Minato's Fourth Hokage
The next morning, a resonant meow reverberated through the tranquil streets of Konoha.
A verdant figure sprinted with urgency, cradling a frantic kitten in his arms, disregarding the superficial scratches on his face.
Hidden behind a nondescript garbage can, his young son, Might Guy, observed the spectacle with a cocktail of frustration and shame.
Despite his tender age, Might Guy had already undertaken numerous missions. Aware of his father's status as a low-ranked ninja burdened with a questionable reputation, he found himself relegated to inconspicuous tasks.
The weight of embarrassment clung to him—how could he take pride in a father who garnered little respect?
Regrettably, his father's task completion rate was subpar, dissuading fellow ninjas from forming teams with him. Consequently, he was relegated to menial work within the village, tasked with inconsequential duties like carrying out mundane errands and rescuing stranded cats.
Suddenly, young Guy's eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed an unexpected encounter. His father had halted in his tracks to engage in conversation with none other than the revered leader of the Uchiha clan, Lord Fugaku, the epitome of power and respect in the village.
Guy rubbed his eyes, half-expecting the surreal scene to dissipate like a fleeting dream.
"Lord Fugaku? Aren't you supposed to be on the battlefield? Why do you return to the village?" Might Duy, Guy's father, queried in astonishment.
Fugaku, sporting a warm smile, replied, "I returned to check on my son. Have you completed your mission? Heading to the hokage's office? I'm en route there as well. Let's proceed together."
While convention dictated an immediate report to the Hokage upon returning, Fugaku had spent the day with his wife and children.
"Haha, it's a great honor to walk with you, Lord Fugaku!" Duy exclaimed cheerfully, cat still in tow, as he followed Fugaku towards the Hokage's office.
Might Guy found himself grappling with incredulity at the sight before him. The leader of the Uchiha clan and the eternal genin strode side by side, engaged in animated conversation, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Passersby stared in a mix of curiosity and disbelief at this improbable pairing, an extraordinary juxtaposition that defied the norms of the village.
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In the confines of the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage cast a glance at Uchiha Fugaku, weariness etched on his features.
As the commander, Fugaku had returned to Konoha after a grueling battle with the Suna camp, yet his priorities seemed to lie with familial matters. The Hokage couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness—how could one be so seemingly nonchalant about the ongoing war?
His gaze shifted to Might Duy, still cradling the cat, and a faint smile touched his lips.
"You've got quite the talent for locating cats, Duy," he remarked, the irony not lost on him.
"Just place the cat in that cage. There's another D-rank mission waiting for you." With a discreet handoff, he presented Duy with a new mission card.
Duy's eyes sparkled with eagerness at the prospect of another mission. He eagerly snatched the card, bid farewell to Fugaku, and promptly made his exit.
Fugaku shook his head in mild disbelief. "Hokage-sama, are you treating him as nothing more than a laborer?"
"It can't be helped. He's better off not knowing what we're talking about," sighed the Third Hokage, a wry smile playing on his lips.
Fugaku, in response, nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, concurring with the Third Hokage's sentiment.
In the realm of Shinobi, there were tasks that weren't excessively perilous. Even the most ordinary Shinobi could handle C-rank escort missions.
However, Might Duy, sans the use of the Eight Gates, struggled to best his own son, who had yet to reach double digits in age. The predicament left him unfit for more precarious missions, with no takers willing to risk partnering with him.
"I've got some news here. The Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning seem to be planning to attack the Land of Fire," the Third Hokage disclosed, taking a drag from his cigarette with caution evident in his tone.
"Hokage-sama, don't worry. I've been in contact with Shikaku, and there is no movement on the Suna village side for the time being," Fugaku reassured.
He understood the unspoken request—a return to the battlefield to safeguard from the Suna village. The Third Hokage's implication was clear: the Land of Fire faced a perilous situation if the neighboring countries decided to strike.
The Third Hokage, acknowledging Fugaku's diplomatic efforts, offered an awkward smile. "Well, if you have a plan, I won't say anything more. I've heard of your achievements. You're very strong. Don't you aspire to be the Fourth Hokage?"
"Fourth Hokage? No, thank you. That's Minato's job. I'm not interested," Fugaku asserted, his response catching the Third Hokage off guard.
"Minato?" The mention of Minato left the Third Hokage shocked, aware that Minato was Jiraiya's student.
The Third Hokage couldn't fathom the idea of Minato assuming such a significant role, considering his youth and relative lack of experience.
Frowning, the Third Hokage tried to discern Fugaku's intentions. Did Fugaku believe Minato was a suitable candidate for the Hokage position?
As the conversation continued, they exchanged casual banter, each lost in their own thoughts. Unbeknownst to Fugaku, the Third Hokage wore a perplexed expression, grappling with the implications of Fugaku's answer.
They chatted casually, each with their own thoughts. Fugaku was about to leave.
As Fugaku prepared to depart, a sudden recollection prompted him to turn around, retrieving a scroll from his arm. With a puff of white smoke, a small cash box materialized on the table.
Despite its modest size, the box had the capacity to hold a million ryo, though only three or four million remained within.
Seizing the moment, Fugaku withdrew a hundred thousand ryo and handed it to the Hokage.
"I just thought of something. Might Duy lives in a subpar house at the edge of the village. Could you use your influence to make his house nicer? A hundred thousand ryo should be enough."
In the world of ninjas, where costs for ninja-related endeavors were exorbitant, land and building materials were relatively affordable.
Fugaku, as the leader of the Uchiha clan, possessed ample financial resources and didn't hesitate to spend some for a noble cause.
He had brought money from the front lines and received two million ryo from Komeko, the princess of the Land of Grass.
Though Fugaku didn't anticipate any rewards, Komeko insisted, and the generous sum she bestowed equated to the compensation for an S-rank mission.
Fugaku had even offered to split it with Jiraiya, who, despite his penchant for money in anime, declined the offer.
"It's no big deal, right?" Fugaku nonchalantly remarked, embodying a blend of generosity and humility in his actions.
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That's it for this week. I'm going to spend some time proofreading the last three week's releases over the weekend. We'll meet again on Monday.
Since the quality of the story has regressed quite a lot, and with the lack of support, it's quite hard to get someone to do proofreading. It's becoming a bit boring to talk about, and, dear reader, one more thing: I'll release the DC fanfic on Monday, which was due a few months ago.
For early access to chapters up to chapter 175 visit my patreon Happy reading!
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