The Third Hokage and Danzo were at each other's throats.
Danzo, usually composed, looked utterly deflated.
Homura and Koharu, standing to the side, barely held back their laughter at the rare sight of their old comrade being put in his place. As ninjas of the same era, they had all been acquaintances for decades, but moments like these reminded them of their shared history.
For the first time in years, the Third Hokage and Homura noticed something unusual—when Koharu smiled, there was a certain charm about her. The deep lines on her face, the slight curve of her lips—an unexpected beauty hidden beneath the years of war and leadership.
"Why didn't I notice this when we were younger?" Hiruzen wondered silently.
Even the ever-stoic Danzo cast a brief glance at Utatane Koharu. But, unlike Danzo, Hiruzen immediately averted his gaze. He had a lustful heart but lacked the courage to act on it, especially when the wrath of Sarutobi Biwako, his formidable wife, loomed over him.
The mere thought of Biwako catching him looking at another woman sent a shiver down his spine. Kneeling on a washboard was not a fate befitting the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.
He still remembered the time he and Jiraiya had been caught peeping at the women's bathhouse. Biwako had dragged him through the streets, showing no regard for his title. The entire village had seen his humiliation firsthand. The memory of villagers whispering behind his back was enough to keep him from making the same mistake again.
"Ahem—"
A cough snapped him out of his thoughts.
Mitokado Homura, regaining his composure, said, "Third Hokage, what are your thoughts on the upcoming Chūnin Exam?"
"The Chūnin Exam..." Hiruzen sighed.
The exam was a vital event, allowing major nations to assess each other's military strength. But with the Second Shinobi War only recently ending, every village already had a rough idea of where they stood. The current priority was recovery and stability, not rivalry.
Most villages had abandoned the inter-village Chūnin Exams for now, opting instead for internal promotions. Konoha would follow suit, ensuring that its young shinobi were promoted based on skill rather than risking unnecessary casualties. Too many had already been lost in the war.
With the policy decided, the high-ranking members of Konoha disbanded the meeting.
A few days later, at a local barbecue restaurant, a gathering took place.
The "New Konoha's Twelve" had assembled—a rare reunion of the village's most promising young shinobi.
The first team, led by Tsunade, consisted of Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto, and Hyuga Hikari.
The second team, originally under Jiraiya, had been disbanded, leaving Uchiha Fugaku, Namikaze Minato, and Aburame Shibi as independent ninjas.
The fourth team, led by Hatake Sakumo, included Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
And lastly, Team Eight, under Sarutobi Yaomaru, consisted of Hyuga Hizashi, Inuzuka Tsume, and Character 1.
Many of them were still Genin, while a few had already advanced to Special Jōnin.
Jiraiya had long since left Konoha to wander the world, leaving his former students to forge their own paths. Uchiha Fugaku, Namikaze Minato, and Aburame Shibi had since become Special Jōnin, each excelling in their respective roles. Fugaku had even joined the Konoha Military Police Force, a position of power within the Uchiha clan.
At reunions like these, those three were the ones to show off. Among them, Fugaku carried himself with the most authority, embodying both his Uchiha pride and his status as a clan elite.
Kushina leaned in close to Mikoto and whispered, "Mikoto, is that Fugaku guy still bothering you?"
Mikoto smirked. "Nope. Thanks to the 'art of speaking' you taught me, I have complete peace."
"Wait, that actually worked?" Kushina looked skeptical.
Mikoto chuckled but didn't reveal the full story. She knew Fugaku had redirected his attention elsewhere—to Minato, of all people.
Minato himself was baffled by this sudden shift in Fugaku's behavior. Back when they were still under Jiraiya, Fugaku had been distant but cordial. Yet, ever since a certain mission where Minato had saved Fugaku's life from a group of Cloud-nin, Fugaku had changed. He now visited Minato regularly, insisting on "strengthening their bond as comrades."
Minato found it both confusing and exhausting.
Kushina, amused, retreated into her mindscape, where the Nine-Tails lay dormant. "Hey, Kurama, you really are amazing. You said Fugaku would stop bothering Mikoto, and he actually did! Did you use some kind of mind trick?"
The fox's deep voice rumbled in response. "No trick—just a simple redirection. Now, all his attention is on that golden-haired boy."
Kushina scoffed. "Minato's not bad-looking, I guess, but he's not my type."
Kurama chuckled in amusement, enjoying the irony. Kushina, known for her brash and direct nature, had no idea how deep this game of human emotions could run.
Shaking her head, Kushina refocused on the present.
As the night went on, the drinks flowed freely. The younger shinobi relaxed in each other's company, some indulging in lighthearted boasting, others quietly reflecting on how much had changed since their academy days.
Fugaku, emboldened by the alcohol, clapped a hand on Hyuga Hizashi's shoulder. "Hizashi! You represent the Hyuga, and I represent the Uchiha. Tonight, we drink to the prosperity of our clans and the strength of Konoha!"
Hizashi, slightly wary but too polite to refuse, raised his cup in response.
But Fugaku wasn't done. The alcohol loosened his tongue, and his next words turned the atmosphere ice-cold.
"I heard your father died in the Second Shinobi War. What a coincidence—so did mine."
Silence fell over the table.
Drinks were momentarily forgotten, cups left hanging mid-air as everyone processed what had just been said.
A few of them choked on their drinks, coughing violently as they tried to suppress their shock. The sheer bluntness of Fugaku's statement was staggering.
------------------
Dear Readers,
Join Patreon for 100 Advance Chapters
/UK21