"All right, I understand everything now."
After listening carefully to Jiraiya and Asuma's account, the Third's pipe slowly went out, and his expression grew grave.
Hearing it from them in person hit harder than reading a report. His son Asuma had nearly fallen into Kumogakure's hands.
If Asuma had been captured, his anxiety might have clouded his judgment as Hokage, leading him to do something detrimental to Konoha.
That was something he never wanted to see, and he did not know what he might do if caught in such a dilemma.
"Got it, old man. Get back to your paperwork!"
Looking at the Third's gloomy face, Asuma hesitated for a long time. In the end, he did not mention Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha's attempt to bribe him, and instead credited their contributions by name in his report.
He, Asuma Sarutobi, would never repay kindness with betrayal.
After taking a few more looks at his teacher, Jiraiya also left. Konoha's fighting was gradually subsiding, but the wrinkles on his teacher's face made him abandon the idea of relaxing at the bathhouse.
He would head to the pleasure district instead. Drinking could ease his worries.
After the two left, the Third sat alone in his office, staring absently at the portraits of the past Hokage.
Then he turned his attention back to the mission report. The two Genin from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans who had helped Asuma had piqued his interest.
According to the report, they were not particularly strong, but their tactical thinking far surpassed that of ordinary people.
The Third beckoned to the ANBU waiting in the shadows, ordering them to retrieve Konoha's entry records and its recent mission lists.
Before long, stacks of documents were brought in, and the Third quickly identified Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha.
As the Hokage, with all the authority that position carried, the Third obtained their files.
After briefly reviewing them, the Third nodded. Judging by their records, they were undoubtedly excellent Konoha ninja. They had almost no failed missions, and they belonged to the two great clans, the Uchiha and the Hyuga.
What surprised him was that they had not become Chunin, but had remained Genin for several years.
Was it because they lacked strength, or were the Chunin Ninja Exams too difficult?
As the village's Hokage, the Third felt obliged to keep an eye on its younger generation.
Especially a team made up of a Hyuga and an Uchiha. Such a pairing was almost unheard of.
Since they had helped Asuma, a Chunin, they were clearly capable of serving as Chunin themselves. He would find a pretext to promote them next time, sparing them the trouble of taking the Chunin Ninja Exams.
With that thought, the Third pulled out a mission request that needed to be completed soon and wrote down Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha's names.
With that man leading their team, they should be able to become Chunin without any trouble.
Rubbing his temples to ease the pain in his forehead, the Third opened the earlier mission report and took out a wax-sealed scroll.
"Have Jonin Minato come here!" the Third ordered again.
Five minutes later, Minato Namikaze appeared before the Third, bowing slightly with a bright smile.
"Lord Third, what are your orders?"
"I have a mission for you..."
At the sight of Minato Namikaze's smile, the Third's expression softened considerably, as though the cheerful young man before him had lifted his spirits.
Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's student, making him the Third's grandstudent.
Only in his twenties, he already stood out among the Jonin in strength. He had even mastered the Space-Time Ninjutsu created by Teacher Tobirama, the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Young, dependable, and highly respected by the village's ninja.
Looking at Minato Namikaze, the Third felt as though he had grown a little shorter.
As he aged, he was gradually finding it harder to steer the great ship that was Konoha. He needed someone from the younger generation to take over the position and responsibilities of Hokage.
Minato Namikaze, standing before him, was an excellent choice.
Handing the wax-sealed scroll to Minato Namikaze, the Third cautioned him once more. "This mission is exceptionally dangerous, but you must complete it. I grant you temporary authority to command Jonin."
Minato Namikaze nodded solemnly and placed the scroll in his pack. Then, still facing the Third, he slowly backed away, only turning to leave once he reached the threshold.
Though he did not yet know what the mission was, any mission that made Lord Hokage look so grave had to concern Konoha's safety.
Since the Third had placed his trust in him, he would complete the mission flawlessly.
The Third watched Minato Namikaze leave, deeply impressed by his courtesy.
The mission he had just assigned to Jonin Minato had been drawn up based on the intelligence Asuma obtained.
According to that intelligence, besides the squad that had secretly infiltrated the Land of Fire's border, there was another, even more elite squad. The word "jinchūriki" had even appeared in connection with it.
At this point in time, a mission like this could only be entrusted to Jonin Minato, who had mastered Flying Thunder God.
In a corner of Konoha.
Oto Uchiha was in a poor mood as she entered the clan grounds. Compared with her clansmen, she much preferred spending time with Zou Hyuga. He could help her grow stronger and improve her chances of survival.
The arrogant members of her clan only irritated her.
Just as they were doing now. Ninja her own age from the clan had surrounded Oto Uchiha, amusement in their eyes.
Oto Uchiha hurried away. She had no interest in arguing with these children. She needed to get home and study her Sharingan and ninjutsu. Those were the foundations she relied on.
But just then, the words of several Uchiha made her stop.
"Oto, are you still teaming up with that mediocre Zou Hyuga?"
"It's been three years, and you're still Genin?"
"I heard you only take D-rank missions and don't even dare accept C-rank ones. Is it because you're too weak, or do you just want to hide in your shells?"
"You should leave that team and team up with your clansmen instead. You'll become a Chunin in no time."
"How can members of the great Uchiha clan team up with outsiders? Even if we do, they should at least be Chunin."
Oto Uchiha's expression shifted. She hated it when anyone disparaged Zou Hyuga, even if these clansmen really did mean well and were simply misguided in how they expressed themselves.
No one understood Zou Hyuga's strength better than she did. She and Zou Hyuga were merely hiding their abilities.
During her three years as a ninja, every time she undertook a mission above D-rank with Zou Hyuga, they somehow ended up encountering enemy Chunin or Jonin.
Had they not concealed their strength, they might have died on a mission long ago.
Still, if she only used Taijutsu to teach these clan brats a lesson without using her Sharingan, it should not disrupt the cautious plan she and Zou had made.
Oto Uchiha quietly loosened her wrists, preparing to teach these young brats a lesson they would never forget.
The clan brats were still grinning and joking, clearly oblivious to the seriousness of their situation.
Just as Oto Uchiha was about to strike, someone appeared, dispersed the Uchiha clansmen, and walked up to her.
Looking at the fellow clan ninja before her, who was even shorter than she was, Oto Uchiha folded her arms and abandoned the idea of teaching those brats a lesson.
With the clan's genius, Shisui Uchiha, here, she had better not stir up trouble.
Before you continue