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Leaving Root, Mikoto's figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness.
Minato paused slightly, turning to look at the tree canopy nearby: "Senior Mikoto, there's actually no need to hide like this. You can change into normal clothes and just follow me."
There was silence in the tree canopy for a moment, and then a serious yet gentle voice came: "Root regulations stipulate that identity must not be revealed during missions. I... I shoulder the responsibility of connecting the clan and the village, so I should be even stricter with myself and not slack off."
"Is that so? I heard from classmates at school before that Senior is beautiful and kind, with a gentle personality. I didn't expect you to have such a serious side."
Minato's tone was gentle, his blond hair seemingly glowing warmly under the sun: "But don't worry, Senior Orochimaru won't blame you. I am a sensor type ninja. To me, Senior's aura is too obvious, it feels like being monitored."
"..."
Under the mask, Mikoto's pretty face felt slightly hot. She flickered behind Minato and whispered an explanation: "Sorry, I... I was just worried that I wouldn't do well and couldn't live up to the expectations of the patriarch and teacher."
Minato understood: "Feeling the pressure?"
"Mmh..." Mikoto said somewhat awkwardly, "Teacher just accepted me as a disciple and barely interacted with me before handing me over to you. I was just worried... does teacher dislike me?"
"Not at all."
Minato shook his head, his gentle tone carrying affirmation.
"The conflict between Konoha and Hidden Sand can already be regarded as a small-scale war. Negotiations with the Hidden Rain Village have failed multiple times, and they have entered a state of combat readiness. War may break out at any time. Senior really can't spare time to teach you."
"How do you know so much?"
Mikoto blurted out subconsciously, then realized that her question was too presumptuous and completely prying into the other party's secrets, so she hurriedly apologized: "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry..."
"It doesn't matter. Since Senior asked you to follow me, it represents his trust in you, not to mention that you are his disciple."
Minato waved his hand, signaling her not to be nervous.
"Besides, my teacher is Tsunade Hime. According to lineage, our relationship is equal. Senior can just treat this as accepting a daily mission, no need to be so nervous."
The master-disciple relationship between Orochimaru and Mikoto was not the team system arranged by the village, but a true master-disciple inheritance.
According to the concept of the ninja world, this kind of inheriting disciple is like a biological child and has the right to inherit family property!
"I understand..."
Mikoto responded softly, her nervousness slightly relieved: "Then I'll go change clothes first."
She quickly ran back to the base.
Within a few minutes, her slender figure appeared in front of Minato again.
The girl had black hair and black eyes, fair skin, a trace of rosiness on her beautiful oval face, and gentleness and intellectuality between her brows.
She wore a dark blue short-sleeved shirt on her upper body, with her forehead protector tied on her arm. Her lower body wore brown shorts and black high-top ninja sandals, her delicate toes carrying a hint of pink.
So beautiful!
Minato couldn't help sighing in his heart.
Worthy of being the woman who gave birth to Sasuke Uchiha...
"I just asked Teacher. Teacher said that during this time, I don't need to act as a Root member."
Noticing Minato's scrutinizing gaze, Mikoto tidied her hair ends somewhat awkwardly.
She also understood that this wasn't a mission at all, just simply letting Minato take her along for a while.
"Isn't that great? At least during this time, Senior doesn't have to put so much pressure on herself."
Minato smiled: "After this, you can just train with me during the day and go home at night. I live in Sensei's house, so you don't have to worry about safety issues."
"Mmh, then shall we start training today?"
Mikoto nodded, her tone carrying a hint of expectation.
After all, Minato's strength was recognized by her teacher.
Walking Mikoto home, on the way, Minato asked: "Shape transformation and nature transformation, has Senior started practicing?"
Mikoto was a little embarrassed: "Not yet..."
"Tree climbing and water walking?"
"I have learned those!"
Mikoto pursed her lips, feeling that Minato was looking down on people a bit: "After all, I am a Chunin. Junior, don't underestimate me!"
"Ha... sorry, sorry." Minato couldn't help smiling: "Senior can just call me by my name."
"Okay, then Minato-kun too, call me by my name. Otherwise, if only I use your name, I always feel it's very presumptuous." Mikoto said happily.
"Then I'll call you Sister Mikoto."
Minato nodded with a smile: "Please take care of me later, Sister Mikoto."
"Not at all, I should be the one saying that."
Mikoto bowed slightly, with the gentleness of a well-bred young lady.
Swish swish swish...
Suddenly, several figures flashed quickly through the forest. Seemingly noticing the two, one of them let out a sound of surprise.
"Eh? Minato? Why are you here?"
Nawaki stood on a tree branch, his tone surprised.
As the voice fell, the other three figures also stopped moving. The leader was Nawaki's leading Jonin, Dan Katō.
"Someone you know?" Dan Katō asked.
"Mmh, my sister's disciple, Minato Namikaze!"
Nawaki introduced carelessly: "Didn't I tell you before? He's super strong! Minato, this is my leading Jonin, Big Brother Dan Katō, and these two are my teammates, Takuya and Ayako."
"Oh! Nice to meet you."
Dan Katō put on a surprised expression: "Nawaki mentioned to us that you are a very powerful genius!"
"Nice to meet you."
Minato nodded slightly to Dan Katō: "Are you guys on a mission?"
Nawaki waved his hand: "Just helping farmers drive away wild boars~"
"That's really a coincidence. I happen to be looking for you too."
"What's up?"
"Something about training."
Minato said, turning to look at Dan Katō: "Senior Katō, after today's mission ends, is it convenient to let Nawaki leave the team temporarily for a while?"
"Leave the team?"
Dan Katō was stunned, then somewhat helpless: "Minato-kun, our team has just been formed for two days. It is the time to cultivate tacit understanding among teammates. Leaving the team at this time is unfair to Takuya and Ayako."
Nawaki was also puzzled: "Yeah, why leave the team?"
"To give you special training—I need you to trust me."
Minato looked at Nawaki calmly. Things like approaching war, although he didn't need to hide from Mikoto, couldn't be told to ordinary people, otherwise it would easily cause panic.
"Is that so..."
Sensing that Minato seemed to have something inconvenient to say, Nawaki didn't hesitate and turned to look at Dan Katō: "Big Brother Dan, since Minato says so, then I trust Minato's judgment."
Dan Katō was a little surprised. In his opinion, Nawaki had just become an official ninja and should be eager to perform missions to prove himself.
Unexpectedly, with just one sentence from Minato, he trusted the other party unconditionally.
Little did he know that Nawaki was also helpless in his heart.
He trusted Minato, but he could also hear it—Minato wasn't discussing with him at all!
Dan Katō looked at Minato: "Excuse me for asking presumptuously, why does Minato-kun suddenly want to give Nawaki special training?"
"..."
Hearing Dan Katō's words, Minato gave him an inexplicable look: "Senior Katō also knows this question is very presumptuous?"
Dan Katō: "..."