Kaito Akaden (Kaito)

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Chapter 17: Minato's announcement

On a serene morning within the Village Hidden in the Leaves, nestled a few kilometers away from the village center, a secluded training ground witnessed the presence of two figures. One was a youthful individual, distinguished by a cascade of vibrant red hair. Beside him stood a man with a striking shock of yellow hair, renowned as the legendary Yellow Flash of the Hidden Leaf. The young one, now lying on the ground, panted heavily; he was none other than Kaito Uzumaki, the son of the legendary shinobi.

"That's enough for today, Kaito," spoke Minato, his gaze fixed on his son, who lay on his back, struggling to catch his breath.

"Nah, I can still go on," asserted the determined youngster, mustering shaky resolve as he pushed himself up from the ground, meeting his father's gaze.

Witnessing this, Minato let out a sigh, addressing his son with a tone of admonishment. "You've been pushing yourself too hard these past few months, Kaito. Training rigorously is beneficial, but you must also allow your body the necessary rest."

Hearing his father's words, Kaito couldn't help but release a sigh of his own. Since learning of Rin's tragic fate, he had immersed himself in relentless training, day in and day out. He sought to reach the pinnacle of his abilities, driven by the inevitability of Obito's impending attack on the night of Naruto's birth. He needed to fortify himself as much as possible before that fateful encounter. Yet, he grappled with the uncertainty of how to broach this impending threat with his father.

"I'm sorry, Tou-chan... I just wanted to be as strong as you," Kaito confessed, his words carrying a genuine desire to emulate his father's formidable strength.

"You are still young, there's no need to rush things," sighed Minato, his palm finding its way to Kaito's head, playfully ruffling his vibrant red hair. "You'll have plenty of time to surpass me... You should enjoy your childhood while it lasts," he advised, a small, tender smile gracing his face.

"Let's head home. We shouldn't keep your mother waiting too long." With that, Minato and Kaito made their way back to the village. Along the path, many villagers greeted Minato with warm smiles and nods of respect. His renown had soared after the Kannabi Bridge mission, where he single-handedly secured victory for Konoha from a seemingly dire situation.

Upon reaching their home and just as they were about to enter, an ANBU operative materialized in front of them, swiftly dropping to one knee. His voice was urgent as he conveyed, "The Hokage has requested your presence immediately in his office, Minato-san."

"Thank you for delivering the message, I'll be there as soon as possible," Minato replied with a serious tone. As the ANBU operative departed, Minato turned to Kaito and instructed, "Tell your mother that the Hokage has requested my presence." With that, he too vanished in a swift flicker of movement.

Kaito, unfazed, made his way into the house to inform his kaa-chan about his tou-san's whereabouts. "I'm home, Kaa-chan!" he called out upon entering. Kushina, upon hearing her son's voice, rushed out to embrace him. "Welcome back, Sochi... Where's your father? Didn't he come with you?" she inquired, leading the way to the kitchen. As he followed, Kaito explained, "Nah, he was summoned to the Hokage's office a few minutes ago. The ANBU said it was urgent."

"Hmm, I hope it's nothing serious," Kushina mused as she turned to the stove, tending to the lunch preparations. Seeing her at work, Kaito offered, "Need some help, Kaa-chan?" She smiled warmly and replied, "Well, you can help me by chopping the veggies, but wash your hands first." He returned the smile and said, ''Hai.''

As the duo neared the completion of their cooking, Minato returned home after his meeting with the Hokage. He observed the warm interaction between mother and son, a fond smile gracing his lips. Sensing his presence, Kushina turned and greeted him, her voice tinged with playful curiosity. "Just what do you think you're doing over there?" she quipped, her smile never fading. "What did Lord Third want with you anyway?" she inquired, moving closer to him.

"Well..." Minato began, but was swiftly cut off by Kushina, who interjected with a teasing tone. "Hold on, did you get scolded for something? Ah, so what, don't worry about it, you know," she playfully teased.

Placing a hand to his chin, Minato shook his head. "No, it wasn't that," he assured her, a hint of intrigue in his eyes.

"Well, what was it?" asked Kushina, her face etched with confusion.

Minato hesitated for a moment, then confessed, "Well, um... He wants me to become the Fourth Hokage." He looked a little bashful, as if the weight of the responsibility was sinking in.

Kushina, still processing the information, started to reply, "Well, don't you mind what he says, the Hokage is just..." Her words trailed off as she suddenly comprehended Minato's revelation. Her face registered shock. "Wait, what did you say, Minato?"

Minato nodded solemnly. "I've just been named the Fourth Hokage," he confirmed.

Kushina's shocked expression transformed into one of pure joy. She couldn't contain her excitement, and in a burst of elation, she jumped up to hug him tightly. "Congratulations, you know!" she exclaimed, overflowing with happiness. Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "Thank you for all your hard work."

Minato warmly thanked Kushina for her support. Kaito, upon hearing the news, came forward with a bright smile and said, "Congratulations, Tou-san," expressing his genuine happiness for his father's achievement. The three of them spent the day celebrating this momentous occasion together.

In the days that followed, as Minato's official inauguration as the Fourth Hokage approached, the entire village buzzed with an infectious excitement. News of Minato Namikaze's appointment spread rapidly, engulfing the village in a fervor of anticipation and pride. The prospect of a new era under Minato's leadership filled the hearts of the villagers with hope and optimism, their spirits uplifted by the promise of a brighter future.

On the day of the grand inauguration, Kushina and Kaito found themselves standing on the rooftop of the Hokage building, surrounded by the village's leaders and department heads. They watched in solemn anticipation as Hiruzen, the outgoing Hokage, passed down the revered Hokage hat to Minato, the newly appointed Fourth Hokage.

"I'm counting on you... Fourth Hokage," Hiruzen conveyed with a serious and weighty gaze.

Minato accepted the hat with a deep sense of commitment. "I shall dedicate my life to it," he vowed. Turning away from the onlookers, he made his way to the edge of the building, where eager villagers had gathered. As he reached the edge, he paused, his hand gripping the hat, and then, with a flourish, he removed it, revealing his determined face. With great authority and pride, he declared, "From this day forth... I, Minato Namikaze, am the Fourth Hokage!"

The villagers erupted in joyous celebration, welcoming their new Hokage with cheers and jubilation that would resonate throughout the village for the rest of the day.