20 Chapter Twenty: Minato III

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October 21st, Year 68, Hokage Tower

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"They have sent another request to send ambassadors for a peace treaty," Shikaku finished his report, causing Lady Tsunade to roll her eyes and me to sigh in frustration.

"They never cease to be difficult, do they? Even after the war ended, Kumogakure continues to make trouble at our borders. And it seems they have ulterior motives for wanting a treaty," I replied, feeling a headache coming on.

"That's true. But if we keep denying their talk of 'peace', they can twist it and accuse us of being warmongers, potentially sparking another conflict. None of us want that," Shikaku added, rubbing his forehead and muttering about how troublesome it all was.

Father like son, huh?

I chuckled, which made Shikaku look a bit embarrassed. I waved it off, understanding the sentiment.

Lady Tsunade snorted in agreement and said, "Kumo has always been petty like that, and they're the only village that's increasing their military even after the decisive armistice. They're definitely up to no good by trying to gain access to our village like this." She paused for a moment, contemplating, and then turned to Shikaku. "Did that annoying brat find anything?"

Lady Tsunade clearly showed her annoyance when mentioning Kuro's name, but we all knew that Kuro was slowly growing on her.

Shikaku sighed and responded, "Well, he did find and help capture a few Kumo spies, but most of them were civilian spies who were only gathering information about our village's state and economic development. We also caught one ninja attempting to infiltrate the village, but thanks to the new alarm seal, he was apprehended easily. Unfortunately, he had no valuable information to provide, only orders to observe."

I nodded in understanding. I couldn't trust Kumogakure one bit, especially after their attempt to kidnap Kushina when we were young. The last thing we wanted was to repeat that dark chapter of our history.

Lady Tsunade narrowed her brows and asked, "Where is Jiraiya anyway? Doesn't he have any news on this matter?"

"In fact, Sensei does have some information regarding this. Apparently, Kumo has been portraying themselves as the bigger party while badmouthing Konoha to all the Daimyo for not accepting a peace treaty. Also, it seems Sensei has found a trace of Orochimaru and is trying to gather more information on him," I replied solemnly, causing Lady Tsunade to nod with a hint of apprehension.

"Hopefully, we can bring that bastard to justice. But it seems we might be forced into a peace signing by Kumo at this rate," Lady Tsunade commented, her expression turning thoughtful.

"It's not that we don't want to hold a peace signing. I've requested them to hold it in a neutral ground like the Land of Iron. However, they keep refusing and insist on holding it in Konoha, which is already suspicious. They have the audacity to claim it's to show their goodwill towards our village," I said, my voice laced with anger.

Shikaku attempted to reason, saying, "Sigh... Troublesome... But we might have to accommodate them. We can keep them under tight security if it comes to that."

I couldn't help but feel a lack of trust towards Kumo. Shikaku, understanding my concern, spoke in an understanding tone, "Minato... I understand your worries, and I share them. But we risk losing the trust of other nations if it appears we are looking down on a peace treaty. Iwa is always ready to bring us down, and Kiri would gladly join if they see an opportunity. Moreover, if our Daimyo loses face due to our actions, it will create budgetary issues for us."

I groaned, knowing that what Shikaku said was true. It almost made me feel bad for killing Danzo… Almost.

Danzo, despite being a traitorous bastard, knew how to manipulate the opinions of other nations with his calculated actions. Perhaps we needed to employ some of his tactics and work on shaping public opinion. It was a sigh-worthy thought.

"Fine... It seems we will be hosting a gathering of Kumo ambassadors. I will write them a letter," I said, my heart feeling heavy. My instincts were screaming that something might go wrong.

"We can only hope for the best…" Shikaku responded with a serious expression before relaxing a bit.

"Well, is there anything else to discuss? If not, I'll be heading to the cas— I mean, the hospital. There's much work to be done," Tsunade-sama said with an awkward laugh.

I chuckled at her antics and shook my head, saying, "Most of the state affairs are wrapped up. But we do have another matter to discuss."

Shikaku seemed to understand what I was referring to and instantly looked tired, while Lady Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

Chuckling, I continued, "You see, Kuro will be graduating after this semester."

Lady Tsunade looked surprised and responded in a mocking tone, "I thought the lazy brat would try to keep hiding until he can't anymore. So what changed?"

"Hahaha, it's a funny story, actually. One of his clones, by mistake, scored perfect marks on his theory exams and was exposed," I explained.

