Dan Katō's expression stiffened, and the atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.
Mikoto stole a glance at Minato, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
From their first meeting, Minato had always given her an impression of gentle kindness and humility. She never expected him to speak so assertively, even forcefully.
Noticing Dan Katō's awkwardness, Minato calmly said, "I apologize if my words were offensive. Please don't misunderstand, Senior. I'm not trying to provoke you. There are simply reasons I cannot disclose."
"Not at all, not at all. The apology should be mine. After all, this concerns personal privacy."
Dan Katō cleared his throat, quickly readjusted his expression, and put on his usual warm smile. He spoke with apparent sincerity, "As Nawaki's supervising teacher, I must take responsibility for his growth and the team's integrity. Now that Nawaki is a ninja, his schedule also affects the team's missions."
As he spoke, Dan Katō's gaze toward Minato carried a hint of procedural helplessness.
"Cultivation is a serious matter. If Nawaki were older, it might be different, but he's only ten years old. And while Minato-kun is a genius, he's still only eight. I can't allow you to act on your own."
"Therefore, any request for leave or withdrawal from the team should be made or approved by Lord Hokage or Nawaki's guardian, Miss Tsunade. This is a matter of procedure. As the Jonin leading this team, I can't make such decisions unilaterally. If anything goes wrong, it would be my dereliction of duty."
"That makes sense."
Minato chuckled inwardly, subconsciously recalling Orochimaru's assessment: "Too goal-oriented."
This time, regardless of what Dan Katō might be thinking, his reasoning was unassailable.
He was just an eight-year-old child, and Dan Katō was a formal Jonin. Without a clear justification, he couldn't simply leverage his connections with Root to pressure him.
Pushing further or adopting a stubborn stance would only make him seem unreasonable.
In the blink of an eye, Minato had made his decision.
Fine!
If you love emphasizing the rules...
Then I'll follow your rules!
"I understand Senior Dan Katō's responsibilities..."
Minato's tone was calm, betraying neither joy nor anger, as if merely stating a fact.
"However, Nawaki's special training involves some reasons that are inconvenient for Teacher Tsunade to mention directly, so it would be inappropriate for her to formally request it."
As he spoke, Minato slowly raised his gaze. "In that case, I will ask Lord Third Hokage to personally coordinate this matter. The Hokage's Office will then issue you a formal notification."
Hearing this, Dan Katō's pupils constricted sharply.
This momentary lapse in composure did not escape Minato's notice.
Sensing the other man's reaction, Minato offered a gentle smile.
Little chick, I've finally caught you red-handed, haven't I?
As the only person in the village to possess Wood Release and a Double Bloodline Limit, Minato had no doubt that his growth trajectory was under the Third Hokage's constant observation.
Even if the Third Hokage respected his privacy, Tsunade's personality would surely compel her to brag about it to him.
Refuse my request?
Then don't blame me if I suddenly develop a mysterious illness that prevents me from using Wood Release~
Of course, Minato couldn't actually threaten him. After all, the Third Hokage was well aware of Tsunade's absurd luck. As long as Minato expressed his concerns, the Third Hokage would never refuse.
Besides, even if there were no danger, allowing Nawaki to deepen his understanding of the Senju legacy would be beneficial.
Ultimately, the mere mention of Wood Release was enough to make the Third Hokage agree to any reasonable request Minato might make.
Dan Katō clearly understood this principle.
"How could I possibly trouble the Lord Hokage with such a matter?" Dan Katō exclaimed, flustered. He didn't doubt Minato's sincerity, and that was precisely the source of his panic.
He loved Tsunade.
This was nothing unusual.
Few young men in the village didn't harbor admiration for Tsunade; he was merely one among them.
Like most, Dan Katō also dreamed of becoming Hokage.
But whether it was pursuing Tsunade or becoming Hokage, he was merely a Jonin with some talent but no background, one among many rivals.
Over the years, he had witnessed numerous men make bold declarations of love to Tsunade, only to be casually rejected.
These included men handsomer, stronger, and better connected than him.
Yet without exception, Tsunade rejected them all. Even Jiraiya, who shared her squad and had the advantage of proximity, failed to win her favor.
As for becoming Hokage, that was even more unthinkable.
All he had to offer was the Spirit Transformation Technique.
Soul Projection, possessing an enemy to slay.
It sounded formidable, but as the saying goes, no Ninjutsu is perfect.
Not only did the user's physical body remain unprotected during the technique, but facing a Yin Release master like the Uchiha would result in instant death.
This gave Dan Katō an idea: if he could win Tsunade's affection and become the grandson-in-law of the First Hokage, the political capital this connection would bring could be immeasurably helpful in his bid for the Hokage position.
Once this thought took root, it became impossible to suppress.
He did like Tsunade, but when he recalled all the suitors she had rejected and the calculations hidden within such a relationship, his courage to pursue her vanished.
He feared rejection.
He dreaded her discovering his ulterior motives.
It was precisely for this reason that he meticulously orchestrated opportunities for "natural" encounters, such as becoming Nawaki's teacher.
Originally, he had planned to build a good relationship with Nawaki, hoping it would eventually lead to contact with Tsunade.
Dan Katō was confident that if he brought up Nawaki, he could easily strike up a conversation with anyone.
But...
Team Seven had only been formed for two days when a little brat suddenly popped up and demanded Nawaki be removed from the team?
Dan Katō's first reaction was anger.
But the brat was Tsunade's disciple, a genius with Wood Release, and a precious treasure of the higher-ups. He couldn't afford to offend him in the slightest, even though he was a Jonin and the other was just an eight-year-old kid.
The only thing he could do was assert his authority as the team's Jonin leader, hoping the brat would back down.
Or perhaps use this opportunity to connect with Tsunade...
He could even picture the scene:
The brat apologizing for his disciple's disruptive behavior, while Dan Katō comfortingly commiserated, complaining that his own sister wasn't very obedient either, and that kids this age were just like that.
Find common ground with her, then "accidentally" run into her a couple more times, offer to walk her home...
This beautiful fantasy was shattered by a single sentence from Minato.
He had almost forgotten.
This child before him could truly force the Hokage to compromise!
And if Minato succeeded, it wouldn't just make him look incompetent; it would create a lasting rift between them.
Dan Katō knew his relationship with Nawaki couldn't compare to the deep bond Minato and Nawaki had forged through their constant companionship.
As this realization struck him, anxiety surged within him.
Beneath the anxiety, a flicker of anger lurked.
One after another...
So clueless!
Always getting in my way!
The more Dan Katō thought about it, the more frustrated he felt. Yet, for now, he had no choice but to compromise.
"Minato-kun, there's no need for this!"
He looked at Minato earnestly. "I'm a Jonin, after all. Training my subordinates is my responsibility. Why not trust my abilities? I'll personally design a training plan perfectly suited for him."
Trust my abilities?
Minato subconsciously recalled the scene from the original story where Dan Katō was brutally disemboweled and died a gruesome death.
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