Chapter 43: Conversation with the Third Hokage

At this moment, the Third Hokage turned around slowly with his back towards the Water Gate. This was a face Minato had seen countless times before. Because the window of his room directly faced the Hokage Rock. 

Although not particularly handsome, the steadfast expression on his face gave people a reassuring feeling. This was the honorable Third Hokage of the Konoha Ninja Village.

"Minato, I've wanted to meet you for a long time," the Third Hokage said, with a kind smile on his face, extremely friendly.

"Greetings, Lord Third!" Minato bowed deeply. He sincerely respected the man before him, because the current peace and strength of Konoha was born under his leadership. And his teacher Jiraiya was also the Third's student.

Hearing this, the Third smiled slightly and said, "No need to be so formal. Since Jiraiya is my student, you're naturally my great-disciple."

"Don't you blame me?" Minato asked, referring to taking Kushina away without permission. Yet the Third Hokage didn't mention it at all, instead showing an extremely friendly side to him.

Although his teacher Jiraiya had previously said that the Third valued him, what he did today was indeed going too far.

"You mean about Kushina? You safely sent her back home, didn't you? Besides, if not for this, we grandfather and grandson might not have met for who knows how long."

The Third smiled, "Isn't this what you were hoping for, to use this as a chance to meet me?"

Hearing this, Minato immediately bowed before the Third and said, "Lord Third, I'm sorry. I know this has touched upon some of the village's interests, but..."

Indeed, the Third saw through his intentions. He deliberately had the Toad Sage summon a toad transformed into Kushina's appearance, in order to let the village leadership know that he took Kushina away.

"You care about Kushina a lot." However, the Third's face showed no angry expression, instead asking.

Minato nodded in acknowledgment.

"Today you wanted to see me, it was also for her sake. And as far as I know, when you previously taught at the Ninja Academy, you had a good temper, only losing control of your emotions when it involved Kushina."

The Third had long investigated everything about Minato, which is why he dared to let Jiraiya teach him.

"Why?" the Third asked.

Minato pondered, because he didn't know the reason himself.

"You like her, don't you?" the Third asked again. Minato's face immediately turned a bit red, but he could not deny it.

In fact, he had also realized that his feelings towards her were definitely more than just camaraderie.

"To like someone, no matter what you do for them, there is no reason to give. I can understand this. But you, who is able to view everyone in the village as family and wants to protect them, should also be clear - I sent the Anbu to protect Kushina because of what she means to this village."

"Lord Third, about Kushina's identity..." The Third cut Minato off before he could finish.

"The answer to this question, you didn't get from Jiraiya before, and today, I still cannot tell you either. Just as Jiraiya told you, to access this information, you need to have enough strength, understand?"

The Third's expression was solemn, and Minato lowered his head.

"I can see that you used this method to prove your abilities. Indeed, you have grown much more compared to a year ago, even able to deceive the Anbu. But...this is still not enough!"

Kushina's identity involves too much; very few in the village know about it. With Minato's current abilities, he still does not have that qualification.

Minato realized that none of his thoughts could be hidden from the Third Hokage before him. After all, compared to someone of the Hokage's stature, he was still too inexperienced.

"I understand, I'm sorry about today's incident." Minato then said, feeling a bit of resentment in his heart, but what could he do?

Fundamentally, he was too impatient. Even with Jiraiya's guidance, it had only been a year. The level he could reach was still not enough to learn the answer from the Third Hokage's mouth.

"However, there is one thing I want to request from you." But Minato had not finished speaking. 

The Third nodded, "Go ahead."

"I don't know Kushina's identity, nor do I know what value she holds for the village. But no matter what, she is still just a little girl. Your supervision over her is perhaps a bit too strict. I often see a gloomy look on her face. Kushina can't even spend her rest days wandering the streets of Konoha with friends. Every day she goes to the Ninja Academy very early, because she hates feeling lonely."

Coming here today, while he cared about learning Kushina's identity, he didn't want to see that look on her face anymore.

Minato's words made the Third's pupils slightly constrict. He never expected Minato's concern for Kushina to reach this level. And what he said wasn't entirely without reason.

Indeed, in this year or so since coming to Konoha, the village's treatment of her had been somewhat unfair. She was still just a child! 

Minato continued, "Kushina's dream is to become Hokage. I know she wants to gain everyone's acceptance in that way."

As he said this, a hint of pity flashed across Minato's blue eyes. Usually Kushina had a carefree personality, but that very quality proved her inner struggle.

"I didn't expect you had thought so deeply about her," the Third said. After Minato's reminder, he realized the psychological issues surrounding Kushina.

Before too long, Mito's life would come to an end, and then Kushina would become the new Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. And he had some understanding of the suffering that came with being a Jinchuriki.

If she had to bear all that too soon, it could lead to major problems later on. But he also couldn't just arbitrarily withdraw the Anbu guarding her, because even if he agreed, the other village elders...

Seeming to sense the Third's concerns, Minato raised his eyes with great solemnity and said, "Lord Third, let me be the one to protect Kushina!"

(end of chapter)