"Lord Hokage, can we really use this last surviving member of the Yuki Clan?"
Although Minato Namikaze was known for his gentle nature and upright character, he was no stranger to political maneuvering. Watching the small figure Kakashi had just taken away to complete settlement procedures, he turned to the Third Hokage beside him and asked.
"Heh… a child burdened with the hatred of his clan's annihilation — who else can he rely on?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, as if he had already seen through everything. "Remember, his enemy is Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Only Konoha can offer him hope. Do you really believe what he said earlier about wanting money was sincere? That was just an excuse to find a reason to take refuge in our village."
Little did he know — that talk about money? That was completely sincere, straight from the heart!
"I see… It seems I still have much to learn from you, Lord Hokage."
Minato nodded repeatedly, clearly convinced by Hiruzen's explanation. After a moment's thought, he asked curiously, "But why do you want him to attend the Ninja Academy? You must have sensed it too when we checked his chakra — the amount he possesses isn't any less than that of a chunin, maybe even approaching a special jonin! And he's already awakened Ice Release. Isn't sending him to the academy a waste of talent?"
After "acquiring" Mizunotsuki Ye's body, both Hiruzen and Minato had examined him and were astonished to discover how absurdly large his chakra reserves were for a child his age.
"It's precisely because of that terrifying talent that I want him to attend the academy," Hiruzen replied. "I hope he can find his own bonds there…"
He paused before adding, "And though this war is nearing its end, it's not truly over yet. If he were to become a ninja now, I fear he would die on the battlefield. You know all too well how cruel war can be, Minato."
"So while his talent is promising, what's more important for now is his bloodline. Besides, the Ninja Academy was the Second Hokage's greatest reform. The Bloody Mist breeds cold-blooded killers — but it does not nurture true ninja."
Indeed, Sarutobi Hiruzen was worthy of his title as one of the greatest Hokage. His "greatness" wasn't just about raw power — it was about wisdom and endurance.
It's hard to build an empire — but even harder to maintain it.
And yet, Hiruzen had done exactly that, shouldering the burden when the Second Hokage fell, leading Konoha through its darkest times, and winning both the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars. Truly, "The Strongest Hokage" was no exaggeration.
Few could ever understand the weight he bore.
Minato finally understood and could only sigh in admiration. "As expected, the older, the wiser."
Indeed, he still had much to learn…
The streets of Konoha were bustling with life. Merchants were reopening shops now that the war's intensity had waned, and villagers' faces were alight with pride — for it seemed the Third Great Ninja War was once again ending in Konoha's favor.
Misfortune was fading away, and peace was on the horizon.
Watching peddlers pushing their carts, calling out to passing shoppers who haggled over prices, Mizunotsuki Ye couldn't help but feel stunned. Compared to the eerie, blood-soaked Mist Village, this place was paradise — not just brighter, but ten times more prosperous.
Though it was called a "village," Konoha was the size of a city, home to hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of active ninja — a true powerhouse of the shinobi world.
(Though Kirigakure wasn't too far behind — its population was simply smaller.)
"We're here. This'll be your new home," Kakashi suddenly said, stopping in front of a narrow street.
Ye looked up to see a two-story house painted white, though the paint was peeling in places. It was clearly old but located in the heart of Konoha, close to everything — a convenient spot, and good enough for him.
He wasn't picky; as long as it was clean, it was fine.
"This is the key. And this…" Kakashi tossed him a ring of keys, then took out several paper notes. "This is your living allowance for the month."
Each note was worth between one and ten thousand ryo — and there were quite a few of them. Ye's eyes lit up immediately.
"…Honestly…" Kakashi covered his forehead, sighing as he handed over the notes. "Fifty thousand ryo. I have no idea how a six-year-old kid plans to spend all that!"
"That's not something you need to worry about, dear ANBU," Ye replied smugly, licking his fingers and beginning to count the notes one by one like a miser guarding his treasure — completely ignoring Kakashi's presence, as if afraid the man might steal his money.
Kakashi was speechless. What kind of person is this? Could such a money-obsessed brat really achieve anything great? What if the enemy just bribed him one day?
"Well, my task from the Hokage is done. Tomorrow, someone will come to take you to register at the Ninja Academy. Since you already have some foundation, you'll be placed directly in the graduation class for one year of study."
He waved irritably, clearly eager to leave.
During the war, the Ninja Academy operated on a three-year course instead of six, to speed up the production of new ninja — cannon fodder, essentially.
But since the Third War was nearly over, Hiruzen believed that one more year would see everything resolved.
"Got it."
Ye had already guessed some of Hiruzen's intentions — like keeping him away from the battlefield — though he hadn't considered the idea of forming "bonds."
To win a man's loyalty, you must first win his heart.If Ye knew Hiruzen's full plan, he'd probably give him a silent thumbs-up.
"Unfortunately," Ye murmured, watching Kakashi's figure vanish, "with that man still alive, the war won't end so easily. You'll miscalculate this one, Lord Third Hokage…"
After confirming the money was all there, he cheerfully stuffed it into his pouch, then used the keys to open his new home — with Gluttony following behind.
The Hokage's office hadn't questioned Gluttony's presence too deeply. Their examination revealed him to be a modified human — a cyborg of sorts — incapable of producing chakra. To them, he wasn't worth much attention, just… strange.
"If I remember correctly," Ye muttered, "though the war with Iwagakure and Kumogakure will soon end, Kirigakure — under that man's manipulation — will start another war against Konoha. It'll happen within a year…"
"One year, huh? Heh, that's quite the coincidence."
After checking out his new home, Ye began tidying and making a list of things to buy for daily use. When everything was ready, he lay on his single bed, staring at the plain white ceiling above.
"It seems I'll have to get stronger — fast."
As night fell and stars blanketed the sky, Ye finally allowed himself to relax.
After days of being hunted, fleeing, and finally settling down in Konoha, both his body and spirit were exhausted.
Tomorrow would be the beginning of something new.A brand-new beginning.