After accepting the mission, Hakusei Tōya wasn't sent out right away. Instead, Minato gave him a few days to prepare.
Minato explained,
"Even though I have complete faith in your abilities, Tōya, this is still a type of mission you've had little exposure to.
Over the next three days, I'll give you materials on infiltration and intelligence-gathering, and I'll personally walk you through the key precautions.
Treat it as a preparation phase."
Tōya nodded. He had no objections.
He hadn't taken on many high-level missions before. He lacked experience, and he could admit that, it was one of the few traits that made him "ordinary."
This mission was critical. Not only did it determine whether Tōya could be promoted quickly, but it also marked Minato's first major move as Hokage in front of the upper echelons of power.
If Tōya failed and the village ended up following Hiruzen's proposal instead, it would tarnish Minato's credibility.
People might start questioning whether Minato, despite his strength, was truly suited to be Hokage.
So Tōya felt this was nothing to fuss over. For something this important, it was better to be cautious. A few more days of preparation couldn't hurt.
Besides, with three extra days, he could check on Kakashi and see if he'd mastered Soru.
He could also get Saltwater and Inuzuka Midori started early on preparations. After all, this was an international operation, stealing classified ANBU intel from another hidden village wasn't something to take lightly.
By the time he left the Hokage building, it was already noon.
Tōya headed straight for Konoha's commercial district to grab some lunch.
He lived alone. While he could cook, he couldn't be bothered to clean up, so he usually ate out. Occasionally, he'd shamelessly mooch a meal at Minato's place.
A cool autumn breeze swept through the streets, stirring the dry yellow leaves into the air. They glinted under the sunlight, swirling like golden fireflies.
Still, many people were out in short sleeves, unfazed by the chill, chatting excitedly about the new peace treaty between Konoha and Iwagakure.
"I can't believe the war's finally over. I heard it's all thanks to the Third Hokage that the treaty got signed."
"Yeah, without him, we wouldn't have this peace. It's a shame he stepped down. I wonder if the Fourth can protect the village like he did."
"Hard to say… I think the Fourth's only twenty-three this year. He's way too young. Honestly, it's a bit worrying."
Hearing those words, Tōya couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
"All thanks to the Third Hokage, huh? They've really got the nerve to say that."
If it hadn't been for Minato annihilating Iwagakure's elite jōnin and destroying their supply lines, do they really think Iwa would've agreed to a peace treaty so easily?
"That said…" A trace of mockery appeared on Tōya's face. "Maybe it was all thanks to the Third, considering the kind of 'treaty' it was."
The only reason Iwa accepted Konoha's terms was because those terms were ridiculously generous.
No reparations. No resource demands. Hiruzen declared Konoha would forgive Iwa for invading the Land of Fire and wouldn't pursue accountability.
All Iwa had to do was sign a peace agreement and cease hostilities.
Tōya was speechless. With conditions like that, someone might think Konoha was the one who lost.
It was like Konoha got invaded, won the war, then acted like a magnanimous elder saying, "We're too big to be petty. We just want peace."
And Iwa said, "Wait, seriously? You're offering peace and I don't have to pay anything? Where do I sign?"
To be fair, Tōya could understand the Third's thinking, he was probably just tired and didn't want another war. And yes, even a one-sided ceasefire had its benefits.
But still, claiming all the credit? That was pushing it.
Not only had Hiruzen handed over the Hokage title to Minato, he'd also held on tightly to most of his power, using the excuse that "Minato's still young."
Tōya shook his head with a sigh.
He couldn't call Hiruzen incompetent. Far from it. If the man were truly useless, he wouldn't have been able to lead Konoha through the Second Great Ninja War and secure their reputation as the strongest hidden village after Tobirama's sudden death.
Maybe it was just time… Time changes everyone.
Forcing himself to stop thinking about politics, Tōya shifted gears.
"What should I eat…"
Ramen at Ichiraku?
Nah, he just had that yesterday.
Barbecue?
Too greasy for lunch.
Deep in thought, Tōya found himself unconsciously standing in front of a dango shop.
He didn't hesitate.
It had been a while since he'd had sweets. Dango for lunch wasn't the worst idea.
He walked straight in and approached the counter.
"Watanabe, the usual," he said casually.
The shop owner greeted him with a warm smile.
"Three servings of the extra-sweet version, right?"
"Of course. Don't tell me a few days' absence was enough for you to forget me?" Tōya teased.
"Not a chance," Watanabe chuckled. "It's Hakusei Tōya, after all."
He headed back to the kitchen to start preparing the custom dango.
Watanabe had always thought his shop's dango was already on the sweet side. But Tōya insisted it wasn't sweet enough.
That made him memorable, and a regular. Over time, the two had built a casual, friendly rapport.
Tōya took a seat by the window, quietly waiting for his order.
Back in his previous life, he'd loved sweets.
He'd paid a steep price for that obsession, blood sugar levels, dental disasters, you name it.
But now, in the world of Naruto, with chakra coursing through his body, those worries were pretty much gone.
"Senior Tōya?"
A bright, energetic voice called out from behind.
Tōya turned around curiously and saw a boy in a green bodysuit with a bowl-cut hairstyle, none other than Might Guy.
"Senior Tōya, thank you so much!"
Guy bowed deeply, his expression solemn.
"Huh?"
Tōya was caught off guard. He hadn't done anything for Guy lately, had he?
Guy explained,
"Ever since Kakashi returned to the village, he's been gloomy. I tried challenging him to spar, but he'd only play rock-paper-scissors with me."
"But after he did a mission with you, it was like his youth came back! He even asked me for taijutsu advice!"
"I don't know what you said to him, but thank you!"
"…You're really something."
Tōya didn't know whether to laugh or be impressed. Kakashi was lucky to have a friend like Guy.
"Senior Tōya, how did you manage to get Kakashi to open up again?"
A red-eyed girl sitting beside Guy asked curiously.
She was genuinely baffled. She, Guy, Asuma, and the others had all tried to lift Kakashi's spirits, and failed.
Yet Tōya had just gone on one mission with him… and brought him back.
Nearby, Asuma, Genma, and the others all turned to look at Tōya, eyes filled with the same question.
How could a "regular" chūnin like him pull Kakashi out of his slump?
"How did I get him to come around…"
Tōya fell into thought.
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter