The setting sun covered the Hokage’s office in a layer of golden light.
Minato rubbed his aching eyes and looked up to see Arashi entering with an enormous food box.
He could not help laughing.
“What are you doing?”
“Kushina needs to reinforce her seal again tonight.”
“I knew you hadn’t eaten, and the chef I hired has already arrived.
How could I let you go hungry?”
As Arashi spoke, he removed several exquisite dishes from the box.
The chef he had hired was clearly highly skilled.
Finally, Arashi even produced several bottles of excellent liquor.
“This is from my private collection.
Consider yourself lucky.”
“We can’t drink during working hours—”
“The workday is already over, Fourth Hokage-sama.”
Arashi interrupted him.
“Our projects have progressed wonderfully these past two days.”
“Shikaku’s list has arrived, the Hyuga lowered their heads, and even Root was reduced.”
“After such great achievements, we have to celebrate.”
“All those achievements belong to you.”
Minato could no longer refuse and sat down with a smile.
“I’m merely benefiting from your efforts.”
Arashi poured the drinks, and the two began eating and talking.
Since everything had proceeded smoothly over the past few days, Minato’s mood had improved considerably.
Under the alcohol’s influence, he gradually became talkative.
He spoke about Obito’s recovery, the child in Kushina’s belly, and his hopes for Konoha’s future.
“I’m not a qualified teacher, husband, or father.”
Minato eventually released a sigh.
“Obito was injured so badly, yet I haven’t visited him even once since becoming Hokage.”
“I also have no time to remain beside Kushina during her pregnancy.”
“That’s what it means to be Hokage.”
Arashi could see that Minato was under tremendous pressure, so he followed the subject and tried to comfort him.
“With greater ability comes greater responsibility.”
“Once you accepted this position, you became responsible for the fate of the entire village.”
“Still…”
Minato remained silent and drank several more cups.
His face gradually reddened, while a trace of drunkenness appeared in his eyes.
“Arashi, I’m truly grateful that I saved you back then.”
“If you hadn’t been there, how many more people would have died during the Third Shinobi World War?”
“Even after becoming Hokage, I wouldn’t have been able to change anything.”
“Seeing everything changing now truly makes me happy…”
“Why are you saying such embarrassing things?”
Arashi refilled his cup.
“You’re the Fourth Hokage, and I’m your subordinate.
Naturally, I’ll help you however I can.”
“No, it’s more than that…”
Minato smiled drunkenly.
“I know you’re helping me as a friend.”
“You’re even protecting me.”
“You refuse to let me touch many things you consider dark or filthy…”
“But Arashi, I’m different from Hiruzen-sama.”
Minato seemed to gather tremendous resolve before speaking.
“I won’t allow you to become someone like Danzo-sama.”
“I will…”
Arashi did not hear the end of his sentence.
Minato drained another cup and collapsed drunkenly against the desk.
“Sorry, Minato.”
Although Arashi had drunk a few cups, his expression remained unchanged.
After all, Minato had been the only one drinking heavily toward the end.
“I’m about to do something extremely Danzo-like.”
Arashi picked up the Fourth Hokage’s cloak and draped it over Minato.
He then left the office and looked toward Uchiha Itachi, who had been waiting outside.
Arashi leaned down and whispered several instructions into his ear.
“Advisor Kaeda, gathering the Uchiha at the time you specified won’t be difficult.”
Clear concern appeared on Itachi’s face.
“But…
what are you planning?”
“You’ll understand once I appear.”
Arashi chuckled and flicked Itachi’s forehead.
He then placed a kunai marked with a special formula into the boy’s hand.
“Go.”
“Yes…”
Although Itachi still wanted to ask more questions, he understood that he was Arashi’s subordinate.
He could only obey and depart.
Arashi organized his thoughts and immediately headed toward Orochimaru’s laboratory.
…
Meanwhile, inside Orochimaru’s base…
“Those are bold words, Uchiha brat.”
Shisui’s challenge awakened Orochimaru’s pride.
He was one of the legendary Sannin and had become famous during the Second Shinobi World War.
Shisui had not even been born at the time.
So what if he was the Uchiha’s strongest shinobi?
Orochimaru’s skills were hardly insignificant.
“Even a young eagle is beyond the reach of a snake crawling along the ground.”
Shisui responded coldly.
He was normally humble and reserved.
However, after learning that Danzo’s Sharingan was connected to Orochimaru, even someone as polite as Shisui could not remain calm.
More importantly, Shisui was still an Uchiha.
The Uchiha were infamous for producing lunatics.
