"You chose to pursue an A-rank mission with a team of Genin, newly promoted at that? How could you be so irresponsible?!" Minato asks in a slightly raised voice, especially at the end of the sentence.
Fugaku didn't flinch or show any emotion. He knows that Minato quickly caught on to his plan, but the reaction he had right now wasn't an act but a genuine reaction.
'It seems like the relationship between the two of them is far more problematic than I initially thought,' Fugaku said inwardly while looking at Naruto out of the corner of his eye.
"L-L-Lord Hokage," Hinata said, attracting everyone in the room's attention. "I-It wasn't Fugaku-sensei's decision alone to continue with the mission. I wa—"
"Silence, Hinata," Fugaku said, interrupting Hinata. "You as well," he said, staring at his daughter.
"I'm the Jonin commander of this squad. The decision to continue the mission was mine and mine alone," Fugaku continued calmly, his eyes locked with Minato's.
The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity to other people in the room.
Minato sighs and breaks eye contact with Fugaku and stares at Fugaku's students.
"The three of you are dismissed," Minato said and turned his head to the Chunin in the room. "You as well. I need to discuss something with Fugaku."
The Chunin nods and leaves the room. Naruto follows suit, while Hinata and Satsuki aren't sure what to do. They had a feeling that the discussion between the two is related to the mission.
"Leave," Fugaku said while staring at the two girls. "Go home and get some rest."
Satsuki and Hinata glance at each other for a moment before giving Fugaku small nods and slowly leave the room.
After the door is closed and the only people in the room are Fugaku and Minato, the expression of the two softens a bit.
"Could you explain the main reason why you had to deviate from the original plan?" Minato asks.
"Aren't you satisfied with the results I provide? You should know more than anyone the benefits we get are far greater than the original plan," Fugaku responded while slowly sitting on the chair.
"I wouldn't deny that, but I want to know the reason behind it."
"...The reason is because..."
The two continue and start to discuss the events that transpired in the Land of Waves and the reason behind Fugaku's decision.
Outside the Hokage Mansion.
"Do you think Sensei's in trouble?" Hinata asks, voice tainted with worries.
"I don't know..." Satsuki slightly shakes her head while staring at Naruto intently.
"Nothing serious is going to happen to Fugaku," Naruto indifferently said before walking towards his apartment, leaving the two girls confused.
They weren't sure where Naruto got his confidence about their sensei situation, but they can only hope Naruto's words are true.
The two exchanged small talk before making their way towards their own home.
Elsewhere in the village.
A man is currently standing in front of a door at the top of an apartment building. This person dressed in standard Jonin attire for a ninja of the Leaf.
The obvious difference, however, is the navy mask on his face that hides the lower part of it. The only visible part of his face is his left eye, the right obscured by his forehead protection tilted over it.
This person also had silver-grey spiky hair, and anyone who saw him would immediately realize his identity, no matter if they were a Leaf ninja or another village's ninja.
This person is none other than Kakashi Hatake, the Jonin Commander for Team 11.
Kakashi should be with his team of Genin right now, but he isn't. A Shadow Clone is instead with his student right now, teaching them more about teamwork.
The reason for sending his clone to teach his student wasn't laziness but because Kakashi finally found the thing he had been searching for all week.
Kakashi found Naruto's apartment.
Finding Naruto's apartment wasn't an easy task since, like other ninjas who are trying to locate Naruto's home, Kakashi also thought that Naruto was currently staying deep within the forest.
This conclusion was reached due to the thought of Naruto being unable to purchase or rent any room within the village.
Yet after searching for a long time, he and others didn't manage to find any clues, which was really frustrating for anyone involved.
The only reason why Kakashi changes the way he thinks about where Naruto hides is because of what he saw earlier that day—before Team 13 leaves the village towards the Land of Wave.
Kakashi, who was at that time walking mindlessly in the streets, saw Naruto also walking in the empty street.
Kakashi at that time heard that Team 13 are going to complete their very first C-rank mission.
Kakashi, though, was unable to think of any reason why Naruto was walking in the streets if he was living in the forest, and at that moment, an idea appeared in his mind.
What if Naruto didn't live in the forest but instead found an apartment he rented?
At first he rejected such an idea since Naruto wouldn't have enough money to pay for rent, but the more he thought about it, the more it stuck in his mind.
After thinking deeply, Kakashi decides to gamble and tries to look for records about the apartments and the people who are currently living within them.
After an intense search, Kakashi finally manages to find a document about Naruto owning an apartment, which really gives him a surprise.
Kakashi is unable to believe the fact that Naruto manages to purchase an apartment before he officially becomes a ninja. Not only that, but he purchased the apartment at the age of 7.
Kakashi had to double-check the documents in his hands at that moment. Unable to believe the facts in front of his eyes.
This became the greatest question on his mind. How did Naruto manage to collect enough money to purchase the apartment? Kakashi also wonders if Naruto hasn't been living in the Uzumaki Namikaze Estate this entire time.
This question had been gnawing at his mind. The moment he learned about the Team 13 return, Kakashi, without hesitation, went towards Naruto's apartment and asked him about the questions in his mind.
Kakashi hasn't yet informed others about it since he would like to personally ask Naruto some questions that have been bothering him.
Kakashi easily picks the lock and opens the door. The moment he entered, he felt strange for whatever reason, but he ignored the feeling and continued to survey the room to know the person who had been living in this apartment for a long time.
Out of curiosity, Kakashi opened the fridge and found that it was full of a well-balanced diet, and he couldn't even find any ramen or pasta inside the fridge.
'This is surprising...' Kakashi thought to himself.
It was unlike the rest of the Naruto family, who love ramen and pasta with all their hearts. Yet this difference is also problematic in Kakashi's eyes.
After closing the fridge, he walks back into the living area and sits down on the sofa while flipping out a bright orange book with the words 'Makeout Paradise' on the cover.
While reading, a giggle escaped from his mouth, destroying the silence within the apartment.
Meanwhile, Naruto hasn't had a thought of returning back to his apartment just yet since he needs to meet up with a person first.
While he originally wanted to visit the person he had to meet, he decided against it, as it would be against the wishes of the person he was about to meet.
While he wouldn't care about it, this time Naruto had to step back and change the location of their meetup.
The location they are about to meet is the same area in the forest that Naruto trained in. This area was chosen thanks to the fact that it was concealed from any prying eyes.
The moment Naruto appeared in the area, he immediately jumped onto the forest ground and stared at the woman wearing a simple kimono dress with pale lavender eyes and long dark blue hair that flowed like a waterfall.
This person is none other than Hitomi Hyuuga, the mother of Hinata and Hanabi.
"Pleasure to meet you, Naruto," Hitomi greets in a calm and respectful manner.
"Don't waste my time and give me the scroll," Naruto calmly said.
Hitomi didn't find Naruto's attitude offensive since she knows the power he possesses. Hitomi knows that if she displeases him, she will without a doubt die here.
While Naruto did calm down a bit compared to his younger self, Hitomi didn't dare to gamble for a tiny bit.
Hitomi gives the scroll that Naruto mentioned to him, and he slowly reads the content written on it, and his indifferent expression slowly frowns in displeasure.
"You are all incompetent," Naruto muttered, his voice tinted with great displeasure.
Hitomi didn't comment on it since Naruto was right at the end.
The content behind the scrolls is about the records for the cursed spirits they exorcise when Naruto is at the Land of Wave.
While they did exorcise all the cursed spirits that were born throughout the time Naruto was gone, the collateral damage that was caused by them wasn't satisfactory for the higher-ups or, in Naruto's opinion.
This is probably the rare situation where Naruto and the higher-ups agree on something.