Chapter 140: Carve His Name with Your Own Hands.
Savoring the exhilaration of glory was one thing, but they couldn’t forget what it had cost to earn it.
The hero’s welcome was simple yet deeply warming—and brief.
As ANBU Commander, Hakken declared a long break for his subordinates, giving them ample time to rest until new missions arrived.
After all, by the time they returned to the village, it was already the second month after the New Year.
During their mission in the Land of Earth, the New Year Festival had long passed.
Letting his subordinates reunite with their families and enjoy the warmth of home was only right.
The lights in the Mitarashi household were already out.
As the older sister, Anko had begun preparing the moment she heard Hakken was coming home, determined to make up for the regret of not spending the New Year with her little brother.
During dinner, Minato and Kushina brought baby Naruto—less than a year old—to the Mitarashi home, sharing a moment of genuine familial warmth unlike anything they’d experienced before.
They hadn’t discussed work at the village gates.
As for whether Madara Uchiha’s name should be etched onto Konoha’s Wall of Honor, Hakken didn’t give a direct opinion.
Nor did he bother acknowledging the Land of the Wind envoy delegation that had already arrived in Konoha.
Right now, he didn’t want to think about anything.
Walking through the streets of Konoha, Hakken arrived at the entrance of the Ninja Academy—the familiar place.
“You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you?”
A lone figure stood there, straight-backed, quietly waiting.
He walked up, took her hand without saying a word, brushed away the last winter snowflakes, and the two of them sat down together on the swing.
“No, I just got here.”
Her purple hair glowed under the falling snow, and her rosy cheeks made the lie obvious.
They’d agreed earlier to take a walk tonight.
But Hakken knew she must have been waiting since school ended.
As the swing gently rocked, it felt as though their hearts drew a little closer.
Hakken loved this feeling—being beside her with nothing he needed to think about.
This feeling… it was unmistakably like first love.
There was no need for sweet or flowery words between them; their feelings were already understood.
Unconsciously, her purple hair slipped onto Hakken’s shoulder.
“My mother used to lean on my father like this. Don’t misunderstand—I’m just testing whether it’s really that comfortable.”
Well.
She always had her own little excuses.
…
An hour—neither long nor short—but worried that the girl might tire herself, Hakken ultimately chose to walk Yūgao Uzuki home.
Yet the moment he stepped back onto the street, Minato’s voice drifted toward him.
“Years ago, I used to walk Kushina home just like that.”
Passive-aggressive?
Early romance? I learned it from you.
Hakken rolled his eyes.
Minato-sensei had probably been waiting for quite a while.
Judging by his timing, he must have followed Hakken from the moment he left the house, clearly wanting to take a walk with him.
Even though they'd literally just had dinner together.
Hakken sighed and walked over.
“So what you’re saying is… my early romance looks a lot like yours?”
Well.
He wasn’t wrong.
When it came to flirting, the Eternal Little Brother's skills were worth studying.
From school days all the way to marriage, his “romance stat” had long been maxed out.
Right after graduating from the Academy, he even understood that this era revolved around heroes saving damsels—stepping in during Kushina’s kidnapping without hesitation.
Who wouldn’t fall for a man like that?
“You should cut down on the sake.”
The familiar streets of Konoha still carried traces of winter. Even though the season was nearly over, snowflakes clung to the bench they sat on, making the scene look a little odd.
Hakken had barely taken a swig when Minato chimed in with his reminder.
“Minato-sensei, just say it. Since when did you become so naggy?”
Hakken rolled his eyes again.
Minato had been tailing him all this way; it would be stranger if he didn’t have something to say.
Minato nodded. “I spoke with Jiraiya-sensei earlier.”
“I’ve seen everything you did out there—the way you acted, your understanding of peace, your ideals.”
“But Hakken…”
“When I mentioned that man’s name today, I couldn’t shake the fear that one day… you might become like him.”
“I agree that unification requires bloodshed—but you're still young. I don’t want to see you killing for the sake of killing.”
That—was the crux of his worry.
It wasn’t unheard of for excessive killing to twist someone’s nature.
Three months. More than three thousand lives ended.
He feared Hakken might change… might become someone unrecognizable, a monster driven only by slaughter.
“I thought it was something serious.”
Hakken exhaled helplessly, but he understood—Minato cared for him.
He wasn’t just Minato’s student.
He was also Naruto’s older brother.
After a moment’s thought, Hakken did what he always did—thumped his fist lightly against Minato’s chest, then held his fist up between them.
“No need for too many words between men.”
Thud.
Their fists bumped, and the weight in Minato’s heart finally eased.
He was still himself.
Hakken was still Hakken.
Konoha’s Kenpachi—unchanged.
That was enough. That was all Minato needed.
“By the way, Hakken, what do you plan to do about the Sunagakure envoy?”
“And Madara Uchiha’s name—we need to finalize the Wall of Honor list in a few days.”
Even before sleep, the workaholic Hokage’s thoughts were still filled with village affairs.
This was a Hokage devoted entirely to Konoha.
“No need to rush the envoy. Ōnoki will come to Konoha personally soon. We’ll handle both matters together.”
“But Madara Uchiha…”
Hakken rubbed his chin.
Some things really needed to be explained.
“We’ll talk on the way.”
He stood, tugging Minato by the sleeve as they headed toward the village center.
“Speaking of Madara Uchiha, you remember the one who attacked Konoha last time, right?”
As they walked, Hakken’s expression turned grave.
“I remember. If it weren’t for you, Kushina and Naruto could’ve died that night.”
Minato nodded quickly. “That man claimed to be Madara Uchiha.”
Aren’t you the one who called him Madara?
Hakken rolled his eyes. Obito, too.
Your voice changed, your face changed, your techniques changed—even people thought you’d died long ago.
You wore a mask.
And you still expected Minato to recognize you?
Have some shame.
You don’t play it like that.
“So… you mean he is Madara Uchiha?”
Minato froze, asking anxiously.
Hakken shook his head and led him to the base of the Wall of Honor.
With a flash of steel, a name was carved into the marble.
Only one achievement marked beneath it: Founder of Konoha.
Madara Uchiha.
It wasn’t that Hakken was determined to inscribe Madara’s name—but this would be essential later.
Whether it could help bring that despairing, unlucky child back from the edge, Hakken didn’t know.
He only knew one thing: that boy would listen only after a beating.
The Wall of Honor was nothing more than a contingency.
“That man wasn’t Madara Uchiha.”
“He was your student—and my Senior Brother. Actually, no. If you made me call someone like him Senior Brother, I really would abandon my training.”
“His name is Obito Uchiha.”