Seeing that Hiruzen brought up a matter that both sides were quite concerned about, Logan looked very upright and slightly bowed, "Of course, I will follow Hokage-sama's instructions and take on the 'leisurely duty' after coming back!"
Hiruzen's expression darkened, and the corners of his wrinkled eyes twitched a few times, 'What a cheeky boy.'
Logan specifically emphasized the 'leisurely duty', which was very necessary. With Naruto and the others nearing graduation, he couldn't afford to be tangled up in the heavily involved roles like those in the ANBU again. Without fully understanding the rules of his transmigration, missing out on key events would be completely counterproductive.
Hiruzen interpreted Logan's words as a reluctance to return to the grueling, life-threatening duties of the Anbu, opting instead for a relaxed, easygoing lifestyle. Just as he was about to say something, there was a knock on the office door.
With a click, the door opened, and a person walked in lazily.
"Hokage-sama, I'm here to submit my mission report."
Kakashi, never seen without his mask and perpetually sleepy-eyed, walked in. The same posture, but facing a different person this time.
"Hmm?"
The scene inside made Kakashi stunned. He took a closer look several times to confirm that the person standing in front of Hiruzen was a certain ANBU junior who had been living leisurely outside for many years.
The face matched his memory perfectly, still young and unchanged. Then, Kakashi waved, "Hey, Hattori, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Kakashi." Logan hadn't expected to run into Kakashi right after his return Noticing the file in Kakashi's hand, indicating he was here to submit a mission report, Logan smiled at the familiar lazy aura that even the mask couldn't hide, " You've become more laid-back, 'senpai'."
This 'senpai' had many implications, and Kakashi couldn't help but smile, but Logan's next words wiped the smile off his face.
"It seems you still don't have a girlfriend, huh?"
Hearing this, the corners of Kakashi's mouth twitched invisibly.
"Haha... you still look very young, you haven't changed much." Kakashi said through gritted teeth.
In reality, anyone with keen eyes could see the changes. The calm composure hidden beneath that youthful face, both Sarutobi and Kakashi silently acknowledged this.
"Just got back?" Kakashi glared slightly in displeasure, irritated by the girlfriend remark.
'As if you have one,' he thought.
Logan blinked and nodded.
"Ahem." Hiruzen coughed to draw the attention of the two who were catching up. There was still a Kage of the village present, after all.
"Hokage-sama." Kakashi said respectfully, putting aside Yu Xiaobai (also because he didn't want to continue the conversation after being teased), and placed the mission report on the desk.
Hiruzen put his hand on the report but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he set it aside and leaned back in his chair, looking at the two Jonin in front of him.
"Kakashi, you came just in time. Hattori and I were just talking about the problems after his return to the village. What do you think an excellent Ninja like him should do upon his return? After all, it wouldn't be right to let him idle around," Hiruzen said with an encouraging smile, but Kakashi was taken aback after hearing this, 'What did Hattori's position upon returning have to do with him? And 'excellent Ninja'?'
Hearing the strange tone in Hiruzen's words, Kakashi didn't know how to respond. He looked at Hiruzen in front of him and then glanced at Logan.
" Hokage-sama repeatedly stated that I would be given a leisurely duty before I came back. Kakashi, what kind of leisurely position do you think suits an excellent Ninja like me?"
Logan said as he patted Kakashi on the shoulder, leaning over as if they were old friends, while also looking at Hiruzen with dissatisfaction.
Kakashi winced from Logan's heavy-handed pat. Squinting at Logan, he thought, 'You should at least do this set of actions when we first met. Now, you have missed the best time.'
The tone of the confrontation also made him think about it, and He quickly understood that this was a mild and friendly disagreement between Logan and the Third Hokage about Logan's position after returning to the village...
"Uh, I just remembered I have something to do at home..."
But before Kakashi finished his words, Logan spoke, "Hokage-sama, you can't go back on your word. I still remember the face of those ANBU who sent the message."
Hiruzen coughed lightly, looking slightly embarrassed as he averted his gaze. Logan calling him out like this left him no room to argue. In fact, he never intended to throw Logan back into the rigorous life of the ANBU, fighting on the front lines, or even to have him replace Takeshi as the ANBU Commander and continue to pass the fire's legacy.
As someone managing all aspects of Konoha's operations, he really didn't want such a talented Ninja to waste away at home. At the very least, Logan should do something beneficial for the village.
Hiruzen's inner bottom line is actually not very demanding, but Logan is a little sensitive because of his transmigration situation.
"I never said I was going back on my word." Hiruzen replied with an expression that seemed to say, 'What kind of person do you think I am?'
Logan released his grip on Kakashi's shoulder and said, " That's good. Then, how about… I take up a guard duty at the village's ninja tools warehouse or something like that?"
"..."
As soon as Kakashi moved away to express that he did not want to get involved, he heard Logan's remarks. He opened his mouth as if to speak but then stopped, opting to stay silent.
'Why don't you aim for the sky while you're at it?'
"No." Hiruzen shook his head firmly, dismissing the suggestion as too much of a joke.
Logan had only been jokingand never expect it to be accepted. He paused and then proposed what he thought was a more ideal arrangement, "Then how about the same arrangement as when I retired from the ANBU? Except for emergency situations, I won't take on any special missions and will choose my missions freely."
This would make him a sort of on-call Jonin, which aligned with Logan's plans perfectly.
Hiruzen considered it seriously for a moment, then rubbed his temples and shook his head.
Seeing this, Logan sighed helplessly, but also appreciated that as Hokage, Hiruzen was respecting his preferences by even engaging in this discussion. So it wouldn't be polite for him to press further.
"Hokage-sama, you must have long thought about what Hattori should do when he returns to the village." Kakashi, who had been watching the show for a long time, suddenly spoke. His perspective as an outsider making things clearer, "Hokage-sama, why not just say it directly?"
Logan looked at Kakashi in surprise, 'As expected of the commentator in the later period.'
The sunlight outside had shifted the shadows considerably by now. Hiruzen tapped his desk and pulled a form from a drawer.
"This is the registration form." Hiruzen said as he pushed the blank form forward, "Hattori, how about becoming a Jonin Instructor?"
Birds chirped outside the window as Logan composed himself, realizing the seriousness of the moment. He glanced at the blank form in front of him and said, "Jonin Instructor? Guiding three newly graduated Genin?"
Hiruzen nodded. This was the position he believed Logan was best suited for upon his return.
Becoming a Jonin Instructor wasn't something just any Jonin could do. In the years of peace Konoha had enjoyed, there was no rush to produce results, and the selection of a mentor was a significant decision.
Hiruzen felt that Logan met many of the necessary criteria.
Except, perhaps, for his youthful appearance, which still made him look quite young.