"Third Hokage, I can't accept this mission."
Hagoromo spoke calmly to the man seated before him.
Yes—he was refusing.
The Third Hokage was visibly stunned for a mont. In all his years as Hokage, this was the first ti he'd ever encountered a ninja outright refusing an assigned mission.
"…Is it because of your injuries?" Hiruzen asked.
"You haven't fully recovered yet?"
"My injuries are no longer an issue," Hagoromo replied.
"But I still can't accept this mission."
His wounds really had fully healed. There was no reason—and no way—for him to lie about that.
After all, this world had sothing called dical records.
"Although the mission is symbolically important," the Third Hokage said slowly,
"in terms of difficulty it's not dangerous. All you need to do is deliver Minato's Fourth Hokage appointnt docunt to the Daimyō's capital, have the Fire Daimyō review and sign it, then bring it back."
"There shouldn't be any danger along the way. Asuma is already there as well.
If we ignore certain political considerations, even an average ninja could handle this mission. We assigned it to you mainly because of your reputation."
The Hokage had assud this would be a perfect transitional mission for Hagoromo after his recovery—low risk, high symbolic value.
He hadn't expected a refusal.
Though usually low-profile, White Yaksha was already a significant na in the shinobi world. After all, Hagoromo had directly influenced the course of the war more than once.
"If it's just a matter of reputation," Hagoromo said,
"then send an Uchiha. Shisui of the Body Flicker has a na at least as famous as mine—and the Uchiha surna itself carries political weight."
He paused, then added more seriously:
"I can't just reject a Hokage-issued mission without giving a reason."
As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out several scrolls.
Given his habit of throwing explosive tags around, this movent was… alarming.
But fortunately, he wasn't about to assassinate the Hokage.
He simply handed the scrolls over.
"Going forward, I intend to focus entirely on developnt and construction," Hagoromo said with a straight face.
"Dedicated research. Strategic theory. Long-term advancent. Serving the village through intellect rather than deploynt. My ideological stance is firm."
The Third Hokage ignored the nonsense and unrolled the scrolls.
Then he saw the titles.
On the Simplification of Hand Seals in Ninjutsu Execution
Chakra Nature Transformation: Principles of Interaction, Suppression, Training, and Application
The Control and Practical Deploynt of Lightning Release
On the Upper Limits of Lightning Release Users and the Risks of Exceeding Them
"…Impressive," Hiruzen said after a brief scan.
"These are highly advanced theoretical works—far beyond what soone your age should be capable of producing."
Hiruzen wasn't just a politician. He was a scholar and a practitioner.
He imdiately understood the value.
Hagoromo smiled faintly.
Of course they're good. Do you think I'd tell you how many papers I wrote in my previous life?
The difference is that back then I was bullshitting without evidence—now I'm bullshitting with footnotes.
He almost felt the urge to adjust a nonexistent pair of glasses.
"So," the Third Hokage asked without looking up,
"you worked on these while you were recovering?"
"Yes. I had a lot of free ti during rehabilitation, so I focused on theoretical research."
Hagoromo had, at the very least, proven he wasn't freeloading on the village's stipend.
The truth, of course, was simpler:
He needed to stay in Konoha. Permanently.
"I see…" Hiruzen said after a mont's thought.
"Then we'll reassign the mission."
Konoha had plenty of capable shinobi.
Researchers, however, were rare.
If Hagoromo was genuinely producing work of this caliber, it would be foolish to pull him away for ceremonial errands.
Even Shisui could handle the Daimyō mission if needed.
Plan successful.
Hagoromo lowered his gaze quietly.
For the ti being, he wouldn't be leaving the village.
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Hagoromo considered it for a mont and decided he should inform Minato—though there was a good chance Minato already knew.
Still, it was good news.
After Minato and Kushina's wedding, Hagoromo made sure to keep so distance.
Things were different now.
In practical terms, Kushina had effectively retired from active shinobi duty.
Out of habit, Hagoromo passed by her old residence before heading to their new ho.
He knocked and entered—
Unfortunately, he arrived right at dinnerti.
Minato was, of course, ho.
"Hagoromo, have you eaten?" Kushina asked imdiately.
"Absolutely," Hagoromo replied.
(Absolutely not.)
Habits were terrifying things.
Looking at the dishes, Minato actually seed to be eating with… enjoynt?
Either he'd adapted, or his taste buds had long since died.
"Hagoromo," Minato asked,
"are you sure your injuries are completely healed?"
"Completely."
Hagoromo found a seat—strategically far from the table.
His rule was simple:
Maintain distance in daily life. Be close when necessary, but never intrusive.
"Minato-senpai," he said,
"the Fourth Hokage appointnt has already been approved, right?"
"You know already?" Minato said, surprised—then nodded.
"Yes."
"Wait—what?" Kushina froze, then lit up.
"Fourth Hokage?! Minato, is that true?!"
"It is," Minato admitted.
"I was planning to tell you once all the procedures were finished."
Hagoromo awkwardly rubbed his nose.
…Had he ruined a surprise?
After Kushina cald down, Hagoromo continued:
"Kushina-sensei, what were you just discussing?"
"…We were talking about future children's nas," she said openly.
"Oh. One of those legendary questions you're not supposed to ask."
With zero self-awareness, Hagoromo turned his gaze toward Minato.
Feeling the pressure, Minato hurriedly said,
"It's just advance discussion."
Which explained nothing.
"Kushina-sensei," Hagoromo said carefully,
"you're not letting Minato-senpai have naming rights, are you?"
That would be terrifying.
"Of course not," she replied.
"But Minato wants to use the protagonist na from Jiraiya-sensei's novel The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja—if it's a boy."
"Oh, The Gutsy Ninja," Hagoromo nodded.
"That's probably Jiraiya's highest-quality work. Even if sales were… terrible."
"…Wait."
Kushina's expression sharpened.
"Hagoromo," she said slowly,
"that statent implies comparison."
"…Comparison?"
"You've read Jiraiya-sensei's other books, haven't you?!"
"…Uh."
What was Jiraiya's best-selling genre again?
Definitely not ninja biographies.
Hagoromo turned his eyes pleadingly toward Minato.
Minato returned the look with a helpless smile.
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