After a busy day, Ryun returned home and collapsed onto the sofa, his face a picture of utter despair.
"What's wrong, dear?" Hearing the noise, Tsunade came out of the bedroom and, as she did, made a pot of tea for Ryun.
After drinking a cup of tea, Ryun's expression of despair finally eased a little. A faint, bitter smile touched the corner of his mouth.
"The Raikage from Kumo sent an envoy to Konoha today, inviting us to attend the inauguration ceremony," Ryun said slowly.
Tsunade was taken aback at first. "Well, just go then. It's not like you can't go." She was somewhat puzzled. It was just going to see some festivities, so why did he look so tormented?
Ryun gave a bitter smile. "The key point is we also have to give them five hundred million ryo. That's practically worse than killing me." He immediately began beating his chest in distress, feeling deeply depressed.
Tsunade understood now. The corner of her mouth twitched. Alright, so her husband couldn't bear to part with that five hundred million ryo! Indeed, there was a reason behind the rumor circulating outside.
This guy, Ryun, only took in money and never let it out, a veritable money-devouring beast. Taking his money was like taking his life.
"And then? Did you give it?" Tsunade asked.
"We did. Luming made the final decision. But I thought of an idea, a way to earn the money back. That is, I pass the title of Hokage to Minato. When Minato succeeds as Hokage, we send invitations to all the nations. That way, not only do we get the five hundred million back, we can even earn a little extra." Ryun curled his lip.
Tsunade was shocked inwardly. "Did Luming agree?" No, that wasn't right. Knowing Luming as she did, he would never agree to such terms.
"He refused. He lectured me harshly and made me feel emo." Ryun forced out a few crocodile tears.
Tsunade's mouth twitched again. "You deserved it. Looking throughout the entire history of the shinobi world, there has never been a Kage who abdicated for the sake of five hundred million ryo just to earn the money back!"
"I know I was wrong." Ryun pouted, lowering his head even further.
Tsunade massaged her forehead. "Alright, go take a bath and get ready for bed. We won't do 'that' for the next few days. Conserve your energy so you can represent Konoha at Kumo." She blushed slightly.
Ryun, however, straightened his back. "OK! I'll go wash right now!" After saying this, he transformed into a streak of golden light and rushed into the bathroom to bathe.
He hummed a song while washing, in a rather good mood. After he finished bathing, he went to sleep with Tsunade. Nothing eventful happened that night.
The Next Day
Ryun got up very early because the envoy from Kumo had sent someone to Konoha to invite the Hokage to Kumo. Since Ryun had agreed to go, there were many matters to handle.
The most important was deciding who to bring as the Hokage's guards. The Anbu Captain, Hatake Sakumo, was already a definite choice.
There was one more position to be decided, and that was to be discussed today. On the way to the Hokage Building, Ryun saw Team Minato returning from a mission. His eyes lit up.
"Minato, just finished a mission?" Ryun stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
Minato was momentarily startled. Seeing Ryun, he quickly nodded. "Yes, sensei!" His team members, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin, also bowed in greeting.
Ryun smiled. "In that case, how about I assign you a mission?" He looked at Minato and the members of Team Minato.
Minato spoke up. "Hokage-sama, just give the order. Minato will do his absolute best to complete it!"
Ryun nodded. "In six days, it will be the inauguration ceremony for the Fourth Raikage, A, of Kumo. I want your team to serve as my guards and accompany me to Kumo to observe the ceremony."
After hearing the mission details, Minato breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought it would be some difficult task, but it was just guarding the Hokage and going to observe a ceremony in Kumo.
Kumo now had the deceased Third Raikage, and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had left. The only one who could stand out now was Lord A, who was about to succeed as the Fourth Raikage.
Therefore, Minato felt the difficulty wasn't that great, but he didn't voice this thought. "Since sensei has ordered it, we will certainly do our utmost to protect sensei's personal safety."
Ryun nodded. Good, good. As for the discussion later, the matter of guards could be skipped. They could discuss other things.
And so, Ryun brought Minato and the others to the Hokage's office. Nara Luming was handling administrative affairs. He looked up and saw Ryun enter with Minato and the others. He immediately understood Ryun's intention.
He gave Minato a slight smile. Minato returned the smile.
Then, Nara Luming looked at Ryun. "Finished choosing the guards?"
Ryun nodded. "Finished. Let Sakumo and Minato be the primary and secondary guards. Minato's students as team members will be enough."
Nara Luming thought for a moment. This was also fine, so he nodded in agreement. Then followed a long, boring discussion of etiquette and ceremonial gifts.
Obito was nodding off, listening. Rin was also somewhat inattentive. Kakashi closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, resting.
Only Minato sat upright, listening to the conversation between Nara Luming and Ryun.
