Konoha: The Man Who Became the Fourth Hokage

There were not many people in this world who could make Kyūsei feel danger.

So why did Haruno Sakura?

Sakura looked calmly at the red-haired man before her. She hadn't expected Uzumaki Kushina's counterpart to be so… unpleasant.

Tsunade, on the other hand, watched with faint amusement. Though Kyūsei was technically her "little brother," this pink-haired girl unexpectedly suited her taste.

And that seal—

Her gaze drifted to the purple diamond mark on Sakura's forehead.

The Strength of a Hundred Seal.

Which meant that, in Sakura's world—

She had been Tsunade's disciple.

"Bring Kushina here if you want Uzumaki Menma."

Kyūsei stared at Sakura.

If Naruto had a counterpart, Sakura certainly did too.

And in that world, Sakura's father—Haruno Kizashi—had been the Fourth Hokage. A man who surpassed Namikaze Minato during the Third Great Ninja War.

Yet he had died mysteriously.

No records. No clarity.

Sakura, as the Fourth Hokage's daughter, had undoubtedly grown up with resources others couldn't dream of.

After a long silence, Sakura finally spoke.

"Very well. As you wish."

She turned decisively.

"Sasuke. Karin. Let's go."

The three left without even a courtesy goodbye.

Their dissatisfaction was obvious.

To Sakura, Sarutobi Hiruzen had remained silent throughout.

That silence meant consent.

There was nothing left to discuss.

If they wanted Kushina—

Then Kushina would come.

—

On the road back toward the Wind Country, Sakura moved swiftly without speaking.

"Sakura…" Karin hesitated.

"What is it?"

"I sensed Menma's chakra. It's weak. Sealed."

"He's close. With your strength, forcibly retrieving him shouldn't be difficult."

Sakura continued forward.

"Did you sense Uzumaki Kyūsei?"

Karin paused.

"…His chakra is immense. But chakra quantity doesn't decide everything."

"Sasuke is strong too. The two of you together—"

"Oh?" Sasuke cut in smoothly. "So you acknowledge my strength now, Karin?"

"Shut up, you womanizer."

Ignoring them, Sakura continued.

"He wore the First Hokage's necklace."

"And more importantly…"

"He's a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Silence fell.

"A perfect Jinchūriki…" Sasuke muttered.

Their squad had been assembled specifically to deal with Menma.

Sakura: combat and medical mastery.

Karin: sensing, sealing, healing.

Sasuke: combat specialist with Sharingan suppression.

If they had acted inside Konoha—

They would have faced a perfect Jinchūriki.

And behind him—

Hiruzen.

Tsunade.

And in this era—

The Yellow Flash.

The Sannin.

The White Fang.

It would have been disastrous.

"Good thing you didn't act," Karin exhaled.

"For now," Sakura said quietly, "we bring Kushina."

—

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Kyūsei watched their figures disappear into the distance.

"What are you thinking?"

Hiruzen's aged voice sounded behind him.

Kyūsei didn't turn around.

"How do you expect me to choose?"

"You raised me for eleven years."

"I understand why you want the second Nine-Tails."

"If it were me, I'd want it too. Who spits out meat that's already in their mouth?"

Hiruzen remained silent.

"But he's Kushina's son."

"My teacher's son."

"My own counterpart's son."

"I'm stuck in the middle."

He sighed.

"Let Kushina argue with you."

"I'm done."

"I'll protect Menma until she arrives."

"After that, it's your problem."

Hiruzen nodded slowly.

"That's fair."

"But I cannot easily abandon the second Nine-Tails."

His eyes, though aged, carried ambition.

"You understand me, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Kyūsei shrugged. "I'm better suited to being a weapon."

"You tell me who to punch—I'll punch."

Hiruzen looked at him curiously.

"You're content being a blade?"

"If you wanted… the Fourth Hokage's seat might not necessarily go to Kaoru ."

That was as direct as it got.

Kyūsei didn't even look back.

"Hard pass."

"Why?"

"What time do you start work?"

"…Seven."

"What time do you get off?"

"…Ten."

"How many days off per year?"

"…Three."

"How much personal time per day?"

"…"

"Per month you—"

"Enough!"

Hiruzen cut him off.

"Whoever wants to be Hokage can take it!"

"I'm not doing that!"

Kyūsei declared firmly.

Hiruzen suddenly felt existential doubt.

Why had he become Hokage again?

Working endlessly.

Little gratitude.

He could be fishing.

Drinking tea.

Retired.

No.

He was the inheritor of the Will of Fire.

He mustn't waver.

That brat almost led him astray.

—

Kyūsei vanished from the rooftop.

He had a twenty-year-old son to worry about.

At seventeen.

What a life.

Back home, he saw a golden figure in the kitchen.

"Kaoru ? You're up?"

She turned, eyes playful.

"If I waited for you to cook, I'd look lazy, wouldn't I?"

He felt warmth in his chest.

He moved to hug her—

She slapped his hand lightly.

"Go call Menma to eat."

He clicked his tongue but obeyed.

In the study, Menma was flipping through Kyūsei's copied sealing scrolls.

"Interested?"

"With your skill, you should already know this."

Menma glanced at him.

"These annotations are yours?"

"Yes. Based on Mito-sama's records."

"…Your sealing skill isn't bad."

Kyūsei twitched.

"Thanks."

"Now go eat."

Menma complied.

After lunch, Kaoru left for missions.

Unlike Kyūsei, she didn't live off Hokage funding.

Kyūsei left too.

He still had a Hyūga girl to appease.

Menma stayed home.

And with the Grand Blazing Heavenly Prison seal—

If he stepped outside Konoha—

He would burn to ash in under ten minutes.

Menma was proud.

But he wasn't foolish.

He would choose wisely.

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