As the days passed, the oppressive tension of impending war grew heavier. Rumors swirled that more and more ninjas were being sent to the Land of Rain, ostensibly to seek Hanzō of the Salamander's assistance. Kawakaze shook his head at the absurdity of it all.
The Third Hokage was beginning to show his age, resorting to such naive tactics. Hanzō wasn't a fool. If large numbers of Konoha ninjas crossed into the Land of Rain, it was only a matter of time before the war became inevitable. The Land of Rain would lose its independence, becoming a battlefield once again.
For now, though, the war hadn't officially begun, and Kawakaze's life remained undisturbed. He continued enjoying his peaceful days: teaching Nawaki, who had recently returned from Orochimaru's tutelage; teasing Tsunade; occasionally annoying Sakumo; and making steady progress in Senjutsu training.
The hospital construction was well underway, and once completed, Kawakaze planned to visit the Shikkotsu Forest for further training.
One afternoon, Kawakaze sat at a stone table in the dojo courtyard, savoring a cup of tea. Tsunade, busy overseeing the hospital project, had left him with fewer responsibilities. In the distance, Nawaki was practicing Kenjutsu in the training field. His progress was steady, and by now, ordinary Genin were no match for him. He could even spar against Chūnin-level opponents, though he still bore bruises from Kawakaze's relentless training sessions. If not for Tsunade's medical skills, Nawaki might have needed weeks to recover after each session.
As Kawakaze enjoyed his tea, the butler approached with two children in tow. One was a lively girl with red hair cascading over her shoulders—Uzumaki Kushina. The other was a boy with short blond hair—Minato Namikaze.
Kawakaze raised an eyebrow, amused to see the future Fourth Hokage as a shy child. He smiled and continued sipping his tea, staying seated.
"Kawakaze Big Brother, I brought my friend here," Kushina said, grinning as she led Minato closer.
Minato, nervous under Kawakaze's gaze, stepped forward. Despite his youth, his manners were impeccable.
"Hello, Lord Kawakaze. My name is Minato Namikaze. I've come to pay my respects and hope to receive your guidance," Minato said, bowing politely.
Kawakaze studied the boy with interest. At ten years old, Minato was adorable, his eyes filled with a longing for approval. Orphaned, he clearly yearned for connection and affection.
"Kawakaze Big Brother, Minato graduated today!" Kushina added enthusiastically. "He's only ten years old!"
Kawakaze chuckled but said nothing, simply reaching out to ruffle Kushina's red hair. She accepted the gesture with an almost proud smile, showing no impatience.
Minato was astonished. He'd never seen Kushina behave so obediently; even he wouldn't dare touch her hair.
Lord Kawakaze truly is amazing, Minato thought, impressed.
If Kawakaze could have read Minato's mind, he would've laughed. All it took was a little kindness to win her over? Love-struck kids really were something else.
"And when will you graduate, Kushina?" Kawakaze asked teasingly, still ruffling her hair.
"Hmph! I spend all my time studying Fūinjutsu!" Kushina huffed, a trace of resentment in her voice. "If I didn't, I'd have graduated already."
She glanced at Minato, a bit jealous. Now that he'd graduated, she felt left behind.
"Kushina, I'll spend all my time with you," Minato said earnestly, picking up on her feelings. His gentle warmth earned him a glowing smile from Kushina.
Kawakaze couldn't help but smirk. These two kids, both yearning for love, were naturally drawn to each other.
I, Kawakaze Hatake, am determined to make sure this couple stays together.
"Minato Namikaze, right?" Kawakaze asked, his expression suddenly serious, exuding an imposing aura that made the young Minato feel the weight of his gaze.
"Yes," Minato replied nervously.
"I'll accept you as my disciple!" Kawakaze declared, his face breaking into a hearty laugh after a tense pause. His sudden shift from seriousness to amusement left Minato blinking in confusion.
There was no need for any tests. Kawakaze already knew Minato was a genius.
"Great! Minato, hurry up and call him Sensei!" Kushina urged enthusiastically. She knew how skilled Kawakaze was, especially in Kenjutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique, which she admired greatly. Without waiting, she ran over to Minato and pushed his head down into a bow.
"Okay, okay, enough with these formalities," Kawakaze said, waving his hand to stop Kushina.
Turning to Minato, Kawakaze asked, "Do you live by yourself?"
"Yes, Sensei. I'm an orphan," Minato replied matter-of-factly, his calm demeanor masking the loneliness he'd grown accustomed to.
"In that case, move in with me. From now on, you'll have a home," Kawakaze said warmly, standing and walking over to ruffle Minato's blonde hair.
The boy's usual composure faltered as he felt a surge of emotion. His nose twitched, and his eyes grew misty.
"Yes, Sensei," Minato said, his voice thick with gratitude. He quickly wiped his eyes, overwhelmed by the thought that he, Minato Namikaze, finally had a family again.
"Big Brother Kawakaze, can I come visit often?" Kushina piped up, her usual boldness shining through.
Kawakaze chuckled. Her lively personality was one of the reasons he found her so endearing. "Of course. I'll have Minato wait for you every day."
Both children flushed red at his teasing remark. Kushina huffed and quickly changed the subject. "I'll go find Brother Nawaki!" she said, cheeks still pink, before running off to the training field.
Now alone with Kawakaze, Minato straightened up.
"So, what can you do now?" he asked, intending to assess Minato's skills before shaping him into a force to be reckoned with.
Minato straightened up, his expression serious. "The Three Basic Jutsu, some Wind Release and Water Release techniques, and I've also practiced Taijutsu." He spoke with the sincerity of a model student, a stark contrast to the future adult who would enjoy Jiraiya's questionable novels and pass the habit to Kakashi.
"I see," Kawakaze said, nodding thoughtfully. "I'll give you a test."
"As you command, Sensei," Minato replied. He assumed this was a standard evaluation—after all, most teachers only accepted students who passed their initial tests.
But Kawakaze, ever the wildcard, leaned down to Minato's level, resting a hand on his shoulder with an unusually serious expression. "Do you like Kushina?"
Minato blinked, confused. "Ah, is this part of the test?"
"Of course it is." Kawakaze's tone was overly serious, but his inner thoughts were less noble. Cheating Little Yellow Flash, he mused. Not even a pang of guilt.
"Yes, I like her," he said earnestly, his honesty shining through.
"Then why don't you tell her?" Kawakaze said smoothly. "If you like her but don't say anything, how will she ever know?"
"Well…" Minato hesitated, his face reddening. "That doesn't seem like a good idea."
"This is a test of courage," Kawakaze declared dramatically. "My disciple must be brave! So, are you brave, Minato Namikaze?"
"Yes, I am!" Minato declared, fired up by Kawakaze's pointed challenge. His youthful enthusiasm led him to puff out his chest and yell with conviction, inadvertently drawing the attention of both Nawaki and Kushina.
"Then go confess your feelings!" Kawakaze urged, standing up and giving Minato a gentle nudge forward. "A brave boy like you can do it!"
Minato took hesitant but determined steps toward Kushina, his face flushed as red as her hair. Kawakaze crossed his arms, clearly enjoying the spectacle. What a good Sensei I am, he thought with smug satisfaction. No one else eats melons this early in their lives, let alone throws them at their students.
Minato finally reached Kushina, his nerves practically radiating off him. She tilted her head, concerned by his odd behavior, and placed a hand on his forehead. "Minato, are you okay? You're burning up."
Meanwhile, Nawaki stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a scowl. Great, he thought sarcastically. Even little brats are showing off their affection in front of me. Do single people even have rights anymore?