Yamato had been expecting to be fired for a while now. As a guard who had accompanied the mission to the Land of Water, he knew his performance there had been less than stellar.
But he never expected the order from the Hokage's office to arrive so quickly, removing him from the Hokage Guard Platoon and reassigning him to the Scientific Research Department.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Yamato stared blankly at the bowl in front of him, his mind elsewhere. He didn't feel much like talking to Kakashi Hatake, who was treating him to a rare meal.
"Being a guard for the research department is a pretty laid-back job," Kakashi scratched his mask and muttered, sighing softly. "Honestly, I wish Naruto would send me there, too. I could get a head start on retirement, maybe go relax at a hot spring for a while."
"Senior..."
Yamato's expression darkened. He was already dejected about being randomly transferred to an obscure department, and now Kakashi was rubbing salt in the wound.
In truth, Yamato had wanted to return to the Anbu and resume his position as captain of Squad Six, but Naruto had transferred him to a completely unknown department. The Scientific Research Department.
The department was originally Danzo's private domain and had been in decline ever since. A transfer there was basically like being sent to a dead-end post, like a village librarian...
"Alright, alright, don't look so down," Kakashi patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Think on the bright side. At least in the Scientific Research Department, your life will definitely be safe."
"But Senior, you're the one who told me a ninja can't just hide in a comfortable corner," Yamato said, listlessly picking up his chopsticks. "But I suppose I can only comfort myself with that thought. I should have a lot of holidays in the future..."
As it turned out, Yamato had spoken too soon.
That afternoon, he received an update from the Hokage's office that made him want to break down. He was being assigned to monitor Orochimaru.
What kind of holiday could he possibly have? Was he going to have to monitor Orochimaru forever?
Yamato's face went pale as he started doing the math in his head. "That rogue ninja Orochimaru… he's only fifty this year, right? Judging by the ages of the Third Hokage and Danzo, he could easily live for another twenty years. Lord Hokage, does this mean…"
"Ahem," Naruto coughed, explaining in a low voice, "Senior Yamato, you don't need to worry about his age. Orochimaru will probably live longer than you will."
Yamato fell silent. Somehow, that didn't make him feel any better.
Orochimaru, wearing a hood, stood in the Hokage's office and offered a sinister smile. "Could it be that the Fifth Hokage is willing to let me conduct experiments on the Living Corpse Reincarnation?"
"I don't mind." Naruto played with a scroll in his hand before tossing it to Orochimaru. "No matter whose body you use, it's not as good as your own. From now on, your main line of research should be cloning."
Orochimaru gave him a surprised look, the corner of his mouth curling up. "Oh? A Hokage who supports human experimentation?"
"Generally speaking, I'm quite humane." Naruto snapped his fingers, and a woman in a light-colored trench coat suddenly appeared, kneeling on one knee before the desk.
It was Anko Mitarashi. Although her head was bowed, everyone could feel the resentment radiating from her.
Naruto spread his hands. "Orochimaru, Senior Anko, you two don't need an introduction, right? Starting today, Senior Anko will assist Captain Yamato in monitoring Orochimaru. Any objections?"
"As you command," Anko ground out through her teeth.
Orochimaru looked at Anko's figure and smiled. "Letting my student monitor me, too? She's the most suitable candidate, really."
He never thought that after all these years, he still wouldn't be able to shake Anko Mitarashi. Truly an ill-fated connection.
"Good, then," the young Hokage clapped his hands and continued. "The Second Hokage will be back in the village in a few days. Orochimaru, I think your work can begin very soon."
With the return of the Second Hokage and the restart of the Scientific Research Department, Konoha's development was finally on the right track—at least, according to Naruto's ideas.
The only trouble was his father and mother.
After being resurrected, Minato Namikaze wasn't as cheerful as Kushina. He believed Konoha shouldn't rely on reanimated ninja like them and spent his days hoping Tobirama Senju could find a way to release the Impure World Reincarnation jutsu.
But since he was back, Minato didn't want to waste his time in the world of the living, especially with his wife by his side.
This made things a little awkward for Naruto. He had originally thought he could enjoy the bliss of having both a father's and a mother's love, but whenever he returned home, all he got was his father's nagging. The young Hokage gradually started avoiding home whenever he could. Oblivious, Minato would painstakingly prepare late-night snacks and deliver them to his son's office.
He had the Flying Thunder God Technique; he was very fast. After all these years, the only trace Minato had left from his time as Hokage was the Flying Thunder God formula marked in the office.
In the morning, Tsunade opened the door to the Hokage's office and frowned when she saw Naruto sleeping in his clothes. "Naruto, you didn't go home to sleep again?"
"Mmm…" the young Hokage muttered, opening his sleepy eyes. "Dad was lecturing me about my mistakes again last night. Was Konoha this powerful when he was Hokage?"
"Ha? That Minato!" Tsunade reached out to warm a towel, tossed it to him, then crossed her arms with a low chuckle. "It's probably because he left behind too many regrets. After all, that little brat was ambitious and wanted to be Hokage."
"And then?" Naruto looked up curiously.
Tsunade spread her hands. "Then he got lucky and was inexplicably recommended by the Third to become the Fourth Hokage."
"...Something about that sounds familiar." Naruto twisted his neck. He, too, had been inexplicably pushed by Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage.
"Alright, it's a problem for you to always sleep in the office," Tsunade said, tapping his forehead. "I'll go talk to Minato."
"Mmm, he's probably not at home right now," Naruto shook his head with a helpless look. "Mom has been quite concerned about Sasuke recently. She said that since he's Aunt Mikoto's son, she's had Dad and Kakashi-sensei helping Sasuke with his training."
That was right. Minato Namikaze was helping Sasuke train.
Naruto was a bit dumbfounded himself. Had he and the Nine-Tails worked so hard to resurrect his own parents, or Sasuke's?
Tsunade looked down at the young Hokage. "Hmm? Naruto, I heard you and Sasuke are going to have a sparring match? An all-out fight?"
"That's right," Naruto confirmed. "I promised Sasuke that if he can defeat me, I'll let him go get revenge on Itachi Uchiha."
Tsunade frowned. "That's a decent way to delay their fight, but with Sasuke's power growing, he won't be able to hold back forever. His power has already surpassed Itachi's by now, hasn't it?"
"No," Naruto said, shaking his head, his expression serious. "Granny Tsunade, a younger brother is always just a younger brother."
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Bonus:
Minato: Eating at home tonight?
Naruto: No, busy with work. What are you up to?
Minato: Training Sasuke.
Naruto: ???
Minato: He's going to duel you, isn't he? I'm worried he can't win, so I have to teach him a few things.
Naruto: ???
Minato: What's wrong?
Naruto: Nothing. I was just thinking it feels like I found a dad for Sasuke.