The atmosphere inside the Hokage's office was still heavy. Arisu had brought back the news of Hatake Sakumo's death.
"Do you want me to tell Kakashi about Sakumo?" Arisu asked as he looked at the guilt written all over Minato Namikaze's face.
Minato rubbed his slightly red eyes.
"No... Teacher... I'll tell him myself. I've let Kakashi down..."
To be honest, what Minato felt most toward Kakashi was deep guilt.
Back when Obito died, it was because he hadn't arrived in time that the cheerful boy lost his life.
Later, when Rin's incident happened, he had originally been the one assigned to support her. But because of another urgent mission, someone else had gone instead.
If he had gone himself, with the Flying Thunder God Technique, maybe he could have saved Rin.
Kakashi had already lost both of his teammates, and now even his father was gone.
That child really had a hard life, as if he were nothing more than a wild weed under a wagon wheel.
"I'm his teacher. I'll be the one to tell him."
Minato finally made up his mind.
Arisu nodded slightly and did not insist.
Then he left the Hokage Building together with Tsunade.
As soon as they walked out, warm sunlight fell over them. Tsunade lowered her voice and asked, "Arisu, why didn't you tell Minato the truth?"
Arisu paused slightly and turned to look at her.
His deep gaze made Tsunade a little uncomfortable. She instinctively looked away, but still waited for his answer.
"Tsunade, no matter what happens, you trust me, don't you?"
With his hands behind his back, Arisu spoke gently, but with a serious tone.
Without any hesitation, Tsunade replied, "Of course. I couldn't care less about anyone else in the ninja world. You're the only one I'll always trust without question."
A gentle smile appeared on Arisu's face.
"Then let me tell you later. When the time comes, you'll naturally know everything."
"Alright. I trust you. You're my husband. How could I not trust you?"
Tsunade asked no more. She simply wrapped her arm around his, her voice full of trust and dependence.
She suddenly patted her stomach and asked impatiently, "Now the important question is what we're going to eat. I'm hungry. What should we have?"
Arisu smiled.
"If I remember right, there's only one restaurant near the Hokage Building. Ichiraku Ramen. Want to go?"
"Let's go!"
Tsunade's eyes lit up as she pulled Arisu toward it.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since the two of them had eaten at Ichiraku Ramen together.
As soon as they entered the ramen shop, they noticed it had become much bigger than before. The place had a warmer, brighter look, and business was booming.
By coincidence, the new generation of Konoha's young ninjas were having a meal there together, Shikamaru, Choji, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and the others.
"Oh, you're all here."
Arisu greeted them with a smile.
The moment everyone saw Tsunade and Arisu, they immediately stood up respectfully.
"Lady Tsunade! Lord Arisu!"
Most of them were the second generation of Konoha's major clans, so they all knew the status and reputation these two held in the village.
Yukio's face lit up as he ran over.
"Dad, Mom, you're back!"
Smiling, Tsunade rubbed her son's little head hard.
"Did you miss Mom?"
Yukio smiled and answered honestly, "Actually, I missed Dad more."
Tsunade's face darkened. She leaned close to her son's ear and whispered, "But your dad misses me more than he misses you..."
Watching the mother and son interact, Arisu was left speechless.
"Dad, Mom, this is Ino! Ino, these are my parents."
Yukio pulled Yamanaka Ino over and introduced them.
"H-Hello, Uncle... Auntie..."
Ino's face was bright red as she looked at the youthful couple before her.
The two of them really didn't look like people in their fifties or sixties. Instead, they looked like a handsome young man and woman in their twenties, with outstanding looks and charm.
"Uncle... Auntie... You both look so young..."
Blushing, Ino couldn't help sneaking a glance at Tsunade's impressive figure. Then she looked down at herself and pressed her lips together.
Arisu smiled gently, "So you're Yamanaka Inoichi's daughter. You're an excellent girl, cheerful and full of potential. You'll definitely become an outstanding ninja in the future."
Tsunade did not say anything.
———
[Early The Next Morning, Konoha Training Ground]
To prepare for the upcoming Chunin Exams, Hatake Kakashi was putting Team 7, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, through intense training.
"AHHH!!! KAKASHI-SENSEI!!! Do you really have to use something like that?! Who would use the Thousand Years of Death in a real fight?!"
With Naruto's scream, he shot into the air as if struck by lightning, then rolled around on the ground with both hands covering his butt.
"Sigh... Naruto..."
"Naruto, ninjas fight by any means necessary. No one on the battlefield is going to talk to you about fairness."
Kakashi expressionlessly withdrew his hand. His trademark copy of Make-Out Paradise was still in it as he spoke calmly.
Beside him, Sasuke folded his arms and turned his head away with a cold face, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Sakura's face was full of awkward disbelief, with black lines across her forehead.
Just then, a familiar figure walked in through the entrance of the training ground.
Wearing the Hokage's robe, Minato Namikaze appeared before everyone with a serious expression.
"Lord Hokage!"
The three members of Team 7 immediately stood up straight and saluted respectfully.
Naruto, however, acted as if he had found his savior. He rushed over excitedly.
"Dad!!! Hurry and do something about Kakashi-sensei! He actually used such a dirty move on me! Kakashi-sensei fights without any shame! Hurry up and give me a different teacher!"
Naruto wailed dramatically as he spoke, sounding as though he were about to cry.
Of course, everyone knew he was only complaining in the heat of the moment. He didn't really want another teacher.
In truth, he respected and relied on Kakashi very much.
That was because Naruto still hadn't formed much of a bond with Iruka, Jiraiya, and the others.
So at this point, Kakashi was even more important to him.
Hearing this, Minato frowned slightly.
He had come to the training ground today to personally tell Kakashi about Hatake Sakumo's death. His mood had already been extremely heavy, so his expression was naturally not very pleasant.
Now, hearing his son complain about Kakashi to his face, he immediately became unhappy.
"Naruto! Stop fooling around!"
Minato spoke sternly, his voice carrying a rare seriousness.
"Do you know who Kakashi is? He is my Danzo, Orochimaru, and Tobirama Senju!"
"He followed me on missions and risked his life beside me long before you were even around! Kakashi's strength and experience are far beyond anything you're qualified to judge right now. Train properly, and don't embarrass me!"
Minato's words were harsh.
Looking at Kakashi's calm dead-fish eyes, Minato let out a silent sigh.
Kakashi still didn't know that his father had died.
The guilt in Minato's heart grew even stronger.
First Obito, then Rin, and now Sakumo...
This child had already carried far too much.
Kakashi lowered his head slightly.
After being scolded by his father, Naruto shrank his neck, stuck out his tongue, and muttered quietly, "Okay, okay... Why are you being so mean, Dad..."