"Ah? Hahaha!"
Naruto's laughter rang out the loudest, his amusement impossible to contain. Though Minato wasn't typically stern or old-fashioned, the stories others told had painted an image of their father as an imposing, almost mythical figure in their young minds.
But hearing about the bizarre names Minato had given to his techniques was too much for Naruto's carefree nature. He couldn't help but burst into genuine, uncontrolled laughter.
Chiharu lowered her head, pretending to be focused on her meal. In reality, she was simply trying to hide the smile that had crept onto her face, not wanting to further embarrass her father.
Even Sasuke, with his remarkable self-control, found himself struggling to maintain his composure. From everything he'd heard—whether from his brother, father, teachers, or other village elders—the Fourth Hokage was universally described as a powerful yet gentle man, his reputation seemingly flawless in every respect.
What Kushina had just revealed, however, threatened to upend that perfect image. "Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Stage Three"? Such an unwieldy name sounded like something invented by an overeager academy student with no practical knowledge of ninjutsu whatsoever.
Kushina laughed along with the children, clearly enjoying her husband's discomfort. Minato could only stand aside, his mouth twitching slightly, sapphire eyes filled with good-natured embarrassment.
Yet Kushina's revelation had successfully accomplished something important—the three children had completely forgotten about the uncomfortable incidents involving Jiraiya and Tsunade. The atmosphere around the dinner table had transformed from tense to cheerful in an instant.
As they continued their meal, Naruto enthusiastically recounted various adventures from their journey, his gestures animated and his eyes bright with excitement. Watching the carefree smile on their son's face, Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance of quiet relief.
Whatever questionable habits Jiraiya and Tsunade might possess, it was evident that the children had enjoyed themselves tremendously during most of their trip. For Minato and Kushina, as parents, that knowledge was sufficient.
After dinner, Minato personally escorted Sasuke back to the Uchiha compound. When he returned home, he found Naruto already in the front yard, having resumed his training regimen without missing a beat. Though the vacation had provided him with much-needed relaxation, Naruto clearly hadn't lost his determination.
"Kushina, even if your goal was to distract the children, did you really need to tell them about my naming habits?" Minato asked with a rueful smile as they prepared for bed that evening.
After receiving criticism from Jiraiya, Mikoto, Kushina, Uchiha Yoruki, and others over the years, he had gradually come to recognize his shortcomings when it came to naming techniques. He worried that after tonight, his image in the eyes of Naruto and Chiharu might have diminished significantly.
Even as Hokage, Minato couldn't help but care about how his children perceived him.
"I didn't expect you to be so concerned about such things," Kushina remarked, tilting her head thoughtfully. Her straight red hair cascaded slightly, partially covering one cheek and giving her an impish appearance.
"Of course I care," Minato replied, his lips curving into a slight pout that made him momentarily resemble a disappointed child.
"Hmm," Kushina hummed with a mischievous smile. She reached out and patted Minato's shoulder with a playful force. "Your strange naming habits are actually quite endearing, you know."
Her expression softened. "Don't you think it makes you more approachable to the children? More human?"
"Kushina..." Minato's eyes flickered with understanding.
The following morning, Minato emerged from their bedroom, his hair tousled from sleep and his eyes still heavy with drowsiness. He made his way toward the kitchen, where Kushina was already preparing breakfast.
"Naruto and Chiharu aren't awake yet?" he asked, noting the quiet house. It was admittedly quite early.
Kushina glanced up from her cooking. "Naruto left at dawn," she informed him.
"Hmm?" Minato paused, a small smile forming. "That child..."
On the streets of Konoha, as morning light began to filter through the village, Naruto's figure darted swiftly through the nearly empty pathways.
Tap, tap.
Suddenly, Naruto detected subtle movement nearby. Turning his head, he spotted a figure rushing along the opposite side of the street, moving with considerable speed.
It was Sasuke.
Their eyes met across the distance between them.
"Heh-heh," Naruto couldn't suppress a grin, immediately quickening his pace.
At the same moment, Sasuke likewise accelerated, pushing off with newfound energy.
Without exchanging a single word, the two boys had wordlessly engaged in an impromptu race, each understanding the challenge perfectly.
"That Naruto! It's getting late, and he still hasn't returned for breakfast," Kushina muttered, glancing at the clock with mild annoyance.
Minato set down his chopsticks and rose from the table. "I'm heading out," he announced.
"Take care," Kushina and Chiharu responded in unison.
Minato smiled and nodded before vanishing in his characteristic flash.
From the wide windows of the Hokage's office, despite the considerable distance, Minato's sharp vision allowed him to discern two small figures weaving rapidly through Konoha's streets below.
The sight brought a nostalgic smile to his face, reminding him of his own childhood rivalries and challenges.
His contemplation was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.
"Enter," he called, turning from the window.
The door swung open to reveal Jiraiya, his posture slightly stiff as he walked into the office.
"Sensei, how are your injuries?" Minato inquired with genuine concern. He knew all too well the devastating potential of Tsunade's monstrous strength. A single punch from her was capable of sending grown men flying hundreds of meters, often with severe injuries as a result.
"Ahem," Jiraiya cleared his throat uncomfortably, a visible shudder passing through his body. This particular encounter with Tsunade had left him with several fractured ribs—a painful reminder of her fury.
"I'll survive," he replied with forced nonchalance, waving dismissively.
"I see," Minato responded, tactfully choosing not to pursue the subject further.
His expression shifted to one of greater seriousness. "There was no sign of those individuals during the past month, I take it?"
"None," Jiraiya confirmed with a nod.
Since the masked man and his associates had exploited Kushina's childbirth as an opportunity to threaten Konoha and engage Minato, they would undoubtedly have noticed that Naruto and Chiharu were traveling beyond the village's protective boundaries.
This possibility had been one of the primary reasons Minato had arranged for both Jiraiya and Tsunade to accompany the children—a precaution that fortunately had proven unnecessary.
Of course, Minato's preparations had extended far beyond this simple arrangement. Had the masked man or his allies appeared, Minato had viewed it as a potential opportunity to eliminate these persistent threats once and for all.
Over the years, Minato himself had rarely ventured beyond the village borders, and despite continuous investigations by both Jiraiya and the Anbu, they had failed to uncover any substantive intelligence regarding these mysterious adversaries.
During this extended period of silence, these opponents were undoubtedly planning their next move, working toward some unknown objective.
"Once I'm fully recovered, I'll need to leave the village again," Jiraiya stated. Despite his occasional inappropriate behavior during their journey, he had simultaneously been gathering intelligence from various sources. This crucial work couldn't be neglected, especially since those who had attacked Konoha and assisted Orochimaru's defection had maintained an ominous silence recently—rarely a positive sign.
"Thank you for your continued efforts," Minato said with sincere gratitude.
The Fourth Hokage wasn't content to merely wait and react, however. As early as the conclusion of the Third Shinobi World War, he had begun analyzing certain disturbing patterns and facts, reaching some alarming conclusions.
Based on these analyses, he had been methodically developing and implementing countermeasures, though such complex plans required considerable time to reach fruition.
Thus far, it seemed that the conspiracies of their shadowy adversaries had not progressed as smoothly as they might have hoped—his existence and vigilance serving as a significant deterrent.
Both sides were engaged in an elaborate game of strategy and counter-strategy, each attempting to anticipate the other's movements while revealing as little as possible about their own.
For now, the specifics of their enemies' ultimate objective remained frustratingly elusive.