"Alright, everyone should head home for today. Gather in front of the Hokage Building at 8 AM tomorrow to officially begin your duties," Kakashi instructed his team.
"The same goes for our team," Shisui added with a light chuckle, his eyes shifting sideways to meet Kakashi's gaze. "Don't be late."
He had no authority to explain to Kakashi what had happened with Naruto, so the two jōnin would need to consult with Minato directly.
"Yes, sensei."
"Understood."
"Right."
Sasuke, Naruto, and the others acknowledged their instructions. In the blink of an eye, the two jōnin vanished from sight, leaving only swirling leaves in their wake.
"Sasuke-kun, where are you heading now?" Sakura asked in a slightly shy voice, but Sasuke completely ignored her.
His attention was fixed entirely on Naruto, and Naruto returned his intense gaze with equal fervor.
"These two are starting to compete again," Chiharu thought with a resigned sigh.
Feigning a stumble, she clutched Naruto's arm for support.
Naruto's focus immediately shifted away from Sasuke, his expression transforming to one of concern. "Chiharu, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine," she replied in a deliberately weakened voice. "I just used too much chakra. I'm a little tired... Brother, let's go home first."
"Sure," Naruto agreed without hesitation. He cast one final glance toward Sasuke and the others. "We'll be heading off first."
Sasuke frowned, easily seeing through Chiharu's act. Since childhood, whenever Chiharu was present, any competition between him and Naruto would inevitably be interrupted. It was a pattern he'd grown all too familiar with.
Naruto supported his sister as they walked out of the training ground.
"Well, see you all later," Shin said after the Namikaze siblings had departed. With a casual wave, he too left the area in a few quick movements.
After leaving the seventh training ground, Shin accelerated to full speed, heading toward the southwest district of Konoha. He remained unaware that Shisui and Kakashi had observed his departure, tracking his figure until it disappeared from sight.
"That boy was trained by Danzō," Kakashi remarked, his visible eye narrowing. "It seems his placement in your team isn't merely as a substitute member."
Kakashi's mind worked to connect the dots—Naruto's physical transformation, Shin's suspicious behavior, and Shisui's sudden removal from ANBU to take on the role of jōnin instructor.
"If this involves secrets I shouldn't be privy to, we don't need to trouble Minato-sensei," Kakashi offered.
Shisui shook his head. "Minato-sensei mentioned he would tell you about this eventually. He knew the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't end just because they were placed in separate teams."
"Let's go," Shisui said, noting the direction of Shin's departure—straight toward Danzō's residence. The boy was likely reporting what had happened during today's assessment.
This arrangement was part of an agreement between Minato and several other high-ranking officials. It couldn't be interfered with.
Hokage's Office
"A joint assessment? That was quite the clever idea," Minato remarked with a smile, looking at Shisui and Kakashi standing before his desk.
"Those two certainly share a remarkable understanding," he continued, referring to Naruto and Sasuke. They reminded him of his own rivalry with Uchiha Yoruki in the past. Though rivals, that very competition had been what allowed them to understand each other better than anyone else.
"These kids show remarkable promise," Minato added. "To devise such a coordinated battle strategy immediately after graduating from the Academy—that's impressive."
"Minato-sensei," Shisui said, his expression growing serious after describing the joint assessment, "after the trial, the power within Naruto's body... it changed."
Minato's brow furrowed instantly, a hint of concern crossing his features. "Nothing severe, I hope?"
"The power that overflowed wasn't substantial, and Naruto maintained his sanity throughout," Shisui assured him. "I suppressed it with my Sharingan, so he should be fine for now."
"Thank you for your diligence," Minato nodded, then turned his gaze to Kakashi. "It seems I need to share certain information with you sooner than expected."
"What exactly is sealed within Naruto?" Kakashi asked, genuinely confused. He had rarely seen an expression of genuine anxiety on his teacher's face.
What could possibly unsettle a man who had faced multiple S-rank shinobi simultaneously without so much as flinching?
"The Nine-Tails," Minato replied simply, before explaining everything he had previously shared with Shisui.
"I see," Kakashi said once Minato had finished. Now he understood why his teacher had been so concerned—not because he feared the Nine-Tails' power itself, but because he worried about the harm it might cause Naruto.
His expression gradually became more solemn. Regarding Minato's decision to seal the Nine-Tails within his own son, Kakashi shared the same confusion as Shisui.
"Could those individuals truly bring catastrophe to the entire shinobi world?" Kakashi asked, his voice low. Beyond the prophecy, Minato's actions had been motivated by the masked man and his accomplices who had attacked Konoha.
Minato shook his head. "I can't say with certainty. The Great Toad Sage predicted that I might have the ability to prevent this disaster before it manifests."
He paused, his eyes distant with memory. "I struck that masked man's vital points, yet he survived. Perhaps this is the hand of destiny at work."
"So you believe that the blue-eyed boy in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy is Naruto? That he is truly the child of prophecy?" Kakashi challenged. "Isn't that rather arbitrary? What evidence supports this decision?"
Kakashi had always prided himself on being rational—a trait he had inherited from both his father and Minato's teachings. Yet this particular decision by his mentor seemed to defy that very rationality.
"No," Minato responded, a gentle smile illuminating his azure eyes. "If I must provide a reason, it's simply because Naruto is my son, and I trust him implicitly."
He had no intention of revealing to anyone except Kushina that he possessed knowledge of a future that might have been—a future he had already begun to reshape. Even if he were to share details of the history he had altered, it would serve no purpose now.
Minato knew Kakashi wouldn't fully comprehend the depths of his reasoning.
To his surprise, however, Kakashi lowered his gaze thoughtfully. "Where does such trust originate?" he mused quietly.
"It reminds me of when Obito constantly proclaimed he would become Hokage. We all dismissed him with laughter."
"Only Rin believed without a shadow of doubt that he could achieve it—from beginning to end."
"Yes," Minato agreed softly. "Had Obito lived, I believe he would have grown into an exceptional shinobi."
"He would have become Hokage," Minato added in a near whisper.
"Then it falls to us," Minato continued, his voice strengthening as he addressed both his former students, "to nurture an excellent next generation and ensure the Will of Fire burns bright in them."
He looked directly at Kakashi and Shisui. "These young shinobi possess the potential to become truly exceptional, but they cannot realize that potential alone. They require your guidance."
"Rest assured," Kakashi and Shisui replied in unison, their voices weighted with commitment, "we will give our utmost, just as you did for us, Minato-sensei."
Wherever leaves flutter, there is a fire burning. The shadow of that fire illuminates the village, and in time, new leaves will sprout again.
This, Minato reflected as he regarded his two disciples with pride, was the true meaning of inheritance.
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