Hearing that, Lady Tsunade burst out in laughter and exclaimed, "Serves that brat right!"

"As he was exposed, I had no reason to turn a blind eye to his abilities anymore. The entire academy already knows about him being a genius. But thankfully no one knows about his special conditions yet, which we are keeping under wraps as usual… Also, after his mother discovered him using clones and intentionally sabotaging his scores..." I trailed off, noticing Shikaku's pale expression.

"Let's just say... I was happy to sleep on the couch to avoid being near her," Shikaku confessed with a terrified look.

I nodded sympathetically and continued, "So yeah, Kuro will become a Genin after this semester," ending with a chuckle.

Lady Tsunade laughed for a while before posing a crucial question, "So, who will be taking that brat? I don't think just anyone can handle him..."

And that was the question, indeed.

"That's why I brought it up. In an ideal situation, it would have been the Third Hokage to take him as a personal disciple and guide him in the ways of the Will of Fire to ensure his loyalty and love for the village. But I don't want one of our brightest youngsters to be anywhere near him for now. As much as I want to forgive the Third Hokage for indulging his friends and letting Orochimaru go... I just can't," I expressed with frustration.

Tsunade nodded, her expression filled with understanding and sadness. She gave me a small smile, conveying her empathy.

"The other best option would be for Kushina to lead a Genin team with Kuro on it. She is already his master in Fuinjutsu and Kenjutsu, and the way she treats and handles the boy, there would be no better sensei for him. Kuro himself loves and respects Kushina, so she would have been the best choice to help him grow properly, albeit with a chance of creating a monstrous prankster," I explained, feeling a hint of fear at the thought of Kuro and Kushina collaborating on pranks, especially considering his perfect stealth abilities with his shadows.

"But Kushina is very happy with her life now and doesn't want to return to active duty just yet. She and I didn't have parents while growing up, and the last thing we want is for the same to happen to little Naruto... And... we are trying for... another child," I admitted, blushing a little at the personal revelation.

Tsunade found amusement in the situation, while Shikaku couldn't resist a teasing smirk.

"Then who else is left to choose for the brat? Don't tell me you want Jiraiya to corrupt him," Lady Tsunade asked with a horrified expression.

"That thought did cross my mind, but Kushina shut it down as soon as it came up. She said, 'Can you imagine if that pervert rubs off on him and he uses his shadows to peek at girls? NO! NO WAY IN HELL WILL I LET THAT HAPPEN!' Those were her exact words," I chuckled nervously, recalling how fiercely protective Kushina was of her little 'Kuro-chan'.

"Good! Never let that pervert near that brat... It would be a disaster," Tsunade agreed, shuddering at the mere thought.

"So... Shikaku and I have narrowed it down to three candidates who may be able to handle and guide Kuro," I stated with significance, locking eyes with Tsunade.

"No, I will not be teaching that brat," Lady Tsunade declared firmly. I nodded, fully aware that she would reject the idea. Kuro, despite being an exceptional ninja, had little to no control over the Yang attribute, and his enormous chakra reserves might cause more harm than good when it came to medical ninjutsu. Furthermore, it was well-known that Lady Tsunade had a hard time dealing with Kuro, as he often got on her nerves.

"You weren't one of the three people I was referring to," I replied with a hint of amusement, knowing that it both relieved and annoyed her to not be considered as his sensei.

"So who are they?" Lady Tsunade inquired, showing her curiosity.

I turned to Shikaku, who began to explain, "The first candidate is Akimichi Choza. He is an uncle to Kuro, in all but blood. Kuro holds great respect for him due to Choza's indulgence in Kuro's culinary experiments, which have turned out remarkably well. In fact, they are even discussing the possibility of opening a restaurant together next year, specializing in what they call 'fast food.' Additionally, Choza is an accomplished jonin who has successfully trained two batches of genin to their chunin promotions. He possesses both the experience and the respect to handle someone like Kuro."

Both Lady Tsunade and I nodded in agreement, recognizing Choza's suitability for the role.

"Next on the list is Yuhi Shinku, a master of genjutsu, Yin Release, and an expert in kenjutsu. He has earned a reputation as a respected instructor among our genin and chunin, making him an excellent tutor and guide for Kuro. Shinku firmly upholds the Will of Fire, and his unwavering love and loyalty for the village are unquestionable," Shikaku continued.

