"Kidō, slow down. If you eat like that, you'll choke—"
Before the sentence could finish, at Ichiraku Ramen's counter, Kidō was already clutching his throat with both hands, pounding his chest desperately.
"Pat!"
Kong slapped him squarely on the back.
Only then did Kidō finally force the noodles down.
"Haa…!"
After catching his breath, Kidō looked at Uzumaki Kong with gratitude.
"It's not every day Big Brother treats me to ramen! Of course I have to eat more!"
Kong laughed.
"I brought enough money. When we're done, I'll pack up twenty servings. Take them back for your friends and the headmistress."
Kidō's eyes lit up.
"Really?! The headmistress hasn't had a proper meal in ages. I overheard yesterday… about the orphanage funds…"
Kong smiled and glanced behind him.
Someone had arrived outside Ichiraku's curtain.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the orphanage's funding problem should already be resolved. Relax. You and the headmistress won't be spies for anyone."
The curtain lifted.
Kakashi stood there, his forehead protector raised, his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spinning—locked tightly onto Kong.
"Don't be so tense, Kakashi," Kong said calmly.
"Your Kamui can't keep me here. If you want to talk, I'll even buy you a bowl of ramen."
"With Flying Thunder God," Kakashi replied coolly,
"Konoha's barrier might as well not exist to you. Facing someone like you, I can't afford even a moment of carelessness."
He glanced at Kidō, puzzled.
"You're this strong… yet you're friends with a child?"
Kong chuckled.
"You're not that old yourself—does that sound right coming from you?"
"And this kid's talent isn't inferior to yours."
"Shun."
A flash of space distortion.
Minato Namikaze appeared beside Kakashi, wearing the Hokage cloak.
He placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.
"Lower your headband. If my guess is correct, the instant Kamui activates, he'll already have left using Flying Thunder God."
Kakashi frowned.
"Even with Flying Thunder God, not everyone moves at your speed, Sensei."
Minato looked at Kong and let out a quiet breath.
"That's exactly why I'm worried."
At Minato's signal, Kakashi reluctantly pulled his headband down, covering the Sharingan.
"Teuchi, one large plain broth ramen."
The chef answered from the back immediately.
When he brought the bowl out and realized who was sitting there, his eyes widened.
"Fourth Hokage-sama! Not busy today? This one's on the house."
He glanced at Kong—but clearly had no intention of comping him, especially after hearing about twenty takeout portions.
Minato laughed.
"No need. Charge as usual. Please get back to work."
After Teuchi returned to the kitchen, Minato looked at Kong and smiled.
"So… we meet again."
Kong didn't deny it. He nodded with a grin.
"Indeed. Fourth Hokage.
The fact that you're still alive after that piece of intelligence means you handled things well."
Minato probed carefully.
"So it was that arm… that gave you the First Hokage's Wood Release?"
Kong lifted a chakra paper strip between his fingers.
It ignited.
Tore.
Crumpled.
Soaked.
"Four chakra natures. The time was a bit short—otherwise, you wouldn't have seen Danzō yesterday."
Minato's gaze hardened.
Fire. Wind. Earth. Water.
Already at this level…?
After a moment, he asked quietly:
"Why kill Danzō?"
His eyes flicked to Kidō.
"Your objective wasn't only him, was it? Just for a talented child?"
Kong smiled.
"You and Kakashi are underestimating this kid."
"If the future follows its natural course, his existence alone will influence the fate of the entire world."
Minato looked—truly looked—at the confused boy sitting beside them for the first time.
White hair.
Ill-fitting glasses.
Not Hatake.
"He's not related to Kakashi," Kong continued.
"Just an ordinary civilian child. But in certain areas, his talent is among the highest in the world."
Kong turned to Kidō.
"I'll be leaving soon. You have two choices."
Kidō nodded slowly.
"First—follow the Fourth Hokage. I'll recommend you to Research and Medical divisions.
Second—return to the orphanage and help Headmistress Nono care for the children."
Kidō fell silent.
Images flashed through his mind.
The bandaged man.
The snake-eyed one.
ROOT.
The headmistress.
"You understand now," Kong said softly.
"I'd rather see you stay quietly in the orphanage, protecting that small sanctuary."
"But you also know this—without power, everything you want to protect turns to dust."
"Follow the Fourth Hokage. Use every bit of your value."
"As long as you're indispensable to him, the orphanage connected to you will be safe."
Kidō looked up and smiled.
"I trust you, Big Brother."
Kong froze for a moment.
Then he rubbed the boy's head gently.
"I changed your fate too…
An orphan like you shouldn't fall into darkness for someone else's ambition."
"Cough—!"
Minato cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Am I the only one who didn't get a vote here?
You've already decided the Hokage's answer for me?"
Kakashi leaned in and whispered:
"Sensei… aren't they enemies?
Letting an obvious spy walk in like this—is that really okay?"
Minato sighed.
Some things… he couldn't explain.
Enemies?
Not quite.
"Shhk."
A kunai flashed.
A shallow cut appeared on Kidō's arm, blood trickling out.
"Kidō," Kong said calmly,
"Use the medical ninjutsu the headmistress taught you. Show the Fourth."
Kidō didn't resist. He understood.
Green chakra flowed over his hand.
The bleeding stopped almost instantly.
The wound closed at visible speed.
"Excellent chakra control," Minato said, impressed.
"He's definitely medical material."
"Medical ninjutsu is the least of his talents," Kong replied, shaking his head.
Then he tapped his own temple.
"Talent and bloodline aren't the same.
Wisdom isn't the same either."
"This kid's real weapon is here."
"Not quite the Second Hokage—but compared to you, the man who invented the Rasengan without hand seals?"
"They're not far apart."
Minato's eyes shone.
Genius ninja were common.
But research geniuses?
Medical innovators?
In decades, only Orochimaru and Tsunade fit that category—and neither stood with him.
"I accept."
Minato paused, then added with a grin:
"By the way—when you say 'not far apart'…
do you mean he's worse than me, or I'm worse than him?"
Kong answered flatly.
"You're worse than him."
"…?"
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