Chapter 200: The Workaholic Namikaze Minato

"The Fourth Hokage, Tsunade… the villagers really admire her. Will her face be added over there one day too?"

Konan spoke softly, pointing toward the distant Hokage Rock.

"Of course…"

Kyoichi nodded.

Every officially recognized Hokage has their face carved onto the Hokage Rock. Well — with some exceptions for shameful cases.

Unlike Minato, Tsunade's rise to the position was unquestioned.

Her identity, qualifications, ability, and standing —

in every aspect, she was overwhelming.

Among Konoha's shinobi of this generation, no one could match her — not even Orochimaru or Jiraiya. And that's not even counting her lineage as the First Hokage's granddaughter. Just the medical ninja reforms and their implementation had already saved countless lives.

Many people were alive today thanks to Tsunade's policies. Even more owed their survival to her personal medical skills.

So… Tsunade had always been the best candidate for Hokage —it just wasn't always something the Third could decide.

To others, it was simple. Why wouldn't she take the position?

But…for Tsunade, the question had always been: Why should I become Hokage?

Both Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju became Hokage, and both ended up dead. Even Hashirama -- though he died of natural causes — arguably could have lived much longer.

Nawaki and Dan had wanted to be Hokage. Now they were both dead too.

Tsunade couldn't see the meaning in becoming Hokage.

She didn't like the position — even though it was easily within her grasp.

Until Kyoichi appeared.

Now she had returned to Konoha as Hokage for one reason: to ensure Kyoichi's policies could be fully and effectively implemented, to guide Konoha's development in the direction Kyoichi envisioned.

Of course…

she herself also harbored some hopes for that future.

That was the real reason Tsunade had come back.

As for all this…

outsiders could hardly understand it.

Even Kyoichi himself only guessed that Tsunade had returned because of him. What she truly thought —

he didn't fully know.

Tsunade had never said it aloud.

Kyoichi gazed upward, a flicker of nostalgia passing through his eyes.

The scene felt so familiar.

The only difference was… this time, he was the one standing "inside the painting."

"You look like you're feeling sentimental."

"Is it that obvious?"

Kyoichi touched his own face, half amused.

He thought he was pretty good at hiding his expressions —

at least, he wasn't like Obito, whose face always gave away his thoughts.

Konan gave a faint smile. "Not too obvious, but my intuition's usually pretty sharp."

"Haha, so you were baiting me…

It's nothing — just feeling like Tsunade returning to the village still seems like it only happened yesterday.

Makes you reflect a little."

Kyoichi shook his head and turned, walking away from the ceremony site.

The Hokage inauguration was basically over;

all that remained were some formalities and speeches.

…

Konan followed behind.

At this moment, as an outsider from another village, she couldn't just wander around freely —

to avoid misunderstandings.

Besides…

she still had some matters she wanted to discuss with Kyoichi in detail.

Kyoichi understood that well.

So he brought Konan back to his home —

currently, the place in all of Konoha he knew best and felt safest in.

After all, the surrounding plants were now all his eyes and ears.

Anyone entering would immediately be detected.

"I mentioned before — once the Hokage ceremony ended,

I'd more or less be heading to Amegakure with you.

You're wondering what exactly I'm going there for, aren't you?"

"I'm very sorry, but as a shinobi of Amegakure, I must know your intentions."

Konan bowed deeply.

Kyoichi waved it off. "No need to apologize — that's perfectly reasonable. I'm not going to Amegakure with any grand or special motive.

It's mainly for matters within the village itself."

"…I see. That makes sense."

Konan was smart.

With Kyoichi's answer, she could roughly guess what kind of matters these were.

Pressing further would likely touch on village secrets.

After thinking for a moment, she asked,

"So, when do we set out?"

"You're not going to spend some time studying with the lower grades?"

"Heh, come on — having me 'study' is really just you freeing up time to handle other things, isn't it? Though I did learn a lot, to be fair."

Konan gave a small shake of her head.

No — it wasn't necessary.

She'd already absorbed the structure of the academy, how to improve its atmosphere, and its teaching methods.

Different villages had different situations,

so learning finer details here might not even apply.

It was better to head back, discuss, research, and start putting things into practice.

Real knowledge comes from doing!

"Then tomorrow."

"Alright…"

Konan had no objections.

They were setting out tomorrow because Minato wouldn't return until then.

Otherwise, they might have left today.

Of course, sending him off on a mission right after he got back…

Mm.

It was a bit unkind.

Better to let him rest properly after this mission,

give him and Kushina some time together.

The next day…

At home, Kushina was cheerfully trying her hand at cooking,

determined to prepare a table full of signature dishes to welcome Minato back.

But after making a few dishes…

There was a knock at the door.

A Konoha ANBU shinobi —

and judging by the mask, she vaguely remembered this one's codename.

Owl.

Currently the squad leader Kyoichi trusted most.

"Kushina-hime."

"Huh? You're Owl, right? Is something up with the village?"

Kushina wiped her hands.

