After Aaron accepted the mission, Minato didn't send him out immediately. Instead, he told him to prepare and leave in a few days.
Minato explained, "I trust your abilities completely. But this kind of operation, deep infiltration, stealing high-level intelligence, you haven't had much hands-on experience with it yet.
"For the next three days, I'll give you access to classified materials on covert ops. I'll also walk you through key precautions myself. Think of it as mission prep."
Aaron nodded. That was fair.
He hadn't handled many top-tier missions before. No shame in admitting that, he'd had a pretty "ordinary" career path up to now.
This mission wasn't just about his own promotion. It was also Minato's first major test as Hokage in front of the village leadership.
If Aaron failed and they had to fall back on the Third Hokage's proposal, it would dent Minato's authority. Some might start whispering that while Minato was a legendary battlefield hero, maybe he wasn't cut out to lead.
So caution made sense.
Three extra days also gave him time to check whether Kakashi had mastered the high-speed movement technique "Shave." He could also brief Kenshi and Inuzuka Midori in advance, this was an international operation involving Anbu intelligence archives. Not exactly a milk run.
By the time Aaron stepped out of the Hokage Tower, it was already noon.
He headed toward Konoha's main street to grab lunch.
He lived alone. He could cook but hated doing dishes. So, most days he ate out, occasionally freeloading at Minato and Kushina's place.
A crisp autumn breeze drifted through the village, sending golden leaves spiraling through the air under the sunlight. Even so, plenty of villagers were still walking around in short sleeves, animatedly discussing Konoha's recent peace treaty with the Hidden Stone.
"Finally, the war's over. I heard the Third Hokage deserves all the credit for getting that treaty signed."
"Yeah, thank goodness for Lord Third. Peace is back at last. It's a shame he stepped down, though. I wonder if the Fourth can protect the village like he did."
"Hard to say. The Fourth is only twenty-three, right? That's awfully young. Makes you worry."
Aaron shook his head with a faint smile.
All thanks to the Third Hokage? That was rich.
If Minato hadn't personally taken down waves of elite Stone shinobi and crippled their supply lines, the Hidden Stone would never have come to the table so easily.
"Though I guess it was thanks to him, depending on how you define that 'treaty,'" Aaron muttered with a trace of sarcasm.
The Hidden Stone accepted because the terms were generous, almost absurdly so.
No war reparations. No resource compensation. Konoha officially "forgave" the invasion of the Land of Fire. All Stone had to do was cease hostilities and sign a peace agreement.
If you didn't know better, you'd think Konoha had been the one defeated.
It was like someone broke into your house, you fought them off, and then you said, "Don't worry about the damages. Let's just call it even and move on."
Hidden Stone's response was probably: Don't mind if we do.
To be fair, Aaron could understand part of the Third's thinking. After years of war, maybe he was just tired. Peace, even a flawed one, still had value.
But that didn't mean you got to hog all the credit.
And stepping down as Hokage while still holding onto a huge share of authority under the excuse that "Minato is still young"? That left a bad taste.
Aaron sighed.
It wasn't that Hiruzen Sarutobi was incompetent. Far from it. After Tobirama's death, he took command in a crisis and led Konoha through the Second Shinobi World War, preserving its status as the strongest village.
Maybe time simply changed people.
Shaking off the politics, he focused on something far more important:
What to eat.
Ichiraku Ramen was great, but he'd had it yesterday.
Yakiniku sounded tempting, but maybe a little heavy for lunch.
Lost in thought, he realized he'd wandered right in front of a dango shop.
Well… he hadn't had dessert in at least half a day.
Close enough to call it lunch.
He stepped inside and walked up to the counter.
"Watanabe, the usual."
The owner beamed. "Three deluxe plates, extra syrup?"
"Of course. What, you think I'd change my order after a few days away?" Aaron teased.
"Not a chance. Not you," Watanabe chuckled as he started preparing the order.
The shop's dango were already on the sweet side, but Aaron had once complained they weren't sweet enough. That left a lasting impression.
Over time, regular visits turned into friendly banter.
Aaron took a seat nearby and waited.
In his previous life, he'd had a serious sweet tooth paid for it dearly, too. But in the world of Naruto, with chakra enhancing the body's resilience, he didn't have to worry so much.
"Senpai Aaron?"
A bright, energetic voice called out behind him.
He turned to see a young man with a bowl-cut and a bright green jumpsuit.
"Oh—Gai."
Might Guy stood there, eyes blazing with enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Senpai!" Guy declared solemnly.
"…For what?" Aaron blinked. He couldn't recall doing anything in particular for him.
Guy explained, "Ever since Kakashi came back to the village, he's been depressed. When I challenged him, he'd only agree to settle it with rock-paper-scissors.
"But after going on a mission with you, it's like his youth has reignited! He even asked me for advice on taijutsu training.
"I don't know what you said to him, but thank you!"
For a moment, Aaron didn't know how to respond.
Kakashi was lucky to have a friend like this.
Beside Guy sat a red-eyed girl who leaned forward curiously.
"You really turned Kakashi around, didn't you? How did you do it?"
Kurenai Yuhi looked genuinely intrigued.
She, Guy, Asuma, and several others had tried to encourage Kakashi. He'd brushed them all off.
Yet one mission with Aaron and he'd bounced back.
Nearby, Asuma Sarutobi and the others also stared at him with open curiosity.
How had an otherwise unremarkable chūnin managed what none of them could?
"How did I get Kakashi back on his feet…" Aaron mused aloud, pretending to think.
He glanced at the steaming plates of dango arriving in front of him.
Maybe it was simple.
Sometimes, people didn't need a lecture.
Sometimes, they just needed someone who believed they still had a future worth fighting for.
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