"Kyoichi's gone?"
"Yeah. Someone like him looks carefree, as if nothing in the world really matters to him—but in truth, he cares more deeply than anyone. When it comes to farewells like this, he'd never let people see him off."
Jiraiya sat on the windowsill, sighing with emotion.
He had watched Kyoichi and Tsunade leave with his own eyes, yet he hadn't followed or stepped out to say goodbye—even though he knew perfectly well that Kyoichi had already sensed his presence.
Minato fell silent for a long time before finally letting out a long, weary sigh.
"To be honest… I've never really understood Kyoichi. I used to think his goal was the Hokage's seat, and I even felt a bit competitive about it. But now I realize—he never cared about being Hokage at all."
Yes.
Minato had once thought about measuring himself against Kyoichi. In the end, though, he understood that he wasn't his match—and with his own gentle temperament, he couldn't bring himself to use underhanded methods anyway.
So he stopped competing and instead quietly helped Kyoichi, helping him make Konoha stronger. Over time, he even came to believe that Kyoichi was the one truly suited to lead.
Who would have thought—
That Kyoichi didn't care about the Hokage position at all. He handed over a role that was practically within arm's reach, chose freedom instead, and walked away.
Minato couldn't quite make sense of it.
"That's normal," Jiraiya said. "Kyoichi may act unpredictable, almost whimsical at times, but he actually lives by a very clear personal code. He once told me that his dream was simply to be a teacher."
"That… I believe."
After thinking it over, Minato nodded.
Wanting to be a teacher wasn't something to be ashamed of. In fact, aside from being Hokage, Minato's own second wish had been to become a competent, successful teacher—but unfortunately…
Looking back, he had to admit he probably hadn't been a very good one.
That path, at least, was closed to him.
For Kyoichi, however, things were different. It wasn't that his teaching ability was lacking—on the contrary, he was too good at it, and his strength and status were too exceptional.
To put it plainly—
If you became Kyoichi's student and performed even slightly well, becoming Hokage wouldn't be difficult at all.
Especially when Kyoichi himself wasn't taking the position.
Under those circumstances…
Who wouldn't want to be Kyoichi's disciple?
But—
Konoha had so many clans. Whom should he choose?
That alone was a massive headache.
At Kyoichi's level, he could refuse anyone and no one would dare complain—but for Konoha's sake, choosing disciples had to be done carefully. He couldn't just act on a whim like before.
With that in mind, even being a teacher would lose its appeal.
Though Minato hadn't been Hokage for long, he understood Kyoichi's reasoning all too well.
"By the way, sensei—you said Kyoichi has his own code of conduct?"
"That's right," Jiraiya replied with a chuckle. "His rule is simple: if it's something he can do, he'll do it. If it's not, he won't force himself into it. And he really dislikes people who meddle in things they can't handle."
As he said this, Jiraiya couldn't help but smile.
Because—
That description immediately brought Danzō and the Great Toad Sage to mind.
Those two were exactly the type Kyoichi disliked most. The Great Toad Sage was at least somewhat better—he talked a lot, sure, but he also helped out when it really mattered.
Danzō, on the other hand, was pure trouble.
He stirred chaos wherever he went—whether in the shinobi world or in Konoha. He had his achievements, yes, but his mistakes far outweighed his merits.
Being metaphorically "sent to the gallows" was hardly unjust.
"When you put it that way, it really fits," Minato said, stroking his chin. "Kyoichi is always cautious. He usually won't act unless he's completely certain. His style is extremely steady."
So—
Kyoichi thought he was more suited to be Hokage?
That…
Minato couldn't wrap his head around it.
Such a genius, someone so extraordinary, believing Minato was the better choice—now Minato was forced into the role, nerves frayed, terrified he'd let Kyoichi down.
He rubbed his temples, unsure what to say.
Jiraiya took a sip of wine.
"Don't overthink it. Just do what you believe is right. Kyoichi and Tsunade stepping down and leaving means they've already done everything they wanted to do. Now it's your turn to show what you can do."
A smile crossed Jiraiya's face as he waved his hand.
"That's enough for now. Nagato's waiting for me. I'll come back to see you when Naruto turns one."
"Should I see you off?"
"Bah! Don't say things that bring bad luck. I'm going!"
With that, Jiraiya vanished in a flicker.
---
Outside Konoha.
Kyoichi and Tsunade weren't in a hurry. Once they left the village, they changed clothes, blending in like ordinary travelers—though both were strikingly attractive, and Tsunade's figure was especially eye-catching.
"Sis… maybe you should transform a bit?"
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing much. You're just a little too noticeable."
"Heh. Come on—your sister's taking you to a casino. Let me show you some real skill."
Tsunade was about to argue, but the moment she spotted a casino, her eyes lit up. She hadn't set foot in one for years—no one knew how she'd endured it.
Now that she was here, she was definitely going to put on a show.
"Won't you just lose money?"
"What does that matter? Just catch a few cheaters and we're set. Making money is easy."
With that, she marched straight in.
Spend a little gambling, catch a few cheats to win it back—when you thought about it that way, it was basically free money. Maybe even a profit.
Kyoichi said nothing and followed her inside.
A few hours later, Tsunade stormed out, cursing up a storm.
She'd lost everything.
Meanwhile, Kyoichi was absolutely loaded.
At first, he'd bet against Tsunade. Later, when she'd lost everything, he simply asked her which side she wanted—and then bet on the opposite.
The result?
He cleaned house.
As for Tsunade—
Her chips were gone. She even exchanged more money, only to lose that too. In the end, she gave up.
No fun at all.
If she were the only one losing, it would've been fine—just for laughs.
But the worst part?
She was losing nonstop while someone right next to her kept winning, even showing off from time to time. Who could stand that?
What really drove her mad was that she tried to spot cheaters to recover her losses—only to find none.
Was this casino actually running clean?
Absurd.
"Done playing?"
"I'm done! This is boring! If I ever gamble again, I'm a dog!"
Tsunade cursed furiously.
Kyoichi smiled. "Gambling's actually pretty simple, you know. Look at me—I didn't lose once, and I didn't even use any ninjutsu or tricks. Tsk."
"I'll kill you!"
Tsunade charged at him, monstrous strength unleashed.
She knew she couldn't hurt Kyoichi, and she was holding back—but still—
He caught her wrist.
The next moment, an unseen force lifted her into his arms.
"Put—put me down!"
"Ahem… let's go, okay? We really shouldn't linger here!"
"Put me down—!"