"Who gave you the authority?"
"Minato Namikaze, watch your tone!"
"Minato!"
At the village gates, Danzō's furious roar, Homura Mitokado's rebuke, and the Third Hokage's stunned silence all echoed in Minato's mind.
"I am Konoha's Fourth Hokage."
"By virtue of that alone."
For the first time, the sight of this resolute Minato Namikaze felt unfamiliar to those who had always treated him as their puppet.
"As for you, Lord Third, I respect you as the former Hokage—but you're retired."
"And have you actually thought about what Hakken just said?"
"Any ninja who died on the front lines contributed far more to Konoha than any of you ever have. Even I can't compare to them."
With a sharp flick of his Hokage cloak, Minato's figure vanished from sight.
Outside the village, only the so-called higher-ups remained, and the severed arm on the ground stood as a silent reminder of all that had happened.
...
"Thank you."
On the road home, Yugito finally managed to say those two words behind Hakken.
As a prisoner, saying them felt humiliating—but she said them anyway.
"What are you thanking me for?"
Hakken sounded puzzled. As they neared his home, the killing intent and dark aura that clung to him faded completely. He never showed those things in front of his family.
"That old man... he clearly wasn't a good person."
"If you had handed me over to him..."
Yugito shook her head, leaving the rest unsaid.
But no matter how one looked at it, the outcome wouldn't have been good.
Being a captive was miserable.
Yet somehow, being by this kid's side didn't feel quite as bad.
If being treated like a kitten was the price, then so be it.
It wasn't as if she'd lose a piece of herself.
Her eyes carried a hint of helplessness—but compared to being locked away in a dark cell, this was far better.
Hakken said nothing.
He had never once considered handing the Two-Tails over to Danzō.
When he pushed open the door to the Mitarashi residence, Anko and Kurenai, her close friend, were deep in conversation.
At the sight of him, surprise flashed across Anko's face, quickly replaced by joy. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him.
This mission had been different from the ones before.
She understood how dangerous it had been.
The joy of reunion instantly swept away all her earlier fears.
You've grown again.
That was his Anko.
…
Lying on a lounge chair in the Mitarashi courtyard, Hakken basked in the warm sunlight, listening to his sister's cheerful chatter beside him.
He suddenly realized—this was the life he wanted.
He tilted his head slightly. Beside him, the little cat wore a look of annoyance, fanning herself with one hand while rocking the chair with the other, serving as both a human fan and a makeshift cradle.
So exhausting.
Still, compared to being a true prisoner, being a maid didn't seem quite so shameful after all.
"Oh, my foolish little brother."
Suddenly, there was a new girl in the house—and not just any girl, but one strikingly beautiful.
Anko was thrilled.
Her little brother had grown up!
He was even bringing girls home now!
It felt like the glorious rise of the Mitarashi clan was just around the corner.
Well, except that her brother never used their family name.
In his words, "It sounds awful."
What's wrong with Mitarashi? Anko rolled her eyes.
"My foolish sister, what are you trying to say?"
Hakken asked lazily, opening his eyes.
Honestly, every time Anko called him "my foolish little brother," he couldn't help but picture Itachi's face.
Please, that's not your line.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
Leaning close, Anko whispered while pointing at the little cat beside him.
Seriously, could you keep your voice down?
And where exactly do I look like this brat's girlfriend?
Yugito, who was about the same age as Anko, scoffed, rocking her chair a little harder.
What, do I look like I can't find a man?
As if I'd ever need a kid for a boyfriend!
"Hardly. She's not worthy."
Hakken yawned. A maid and a girlfriend were two completely different things.
One was someone you could vent on without concern; the other, someone you had to comfort afterward.
Big difference.
And besides, a trophy was still a trophy—advancement depended on performance.
Maybe I should've just gone back to that dark room and let them study me instead.
She suddenly felt like crying.
What did that brat just say?
"Not worthy"? I'm not worthy to be his girlfriend?
I haven't even complained that your abilities haven't awakened yet!
"Well, there you have it, Kurenai—she's just a maid. No threat to you. You still have a chance."
What was even more humiliating was that Anko actually shouted that across the courtyard to the woman next to her, Kurenai Yūhi.
So that's what you came here for—to confirm it?
Yugito rolled her eyes.
But the most awkward one wasn't her.
It was Kurenai.
For heaven's sake, she'd only wanted to ask who the girl beside Hakken was.
Who knew Anko would take it upon herself to confirm the "love rival" situation for her?
You really are my best friend.
The courtyard remained lively and full of noise.
Reclining on a lounge chair, Hakken watched the scene before him with a gentle smile.
If Yūgao were here too, this moment would feel even warmer.
Unfortunately, she was still at school. As she liked to say, she was determined to surpass him.
The girl didn't yet understand that when you strive to surpass someone, you inevitably end up living in their shadow.
She was already too deep in to escape it.
"Um..."
At that moment, a new figure appeared in the courtyard.
Golden hair, a faint flush still on his face from lingering anger.
Minato had arrived.
But when he saw the peaceful scene before him, he immediately felt out of place—like he shouldn't have come at all.
In truth, he'd rushed over in such a hurry precisely because he feared Hakken might, in his fury, pack up and leave the village with Anko...
And become a Missing-nin.
If it ever came to that, there would be no turning back.
The boy before him was fully capable of doing such a thing.
Thankfully, the atmosphere in the courtyard was nothing like what he'd imagined.
The boy lounged comfortably under the sun, smiling—a sharp contrast to the anger that had burned at the village gates.
As expected, Hakken only ever showed his warmth to those he considered his own.
But who counted as "his own" was a far more difficult question.
Very few people in all of Konoha could truly enter his heart.
"Minato-sensei, is there something you need?"
Hakken asked calmly, reclining back in his chair.
Anko and Kurenai said nothing.
The moment they saw the Hokage arrive, they quietly went inside. The two girls were considerate—they knew the men had things to discuss.
But Yugito looked awkward.
She couldn't exactly leave, but staying felt even worse. After all, she was still technically just a captive of Konoha.
"Keep fanning."
Hakken glanced her way and said.
"Phew. Alright."
Yugito let out a sigh of relief and went back to fanning him.
The Yellow Flash didn't seem to mind, but his gaze toward Hakken grew increasingly serious.
"Hakken, I need you."
"Take command of the ANBU for me."
...
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