These actions were also noted by Ryun and Nara Luming. This further gave Luming a good impression of Minato in his heart.
As for the other three children, they were still young. No need to be too critical.
Suddenly, the two men finished their conversation. Nara Luming, looking at Minato's earnest expression, couldn't bear to just let him watch. So he spoke up. "Minato, what's your view on this matter?"
Minato thought for a moment. He then spoke. "Actually, I think the main purpose of Kumo making this inauguration ceremony so grand this time is to borrow influence."
"Oh?" Ryun's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected Minato to have such insight!
After Minato mentioned "borrowing influence," Ryun and Nara Luming immediately understood his meaning. However, to test his abilities, Nara Luming said, "How exactly would they borrow influence?" His eyes held an encouraging look.
Minato stood up and bowed first. Then, straightening his back, he spoke. "What I say next are just my own shallow views. If there are any shortcomings, please point them out, sensei and Vice-Hokage Luming-sama."
The two men exchanged a glance. Finally, Ryun spoke. "Minato, speak freely. There are no outsiders here."
Nara Luming nodded.
Minato said seriously, "Everyone knows the current situation in Kumo. The Third Raikage died in battle. The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki is now living in seclusion in Konoha. The only Kage-level combatant they can put on the stage is Lord A."
"At this time, Iwa is powerful. In their village, there is the veteran strongman Ōnoki, plus Kitsuchi, and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han. That makes three already."
"Ōnoki's disciple, Deidara, is also said to have Kage-level strength. He once blew up the Tsuchikage building," Nagato added calmly.
Nara Luming nodded. Minato's analysis was correct. Everything was just as he said. Currently, Iwa's strength was overwhelming compared to Kumo's.
Hearing Deidara's name and his deeds, Ryun couldn't help but laugh without much sympathy, feeling a bit sorry for that old fellow Ōnoki, who had to worry about the village while also enduring Deidara.
"Ryun?" Nara Luming frowned, looking at Ryun. They were discussing matters now. Why did you suddenly laugh!
Ryun coughed twice, then composed himself. "Sorry, I just thought of something funny. Please continue."
Nara Luming rolled his eyes, then motioned for Minato to continue.
Minato nodded. "Therefore, Kumo wants to borrow our influence. Their intent is to tell all the shinobi villages, or more specifically, to tell Iwa."
"'We, Kumo, are recognized by the Hokage of Konoha. If you want to attack our village, you have to consider Konoha's stance.'"
Ryun smiled. Minato had really grown a lot over the years. To analyze Kumo's motives so quickly, and every point hitting the mark. It seemed the matter of letting him take over needed to be put on the agenda.
Nara Luming nodded. He looked at Minato. He had long known Minato was Ryun's chosen successor as the next Hokage. This was also a kind of test.
Listening now, Minato's political acumen was quite strong.
Nara Luming looked at Ryun and gave him a meaningful glance, indicating that Minato had passed in his assessment.
Ryun said cheerfully, "Minato, you spoke very well and comprehensively. I think you're ready to take over." He patted Minato's shoulder.
Minato, however, said, "Sensei is in your prime, at the peak of your strength. Minato is still young, and there are many things I haven't done as well as sensei. I truly dare not take over yet."
Ryun looked at him seriously, sighing inwardly. Minato was good in every way, but he was too rule-bound, too apprehensive.
"Minato, you need to understand one thing. For many matters, you don't have to perfectly replicate the path your predecessors walked to be considered qualified and competent."
"You haven't even tried. How do you know if you're suitable or not? Show some courage. I hope that the next time I ask you, you can resolutely say, 'I can.'" After saying this, Ryun patted his shoulder again.
Then they continued discussing other matters. Nara Luming now had quite a good opinion of Minato. The young man was calm, steady, treated others gently, and, most valuable of all, could see the essence through the phenomenon.
Finally, the three talked until sunset before finishing. They had also preliminarily decided on measures for handling various situations.
Minato pushed open the door to his home and saw Naruto lying on the sofa with the TV on. He couldn't help but smile slightly.
He went into the bedroom and got a thin blanket, then gently covered Naruto with it.
After that, he went to the front and turned off the TV.
Kushina, who was cooking in the kitchen, heard the noise. She opened the kitchen door a crack and said, "Honey, you're back?"
"Yes! Kushina, sorry to keep you waiting. I just finished a mission, and in the middle of it, sensei pulled me aside to discuss some matters." Minato's trademark sunny smile appeared on his face.
"Huh? Brother-in-law? What did he want to discuss with you that was so urgent? You just got back to the village, and he does this! That's too much! Tomorrow I'm going to tell Sister Tsunade." Kushina pouted, dissatisfied with Ryun's behavior of exploitation and squeezing them dry!
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