"That's the situation. That's everything."
In a subterranean room beneath the Hokage Tower, Kakashi knelt on one knee.
Sitting before him were his teacher—the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—along with the Third Hokage and several elders.
Kakashi recognized them. In his memory, these people had always stood beside the Third, like shadows that never left his flank—his old comrades, his fellow disciples.
Shimura Danzō.
Utatane Koharu.
Mitokado Homura.
Kakashi quietly shook his head.
He didn't like them.
Especially Danzō—the man wrapped in bandages who radiated a damp, cold malice. Just being near him made Kakashi's skin crawl.
But Kakashi also understood one thing clearly: these were Konoha's core. Whether he liked it or not, he had to be respectful.
Even Minato treated them cautiously.
And if the Hokage had to mind his manners… what was Kakashi supposed to be?
As Kakashi's thoughts drifted, Minato and Hiruzen listened in silence—yet the expressions on their faces had grown subtly strange.
They hadn't expected Hikaru to stumble into a stroke of fortune this absurd.
After Hikaru's group returned—after they'd taken statements from the four who made it back—Konoha had immediately isolated Hikaru.
Namuki had died right in front of him, and from the reports alone it was obvious: Hikaru's performance was… excessive.
Hikaru's identity was delicate. For Hiruzen and the others, that much was unspoken understanding.
He'd been watched ever since joining ANBU. And because he'd always "behaved," Hiruzen never took an overt stance.
They also knew Hikaru's baseline strength: his chakra reserves were bizarrely low, but his overall level still ranked near the top among his peers. That was all well within expectations.
He came from that clan, after all. Talent was normal.
But now?
Now they were being told Hikaru had held out against a pursuer who was strongly suspected of being the one behind the Third Kazekage's assassination.
Not only did Hikaru survive—he stalled the enemy long enough to pull people out.
And on top of that, he possessed a massive summon—one whose size and pressure didn't seem inferior to the Sannin's summons.
That wasn't "talented."
That was out of bounds.
Since when was Hikaru this strong?
Since when did he acquire something like that?
Those questions alone were enough to give anyone a headache. So the moment Kakashi returned, he wasn't even allowed to rest before being dragged straight here.
They demanded a full accounting—everything about Hikaru, everything about this entire chain of missions.
And the most troublesome part?
Kakashi actually had answers.
From Kakashi's description, Hikaru had always been strong—he just rarely went all-out. His speed was especially abnormal, and he'd clearly studied techniques linked to the Second Hokage.
That information made Minato frown, and it drew a deeper crease between Hiruzen's brows—but it also made certain things click into place.
Speed was one of the simplest ways to raise combat effectiveness.
If Hikaru's chakra "problem" could be explained as the limitation of youth—if his reserves simply hadn't finished growing yet—then focusing on movement and efficiency wasn't strange at all.
The issue was that raising speed, in many ways, was harder than raising chakra.
So what was it?
Had Tobirama left something behind—something the Senju never handed over?
Or was Hikaru truly so gifted that he inherited not only Tobirama's hair color… but his aptitude?
Either way, it wasn't worth turning into an open conflict.
If it was talent, then good.
And if the Senju had hidden a few things… it wasn't hard to understand why.
Konoha had already taken plenty from that clan. Pressing further would make the village's "table manners" look less like politics and more like theft.
Still, Hikaru's summon was what shocked them most.
According to the report, it wasn't the result of years of courting a contract or some grand plan.
He'd found it through sheer luck—an accident born from a mission.
Hiruzen wasn't unfamiliar with the name "Shouqi Castle." Decades ago, the man's enormous lizard summon had left a deep impression.
But thirty, forty years ago, Hiruzen had still been young. He'd never dealt with that beast personally.
He only knew that after Shouqi Castle died, the lizard vanished—and the summoning scroll disappeared with it.
He had once considered tracking it down. The boost to Konoha's war potential would have been undeniable.
But at the time, he didn't truly control the village. And once he took the seat, he faced internal challenges to his legitimacy from every side—Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki, all of them.
He hadn't had the time.
And now, because of one mission, this Senju child had found the lizard and claimed it.
Even Hiruzen had to admit it.
Hikaru's luck was ridiculous.
Minato exhaled slowly, forcing his thoughts back into order.
"Then that clears things up." His voice was calm again. "You two took initiative to support the Third Division and brought the intelligence back. Good work. Go rest."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi bowed slightly. Then he rose, gave another brief nod to the men in the room, and left.
When the door shut, Hiruzen stood as well. The moment he moved, Danzō and the other two elders rose with him, like a synchronized shadow.
Hiruzen took a few steps forward—then paused.
He turned back, smiling at Minato as though the conversation had turned casual.
"That child, Hikaru… he has good fortune. And he performed well." Hiruzen's smile didn't change. "He's moldable. And he gets along with Kakashi. Water's current flows where it's guided, you know."
Minato immediately stood too, posture straight.
"Of course, Third Hokage-sama." He nodded seriously. "Hikaru and Kakashi were classmates. His level is indeed impressive. I'll do my best."
"Good." Hiruzen chuckled softly, then his tone grew heavier—gentle, almost grandfatherly.
"That's best. Konoha's future… belongs to you."
He looked straight at Minato, eyes warm.
"I trust you'll make Konoha better. Won't you?"
Minato's expression sharpened, solemn to the bone.
"I swear on my life," he said, voice unwavering, "I will make Konoha stronger."
Konoha was his home.
He would give everything for it.
And yet… a faint unease pricked at him.
Why did the Third Hokage say that now?
Minato watched Hiruzen leave the room.
And as the footsteps faded, the warmth in Minato's eyes slowly cooled into something quieter—something guarded.
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