The sky had gone late and red, with clouds stretching across the horizon.
Hinata came home from school in high spirits; before she even stepped through the gate, her chatter with Hanako could be heard in the yard. Hiashi Hyūga happened to be strolling there and, hearing the voices, smiled as he looked in their direction.
Hinata and Hanako crossed the threshold. Hinata slipped her hand from Hanako's and ran forward a few steps to throw herself into Hiashi's arms. She pouted, "Father — why didn't you come pick me up from school?"
Hiashi lifted his daughter and soothed her, "I had business this afternoon and couldn't go with your mother." He asked about school. Hinata answered with bright enthusiasm: she liked the Academy, the classmates were friendly, and Iruka-sensei was very kind.
Hiashi smiled, relieved. As clan head, he was a traditional patriarch who adored his children. Hinata, as the second daughter and a branch-house child, didn't carry the same succession burden as the heir; Hiashi mainly wanted her to grow up happy and healthy.
Lately, with Shinichi's successes and the wider village stabilizing, Hiashi had more time for family life and enjoyed these small moments.
Hiashi gently warned Hinata about behaving well with classmates — don't bully others in the name of the clan. If someone wronged her and she had cause, he'd back her, but she should be careful not to take advantage of her status.
Hinata assured him she wouldn't. She explained Iruka had organized a field sparring exercise and that she had fought a girl named Sakura — she'd won, but Sakura hadn't been seriously trained and had cried. Hinata said she had apologized and would send gifts to the Sakura family.
At the table that evening, the family gathered for their customary meal. Hiashi called for Shinichi to join them; these dinners were one of the few times everyone stayed together. Hiashi asked about the letter from the Fourth Hokage.
Shinichi explained that Minato had invited him to serve as one of the instructors overseeing Kushina Uzumaki's training. Kushina was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, and Minato planned a careful program to help her learn to control the beast's chakra.
The team leader would be Jiraiya; the squad included Yamato (a Wood-style user), Shisui (Shisui—referred to as a trusted friend), and Shinichi himself. Shinichi had agreed.
Hiashi's face tightened with concern — helping a jinchūriki adapt involved deliberately unsealing and guiding parts of the tailed beast chakra.
The risk of a sudden berserk release was real. Shinichi reassured him: Minato had planned thoroughly, Jiraiya was in command, Yamato's Wood release could restrain things, Shisui's skill would help, and Shinichi himself had his Flying Thunder God to fall back on if needed. Hiashi remained wary but, seeing his son's determination, told him to be cautious and to retreat at any sign of trouble.
A few days later, Shinichi arrived at the Hokage's office. Minato noted the boy had matured — his chakra felt "heavier," and Minato suspected Shinichi had grown much stronger. Minato's confidence in the plan deepened.
Yamato and Shisui were already there when Shinichi arrived, quietly drinking water on the sofa. Then, with a sudden thunderous crash outside, the office filled with wind and dust and, in the swirl, a tall, cloaked figure stepped inside.
A flash of white mist rolled in. The newcomer stomped down in wooden clogs, long hair whipping, and announced himself in a prolonged, theatrical voice:
"Jii-raaaa-yaaaaa!"
Minato pinched his brow and greeted him with a wry smile. Shinichi and the others rose and bowed; some — like Yamato and Shisui — were meeting one of the Legendary Sannin up close for the first time. Jiraiya's reputation preceded him, but his persona — loud, flamboyant, almost irreverent — surprised them.
He looked at the assembled youths and complained good-naturedly to Minato, "Hey! Minato — all these kids? You want me to take these youngsters on such an important mission? Dangerous, dangerous!"
Minato laughed and assured him these were the men he'd selected. To Jiraiya's eyes, the team looked very young, and he voiced the natural worry any veteran would have.
Minato replied that they would run a brief field exercise so everyone could learn each other's strengths and prepare for surprises. Kushina was already waiting at the training site; they should move out.
At Minato's nod, everyone shook hands and then used Flying Thunder God: in an instant, they were beside a wide lake ringed by dense forest.
On one shore was open grassland; the opposite side rose in a sheer cliff with wooden buildings built into it — a remote training base Minato had secretly prepared, at least thirty kilometers from Konoha. The place was chosen to contain any fallout if Kushina lost control.
Minato had been meticulous: a secluded training site, escape restraints, and measures to reduce civilian risk. He admitted the danger of training a jinchūriki weighed heavily on him, but he'd taken every step he could think of.
The team assembled on the grass as evening closed in, the lake reflecting red clouds. Jiraiya took in the group, eyeing the young faces with a mixture of amusement and professional curiosity. The mission to help Kushina would begin here.
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