After listening to Veigar Koshima's story without interrupting a single word, Minato Namikaze fell into deep thought, contemplating the potential danger Veigar now faced.
For the moment, he had no good solution.
After all, neither Konoha nor he himself could rashly take action against Renchi Furuyama and keep him in the village.
Even though Minato wasn't entirely certain about the full extent of the Furuyama Clan's power within the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning, he knew they were one of the major clans—renowned and formidable.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Minato asked Veigar with a hint of a headache forming behind his temples.
Veigar, having waited for this question, finally revealed the reason he had asked to meet here in the first place.
"Sensei, would it be okay if I stayed at your place for a few days?"
"I'll leave after the Cloud ninja depart."
Minato, who still hadn't come up with a better plan, nodded in agreement.
"I suppose that's one way to handle it."
"…However…"
Seeing Minato hesitate, Veigar tilted his head in confusion.
"However, what?"
"If it's inconvenient, I can think of another plan," Veigar offered quickly.
Minato gave a sheepish smile. "Oh, it's nothing! I was just worried you might not be used to staying there!"
"I'll be fine!" Veigar replied earnestly. "I just don't want to cause you any trouble, Sensei."
Still smiling, Minato said, "In that case, come with me. Let's go."
"Mm!"
Veigar nodded and followed behind Minato as they walked toward his home.
But what Veigar didn't know was that more than just Renchi Furuyama and Laki from the Hidden Cloud had set their sights on him.
Even within Konoha, Danzo Shimura had decided he wanted Veigar for himself—wanted to seize and mold him into a weapon of Root.
Danzo had already issued the order for his operatives to begin their move.
Upon arriving at Minato's home, Veigar was stunned. The place was spotless, as if meticulously maintained every day. He hadn't expected Minato to be such a tidy, domestic kind of man.
"Come in. You can stay here for the time being," Minato said, opening the door to the guest room and turning back to Veigar.
"Thank you very much, Sensei,"
Veigar said with a deep bow, visibly moved.
Seeing him like that, Minato reached out and gently ruffled Veigar's hair.
"You'll have to put up with staying here for a few days," he said softly.
"Leave the rest to your teacher."
In that moment, Minato seemed to shine like the sun in Veigar's eyes—his warmth casting light on Veigar's anxious heart, filling it with a sense of peace and safety he hadn't felt in a long time.
...
That night.
With Minato away on duty, Veigar lay alone in the guest bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts spinning in circles.
At the same time, at the home of Hiruzen Sarutobi, another guest had arrived—Danzo Shimura.
Hiruzen didn't seem the least bit surprised by Danzo's visit. In fact, had Danzo not shown up, that might've shocked him more.
"It's time you made good on your promise, Hiruzen," Danzo said bluntly the moment he sat down.
Earlier that day, during the final stage of the Chūnin Exams, Danzo had been watching Veigar from the stands. Every display of strength, strategy, and ruthless efficiency had reinforced Danzo's belief that he was right about the boy.
If he could get Veigar under his control, Veigar could become a key asset—one of his future trump cards.
However, Hiruzen had no intention of turning Veigar over to Root… at least not yet.
He had already crafted a countermeasure.
"Danzo, you're being too hasty," Hiruzen said calmly.
"Veigar isn't ready to be handed over to you just yet."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. Hiruzen, as if expecting the reaction, remained unfazed.
"I'm not saying I don't want you to train him," Hiruzen continued, "But right now, he's involved in a secret mission. That's why the timing isn't right."
Had Veigar been there, he probably would've spit out his tea in shock.
What secret mission?! He wasn't even on a basic D-rank assignment.
But Danzo, to Hiruzen's satisfaction, bought it.
His expression shifted. The anger in his eyes dulled slightly, but his suspicion remained.
"A secret mission?" he asked, frowning. "Even I don't have clearance to know what it is?"
Hiruzen suppressed a smirk.
Hook, line, and sinker.
He didn't respond verbally, but instead mouthed a single name.
"U–chi–ha."
Danzo's brow furrowed even deeper. That one word was enough to override his doubt.
He and Hiruzen had both inherited the ideological legacy of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju—both viewing the Uchiha Clan as Konoha's greatest internal threat. If Veigar was somehow tied to them, especially in a covert operation…
Then this changed everything.
"How long?" Danzo asked, staring Hiruzen down.
And with that, Hiruzen knew he had him right where he wanted him.
He chuckled inwardly.
Solid. Completely solid.
"Come on, Danzo," Hiruzen said, voice serene. "You know these things can't be rushed. Force it, and you risk all kinds of unpredictable fallout."
"For the sake of the village, it's best Veigar doesn't join the ANBU—yet."
"When the time is right, I'll hand him over to you."
"After all, if Veigar does succeed… Root is the only place where he truly belongs."
Every word out of Hiruzen's mouth was carefully chosen.
And the message was clear: stall for time.
As for Danzo's question—how long will it take?—Hiruzen had given him the vaguest answer possible.
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