Chapter 83: The Kage's Robe
Tearing the note in his hand to shreds, he threw them into an inconspicuous corner and burned them. Minato Namikaze took the remaining curry rice and found Rin, who was receiving treatment in the Konoha Hospital.
She was in an isolated special hospital bed. Due to the contagious nature of Hanzo's poison, apart from the doctor treating her injuries and Obito who had given her the antidote and brought her to the hospital, no one else had been in contact with her.
Unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter this special ward, but Minato, as her teacher and the soon-to-be Hokage, was an exception.
Let in by a nurse, Minato Namikaze tried to walk as quietly as possible to Rin Nohara's side. The small movements went unnoticed by the patient until he took out the rice.
"Sensei!"
With a soft exclamation, Rin Nohara, who was recovering quite well, sat up quickly. She slept soundly, her face showed no signs of pallor, and thick bandages were wrapped around her hands and waist. She winced slightly as she touched the wound on her arm, but her brow quickly smoothed out.
"Rin, this is curry rice made by Kushina."
"Thank you, Master Kushina, and thank you, Sensei."
Holding the generously portioned curry rice, the girl's eating posture was worlds apart from Obito's. When a grain of rice accidentally fell on the foldable hospital bed table, she took a napkin and carefully wiped it several times to make sure no trace was left before continuing to eat.
Compared to Kakashi and Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara was indeed the most worry-free of his three disciples, and also the one he worried about the most.
Girls weren't like boys, who had a reckless drive to become stronger without regard for life and death. Being a medical-nin on the front lines with insufficient strength made her an easy target for other countries' assault squads.
He also told the girl the news that he, her teacher, was about to become Hokage. Amidst her surprised and genuinely happy expression, Minato revoked her qualification as a front-line medical-nin.
"For this period, you should rest well. I'll give you a vacation. But after the vacation ends, you can't go back to work in the war zone. This Konoha Hospital also has a large number of wounded who need treatment."
Rin Nohara didn't object, but her mood was clearly dampened. Even her already slow eating speed slowed down considerably.
"Sensei... I just want to keep up with them..."
"There's nothing wrong with that thought, but you also have to act within your means."
Minato Namikaze poured Rin a glass of warm water and placed it on the table, hesitating whether to ask about Hanzo's poison now.
In the end, seeing that she still needed to rest, Minato silently packed up the thermos and folded the hospital bed table back.
"I'll leave first. Take care of yourself. If you need anything, talk to the nurses. If they can't solve it, have them contact me directly at the Hokage's office."
"Thank you, Sensei... Obito, he..."
"He'll be fine."
"He went to the Land of Rain to save me."
"I know."
"Saving a comrade is his inescapable duty. It takes precedence over a mission, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that his methods were too drastic. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Sensei... thank you."
"You are my disciples. As long as you can continue to grow, that is the best help you can give to Konoha. That kid Obito still wants to compete with Kushina for the position of the next Hokage, you know. Rest easy."
As Minato Namikaze left, the quiet Rin Nohara thought about Obito's sacrifice for her, the way he had frantically searched for her upon entering Konoha...
He had pulled her back from the brink of death.
'Obito...'
"Minato, have you gone to see Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara?"
The Third Hokage had changed into his regular clothes, as if hinting at something. He didn't even have his beloved pipe with him as he walked slowly in front of Minato Namikaze.
Minato tactfully slowed his pace, staying half a step behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Kushina asked me to bring them lunch. I took the opportunity to learn a little about the situation."
"Can you tell me about it?"
"Obito went to the Land of Water for Rin's sake. He did participate in the killing of Hanzo of the Salamander. As for Lord Danzo's disappearance, I believe he is unaware of it."
"Oh?"
"With Lord Danzo's wisdom, he wouldn't have attacked an ally in the Land of Water. You also know Lord Danzo's strength; it's not something the current Obito can compare to."
"But strength is only one factor in victory or defeat. I also believe that the boy, Obito Uchiha, has the ability to injure Danzo. But in fact, he wasn't necessarily the main force in killing Danzo."
"Are you suspecting Obito?"
"No. This child is a genius of the Uchiha, the hope of Konoha, and the second ninja after Hatake Kakashi to be promoted to jōnin at this age. Under such glory, it's understandable for this child to make some irrational moves. I will continue to investigate Danzo's matter."
"Lord Third Hokage, could you hand over the command of Root to me after I take office?"
Minato Namikaze said this seemingly casually, his eyes on the tailor shop they were about to reach, his fingers slightly curled.
"Let's go in and get the clothes first."
Not answering directly meant refusal. This disappointed Minato, but also strengthened his resolve to reorganize the ANBU and Root. He didn't expect the Third Hokage to continue speaking as he stood at the shop's entrance.
"The leader of Root walks in the darkness and has made many contributions to the development of Konoha. They do have many shortcomings, but now is not the time to declare Danzo dead. You are not suitable to take over this organization."
"I understand, Lord Third."
Bowing his head, he accepted the Kage's robe, which symbolized the pinnacle of power among the Five Great Nations. The tailor, an old woman, was helped up as she bowed majestically.
The Fourth Hokage's robe was extremely iconic. The flames embroidered from the bottom of the robe symbolized the Will of Fire. The pure white body of the robe showed Minato's character and personality, and the five large characters for "Fourth Hokage" clearly and concisely stated his identity.
Minato was very satisfied with this Hokage robe. It had the same ingenious quality as his naming sense.
"Don't be late the day after tomorrow and make an old man like me wait on the stage for too long."
The Third Hokage watched Minato Namikaze try on the robe in front of the mirror, remembering the scene when Lord Second entrusted the position of Hokage to him. He was filled with emotion. It was time for his old teammates to hand over power to these young people as well.
The Will of Fire burns, eternally.
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