Minato's tone was exceptionally serious, bordering on commanding. He needed a firm, affirmative answer from Qingyu. With his current status and reputation, securing a leave of absence for a friend in the Anbu wasn't impossible, but it wasn't a walk in the park either.
His concern wasn't about the propriety of the request. He was worried that even if he secured the leave, Qingyu's stubborn nature would drive him back to work.
Minato felt he understood human nature. Based on what he knew of Qingyu's struggles, he sensed the boy possessed a fiercely defensive self-esteem. Though Qingyu often joked about his poor health, Minato believed that Qingyu cared about being useful more than anyone else. He was filled with deep sympathy for his friend's situation.
"I..."
Qingyu hesitated, playing the part of someone torn by duty. After a long moment of feigned internal conflict, he shook his head resolutely.
"Minato."
"I appreciate the gesture, truly. But I can't rest."
"Captain Eaton told us... the world is in chaos, and war could break out at any time. The Torture Force isn't just responsible for intelligence gathering during war; we have to manage internal stability during these brief periods of peace."
"This isn't the time for me to be idle. I cannot rest!"
Qingyu's eyes suddenly burned with a firm, patriotic light, though his pale complexion made the declaration look like a fragile man pushing himself past his breaking point.
It wasn't so much that Minato understood Qingyu, but that Qingyu understood Minato perfectly. He knew Minato was the future Fourth Hokage, the man hand-picked by Hiruzen Sarutobi to carry the Will of Fire.
To get help from someone like Minato, you couldn't act like a slacker. You had to show that you shared his values. This was Qingyu's first time asking Minato for a favor, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. First impressions were everything; if he appeared lazy now, it would be much harder to pull strings later.
"How can you be so stubborn!"
Minato gritted his teeth in frustration, feeling a mix of helplessness and immense respect. He felt a soul-deep recognition of Qingyu—they were the same kind of people.
"Qingyu, listen to Minato," Kushina said softly. She had been quiet, observing the exchange. Despite her fiery temper, she was perceptive enough to know when to listen. "You have to rest when it's time to rest. I understand your determination to serve the village, but think about it this way: if you collapse entirely, won't that be an even bigger burden on Konoha?"
"Exactly! You need to rest now so you can contribute more later!" Minato seized the opening Kushina provided. "You said it yourself—war is coming. But it hasn't started yet, has it?"
"That's true, but..." Qingyu managed a pained, difficult smile.
"Since it hasn't started, now is the perfect time to recover!"
Minato cut him off, leaving no room for argument.
"Think about it... If you keep pushing yourself like this, and you collapse right when the war actually starts, you won't be able to do anything. Is that what you want?"
"But if you use this time to recuperate and get your spirit back to 100%, you'll be ready to give everything to the village when it matters most!"
Minato's persuasion hit all the right notes. He saw Qingyu as a man who loved his village more than his own life—a man who personified the Will of Fire. Where the leaves dance, the fire burns...
"This..."
Qingyu went quiet, appearing to fall into deep thought. Minato and Kushina watched him intently. The shop grew silent.
"You have a point, but—"
"No 'buts'!"
The interruption came from Teuchi, the ramen chef.
"Minato's right. You need to rest. Stop going in circles or these noodles are going to turn into a brick!" Teuchi said sternly.
"Alright... alright..."
Qingyu knew the fruit was ripe. If he refused again, it would cross the line from 'noble' to 'annoying.' This was the perfect moment to yield.
"Minato, I understand. I'll listen to you. I'll rest well so I can serve the village with even more strength later!" Qingyu nodded.
"That's the spirit!" Minato beamed, his relief visible. Kushina laughed along with him, and the heavy atmosphere finally lifted.
"However..."
Qingyu spoke again, his voice grave, making their smiles freeze as they focused back on him.
"I have one condition. I will accept the leave, but I won't accept a transfer. I want to stay in the Anbu. That's where I can contribute in my own way. If I leave the Anbu... I'm just a useless waste of space."
Qingyu's "acting" painted the picture of a man whose only sense of worth came from his service, a man willing to burn his very life for the village.
"Don't worry," Minato said, nodding solemnly as he looked into Qingyu's pale face.
"Qingyu, I'll be honest... I truly admire you. You are a true Anbu ninja!"