"Minato-kun, according to the report you just gave, there was a two-day gap. What were you doing then?"
In the Hokage's Office, Hyuga Hiashi questioned Minato Namikaze with a grave expression. On official matters, most missions were now assigned by him as Hokage Advisor. On private matters, the Hyuga Clan also followed closely in Orochimaru's footsteps. If the clan had had an unmarried woman of suitable age, he would have wanted to arrange a marriage with Nawaki.
The Hyuga Clan did not oppose its women marrying outside the clan. One or two such marriages would not have much effect on the Hyuga Clan, and a woman from the Main Family had married outside the clan many years ago. Without marriages within the clan, however, the Hyuga Clan's bloodline would keep thinning until they could no longer awaken the Byakugan.
Minato Namikaze said apologetically, "I caught a cold, so I rested for two days before continuing toward the Land of Lightning. I'm very sorry."
"Minato-kun, with a reason like that, how can you expect us to..."
Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened as he spoke, but before he could finish, Orochimaru interrupted from beside him.
"Let it go, Hiashi. After all, the Fourth Raikage's attack on the village was unexpected. The mission didn't require Minato-kun to head to the Land of Lightning immediately. It was all just a coincidence..."
Orochimaru spoke with a smile. His reassuring words did not put Minato Namikaze at ease; instead, they gave him a bad feeling.
Just as Minato Namikaze feared, Orochimaru's next words left him without even the right to choose.
"Minato-kun, we'll let the previous two missions go. There were understandable reasons as well as unexpected factors. But if anything unexpected happens on this next mission, I'll consider retiring you as a ninja."
After Orochimaru finished,