Between What I Want and What Must Be

Hokage's Office – Nighttime

The sky over Konoha had turned dark when Minato arrived at the Hokage Tower. His breath was still slightly ragged after running from Kushina's house, but he forced his body to stay calm. With a firm stride and a face that remained innocent yet serious, the blond-haired boy knocked on the main office door.

"Come in," came the voice of the Third Hokage from inside.

Minato opened the door, and as his eyes swept the room, his heart pounded.

It wasn't just Hiruzen Sarutobi who was waiting for him there. Also present were three other figures: Danzo Shimura sitting upright with a cold expression, Koharu Utatane with a calm yet piercing gaze, Mitokado Homura as usual busy reading over his notes, and Akimichi Torifu, the large man smiling warmly with a snack pouch resting on his lap.

This was Minato's first time facing the Konoha Elders directly. Although he was still very young, his ninja instincts told him this meeting was far from ordinary.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Minato," Hiruzen said in a kind tone. "Please, take a seat."

Minato nodded and sat down on the chair, maintaining a respectful posture.

"First of all," Hiruzen continued, "we all want to thank you for your brave actions tonight. If not for your speed and precision, this incident could have turned into a major crisis."

Minato bowed politely. "I only did what a ninja is supposed to do, Hokage-sama."

Koharu glanced at Hiruzen, then whispered, "Responsible, just like you said."

Hiruzen smiled and then looked at Minato. "Minato, do you know who Uzumaki Kushina really is?"

Minato shook his head. "I just know that she's… my friend. And she's special."

Hiruzen exchanged a brief glance with Danzo before speaking. "She is more than just special. She is the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails—Kyūbi."

Minato's eyes widened, but he remained silent, listening. Hiruzen explained calmly—about the Bijuu, about the vital role Jinchuriki play in maintaining the balance of power in the village, and how Kushina had replaced Mito Uzumaki.

Minato listened without interrupting, his face slowly shifting into an unreadable expression—somewhere between shock, confusion, and sympathy.

"She… carries all that alone?" Minato murmured at last.

"It's not easy for someone her age," Hiruzen said gently. "Which is why she needs someone who can protect her—physically and... emotionally."

Danzo gave Minato a sharp glance but said nothing.

After a moment, Homura spoke up. "We've finished discussing the next course of action. But as an official form of gratitude from the village, we've decided to give you something… special."

Torifu leaned forward. "Not chips, of course."

Minato gave a polite, puzzled smile.

Hiruzen brought out an old scroll, tightly sealed with the Senju Clan symbol.

"This is a very powerful technique. It was created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Its name—Hiraishin no Jutsu. An instantaneous teleportation technique using space-time seals."

Minato swallowed hard. "That's… too valuable…"

"And that's exactly why only you can receive it," Danzo replied flatly.

"May I… really learn it?" Minato asked softly.

"That's up to you. We're merely giving you the key. The rest… depends on your own efforts," Hiruzen replied.

Minato stood and bowed deeply. "Thank you for this trust."

He left the room with the scroll in hand, still processing all the information he'd just learned. Kushina's identity… the Bijuu… and now, a space-time technique?

'Too much for one night,' Minato thought as he looked up at the calm night sky.

Back in the Hokage's Office

As soon as Minato closed the door, the room fell silent again.

Hiruzen set his pipe down and leaned back. "Well… that concludes tonight's performance."

Koharu rolled her eyes. "Since when did the Konoha Council become matchmakers?"

Torifu chuckled. "I guess ever since we got too old for war, Hiruzen started playing political cupid instead."

"Relax," Hiruzen said with a faint smile. "This is all for the village."

"And for your sweet little girl," Homura added, eyeing Danzo while adjusting his glasses.

Danzo, who had been silent until now, tensed slightly.

"I'm doing this for the village's destiny. Not because—"

"Not because of Mizuki?" Hiruzen interrupted playfully. "Then why didn't you object when we discussed the plan yesterday?"

"Because it made sense," Danzo replied curtly, then stood. "I won't be part of any more foolish discussions like this."

Koharu chimed in, flicking her sleeve. "Up to the point of patting Mizuki on the head, huh? If that's not personal attention, I don't know what is."

Danzo's face hardened, but he remained composed. "My student… is a village investment. I'm merely ensuring she stays on the right path."

"By patting her head like your own child?" Hiruzen chuckled more openly now. "Come on, Danzo. You can kill a hundred enemies without blinking, but can't handle a single compliment?"

Danzo opened the door, then paused.

"…She's not just a student," he said softly, before walking out without looking back.

His cloak billowed behind him, not without a slight redness coloring his ears.

As the door closed, the Elders all smiled.

