Naruto: I am the Hokage

After distributing soldier pills to temporarily fill their stomachs, Kyohiko and Namikaze Minato gathered to discuss and reflect. The utility of the Flying Thunder God Formation had exceeded their expectations. Although it was less convenient than the Flying Thunder God technique for individual use, it was more convenient and chakra-efficient for group teleportation. If they were willing to expend the chakra, they could even, with Kakashi and the others' cooperation, send this group of a dozen people directly back to Konoha using the Formation.

However, doing so would leave them with very little chakra and put them in a dangerous position, which was definitely not the best choice while in the Land of Waves.

"Crystal Release… what do you plan to do?" Although Namikaze Minato had never heard of this Kekkei Genkai, given Kyohiko's enthusiasm for Kekkei Genkai and special talents, he would surely spare no effort in searching for it. This was indeed a problem.

Kyohiko recalled that Guren's age was probably not too different from their own, at most three or four years. Although the original timeline suggested she would survive, no one could guarantee there wouldn't be an accident. He thought it over and said, "Let's take the others back first. As for her…"

Kyohiko walked over to Mami, who was handling matters over there.

"Ma'am."

"Konoha-sama Ninja, what are your orders?" Mami was extremely respectful. She was just a wandering ninja before, and although she knew some chakra extraction techniques, it was just a little. To her, whether it was Hiruko or Kyohiko and Minato before her, they were all existences she couldn't afford to offend; a single finger could easily kill her.

"Do you still remember where you lived before, and what your daughter looks like?"

"Of course! How could I not remember? All these years, I've held on because of her. Otherwise, I might have ended up like them!" As Mami spoke, tears streamed down her face. Two years. Heaven knows how she had gotten through the past two years.

Kyohiko was silent for a moment, then said, "How about this: you come with us to Konoha first, and then we'll search through Konoha's channels."

"This… wouldn't it be too much trouble?" Mami was, of course, very tempted. Although she had been imprisoned, she still knew some things about the outside world. Before she was captured, the shinobi world was not very peaceful. The border area where they lived was plagued by the threat of war, and they had even considered moving south at the time. Unfortunately, before she could act, her family was attacked by Hiruko, and the matter was dropped. So, even if she returned to her original residence, she wasn't very confident she could find her daughter. If Konoha was willing to help, she would be more than grateful. How could she refuse?

Unfortunately… she had no money! She knew that ninjas required payment for their services, and she couldn't afford it. However, she quickly realized the other party's goal was not payment, but the hope of recruiting her daughter.

Mami opened her mouth and said, "Although my husband was from the Crystal Release clan, I can't guarantee that my daughter is as well."

"It's alright, we'll just consider it an investment," Kyohiko smiled.

Mami sighed in relief and nodded immediately. "Thank you!" She was grateful from the bottom of her heart. Even with no certainty, Konoha was still willing to help, and they hadn't asked for payment for helping and treating them. Konoha's style was evident.

"It's nothing. You just have information that interests us," Kyohiko said with a faint smile.

Mami bowed deeply, not taking his words at face value, her heart filled with gratitude.

After a short wait, Kakashi and the others arrived under Hyuga Kokan's guidance. Seeing everyone safe and sound, and then the ruins below, they knew… an unimaginably terrible battle had taken place here!

"Kyohiko, Captain." Although they were no longer in the same team, Kakashi still habitually called Minato "Captain" when he saw him. Genma also bowed respectfully to him—in the past, when learning the Flying Thunder God Formation, he had received much guidance from Namikaze Minato.

Namikaze Minato nodded with a smile. However, Kyohiko was holding a stack of materials and needed to return urgently, so he entrusted the matters here to Minato. With Minato's abilities, unless it was someone like the Third Raikage, even the likes of Danzo couldn't beat him.

---

At the Konoha Ninja Academy. The current Uchiha Obito was completely different from before. Ever since the theoretical exams were no longer required, Uchiha Obito's grades in the class had been slowly rising, and he was now considered among the top. Especially in the ninjutsu class. As an Uchiha, he was consistently in the top three of the ninjutsu class, his Fire Style proficient and pure. In the throwing class, Obito was also among the top.

However, what troubled Obito was that he had always wanted to graduate early, but the general situation did not allow it—the war was over. The door for early graduation had closed!

"Sigh!" Obito sat on the edge of the rooftop, looking down and sighing deeply.

"Obito-nii, what are you sighing about?"

"Huh?" Obito heard the voice, first surprised, then turned his head. "Shisui? How did you know I was here!"

Uchiha Shisui. His junior. But unlike him, Shisui was a genius in the clan. At only five years old, his Body Flicker Technique and Fire Style ninjutsu had already reached a very high level. Even stronger than him! Secretly, Obito often envied his junior, especially since Shisui had enrolled in the academy in the last year. Basically, his name could be heard everywhere in the school.