Lady Tsunade and I shared a knowing glance, acknowledging the potential benefits of having Shinku as Kuro's sensei. Not only could he help sharpen Kuro's kenjutsu skills, but he could also contribute to nurturing Kuro's Yin Release and potentially transform him into a formidable genjutsu user.

It seemed that Lady Tsunade agreed with the choices so far. "That indeed seems plausible. He seems like a good tutor for the brat," she said with a nod. Then, looking at Shikaku again, she asked, "Who is the final choice?"

Shikaku looked a bit troubled but glanced at me for permission to speak. I took the lead and answered solemnly, "Well... the last choice is a bit controversial, but he might just be the best fit for Kuro, depending on how we see it."

Raising an eyebrow, Lady Tsunade asked, "And who might that be?"

"That would be Sarutobi Anzo... Aka Monkey," I replied, acknowledging the surprise in her eyes.

Lady Tsunade reacted strongly, slamming her hand on the desk out of frustration. "You want the freaking ANBU Commander to be his teacher? Are you CRAZY?!" she exclaimed.

I maintained my composure and responded firmly, "Calm down, Lady Tsunade. I am still your Kage," giving her a short glare to remind her of our respective positions. She sighed and gave me an apologetic nod, acknowledging her outburst.

I continued, explaining the reasoning behind the choice. "I know it's unusual to have the ANBU Commander act as a regular Jonin Instructor. But the Genin we are talking about may just be the most special since Lord Hashirama himself. Kuro needs the best of the best to hone his skills."

Shikaku nodded in agreement and added, "Not only is Anzo a master of all ninja arts, but he is also the son of Lord Hiruzen. Not only was he taught by one of the best politicians, his father, he was also trained by a ruthless and tactical Ninja like Danzo. Moreover, he possesses a strategic mind that is not inferior to my own. Although his strategies are focused on espionage, assault, and infiltration, they are invaluable skills for any ninja. Additionally, he can utilize Kuro's uncanny abilities to their fullest potential." He paused for emphasis.

Lady Tsunade looked stunned and asked, her voice trembling, "You are trying to train him to be an assassin."

I met her gaze, understanding the gravity of the situation, and replied, "We are considering all aspects of Kuro's abilities and potential. While his skills lend themselves to stealth and covert operations, we are not solely aiming for him to become an assassin. Our goal is to shape him into an exceptional and well-rounded ninja, capable of fulfilling a range of duties for the village."

I then looked at Shikaku, who nodded and said with a serious tone, "I know it seems harsh, for a kid like Kuro, who even though lazy is loved by so many. But his skills are indespincible for a Ninja. And his perfect stealth, with his amount of Chakra, not mention his Shadows, gives him the skillset to be a perfect assassin… An assassin so great that, people may never even know he was one… Minato and I both thought it would be prudent to keep that option open, after all… to achieve optimal outcomes, we need to push our best assests…" He finished looking indifferent, but I knew his struggles.

I appreciated Shikaku's loyalty and his trust in Kuro's skills and character, knowing that he wouldn't be easily corrupted. Lady Tsunade, after some contemplation, spoke softly, "Sorry, I was only thinking emotionally... But you are correct."

"It's alright, Lady Tsunade. We haven't even decided on the instructor yet. And even if we choose Anzo, he will primarily teach Kuro to be a well-rounded ninja until he becomes a Chunin. We will give him the choice to decide his own path. We don't want to force him into something he doesn't want. The last thing we need is an angry redhead after all of us," I laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood. Both Shikaku and Lady Tsunade chuckled.

"Ain't that the truth, 'Hokage-sama'," Shikaku teased, earning himself a playful retort from me, "I'm not the one who sleeps on the couch out of fear of his wife, 'Nara-sama'." This prompted a groan from him.

"What a drag," he muttered, causing me to chuckle.

"Well, we still have time to think about who to choose as Kuro's instructor. We have a month to decide," I said, leaning back in my chair, attempting to relax after the intense discussion.

"Understandable... But who will be his teammates?" Lady Tsunade asked curiously.

And indeed, that was an important question. I sighed and closed my eyes, realizing that I had yet to determine who would be the most suitable teammates for Kuro. However, for now, we would leave that decision for another day. We could tackle that particular headache at a later time.…

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Welp! The higher ups are deciding Kuro's fate… Lets see where this goes, Ey?

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