Even without excessive arrogance, they possessed pride embedded deeply within their bones.
Facing someone as rotten as Orochimaru finally brought that pride fully to the surface.
Silence fell between them.
Neither side moved, yet cold killing intent gradually filled the room.
“Rin!”
Now a jonin, Kakashi immediately sensed the danger and moved in front of his teammate.
Rin was still only a young chunin.
No matter how strong her resolve was, she felt completely lost in such a situation.
Neither of them could contribute much to a battle between Kage-level shinobi.
Just as the conflict was about to erupt, the laboratory door suddenly opened.
Arashi stepped inside and greeted everyone enthusiastically.
“Hey, everyone.
You’ve all worked very hard.”
The murderous atmosphere weakened considerably.
Shisui naturally did not want to attack immediately after Arashi arrived.
Orochimaru remained wary of Shisui and was equally unwilling to openly break relations.
Shisui of the Body Flicker had an extraordinary reputation.
He had not reached Minato’s level, where enemy shinobi were permitted to abandon their mission and flee upon sighting him.
Even so, his appearance alone could frighten away numerous powerful opponents.
Orochimaru honestly could not claim the same accomplishment.
Furthermore, he was obsessed with the Sharingan and had researched it extensively.
He vaguely suspected that Uchiha Shisui had already awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan.
That would not only greatly increase his ocular power but also grant him a unique ability.
Every Mangekyo ability was exceptionally deadly.
“Shisui, thank you for protecting Obito.”
Arashi wandered casually among them, appearing completely unaware of the delicate atmosphere.
He offered Shisui a bag.
“Here, rice balls.”
“Thank you, Advisor-sama.”
Shisui was genuinely hungry.
For three days, he had remained beside Obito without moving.
He had consumed only some water brought by Rin and several soldier pills.
Since Arashi had personally ordered him to eat, Shisui accepted without hesitation.
“Orochimaru-sama, you’ve also worked hard.”
“Thanks to you, Obito will be able to stand and become a shinobi again.”
Seeing Arashi’s narrow-eyed smile, Orochimaru wanted nothing more than to strike him in the face with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
Hadn’t Arashi promised that nothing would happen as long as Obito survived?
Orochimaru had conducted the experiment carefully, observed every result, and injected the Hashirama cells with extreme caution.
He had constantly feared that even a slightly excessive dose might kill the boy.
Yet Arashi had immediately revealed the secret of [A] to Hiruzen.
Orochimaru had always believed himself shameless.
Only now did he realize there was always someone more shameless.
In that regard, Arashi was clearly his superior.
Arashi continued adding fuel to the fire.
“Once Obito awakens, he’ll become Konoha’s first shinobi to possess the powers of both the Senju and Uchiha.”
“I truly look forward to his future.”
“Perhaps he’ll even become the Fifth Hokage.”
His tempting, boastful tone practically said, “You’ll lose your chance if you don’t act soon.”
“Arashi…”
Even Orochimaru was reaching the limit of his patience.
“If you have no other business, please leave.”
“I still need to monitor his condition.”
He feared that if Arashi continued wandering before him, he might instinctively spit out the Kusanagi Sword.
“Understood, understood.”
Seeing even Orochimaru’s deathly pale face redden with fury, Arashi knew he had poured enough oil onto the flames.
He immediately prepared to leave.
Before departing, however, he approached Kakashi and Rin.
“You two should return as well.”
“You’ve been awake for far too long.
Your bodies won’t endure much more.”
“Advisor Kaeda—”
Kakashi hurriedly tried to warn him that Orochimaru had nearly attacked them.
Arashi interrupted him with a serious expression.
“You only need to decide whether you’re leaving with me now.”
“We…”
Kakashi hesitated briefly.
“Rin, you should return.
I’ll stay.”
Orochimaru clearly wanted Obito.
How could Kakashi possibly leave?
“No.”
Rin naturally refused.
“I’ll stay too.”
“Honestly…”
Everything was proceeding exactly according to Arashi’s plan.
He had even predicted their responses.
Even so, an inexplicable sadness rose within him.
Arashi placed a hand on each of their shoulders and secretly left a strange formula behind.
“Since you’ve decided, I won’t say anything more.”
“Keep the items Shizune-san gave you close.”
Arashi quickly suppressed his emotions and strode outside.
These young shinobi were all loyal and deeply devoted to one another.
Compared with them…
Arashi truly was a bastard.
The moment he left the base, Arashi called toward Itachi, who was waiting outside.
“Bring everyone here.”
“Tonight, we’re going…”
His smile slowly widened.
“Snake hunting.”
…