that old fox, the Third.

Had it been the old Third, he might have had to argue for quite a while.

After hesitating for a moment, Zou Hyuga stepped forward and said, "Lord Fourth, I may not be suited to a position in ANBU. I'd like to return to the Ninja Academy as a teacher. The students there need me..."

"The same goes for me." Oto Uchiha raised her hand and stepped forward too.

Minato Namikaze merely smiled without much reaction, looking at the masks on Zou Hyuga's and Oto's faces.

Tanuki and black cats are both rather cunning animals.

Tap, tap...

In the silent office, only the sound of Minato Namikaze's fingers tapping the desk could be heard.

"Leave ANBU and transfer back to teaching at the Ninja Academy?"

Yes, yes... Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha looked at him hopefully.

The Fourth was so great. Surely he could grant their tiny, humble wish. If they could become genin, that would be even better.

His next words, however, struck Oto and Zou like a bolt of lightning.

"None of that is possible. You've always been adjunct teachers at the Ninja Academy, but you're also members of ANBU."

Smiling, Minato Namikaze gave Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha a meaningful look. "However, if you face pressure from your clans in the future, I can help."

"Thank you, Lord Fourth!"

Zou Hyuga's tone was slightly perfunctory. He guessed that the Fourth must be referring to the Caged Bird Seal.

Oto Uchiha, however, thought of much more. She gave Zou Hyuga an expectant glance, then lowered her head slightly.

With a wave of his hand, Minato Namikaze dismissed the ANBU squad to await their next mission.

ANBU went on missions far less frequently than ordinary ninja, but every assignment was extremely dangerous.

Compared with other ninja, ANBU members had the advantage of more opportunities to acquire ninjutsu, as well as a considerable boost in social standing thanks to their status as the Hokage's trusted subordinates.

Apart from that, there wasn't much else.

Not long after the ANBU squad left, the office door opened again.

The Third walked in, no longer wearing the Hokage's hat. He had been openly eavesdropping from the room next door the entire time.

After handing over the Hokage position that month, he had not formally retired. Instead, he assisted the Fourth as an elder advisor.

For major village matters, the Hokage had to consult with the elder advisors.

"Lord Third..." Minato Namikaze was about to rise, but the Third motioned with his eyes for him to remain seated.

"Fourth, you're the Hokage now. I'm merely a retired old man. You needn't be as reserved as you used to be."

"Lord Third, you will always have my respect," Minato Namikaze said.

"For an old man like me to be treated this way, I couldn't ask for more." The Third grinned.

Minato Namikaze smiled and brought up what had just happened. "Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha really are just as you said, Lord Third. They're quite cunning."

"Of course. They're both cunning little brats... but surprisingly reliable!" The Third stroked his beard.

He was the one who had told the Fourth about Zou Hyuga's and Oto Uchiha's previous experiences.