Chapter 39: The Three-Man Squad, Kosuke Maruboshi
---
Shisui beamed with his usual innocent smile.
"I don't know."
"But I do know one thing—no matter what decision you make, I'll always stand by your side, Brother!"
Kagami chuckled lightly.
"You're as indecisive as ever."
"Well, Grandma already told me ages ago—just listen to Brother, and everything will be fine!"
"Then listen carefully: if you can't master water-walking in three days, forget about leaving the house afterward."
"What?! That's so unfair!"
With a pout, Shisui shuffled toward the pond, glancing back at every step.
His thoughts drifted: Itachi is so cute. I just want to play with him...
---
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe while Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki stood before him.
Minato wore an apologetic expression, scratching the back of his head.
Meanwhile, Kushina stood tall, arms crossed.
"What's the problem? Can't I go on missions with Minato?" she demanded.
Minato shifted uncomfortably, trying to soften her blunt tone.
Hiruzen sighed, looking down at the report in his hand. "You're saying you want to leave the village for missions?"
Kushina raised her chin. "That's right! Why not?"
"You're the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Kushina," Hiruzen reminded her, setting the report down.
"So what?!" she shot back. "I've got full control over the Nine-Tails now!"
"Keep your voice down!" Minato interjected nervously, glancing around.
Hiruzen's brows furrowed as he regarded her with concern. "How about this—I'll grant you more freedom to move around the village. But leaving it..."
"Not enough!" Kushina interrupted, pointing a finger at him.
Hiruzen turned to Minato for support, but the young ninja averted his gaze, pretending not to notice.
"Fine, Hokage-sama," Minato finally spoke up. "I've honed my sealing techniques to ensure Kushina's safety on the field."
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You do realize, Kushina, that your presence in the village is a deterrent against enemy invasions? As long as you're here, no other village dares to act recklessly against Konoha."
Kushina tilted her head thoughtfully, then grinned.
"Don't be silly! Everyone's afraid of you, Old Man! Not me!"
The Hokage almost choked on his pipe smoke.
"Still," Kushina continued, puffing her chest, "if you're getting old, why not just stay behind and let me handle it? I'll be the village's first female Hokage someday, you know!"
---
Hiruzen studied her for a moment before exhaling a long plume of smoke.
She reminded him of her younger self—the girl who boldly declared her dream in front of her classmates.
Hiruzen wanted every Konoha ninja to aspire to the Hokage's ideals, to unite under its banner.
Even Uchiha Kagami, he thought. If that boy sought the Hokage title to unite the village, he might accept it.
But Kagami was different. His attitude toward Konoha's civilians was cold, disdainful even.
How could the oppressed become the oppressors? Hiruzen mused bitterly.
The old Hokage looked at Minato and Kushina, and a thought struck him:
Perhaps they could form a bond with Kagami.
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen made a decision that Danzo Shimura and the elders would undoubtedly oppose.
---
"Once Kagami recovers, you three will form a team," he declared, meeting their gazes.
"You'll respond to emergencies across all battlefields."
"What?!" Kushina's shout echoed through the room.
Hiruzen raised a hand to silence her.
"However, I will assign an experienced ninja to guide you. That's my condition."
Kushina hesitated for a moment, then broke into a wide grin.
"Deal! Old Man, you won't regret this!"
She grabbed Minato's arm and dragged him out.
"Let's go! We need to check on that brat Kagami and make sure he's not slacking off!"
Minato shot the Hokage an apologetic smile before being hauled away like a reluctant accessory.
---
That evening, Hiruzen left his office and ventured deep into the Konoha Forest.
Beside a quiet mountain spring, he waited.
Before long, a gaunt, unassuming man emerged from the shadows, kneeling respectfully.
"Lord Hokage," the man greeted.
Hiruzen regarded him with a mix of admiration and sorrow.
"Kosuke Maruboshi," he said after a pause. "There's a mission only you can handle."
"I'll gladly take on any task, no matter how dangerous," Maruboshi replied earnestly.
"Don't be so eager to throw your life away," Hiruzen chided gently.
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"I'm forming a team: Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Uchiha Kagami."
Hiruzen deliberately revealed Kushina's identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—normally a top-secret fact.
"I need you to join them as their mentor. Especially to guide Kagami. He's..." Hiruzen trailed off, searching for the right words.
"He's an incredible young man," Maruboshi offered.
"Yes," Hiruzen agreed with a faint smile. "Incredible, but also... complicated."
The Hokage's eyes drifted toward the village lights in the distance.
"Maruboshi, that boy is disconnected from the village. I need you to be a bridge between him and Konoha."
"If he can become like his grandfather Kagami, I could rest easy in the afterlife, knowing I've upheld the will of the First and Second Hokages."
Maruboshi bowed deeply.
"I'll do my best, Lord Hokage."
---