Still, this had considerable benefits. After confirming that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had reached the perfect level and all its negative effects had disappeared, Sōkyū Hatake felt some of his lingering anxiety ease.
After all, the world of Naruto was one where the strong ruled supreme, and that strength encompassed not only personal ability but also political power.
Yes, now that he had gained a basic ability to protect himself, Sōkyū Hatake would have to start working on political power!
This was a right the Hatake Clan already possessed as one of the clans that had supported the Hokage from the very beginning: a seat on the Council of Elders!
At present, the Council of Elders had temporarily left the Hatake Clan Council of Elders seat vacant on the grounds that the clan had few members and neither of the two Hatake brothers had reached adulthood.
Of course, the reasoning held up. Kakashi was only nine now, and Sōkyū Hatake was only five!
No matter how one looked at it, leaving the Council of Elders seat vacant under that pretext was perfectly reasonable on paper.
Of course, if Hatake Sakumo were still alive, Hiruzen Sarutobi would naturally never have brought the matter up.
One could only say that Hatake Sakumo's strength had also represented a powerful threat in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
Thus, when Danzo dragged Hatake Sakumo into a storm of public opinion, Hiruzen Sarutobi had done nothing to stop him and had even helped fan the flames behind the scenes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's influence had been present in all of this, both openly and in secret!
"Pika pika?" Just then, Pikachu, who had gone out to play a short while earlier, came up beside Sōkyū Hatake and immediately noticed something different about him!
Pikachu sensed something about Sōkyū Hatake that felt highly compatible with himself. It was not compatibility through their bond, but compatibility in their abilities?
"Perfect timing, Pikachu. Take a look at this! Thunderclap!" Looking at Pikachu, who had suddenly appeared, Sōkyū Hatake grew playful and tossed the arc of electricity in his hand toward him.
As the arc reached Pikachu, an intense surge of lightning instantly enveloped him!
"Pika pi~" Pikachu curiously examined the lightning around him. It seemed as though this lightning would not hurt him, and he even felt as if he were being charged.
"Hehe, pretty impressive, isn't it?" Sōkyū Hatake said with a mischievous grin, casually withdrawing the lightning surrounding Pikachu.
"Pika pika~" Pikachu jumped onto Sōkyū Hatake's shoulder and affectionately rubbed against his cheek.
"That tickles~"
"Little Sōkū, have Kakashi and the others still not returned?" Inside Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi looked curiously at Sōkyū Hatake, who had just entered.
Over the past year, Teuchi had often seen Sōkyū Hatake.
Especially over the past few months, after Kakashi had gone to the front lines, Sōkyū Hatake had been visiting more and more frequently.
Of course, looking at Ayame, who was always beside Sōkyū Hatake, Teuchi seriously questioned whether Sōkyū Hatake's excuse of "I can't be bothered to cook for just myself" was really true.
"Sōkū, did you get a little taller again?" Ayame looked at Sōkyū Hatake curiously. Why did it feel as though he grew taller every day?
"I suppose so. Ayame, you need to eat more meat to grow tall. Uncle Teuchi, double the pork bones in my tonkotsu ramen!" Sōkyū Hatake turned and called to Teuchi.
"I know, I know," Teuchi said, a little disgruntled. His daughter seemed to be mentioning Sōkyū Hatake even more often lately.
He kept feeling as though his little girl was about to be stolen away, which made him very uncomfortable.
Despite those thoughts, when Teuchi served Sōkyū Hatake his pork bones, he still put in at least twice the usual amount.
You little brat, you'd better grow up properly.
"Sōkū, are you going to the training ground again today?" Ayame asked, holding Pikachu in her arms as she looked at Sōkyū Hatake's white hair.
Lately, perhaps because Sōkyū Hatake visited so often, Ayame had increasingly shifted her attention from Pikachu to him.
From time to time, when her gaze passed over Sōkyū Hatake, there was even a hint of shyness in her eyes.
"I'm giving myself a day off today. Ayame, is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Sōkyū Hatake leaned back in his chair. Teuchi had not finished making his noodles yet.
"Yes, yes! How about we go shopping?" At Sōkyū Hatake's words, Ayame's eyes shone with anticipation.
"Ayame, have you forgotten that you're supposed to learn to make noodles with me this afternoon?" Just then, Teuchi emerged from the kitchen at precisely the right moment and gave Sōkyū Hatake a threatening look.
"Ah... right." Ayame lowered her head in disappointment. She had indeed already made that arrangement with her father today.
"It's fine. We can just go shopping next time. Next time, Ayame." Growing playful, Sōkyū Hatake tapped Ayame's forehead with his index finger.
Hmm, that suddenly felt like Itachi.
"Mm-hmm~" Ayame said, touching her forehead.
"Little Sōkū, eating here at Teuchi's again today?" Just then, an elderly voice sounded behind Sōkyū Hatake.
"Good afternoon, Grandpa Hokage. Are you here to eat too?" Sōkyū Hatake narrowed his eyes, then turned to look at the person behind him.
"Yes. Biwako is working overtime at the hospital today, and there's nothing to eat at home, so I came to Teuchi's for some ramen." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sōkyū Hatake with a smile.
"Lord Hokage, what would you like?" Teuchi asked, giving Hiruzen Sarutobi only a slight nod.
"Teuchi... I'll have a bowl of chashu ramen. Even after all these years, your ramen is still the best," Hiruzen Sarutobi said directly.
"All right, one chashu ramen!" Teuchi called out loudly before returning to the kitchen.
Ayame, who had been rather lively earlier, pursed her lips, then returned to her place at the register.
"Grandpa Hokage, did you need something from me?" Sōkyū Hatake looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with those "clear" eyes of his. Hiruzen Sarutobi had said it himself just now.
Eating here "again" today.
Granted, Sōkyū Hatake had eaten at Ichiraku Ramen many times lately, but that also meant... there was a good chance Hiruzen Sarutobi was keeping an eye on his movements from time to time.
Honestly... an old fox with a thousand years of practice playing supernatural mind games. What exactly had he come all this way to see me for?
Before you continue