"Minato Namikaze is dead?"
Upon hearing this news, a trace of doubt flashed in Hattori's eyes.
"The timing doesn't seem right. Could I have remembered wrong?"
He frowned at the thought, then asked the Third Hokage, "What about Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara? What happened to them?"
"…"
Hiruzen's face grew somber at the question, and after a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.
"Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara… also died. It was last year, during a battle with the Mist. They died three months after you left the village."
"I see."
After hearing this answer, Hattori sighed with a tinge of understanding on his face.
"What a pity!"
"Yes," Hiruzen nodded. "Both Obito and Rin were good kids."
At that, he seemed to remember something and suddenly asked Hattori a question.
"Did you kill the Third Mizukage?"
"No!"
Hattori immediately shook his head in response.
"I didn't kill him. I went to the Hidden Mist Village to sign a peace treaty. Maybe he thought my terms were too harsh, so he took his own life!"
Hiruzen: "→_→"
The Third Mizukage would commit suicide?
As if! This kid just loves to spin tales, not a single honest word. But even if Hattori didn't admit it, Hiruzen had already figured out the truth, so he decided not to press the matter and remained silent.
A moment later, Hattori's voice reached his ears again.
"That 'Dattebane'... did she die too?"
"Dattebane?"
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. "You mean Kushina, right? Yes, she died alongside Minato."
"I see."
Hattori's expression turned wistful upon hearing this.
"So, she died too. She was always going around saying 'Dattebane, Dattebane,' and meddling in other people's business—so annoying!"
"…"
Hiruzen remained silent, watching Hattori as if searching for something in his expression.
But Hattori, having gone through so much, was no longer the naive shinobi who wore his emotions on his face.
Seeing Hiruzen looking his way, Hattori grinned widely.
"Heh heh, without Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Konoha must be at the end of its rope, right? So, Third Hokage, if the Sand and Leaf villages were to fight again, who would win?"
"Haha… hard to say."
Hiruzen adjusted the brim of his Hokage hat slightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.
"We'd have to try it to find out. Does the esteemed Flame Salamander want to test my strength and see how I compare to the Third Mizukage?"
"Hm… that sounds like a good idea."
Hattori nodded and casually pulled out the puppet seal scroll behind him.
"Be careful, Lord Hokage!"
Seeing his move, the two ANBU standing behind Hiruzen immediately leaped in front of him to shield him.
But Hiruzen burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, don't worry. Hattori and I are old friends, after all. Besides, this is the daimyo's residence; he won't make a move on me here!"
"Hehe… don't be so sure!"
With just those words, Hattori's remark had the ANBU on high alert again.
At that moment, a sharp voice reached their ears.
"Hattori, look at me—does this outfit suit the master-puppet recognition ceremony?"
Hearing the voice, Hiruzen and the two ANBU looked toward the source of the sound.
In their sight appeared the daimyo of the Land of Fire, dressed in a green-and-white striped robe, accompanied by several officials of the Fire Nation as he approached them.
Seeing this, Hiruzen bowed to him immediately.
"Daimyo!"
"Oh-ho-ho-ho…"
The Fire Daimyo let out an owl-like laugh and waved his fan.
"Well, if it isn't the Third Hokage! Are you here to witness Hattori's master-puppet ceremony as well?"
"Master-puppet?"
Hiruzen looked confused, then chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I didn't know about any puppet ceremony. I was just reminiscing with Hattori about some old friends."
"Old friends? Oh, so you know Hattori too, Third Hokage!"
The daimyo's face lit up with realization, nodding.
"Ah, no wonder. These days, anyone of stature wishes to have a loyal master-puppet as a bodyguard—it's quite the treasure!"
"Hehe… you flatter me, Daimyo."
Hearing the daimyo's high praise, Hattori smiled and slowly unrolled the sealing scroll in his hand.
"Enough chit-chat; let's begin the master-puppet ceremony—Seal, Release!"
With a low shout, ten elegantly designed "Samurai Spirits" puppets appeared before everyone.
After unsealing the puppets, Hattori spun in place and pointed toward the Fire Daimyo with a dramatic flourish.
"Shatter reality, destroy spirit, banish this world! From this day forward, this man is your new master.
"Hesitation leads to defeat, cowardice invites death. Fight for him until the world meets its end!"
At his words, the ten puppets, controlled by his mind, knelt before the daimyo—
"My sword is your sword!"
"I will guide you."
"Though the enemy is many, I will fell them in a single strike!"
Fire Daimyo: "(Д*)"
Officials: "(Д*)"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "(Д*)"
Hattori: "(ω`)"
Looking at everyone's reactions, Hattori felt as if he were back in the Land of Wind, dealing with its foolish aristocrats.
So, fooling them came naturally.
"Daimyo of the Land of Fire, from now on, these ten 'Resurrected' puppet guards are yours to command!"
"Ah… excellent!"
The daimyo's expression shifted as he looked curiously at Hattori. "How do they compare to the Twelve Guardian Ninjas?"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen grew interested and nodded.
"Indeed, I'd like to know as well. After all, as your bodyguards, even if temporarily, they must be reliable."
"Hehe, Lord Hokage is absolutely right!"
Hattori nodded in agreement, pointing at the two ANBU beside Hiruzen.
"These two must be strong if they're your guards. Why don't they test the strength of the 'Resurrected' puppets?"
"Hmm…"
Hiruzen pondered for a moment before nodding at the two masked ANBU.
"Be careful and give it a try."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The two ANBU responded, drawing short swords as they approached the puppets.
To their surprise, the puppets stood motionless as though lifeless.
Just as everyone looked puzzled, Hattori spoke to the daimyo.
"Lord Daimyo, these 'Resurrected' puppets belong to you alone and will follow only your orders.
"If you command them, they are your warriors; if you don't, they remain mere statues."
"Oh… so that's how it is!"
The daimyo nodded in sudden understanding, then waved his fan.
"My 'Resurrected' bodyguards, I, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, command you—attack!"
Hattori: "…"
Hiruzen: "…"