"Go on."
Minato turned and picked up a document from the desk, masking the exhaustion in his eyes. "Go to the hospital and see Kushina and Naruto. She was just mentioning you—said if you didn't show up, she'd storm the Anbu headquarters with the baby in her arms to find you."
At the mention of his mentor's wife, a flicker of life finally returned to Kakashi's hollow eyes.
"Yes, Sensei."
Kakashi gave a respectful bow and turned toward the door. As he reached the threshold, he paused and looked back.
Under the lamp's glow, Minato Namikaze sat with his head bowed over his work. His golden hair shimmered in the light; he still looked every bit the omnipotent, warm, and reliable "Yellow Flash."
The haze in Kakashi's heart cleared significantly.
The door closed softly.
As the sound of footsteps faded, the office fell back into a dead silence.
The pen in Minato's hand dropped onto the desk with a sharp clack.
He seemed to lose all strength, slumping back into his chair. He raised a hand to cover his eyes, shielding them from the harsh light.
"You look quite pathetic, Fourth."
A playful voice suddenly rang out.
A purple toad had appeared on the corner of the desk at some unknown point, staring at Minato with bulging eyes.
It was Gamakon.
"If Obito heard what you just said, the kid would probably be fuming," Gamakon remarked with a curl of his lip. "On one hand, you've got Kakashi moved to tears; on the other, you're secretly calculating how to drag your other student back and break his legs... Tsk, tsk. Human emotions are truly a mess."
Minato lowered his hand, a wry smile touching his lips.
"Gamakon-san, please don't tease me."
"I'm not teasing." Gamakon hopped onto the pile of documents and found a comfortable spot to lie down. "I'm reminding you. You're walking a tightrope. If Kakashi were a bit more perceptive, or if that Obito kid lost his mind and came back to shout a few more words, this 'Deep Bond of Master and Student' act you've carefully built would be totally exposed."
"That is precisely why I need your help, along with Lord Jiraiya's."
Minato sat up straight. The weakness in his eyes vanished, replaced by the calm, sharp intellect of the Hokage.
"I've temporarily suppressed the curse mark on Obito. Madara can no longer control him at will like before. However, his current mindset... it's dangerous."
"It's beyond dangerous." Gamakon rolled his eyes. "The kid is basically a late-stage anti-social brat with delusions of grandeur. His head is filled with nothing but 'I want to create a world with Rin in it.' Trying to talk him out of it? That's going to be tough."
"Then we use action."
Minato's fingers tapped lightly on the desk. "The attack was repelled, but Obito won't just give up. Furthermore, regarding Danzo..."
"That old fossil is definitely sharpening his claws for the Uchiha," Gamakon finished for him. "Even though there wasn't massive destruction this time, rumors like 'the attacker was an Uchiha' will be impossible to suppress. Obito didn't show his face, but Kakashi saw the Sharingan, and so did the Anbu. The Uchiha clan is going to take the fall for this."
Minato nodded, his brow furrowed.
"That is exactly what I'm worried about. If we don't handle this properly, Konoha will descend into internal chaos first."
"So, you lied to the Third and to Kakashi." Gamakon looked at Minato meaningfully. "You claimed the masked man wasn't an Uchiha and that the Sharingan was stolen."
"It's the only way for now." Minato sighed. "If I admit it was Obito Uchiha, not only would Kakashi collapse, but the entire Uchiha clan would be pushed to the brink. While Fugaku-san considers the bigger picture, the radicals in the clan won't just sit idly by. Once a civil war breaks out, Obito and Madara will be the ones profiting from the chaos."
"The lies of a Hokage..." Gamakon mused. "Sometimes, the truth really does cut deeper than a blade."
Minato stood up and walked to the window.
The rain had stopped, and the dark clouds had parted to reveal the cold moonlight.
The lights of Konoha still flickered brilliantly. After the terror of tonight, this tranquility felt especially precious.
"Gamakon-san."
"Yeah?"
"Regarding the fact that Obito is alive and that he is the masked man... please keep it a secret. Currently, only you, Jiraiya-sensei, and I know."
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed tighter than a toad's oil jar." Gamakon let out a yawn. "But how do you plan to deal with Uchiha Madara? And that Black Zetsu thing?"
At the mention of Black Zetsu, Minato's gaze instantly turned cold and sharp.
"That thing is the source of all this evil."
"Obito was manipulated by him. As long as we eliminate Black Zetsu, there's a chance Obito can return to us."
Minato turned back to the map of Konoha on his desk, his eyes locking onto a shadow at the village's edge.
"From here on, I'm taking the initiative."
"Since they like to hide in the dark and weave conspiracies, I'll stir this pool of water until it's completely murky and drag them out one by one."
"Oh?" Gamakon sounded intrigued. "Got a plan?"
The corners of Minato's mouth curled up, suddenly revealing a mischievous smirk.
"That's a secret for now!"
"As for Obito..."
Minato's finger pointed to the site of the old Kannabi Bridge on the map.
"Since he wants to create a fake world so badly, I'll show him that in this real world, there are still things worth holding onto."
"The bonds with Kakashi and Rin... and the teachings of his master."
"This time, the lesson isn't over yet."
Watching Minato's aura flare up, Gamakon couldn't help but whistle inwardly.
That's more like it.
This was the "Yellow Flash" who made the shinobi world tremble in fear. Kindness was merely his foundation; sharpness and decisiveness were the pillars that allowed him to carry the title of "Hokage."
"Fine, since you put it that way." Gamakon stretched. "I'll indulge you and go along with this madness one more time. But let's get this straight: once we're done, I want Ichiraku Ramen—the kind with ten extra narutomaki."
Minato blinked, then burst into laughter. That warm smile finally returned to his face.
"No problem."
"Eat your fill."
"Oh, right."
"Jiraiya sent me to tell you to get your butt over to Kushina. What kind of father isn't by their side at a time like this?"
But when Gamakon looked up, Minato was already gone.
Gamakon shook his head helplessly.
...
With a flash of golden light, Minato Namikaze's silhouette materialized.
Before he could even steady his footing, a broad, calloused hand slammed down heavily on his shoulder with the sound of rushing wind.
No chakra was used, but the force was so great that the physically and mentally exhausted Minato nearly stumbled to his knees.
"You're late again, Minato!"