"Knock, knock, knock!"
The sound of knocking echoed, Minato paused his pen, looked up, and said warmly, "Please come in."
As the door opened, a bird-masked Anbu entered, then came to the desk, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Hokage-sama, the citizens downstairs have been evacuated, and the Mission Hall has returned to order."
Earlier, due to the succession ceremony, the road in front of the Hokage Building was already completely blocked, severely affecting the Ninja who were going to the Mission Hall to hand in and receive missions.
After the ceremony ended, a large number of Ninja were dispatched to clear the roads, and after some effort, the Mission Hall returned to normal.
"Hmm, you've worked hard, you can go now."
"Yes!"
After the bird-masked Anbu finished speaking, he disappeared with an Instantaneous Body Technique. Just as Minato was about to pick up his pen to continue working, he saw a face suddenly peeking out from the half-open door, looking over.
Minato rubbed his temples, smiling somewhat helplessly, "Come in, Ren."
The face blinked, then withdrew, and then the door opened, revealing a figure, which was Ren.
"Busy, Hokage-sama."
Ren walked into the room, looking at the mountain of documents, a hint of sympathy appearing on his face.
Even someone as strong as the Yellow Flash couldn't escape the fate of work.
"Why aren't you playing with Kakashi and the others? Why are you here?"
During the previous ceremony, he noticed Kakashi and a few others watching from a distance, and also saw his teacher sitting with Ren, not knowing what they were talking about.
"Cough, cough, I need to discuss something with you."
"…"
Seeing that familiar smile, Minato immediately became wary. Every time Ren looked like this, it never meant anything good.
"Tell me, how many days off do you need this time?"
Minato skillfully pulled a leave request form from a nearby cabinet, signed it, then looked up, giving Ren an inquiring gaze.
"I'm not asking for leave."
Ren spread his hands, saying lazily, "The war finally ended, I don't want to go out and cause trouble anymore."
Minato blinked, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Then today you…"
Ren placed a pre-written application form on the desk, smiling, "Here, I want to join Anbu."
"Hmm?"
Minato truly hadn't expected Ren's request. He was silent for a moment, then looked up at Ren and nodded, "Reason?"
Hearing this, Ren immediately puffed out his chest and held his head high, saying with a serious expression, "Everything is for the Village, what reason do I need? I am very willing to dedicate myself to Anbu for the Village and shine brightly within it!"
Minato: "…"
The Anbu lurking in the shadows: "…"
Seeing Minato's face darken, Ren immediately returned to his normal state, moving the other party's hand to the top of the application form, and chuckled, "It'll only take a little bit of your time, just write 'agree,' and I'll take it myself to get the equipment."
"What's your hurry?"
Minato put a hand to his forehead, saying somewhat helplessly, "Anbu is easy to get into but hard to get out of. Are you sure you still want to join?"
"Yes, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi were here today, he wouldn't be able to stop me from joining Anbu."
Ren nodded vigorously, saying with a determined expression.
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became a bit subtle. Ren noticed that Minato, who was sitting behind the desk, suddenly gave him a half-smile, then stood up, bowed slightly towards him, and chuckled, "Third Hokage-sama."
"Hmm?"
Ren's expression instantly stiffened. He slowly turned his head, and what came into view was Hiruzen Sarutobi's tense old face.
"…"
Ren subconsciously took a step back, then another step after realizing, looking at the other party with a dry laugh, "Cough, cough, cough, when did you arrive, old man? Please sit, please sit."
Ren quickly grabbed a chair and placed it behind the other party. Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly, then squinted at Ren, saying with a half-smile, "I can't stop you either?"
"Cough, cough, cough, don't mind those details."
Ren chuckled, then picked up the application form, saying helplessly, "I just can't sit still and want something to do, and also to temper myself in Anbu. The reason is that simple."
Looking at Ren, whose tone was sincere, the two exchanged glances and understood each other's meaning.
"Alright, give it here."
Hearing this, Ren immediately turned and handed it over, afraid that if he was a moment too slow, the other party would change his mind.
Minato took the application form, signed it, then handed it back, while also saying, "Oto."
A figure appeared out of thin air in the room, kneeling on one knee, and respectfully said, "Hokage-sama, Third Hokage-sama!"
Minato's gaze fell on the other party, and he said warmly, "Oto, I'm leaving him to you."
"Yes!"
Oto stood up, took the application form, nodded to Ren, and then walked out.
"Thanks, then I won't bother you two, bye-bye."
Ren waved goodbye to the two of them, then walked out with a smile on his face, following Oto. The room became empty again.
"You may withdraw for now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice to the air.
No one responded, but under their keen senses, the Anbu who had been guarding the perimeter of the Hokage Office had temporarily dispersed and would only return after receiving further instructions.
"Leave the matter of Orochimaru to me to handle."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Minato, saying in a deep voice.
Minato's gaze shifted slightly. After a moment of thought, he replied, "This matter is of great importance. I think it would be better to strengthen defenses now and then observe for a while longer."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent. He looked at Minato in front of him, opening his mouth as if to say something, but the words changed when they reached his lips.
"Then… let's wait and see."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he stood up and walked out, his figure seeming to stoop a few degrees in an instant.
"Bang!"
As the door closed, the Anbu observing from a distance immediately returned to their posts. Minato sat down, remembering the contents of that document, a complex expression on his face.
To be honest, Minato had nothing but respect for Orochimaru, a senior who, like his teacher, was one of the Legendary Sannin.
But now, what the other party had done had touched the bottom line of almost everyone, reaching a point where it had to be dealt with.
However, Minato still wanted to try and save the other party. After all, he was his teacher's close friend, and if something happened, it would be a heavy blow to both the Village and these elders.
Ren knew none of this. At this moment, he and Oto had arrived at the most secluded part of the Hokage Building, where there was nothing but a three-story building.
"Finally…"
Ren raised an eyebrow, looking at the large building in front of him, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upwards.
"We're here."