"Lord Third, the files on the missing children and the investigation reports are all here."
Inside the Hokage Building—Konoha's seat of power.
Minato Namikaze brushed back his blond hair, organized the stack of documents, then slid them toward the side.
His eyes lingered on the desk, a faint weariness flickering within them.
A Hokage's desk.
Yet there were two people using it.
This version of being Hokage was far from what he had imagined.
And these documents...
Even as Hokage, he couldn't make the final decision.
From the traces and clues, it was obvious who the culprit was.
But that person was someone he couldn't touch.
How laughable.
A Hokage with no real authority—his power still overshadowed by the previous generation.
"So it really is as I thought?"
Glancing through the report, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, frowned deeply.
Without thinking, he picked up his pipe, lit it, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke that quickly filled the office.
Minato frowned slightly and shifted a little to the side.
But in a room this small, avoiding the smoke of a heavy smoker was impossible.
Secondhand smoke was always worse than the first.
Yet what could he say?
Kushina was pregnant.
Every day before returning home, Minato would spend nearly an hour outside cleansing himself of the lingering smoke before stepping inside.
He wanted badly to cough—to take the chance to gently remind Lord Third that smoking in public was inconsiderate to others.
But he couldn't bring himself to say it.
He still remembered when he'd first heard that the Third's own son had been kicked out of a public place for smoking. He had thought, perhaps, that the old man would reflect on how irritating such habits were.
But even after that, Hiruzen hadn't changed at all.
Since taking up the mantle of Fourth Hokage, Minato had come to understand far too much.
Being Hokage wasn't nearly as free as he once believed.
Sometimes, he found himself almost envious of that boy who had struck Asuma Sarutobi.
Hakken Yoru.
Because of that one incident, Minato remembered his name clearly.
Just like him, the boy had suffered from secondhand smoke.
But unlike him, that child wasn't restrained—he had done what Minato only wished he could do.
He acted on his frustration, rather than swallowing it.
Hakken Yoru had dared to lash out against secondhand smoke.
Minato, the Hokage, could not.
"Let's set this matter aside for now. Without solid evidence, we can't afford to alert the snake."
Hiruzen placed the stack of documents into a nearby drawer, locked it with practiced ease, then lifted his gaze toward Minato.
"By the way, today marks the start of the Ninja Academy's new term."
The worry that had clouded his face moments before faded, replaced by a faint smile—a shift so abrupt that Minato couldn't help feeling a little numb.
"As the honorary principal of Konoha's Ninja Academy, it's only proper that I pay a visit."
Standing up, the Third Hokage took another heavy drag from his pipe, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke before turning to Minato. "Come along, Minato. As Hokage, it's important to stay informed about the promising youth of our village."
"It'll be a good learning experience for you as well."
That lecturing tone again.
Though he'd grown used to it, it still made Minato feel uneasy.
Just like when he'd overheard that the Third Hokage had personally revised parts of the Academy textbooks.
Still, stepping outside for a bit of fresh air didn't sound so bad.
Since becoming Hokage, moments away from the office—and from the constant haze of secondhand smoke—were rare luxuries.
Nodding slightly, Minato Namikaze followed behind the Third. As they stepped out of the smoke-filled office, Minato's pace quickened, his stride subtly overtaking Hiruzen's.
Perhaps, in front of others, this was his final act of quiet defiance.
He was the Hokage of Konoha.
The Third, however, showed no surprise at all, leaving the office in calm silence.
...
Konoha Ninja Academy.
The place where every shinobi's journey began.
For the new school year, children arrived one after another, accompanied by their parents, stepping into this place filled with excitement and possibility.
But unlike the others...
Under the swing at the Academy gate, two boys immediately drew attention.
One carried a maturity far beyond his years—sharp, composed, with the faintest trace of youth still softening his features.
The other radiated a fierce, untamed energy. His sharp eyes, the sword at his waist, and his black martial arts uniform gave him a commanding presence that stood out even among the crowd.
The first was Itachi Uchiha.
Many of the children had heard his name countless times from their parents.
A prodigy. The son of the Uchiha Clan Head. A boy who had even accompanied his father onto the battlefield and witnessed the horrors of war firsthand.
Brilliant—almost frighteningly so.
Yet now, that exceptional boy seemed entirely at ease beside the sword-wielding youth, occasionally offering him a faint, genuine smile.
It was as if the other's presence alone steadied his heart.
Hakken Yoru and Itachi Uchiha.
The first day of school.
Teachers were busy recording names and information, while parents leaned down, whispering last-minute advice to their children.
Then suddenly, the crowd began to stir.
Both Hakken and Itachi turned toward the direction everyone was looking.
Two figures appeared at the end of the street.
"Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Hakken murmured softly, tilting his head toward Itachi.
"Come on. The main event has arrived."