SWNOVELXO Chapter 31: Minato namikaze.
I woke up early and stepped into the training ground outside the Senju compound, the crisp morning air refreshing as I moved through my forms. My ninja headband sat snugly on my forehead, neatly covering the Strength of a Hundred Seal. I had suppressed the chakra within it—no need to reveal that little trick just yet. As far as the Hokage knew, it was just a decorative symbol, similar to Tsunade's. Not the real thing.
After finishing my workout, I freshened up. Tsunade had already come out of the laboratory by then. She got ready, and after a brief conversation about what we needed to do at the Hokage's office, we both left together.
— Kakashi POV —
Kakashi was already up and ready, standing outside his house, waiting. Minato hadn't arrived yet. Growing impatient, Kakashi decided to go on ahead by himself.
Little did he know, Minato was nearby—hiding in the trees, watching his student from above with an amused smile.
Just as Kakashi neared the Hokage building, Minato flashed down in front of him in a blur.
"Sorry, Kakashi. Let's go in and get you officially under my name," he said with a grin.
Kakashi gave a nod and followed him inside.
When they knocked on the door and entered the office, they were both surprised to see Tsunade and me already standing there. It looked like we'd all arrived at the same time.
"Ah, Tsunade-sama," Minato greeted her warmly. "It's good to see you again after so long."
"Good to see you too, Minato," she replied, sipping from a cup of coffee. "What's your sensei up to these days?"
Minato scratched his cheek. "Probably investigating something. Spy-related."
Tsunade snorted. "More like standing around a brothel peeking at someone."
Minato chuckled at her bluntness. I stayed quiet, though I couldn't help but agree silently. If I had to guess, Jiraiya was absolutely lurking somewhere in a bathhouse, calling it "intelligence gathering."
Kakashi remained silent too, standing a few steps behind Minato.
A light cough broke the conversation—Hiruzen was ready to begin. All attention turned toward him.
"Tsunade?" he asked, glancing at her first.
"I'm here to accept Ren as my student," she said flatly. "You can assign him under me. That's all. I need to get back to my work."
Even I could tell she was still upset with him. Hiruzen didn't react much but gave a small nod. He knew why she held a grudge and, from the look in his eyes, he accepted it.
"Fine," he said. "Ren is officially your student. But remember—he will still need to complete missions."
"I'm aware," Tsunade replied, already turning toward the door.
I glanced at Minato briefly. He met my eyes with a curious smile, but I simply nodded and followed Tsunade out.
I had wanted to talk with Minato a bit, but there would be time for that later.
Minato, watching us leave, seemed to sense the tension between Tsunade and Hiruzen. But he didn't pry—he respected that some things were left unspoken.
Hiruzen then turned to Minato.
"So, you'll take Kakashi under your wing?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Minato said without hesitation. "He's already strong and has a natural affinity for lightning. I can help him grow even further."
"Good," Hiruzen said with satisfaction. "Train him well."
Kakashi was given some free time to get to know his new teacher. Official missions would begin soon.
Later that day, Minato decided to treat Kakashi to a meal. The two of them entered the local ramen shop—only to be surprised once again.
There I was, sitting with Tsunade at a small table, already waiting for our food.
Minato smiled and walked over. "Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all," I replied with a nod. Tsunade gestured casually to the empty seats across from us.
Minato and Kakashi sat down, and soon the waiter arrived with four bowls of ramen.
"So, Ren," Minato said, stirring his noodles, "I didn't expect you to choose Tsunade-sama as your sensei."
"It's simple, Minato-san," I replied with a light smile. "She's one of the Legendary Sannin, and training beside her gives me the freedom to explore my chakra in depth. And she's always around, so it's easier to get feedback when I need it."
Minato nodded, satisfied with the answer. We continued our meal in light conversation, trading a few jokes and enjoying a rare peaceful moment together.
After we finished, we parted ways once again.
Minato placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "You'll need to train really hard if you want to catch up to Ren," he said, smiling. "I can sense something powerful inside him."
Kakashi didn't say anything, but his eyes sharpened with determination. He was already thinking about how to get stronger.
If I'd been there to hear that, I'd probably laugh. Kakashi was already one of the most talented kids in the village. But I knew this was only the beginning—for both of us.
(Author's note.)
Should he try to save Itachi and the Uchiha Clan? Comment.
Should he prevent Minato's death and change the fate of the village? Comment.
END OF VOLUME ONE:THE BEGINNING.
Thank you for reading till the end of Volume 1!
Volume 2: War Preparation begins next chapter, and things will only get more intense from here.
Ren's journey is just beginning... but there are many paths he can take.
Let me know what you want to see next in the comments!
Your thoughts might help shape the future of the story.