"Let's go, time for the hot springs."
Akimichi Chōza excitedly stood up—he'd been looking forward to this for a long time.
Kin slung an arm around Nara Shikaku's neck.
"You're treating, right?"
Nara Shikaku immediately put on a fawning, merchant-like expression and said obsequiously, "Yes, Lord Kin."
Is this guy going to retaliate? he wondered. Even my old man isn't a match for Uchiha Kin.
Kin snorted. "I preferred your rebellious attitude."
Nara Shikaku quickly straightened his posture and walked ahead.
He didn't want to act so meek, but he was genuinely afraid of getting beaten up.
Kin was only a year older than them, yet he had this level of strength—it was downright terrifying.
So, a little flattery was necessary.
With a grand wave of his hand, Shikaku declared:
"Let's go, my treat."
This guy is someone you just don't mess with.
Namikaze Minato, trailing behind, scratched his cheek.
During the earlier fight, he'd noticed something: Kin could accurately predict where he would appear.
At the time, there had been more than one kunai on the ground.
There was only one explanation—Kin had also mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
That's just absurd.
Minato fell into deep thought. He had developed quite a few jutsu, but the one that helped him most in battle was undoubtedly the Flying Thunder God. And now, Kin knew it too.
This makes him even harder to deal with.
Minato sighed heavily.
"You're already plenty strong," Yamanaka Inoichi said, slowing his pace to walk beside Minato.
"It's just that Kin is, without a doubt, a complete monster."
Minato's expression turned bitter. Back in the academy, he had been the one labeled a genius. But after becoming a shinobi, he'd been consistently overshadowed by Kin.
This feeling really sucks.
Steam rose from the hot springs.
Kin submerged himself in the water, letting the heat envelop him.
"Ahhh, this is the life."
Soaking in the pool made his whole body relax.
"Of course," Nara Shikaku's head popped up from the water, a towel draped over it as he leaned against a nearby rock.
"This place is famous for its medicinal baths. Rumor has it a lot of shinobi love coming here."
"I've heard this place is more famous for its mixed-gender baths," Kin remarked.
He was quite familiar with this establishment—thanks to his irresponsible teacher, Jiraiya, who had in turn heard about it from his equally unscrupulous mentor.
Truly, a crooked tree casts a crooked shadow. Thankfully, their generation was a bit more… pure.
"Mixed-gender baths, huh?"
Kin and Shikaku exchanged glances.
Then, in perfect sync, they grinned and chuckled.
"Heh heh."
"Enough, you two."
Yamanaka Inoichi stared at them in exasperation. Birds of a feather, truly.
And Uchiha Kin? Absolutely Jiraiya's disciple.
Meanwhile, Minato had half his face submerged, blowing bubbles into the water before resurfacing. Akimichi Chōza, on the other hand, was happily munching on potato chips while soaking.
Minato gazed up at the darkening sky.
Curious, he asked, "What are your dreams?"
"Dreams?" Shikaku propped his chin on his hand. "Mine would be marrying a gorgeous, curvaceous woman, having a smart and lively son… that's pretty much it."
He preferred a peaceful life—and, of course, quality time with his beautiful, well-endowed wife.
A lecherous smile spread across his face.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
This guy is hopeless.
"I want an endless supply of barbecue and chips," Chōza declared, raising his hand.
That way, he could just eat all day without a care in the world.
His face lit up with longing.
"That's just a pipe dream," Inoichi deadpanned.
An endless supply of barbecue and chips? Yeah, right.
"Very on-brand for an Akimichi," Minato remarked, scratching his head.
Most Akimichi he knew were obsessed with food.
"What about you, Inoichi?"
"Me?" Inoichi pondered. He didn't have any particularly grand aspirations.
"I guess… I want to become an outstanding shinobi like Lord White Fang."
A shinobi so powerful and commanding that he could intimidate an entire major village—that was his goal.
"That guy, White Fang…" Kin rolled his eyes skyward.
No matter what, he just couldn't get along with him.
And more importantly—
He and White Fang were destined to clash. A battle to the death.
White Fang must die by my hand, Uchiha Kin's!!!
"Only Kin would refer to Lord White Fang like that," Shikaku said, envy creeping into his voice.
To them, White Fang seemed untouchable—their levels were just too different.
No matter how amiable White Fang was, they could never interact with him as casually as Kin did.
To outsiders, the two seemed to get along quite well.
"What about you, Minato?" Shikaku asked curiously.
After all, Minato had brought up the topic.
"Me?" Minato flashed a bright, sunny smile.
"I want to become Hokage."
That had been his dream since entering the academy, and it hadn't changed since.
"Hokage, huh?"
Shikaku sighed. Plenty of people in the village aspired to that title.
"You've got a tough road ahead, Minato."
As a Nara, he had a clear grasp of the political landscape. Minato had secured a ticket to compete for Hokage—his affiliation with the Hokage's faction guaranteed that much.
But it was just a ticket. Above him stood the Sannin and White Fang. Below him…
Shikaku glanced at Uchiha Kin.
There's this guy too.
Minato's chances were the slimmest of all.
While Konoha had no official rule about the Hokage's lineage, everyone tacitly believed that candidates from the Hokage's faction had the highest odds.
Thanks for that, Tobirama Senju.
"But I'll give it my all," Minato said, brimming with confidence, as if nothing could stand in his way.
Then, all eyes turned to Kin.
"Huh? Me too?" Kin pointed at himself, baffled.
"Of course!!" everyone chorused.
Since everyone had shared their dreams, Kin couldn't be the exception.
"My dream, huh…"
Kin scratched his head. World domination was definitely off the table.
And honestly, that wasn't really his dream anyway.
After some thought, he realized what had always driven him forward.
"My dream is just… to live. And to do whatever I want."
"What kind of dream is that?" Shikaku scoffed.
"Aren't we already living and doing whatever we want?"
"It's not the same."
Kin shook his head.
"I want to live for a long time. A hundred years, a thousand, ten thousand… forever."
His gaze grew distant. What he sought was something humanity had pursued since time immemorial.
Eternal life.
"Impossible!!"
Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded. How could anyone live that long?
"It's achievable with ninjutsu."
Kin smiled.
This was the driving force behind his actions.
And he was steadily making progress.
(End of Chapter)