"He didn't deny it," Torifu quipped, munching on a potato chip.

"Incredible," Koharu said while sipping her tea. "Mizuki really is bringing out the human side of Danzo."

Hiruzen looked toward the window, watching the full moon shine softly above the village.

"May their future… be brighter than our past," he murmured quietly.

Koharu sipped her tea, Homura unfurled a mission scroll, and the night continued—bearing witness to the conspiracies and hopes that shrouded Konoha in the shadows.

Outer Forests of Konoha – Team 6's First C-Rank Mission

The morning sun lit up the dusty trail where a small bandit camp had been reported for disrupting trade routes from the Land of Rivers. Team 6 moved lightly along the path—or at least, they were supposed to. But today, something felt… off.

Jiraiya, leading at the front, glanced back with narrowed eyes. He observed his three students—Minato walked silently, his eyes distant as if someone important had just left him. Mizuki walked slowly, her face blank, but a clear glint of frustration burned in her eyes. Dekai… well, as usual, looked ready to nap on the spot.

'Weird,' Jiraiya thought as he scratched his chin. 'Weren't they all excited just yesterday about finally getting a C-rank mission? Now they look like they were all scolded by their mothers… or rejected by their first crushes.'

His gaze lingered on Minato. He knew part of the story—Hiruzen had told him in broad strokes about Kushina's status and how important her emotional state was. But no, the Hokage hadn't said anything about matchmaking—and Jiraiya was smart enough not to dig further.

'The real question is… why does Mizuki look heartbroken too?' Jiraiya thought suspiciously. 'Minato, fine—that makes sense. But Mizuki? She's usually calm and calculating. Now she looks like a doll with a dead battery.'

Jiraiya slowed down, then slipped beside Mizuki with a sly grin.

"Hmm~ my smart and beautiful student… why do you look gloomier than a rainy cloud?" he teased.

Mizuki immediately straightened her shoulders and stepped back slightly. "N-nothing, sensei. Just… didn't sleep well," she said quickly, trying to dodge.

'Interesting.' Jiraiya drew closer, his grin growing more mysterious. "Could it be… you like someone, Mizuki?"

Mizuki froze like a statue. Her normally pale face turned as red as the Uchiha clan fan.

"W-What?! Don't say nonsense, sensei!"

"Oh~? So it's not Minato, then?"

"I NEVER SAID THAT!"

Minato and Dekai turned in surprise. Minato stared at Mizuki, confused. "Huh...? What's going on?"

Jiraiya quickly stepped over and threw an arm around Minato's shoulder with a mock-wise expression. "Kid, let me teach you an important lesson from a seasoned sage—if two girls are paying attention to you, don't act too clueless. Pick one, or be ready to get chased by both!"

Minato tilted his head. "Huh? I just—I mean, Mizuki's my friend, but..."

Before Jiraiya could continue his weird lecture—

"Hakke Kūshō!!"

A blast of wind struck from the side and sent Jiraiya flying like a sack of rice into a large tree trunk. BRUGGH! echoed through the forest.

Jiraiya lay sprawled, hair a mess, trapped among roots, his face covered in leaves.

Mizuki stood with her Byakugan activated, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and pure rage.

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY WEIRD THINGS AGAIN, JIRAIYA-SENSEI! OR I'LL REPORT ALL YOUR BEHAVIOR TO TSUNADE-SENPAI!" Mizuki shouted, her voice shrill like a morning alarm bell.

At that threat, Jiraiya panicked. He scrambled up and prostrated himself on the ground.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Don't call Tsunade! Please! I still want to live to see the Autumn Festival!"

Minato could only stand there, sweat dripping, watching the scene unfold.

"…What's even happening…?" he murmured.

Dekai, who had been watching without much reaction, sighed and said flatly, "I just want to finish the mission, eat lunch, and sleep... Why is life full of drama?"

After that ridiculous incident, Team 6 continued toward the bandit hideout.

Along the way, the mood lightened. Mizuki had returned to her usual self—or at least tried to.

Minato was still processing Mizuki's words and Jiraiya's remarks, though he hadn't fully grasped the meaning. Did Mizuki… like him?

Jiraiya, nursing his sore back, smiled faintly.

'Ah, youth… first love, frustration, secrets—all the perfect ingredients for a novel!'

He pulled a small scroll from his sleeve and started jotting things down.

Mizuki eyed him sharply. "Sensei… you're not writing another novel again, are you?"

Jiraiya quickly hid the scroll behind his cloak. "O-of course not! I'm just… taking down combat strategies!"

"I think the title should be Forbidden Love in the Bandit Forest," Dekai quipped flatly.

And their laughter echoed along the dusty trail bathed in morning light.