Eligible to choose a specialization upon enrollment. Now, he was number one in the ninjutsu class. Yes, Obito was in the top three, but the number one among the top three was Uchiha Shisui. Looking at his fellow clansman, a look of genuine envy appeared on his face. With grades like Shisui's, in a few more years, he would definitely be able to graduate early. Unlike himself.

Obito was very clear-headed. The reason he couldn't graduate, no matter how you put it, was because his ability wasn't good enough. Otherwise, two years ago, he could have caught the last train like Asuma. He sighed inwardly, not noticing that Shisui had already said a lot. Seeing Obito constantly distracted and dazed, Shisui knew… this clan brother was lost in thought again.

"Obito-nii?"

"Ah? Shisui, sorry, I was distracted." Obito stood up, smiling sheepishly. Then, he suddenly felt his leg go numb. His right foot couldn't find a stable hold on the edge, and he almost fell off the building.

Shisui immediately grabbed his hand, then unleashed his chakra, pulling Obito up from the edge with a sharp tug. "Obito-nii, be careful."

"Sorry!" Obito gave a bitter smile. If it weren't for Shisui, he would have really fallen from here. Although he wouldn't necessarily die, getting injured would also delay his training time.

Shisui said, "I've noticed you haven't been doing good deeds for a while, and you've been dazed. I feel like you haven't been doing well recently."

"Sigh, I want to graduate early, but…" Obito whispered his thoughts, then sighed deeply, and finally smiled. "Forget it, you're still young, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

"Do you like that senpai named Rin?"

"Huh?!" Obito's eyes widened, his face screaming, "How did you know?"

"A guess." Shisui answered directly before he could ask.

Obito's face was horrified.

"How did I know? It's written all over your face," Shisui retorted.

Obito's mouth twitched, and he rubbed his face with his hands. Having his thoughts seen through by his junior was really embarrassing! After a long while, he finally sighed. "Yeah, even you can see it. She must know too…"

"Uh." Shisui was stunned for a moment. He really couldn't comment on that. After all, he was only five. All this talk of love, in his eyes, was not as important as training and the future of the clan. Moreover, all those girls flocking around him were very annoying. So, he thought for a moment and said, "I really can't understand it. I think women are troublesome and will only affect my training."

Obito sighed lightly and patted Shisui's shoulder. "That's why you're still young." However, he had to admit that Shisui's single-mindedness was why he had achieved so much. Talent wasn't everything. Obito's mood became even more complicated, and he couldn't help but hate himself for not being hardworking and focused enough in the past, which led to his current situation.

"I'm leaving!" He waved his hand, not wanting to stay with Shisui any longer. Seeing his junior just made his heart heavy, regretting his past incompetence.

Although Shisui was young, he was proficient in observation and genjutsu, and knew that human nature was complex. The current Obito definitely didn't want to see him.

The bell rang.

Obito left the school, his heart heavy, running forward with his head down. Unconsciously, he looked up and found himself near the Konoha Hospital. The figure that flashed before his eyes was Nohara Rin. He was about to wave and greet Rin when he saw her quickly run towards another courtyard, holding a pile of documents.

Obito opened his mouth, but held back his words. Ever since Rin graduated, she had become busier and busier, while he was still in the academy… Although Rin would still greet him with a bright smile when she saw him, and their relationship seemed to be the same as before, Obito knew that the distance between him and Rin was growing wider and wider.

He was silent for a long time, staring at the hospital without speaking, and finally lowered his head and walked forward. However, he didn't notice that not long after he turned around, Rin, not far away, had spotted him and was waving and shouting at him. But around him, a layer of chakra had isolated the sound, preventing him from hearing it.

Nohara Rin looked at Obito's back, feeling strange. She was about to chase after him when a voice called from inside the room.

"Rin?"

"Ah, yes, I'm coming!" Nohara Rin quickly ran into the room.

Inside, Yuhi Kurenai picked up a piece of paper with a headache. "A mission came in. We need to prepare the records and get ready for surgery. They should arrive the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"What?" Nohara Rin looked down. The paper stated that they had rescued a group of people in the Land of Waves, whose minds and memories were abnormal, and they might need the village's psychiatric treatment. Although she didn't know the specific situation, but… at this speed, the news could only have come from Kyohiko's side, and she vaguely remembered that Kakashi also seemed to be out of the village. Her heart immediately tightened.

"Are those two okay?"

"Huh?" Yuhi Kurenai was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "They'll be fine. If something had happened, Kyohiko would have brought him back immediately." In Kurenai's mind, Kyohiko would definitely not be in any danger!