Sunny and cheerful Konoha Genin

“Welcome next time!”

Accompanied by the boss's voice of sending the customers away, Toru Ito and Minato Namikaze walked out of Ichiraku Ramen with satisfaction.

Both of us had three bowls of ramen.

Now my tummy is very satisfied.

"Let's go and take a stroll."

Namikaze Minato seemed to be in a better mood.

"Don't you have to accompany Kushina today?"

"She also knows you're back, so she won't mind."

"OK then."

So the two of them walked through the noisy neighborhood and headed towards the back mountain.

He didn't stop until he reached the platform above the Hokage Rock.

"Ito, do you know?"

Minato Namikaze leaned on the railing with his hands, looking at the huge Konoha Village below with a slightly confused look.

"They want me to be Hokage."

"It is not good?"

Ito Toru leaned against the stone wall, and his tone did not fluctuate at all, just like he was having a normal chat.

"Your strength and personality make you the most suitable candidate to be Hokage."

“I don’t know if I can live up to their expectations.”

Namikaze Minato lowered his head.

"The Uchiha clan, Fugaku said he would support me, and the Hyuga clan, the Nara clan, the Yamanaka clan, the Akimichi clan..."

“I was very happy at the beginning.”

"But as more and more people mentioned my name, I began to feel the pressure."

"You know, one day when I was out, a kid on the side of the road pointed at me and said to his friends."

"Look! That's the future Fourth Hokage!"

Minato Namikaze's hands trembled slightly.

"It was then that I finally realized that I had unknowingly been carrying the hopes of so many people."

“I began to reflect on whether I was able to meet their expectations.”

"Even the Third Hokage couldn't do it, can I protect it?"

"..."

Ito Toru was silent.

If this were said by someone else, it would sound more like Versailles.

But Minato Namikaze is different.

He has never been that kind of person.

"Really."

Ito Toru showed a slightly helpless expression on his face.

"Why are you telling me this kind of thing..."

"Of course it's because you are my trustworthy friend."

Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, turned around and looked at him with a smile.

"And if anything happens to me, you're the one who should be the Fourth Hokage."

"Don't say that."

Ito Toru smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You know I don't have such a strong sense of responsibility. I am different from you."

"No, I think we are the same kind of people."

Namikaze Minato looked more serious than ever before.

"Although you appear to not care about anything on the surface, in fact, you have always cared about Konoha and all of us in your heart. I can see it."

"...Then let's take it as it is."

"I've been thinking about this for a long time, and you're the only one I can talk to."

Minato Namikaze walked over with a smile and patted his shoulder.

"After all, other people don't have the endurance like you."

"Then I really appreciate your compliment."

Ito Tetsu closed his eyes.

"Hahahahaha!"

Namikaze Minato smiled: "I don't know why, chatting with you makes me feel relaxed, as if all the stress has disappeared."

"It doesn't have to be me. There will always be someone who can make you feel the same way." Toru Ito spread his hands.

"Maybe you're right, but I still hope that the person next to me is you."

Minato Namikaze took another deep breath and looked back at the Konoha Village below.

“What a beautiful village.”

His eyes seemed to reflect all of this.

"I want to protect this village, even if it means... sacrificing my life."

"Of course, this includes you, my most cherished friends."

"..."

After a long silence, Ito Toru slowly nodded: "It's time to go back."

"puff!"

Namikaze Minato burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay, let's go back."

It was not yet dark, and the sky in the distance was clear and bright.

squeak-

The door opens.

Toru Ito saw that his room was spotless.

It just got messy...

The wrinkled quilt, like a dough that failed to ferment, was piled up randomly on the bed.

There were some white socks and dark underwear thrown randomly on the ground, which looked like women's.

The slippers that were originally neatly arranged at the door also became messy.

There was an indescribable fragrance in the air.

It's like sweet honey, rich but not disgusting.

"..."

Toru Ito's expression changed several times, and when he saw the small box placed casually on the windowsill, he knew who did it.

That is a box specially made by the Sanse Meatball Shop for packaging food.

"red beans!!"

Boom boom boom!

Toru Ito knocked on the door next to him with a little force, making a sound that was neither too loud nor too soft, just the right amount.

"come out!"

"I know you're home!"

"Are you the one who helps me with the housework while I'm out?"

"Come out quickly, don't let me break in!"

"Stop knocking, stop knocking, calm down..."

A timid voice came from behind the door.

Then the door opened, revealing a small gap.

Hongdou was like a frightened little fox, poking her head out timidly and a little embarrassed.

"Hehe~"

"You still hey?"

Toru Ito really wanted to push the door open and walk in.

But he had good eyesight, so he could see that Hongdou wasn't wearing much.

Obviously he was woken up while sleeping.

If we break in at this time, it will be hard to explain!

"Don't be angry~ I'll help you sort it out in a moment. By the way, have you and Sister Yukina completed the Water Kingdom mission?"

"Yes."

Ito Tetsu closed his eyes.

The anger that had risen in my heart has now disappeared without me noticing.

"But I heard that..."

"Minato has told me about this before."

"Ah? So that Ninja Swordsman was your idea after all!"

Anko's eyes lit up.

"I also want to learn how to use a ninja sword. Can you make one for me?"

She opened the door and Ito Toru quickly turned his head to the side.

"Hey, hey, hey, could you please put on your clothes first?"

"Besides, I won't say anything else, what do you mean by leaving your underwear on the floor of my room?"

"Hey, let me wear this. Come in first."

Anko held Ito Tooru's hand.

After entering the room, Toru Ito realized that Hongdou had been quite lenient towards his room.

Her own room was as messy as a garbage dump, and even the place to sit had to be cleaned up on the spot.

"Hey-"

Hongdou swept a large pile of clothes aside, then moved a small box and placed it on the ground to use as a bench.

"Please sit down~"

"…Let's go talk outside."

"Okay!"

"Say something~"

Hongdou blinked and looked at Ito Toru with some anticipation.

"Did you come here today..."

"You mean this?"

Toru Ito took out a small bag somewhat helplessly.

It was filled with Hongdou's favorite three-color meatballs.