( Two days ago in Konoha )
...
Sat comfortably in his chair in the Hokage's Tower a pensive Minato Namikaze looked out across the Village he loved.
Three years, it had been three years since his eldest son had disappeared. Three years since the trail had gone cold, had he been kidnapped or had he run away. The evidence all pointed to him having run, no doubt after feeling oppressed by his and Kushina's concerns over his health.
Something Minato had come to regret, after all a part of him knew that they had handled the situation wrong. They should have allowed him to become a Shinobi, certainly not a combat orientated Shinobi, no he was to weak and frail for that. Also not an interrogator he did not have the constitution to force the answers out of people.
But maybe a Konoha based Medic-nin, someone devoted to healing, that way he would have worked in the hospital in a safe and controlled environment.
But such thoughts were pointless, he couldn't change what had been, instead he could only look to the future and hope that somewhere out there his son was alive, living a safe and happy life. That was the best he could hope for.
In the three years that had passed a lot had happened. His wife Kushina had given birth to another daughter, little Naruko named in honour of their missing son. Minato also believed that it helped to fill the hole left in their hearts, Naruko was their precious daughter, but she was also her own person, she was not a replacement for Naruto.
But even so the joy she brought to their household managed to make up for the pain Naruto's absence had caused.
Aside from the birth of the newest member of the Namikaze Clan, His two daughters had enrolled and subsequently graduated from the Shinobi Academy. The both of them having finished at the top of their year, with Erza just beating Mito out for Kunoichi of the Year.
Erza after graduation had been approached by Yugao, who had taken time out of the ANBU just so she could take Erza on as a student. Apparently her natural talent with Kenjutsu had not gone unnoticed by those detailed to protect the Hokage and his family.
Erza of course was given a choice of whether or not to accept the solo apprenticeship like several others had in the past, or reject it and join a team as was tradition.
Erza of course chose the apprenticeship and had for the last three months been working tirelessly under her new Sensei. An apprenticeship might be a rare honour but it was not easy, it was in fact much harder work than being on a team. But Erza had earned it through her own accomplishments, no one could deny that.
Mito however had been given no such offer; after all she mainly focused on Fuinjustu which she could ask her mother and father for help with at anytime. She had of course asked her mother Kushina about an apprenticeship with her, but Kushina had had to refuse, after all she had Naruko to look after and her own Shinobi work to do, minor though it currently was.
Mito had taken the rejection gracefully, knowing full well that both her parents would help her if she needed it. So instead of an apprenticeship she had gone on to join Team Seven, a team made up of Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, a team that mostly work well together, a part from a bit of tension between Mito and Sakura.
It was at the thought of Sasuke Uchiha that Minato frowned. What had happened to the Uchiha Clan was truly a tragedy; things should not have gone down like they did. But unfortunately they had. His investigation into the matter had soon revealed the culprit behind the shambles, Danzo Shimura.
Suffice to say the man was now dead and his Root forces destroyed the agents either dead or rehabilitated. The man's passing had not been pleasant either, as Minato had personally led a coalition of ANBU and Elite Jonin on a mission to arrest Danzo before stripping every secret he had from him.
His position as the Hokage's adviser was meaningless to Minato as he had the war hawk's mind brutally ripped apart as his every lie and secret was revealed.
Even now three years later they were still sorting through all of the man's deceit. Even if that meant covering up any involvement Konoha might have had when necessary, or terminating any loose ends that might point to Konoha.
It had been hard work and had left many dead. Fortunately though some good had come of it as they released some of the information out to neighbouring Shinobi Villages, building better ties with them. The Hidden Mist being one such Village they were now on at least amiable terms with.
The new information had also led to the destruction of at least a dozen of Orochimaru's facilities and the termination of many of his experiments and henchmen.
Though the man himself was still not found, neither was his full network, which was concerning. Especially considering information Jiraiya had recently brought to him about a new Shinobi Village called Otogakure being created and a band of rogue power unknown Shinobi calling themselves the Akatsuki becoming more prominent.
Any other thoughts he might have had were soon ended as he heard a knock on his door, turning round in his chair and ignoring the shifting of his hidden ANBU who were hiding around the room. Minato instead just called for whoever it was to enter.
As the door opened Minato's previously pensive mood brightened considerable as he saw the familiar face and the large smile of his daughter Mito. The girl stood at barely five foot and was wearing blue Shinobi sandals, black knee length leggings, a mesh shirt and a light blue coloured battle dress. Around her waist as she had a thick black belt, that held a pouch I which were her kunai, shuriken and other standard Shinobi equipment.
The belt also had a number of rolled up scrolls slotted into it, no doubts they were finished scrolls that held Fuinjutsu she could utilize whilst on a mission.
Alongside his now teenage daughter was also the last loyal Uchiha, the raven haired boy having a bored look on his face as he entered. His posture showing that he found everything around him tedious and that he thought he had better things to do. Besides him was the young Sakura, a pink haired girl around his daughters age who wore a similar garb to Mito, although without the belt of Fuinjutsu supplies and with a red dress.
Looking at how similarly they were dressed a part of Minato wondered whether they had coordinated their fashion choice today, or whether it was just a coincidence.
Either way he ignored it as he instead focused on their Sensei and his former student Kakashi.
"And how was Team 7's most recent mission?" Minato asked with a barely contained smirk as he saw a dark look appear on the faces of the three young genin. Deep down Minato delighted in small childish displays like this from new genin as it showed him how much things had changed. As during the Third Shinobi War, children younger than those standing before him were already battle hardened soldiers.
Them having missed out on their childhood due to the war, looking at the newer generation now he could only smile at how happy and carefree they were. Sure they would have to grow up very soon now they were Shinobi, but for the moment it was nice to see that they had at least enjoyed having a childhood.
"It went well Lord Hokage." Kakashi spoke up for his students, a smirk hidden behind the half mas he wore on his face.
"Well let's see what else we have in the way of D-ranks today?" Minato replied with a slight smile as he looked over to the stack of scrolls piled up on his desk.
"No!" Sasuke declared, "No more chores, Kakashi says we are ready for a C-rank. I am done doing these chores for those too lazy to do it themselves."
"Yeah, come on dad we've been genin for almost three months now, isn't it about time we have a proper mission!" Mito shouted out, agreeing with Sasuke as she looked at her father expectantly.
"Hey now my cute little students, you know that missions are broken up by experience and difficulty, there is a reason you genin mostly take D-rank missions." Kakashi replied nonchalantly not really that bothered either way what missions his team did.
"I don't care, I want something other than those damn D-ranks." Sasuke said again a scowl on his face as he looked expectantly at the Hokage.
Mito though didn't back him up this time as she saw the emotionless look on her father's face as he looked at them from behind his desk.
"Kakashi, do you really think they are ready?" Minato asked seriously as he eyed the Jonin.
Kakashi looked thoughtful at that before he nodded and let out a sigh before replying, "I believe they are."
"Very well then, since your Sensei thinks you capable, I have a C-rank which should suit your team rather well." Minato replied as he reached for a recent request that had just come in, a simple protection job for some bridge builder in the and of Waves. "Looks like you will be going to the Land of Waves..."