The massive wooden gates of Konohagakure loomed before them, standing tall as the first line of defense for one of the most powerful shinobi villages in the world. They weren't just a physical barrier—they represented order, security, and control.
For most people, stepping through them meant safety. For Arashi, it meant the unknown.
He let out a low whistle as he took in the sight, his sharp green eyes flickering over every detail. "Damn," he muttered. "Big doors."
Minato smirked slightly, walking at an even pace toward the entrance. "You expected something smaller?"
Arashi shrugged, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "I dunno. Heard stories about the Great Villages, but actually seeing one? Kinda different. Konoha feels… heavier."
Minato gave him a sideways glance. "Heavy?"
Arashi tilted his head, thinking. "Like weight, almost like a presence that I can feel in the air." He nodded toward the shinobi patrolling the walls. "between the way people are watching us."
Arashi turned his head again to the trees and nodded, "The way chakra feels like it lingers in every damn plank of wood in the gates. The small villages I've been in don't feel like that. There, it's quiet. Here?" His smirk widened slightly. "It feels alive."
They approached the checkpoint, where a group of Konoha guards stood watch. The lead shinobi, a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features, stepped forward, holding up a hand.
"Halt," he said, voice firm but not aggressive. His dark eyes flickered to Minato first before narrowing and landing on Arashi. "State your business."
Before Minato could reply, Arashi spoke first. "We're here for the food. I heard you guys have amazing ramen."
Minato sighed.
The guard blinked. His eyes shifted back to Minato, who simply gave him a patient look, "Please ignore him, he's just like that."
The guard cleared his throat while nodding. "Minato." His tone shifted slightly, becoming more respectful. "We weren't expecting you back yet."
Minato nodded. "The mission went smoothly enough. I need to report to the Hokage immediately." He motioned toward Arashi. "He's with me."
The guard's expression barely changed, but Minato could feel a slight tension rise between them.
One of the other shinobi, a woman with short dark hair and a thin scar along her jaw, tilted her head slightly. "With you?" Her gaze lingered on Arashi, studying him with an evaluating sharpness. "Who is he?"
Arashi grinned, his posture completely relaxed despite the weight of multiple shinobi staring at him like a potential threat.
"Just a traveler," he said easily. "traveling to see what all of the fuss is about here."
The scarred woman's eyes narrowed. "Where are traveling from?"
Arashi's smirk widened. "I don't want to say."
The guards didn't like that.
Minato could feel their unease growing. He didn't blame them. Arashi didn't carry himself like a civilian. His movements were too fluid, too instinctual. The way he stood, how he positioned himself, they were signs of someone capable.
The lead guard straightened. "Well, if you say he's with you, Minato, we'll just have to take your word for it. However we need to check him first just in case."
Arashi raised a brow. "What, a pat-down? Didn't know Konoha guards were so friendly."
The scarred woman's eye twitched.
Minato cut in looking at the gaurds. "Just a standard chakra scan will do." He kept his voice even but firm looking back to Arashi. "It won't take too long."
The lead guard hesitated for a moment before nodding. One of the others stepped forward, placing a quick detection seal on his chest. The seal pulsed outward in a rhythmic pattern, scanning Arashi's body for weapons, hidden seals, or any traces of malicious chakra.
The moment the scan completed, the guard took the seal off of Arashi's body. As the seal began to reform itself into words, the guard froze.
The scarred woman's brows furrowed. "His chakra…"
Minato didn't react outwardly, but he was already expecting this. Arashi's chakra wasn't the size of a normal person's. Add on top of that, the fact that his individual signal was barely even there, even if the guards couldn't distinguish a difference, the were still shocked at the vastness of the redheads reserves.
The lead guard exhaled sharply. "You're cleared."
The scarred woman still looked unsettled. "Are you sure? His signature is way too large—"
"I know," the guard interrupted her and whispered back. "But he came back with the Yellow Flash. It's not our call."
Reluctantly, the woman stepped back. "Fine. But I don't like this."
Arashi grinned. "Well, I guess we're on opposite sides here because I'm having a great time."
Minato sighed and gestured for Arashi to follow. "Come on."
They finally stepped through the gates, and as soon as they did, Arashi slowed. For the first time, he actually took in Konoha.
The streets were alive with movement. Vendors called out their wares, children ran through the streets, shinobi walked in and out of shops, their presence an ordinary part of village life. Towering above it all was the Hokage's Tower, standing at the heart of it like a beacon.
Arashi's expression was unreadable while Minato studied him, waiting.
After a long moment, Arashi exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "Huh."
"Huh?" Minato repeated.
Arashi's green eyes flickered around, taking in every detail. "Not gonna lie," he muttered. "I was expecting more… I dunno. Fortresses? Spikes? Maybe a moat?"
Minato chuckled. "Konoha isn't a war camp, were just a regular village with military forces."
Arashi smirked. "You sure about that? Your guards looked at me like they were one second away from trying to stab me."
"They're just cautious," Minato corrected. "You're an unknown, and unknowns usually mean danger, I'm sure you understand that."
Arashi snorted. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
As they walked, people started noticing.
Villagers greeted Minato warmly and with reverence, calling out, "Minato!" or nodding respectfully as he passed. Shinobi paused, eyes flickering to Arashi. The looks were cautious, some outright suspicious.
Arashi didn't react. He just smiled and waved at anyone who stared too long. Then they passed a ramen stand and the smell visibly jolted Arashi's attention away from the rest of the village.
"Oh, now that smells good."
Minato chuckled. "Ichiraku. THE best ramen in the village. Kushina and I come here often."
Arashi stared at the banners hanging from the front of the shop. "Can we—"
"No," Minato interrupted. "We need to report first."
Arashi groaned dramatically. "You're killing me, Blondie. You can't just show me a delicious smelling food and expect me to hold off on eating it."
Minato ignored him.
Eventually, they reached the base of the Hokage's Tower. The large, red-bricked building stood tall, a symbol of authority. Shinobi stationed outside immediately noticed them.
One of them, a middle-aged chunin, frowned. "Minato. Who's this?"
"A visitor," Minato said simply. "I need to report to the Hokage."
The guard hesitated before nodding. "Go ahead."
As they stepped inside, Arashi let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, let's get this over with. I feel like I'm walking into a very dark cave with no knowledge of what is waiting for me."
Minato smirked. "Just don't say anything reckless and you'll be fine."
Arashi grinned. "No promises."