Gekko Hayate, standing nearby, caught a whiff of the smell inside —

and his face subtly twitched.

This smell…

was truly terrifying!

He quietly felt relieved on Minato's behalf.

Thank goodness Minato hadn't made it home yet.

After all, after the exhaustion of missions, if he came back and ate this…

he'd probably end up in the hospital, right?

Hayate's thoughts drifted.

Then he spoke:

"Minato-sama did return to the village,

but he was assigned a mission at the last minute and had to head out again. So, unfortunately, he won't be coming home just yet."

"Huh? What kind of joke is this?!

Minato's been so busy this month, he hasn't been home even a single day! And I finally worked up the courage to try cooking!"

Kushina's forehead twitched with anger, veins popping.

She looked on the verge of punching someone.

Hayate's mouth twitched slightly behind his mask —

this temper…

yep, she definitely hadn't changed one bit!

He gave a polite bow.

"I deeply apologize, but there was no other choice.

This mission can only be carried out by Minato-sama. I cannot disclose the details — thank you for your understanding."

"Argh!! I'm going to smash Kanda Kyoichi's house to pieces!!"

Kushina roared in fury.

Good thing Hayate had his mask on.

Otherwise, judging by his shaky expression control,

he might've earned himself a spot on the "smash list" too.

"Uh, I've got some matters to handle, so I'll be taking my leave!"

"Get out!"

Kushina slammed the door furiously,

stomping back inside in a huff.

She looked at the full table of food, falling into deep thought.

What to do with all this?

Eat it herself, she supposed.

She picked up her chopsticks and sampled two of the dishes —

but after just one bite of each, her expression turned… complicated.

Silently, she set the utensils down.

A moment later…

She returned to the kitchen and dumped the food out.

"…As I thought, eating ramen alone suits me better.

I'll go have some Ichiraku Ramen,

and afterward, I'm going to settle the score with that no-good Kanda Kyoichi!"

…

"Kushina's probably furious right now…"

On the road to Amegakure, Minato let out a quiet sigh.

He'd even made sure to send word ahead, yet in the end, he hadn't even made it back inside the village.

Another mission.

"Minato, I saved you, you know!

Did you hear? Kushina was cooking!"

"Uh… actually, Kushina's cooking isn't that bad…"

Minato's voice lacked conviction.

Truth be told…

Kushina's cooking skills —

well, they weren't hopeless, just… average at best.

The real issue was that Minato himself was too good at cooking.

At home, he usually handled all the meals,

so Kushina rarely even got the chance to touch the kitchen.

If she personally cooked…

hopefully she'd decide to eat out instead?

That would be best.

Otherwise…

Minato was feeling a bit worried.

"Don't worry, she went out to eat. Probably to Ichiraku. Speaking of which, Tsunade's cooking is awful too. Good thing Shizune's there to help out at home."

Kyoichi couldn't help but sigh.

Minato shot him a helpless look, choosing not to comment, instead asking about the mission details —

why was he the only one who could handle it?

After hearing the explanation,

he realized: oh, it really did have to be him!

The Flying Thunder God Technique…

at the moment, only Minato could use it.

"Minato, have you ever considered training a few others in Flying Thunder God?"

"It's way too hard!"

Minato sighed.

As someone who had learned it himself,

he knew better than anyone how difficult the technique was.

There were just too many requirements.

Most people simply couldn't master it.

Even those who could learn it faced enormous risks —

and might never wield it proficiently.

"Sure, one person alone can't pull it off.

But what if it were used as a team —

three or four people working together?"

"A team? That sounds…

huh, maybe it's worth a try."

Minato had been about to argue,

but on second thought —

if someone else in the village knew Flying Thunder God,

he wouldn't have had to run off on this mission himself.

Looks like…

he'd have to experiment when he got back,

see if anyone else could be trained.

"Why's Kakashi part of this mission, by the way?"

"Oh right —

you helping me out on this mission is only fair!

As for Kakashi, he wanted to join the ANBU.

I blocked him for now, and this outing is your chance to mentor the kid a bit."

"Huh?"

Minato blinked, surprised.

That part…

he really hadn't known.

Lately, he'd been so busy,

he barely had time to check in with Kakashi.

So the kid had come to this point already…

"What about my cover identity?"

"Can't be exposed. I've already explained to Konan —

you're just a Ame-nin assigned to assist. As far as the outside world knows, your secret mission hasn't ended yet."

"…Alright then."

Minato sighed in resignation.

Kakashi, that troublesome kid…

Kyoichi's shadow clone dispersed.

Not long after,

Kyoichi led the team, escorting Konan out of Konoha.

Once they were beyond the village borders…

Kakashi immediately tensed,

his sharp gaze snapping toward a nearby thicket.

Someone's there!

"No need to worry —

it's the Ame-nin sent to assist us. They couldn't enter Konoha, so they've been waiting out here."

"I'm Mizuwa, an Amegakure chunin. Konan-hime, these are…?"

"They're accompanying me to Amegakure for exchange and training."

"I see.

Thank you very much!"

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