Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 460 Return

At the entrance to the camp.

Minato Namikaze stood there, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

He was dressed simply in a Jonin vest, his short golden hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze, and he was clean and spotless.

He watched as three boys emerged from the woods.

They were covered in mud, their clothes were still damp, and their faces showed the exhaustion of several days.

But in those three different pairs of eyes, the same light burned.

Minato didn't immediately ask about the result; he simply went to meet him.

Three dry, sun-kissed towels were handed to the three people one by one.

Next came three military water bottles filled with hot water.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Minato's voice was gentle and calm, as if it could smooth out all wrinkles, "Welcome back."

A very simple sentence.

Welcome back.

It was as if they weren't on a high-risk, high-stakes S-class mission, but rather on a short trip.

Yahiko clutched the towel in his hand, a surge of heat rushing from his chest to his nasal cavity. He abruptly lowered his head, wiping his face haphazardly with the towel to hide his instantly reddened eyes.

This warmth has nothing to do with strength or status; it is a pure form of care that treats you as family.

"Watergate... Commander-in-Chief..."

Yahiko's voice was slightly hoarse. He raised his head, trying to make his smile look as bright and cheerful as usual. "We haven't let you down!"

"I believe in you."

Minato smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I've always believed."

He led the three men toward the command tent in the center of the camp.

Along the way, the Konoha ninjas they encountered all cast kind and respectful glances at them.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio were resting to the side when they saw them. Akimichi Choza immediately waved a piece of grilled meat enthusiastically, shouting, "Hey! Yahiko! You're back! Come and try some, it's freshly grilled!"

Nara Shikaku yawned, glanced at them lazily, and complained, "Honestly, you're finally back. You kept me up for nights, so annoying..."

But the slight relaxation in his brows betrayed his true feelings.

Beside him, Yamanaka Inoichi remained as calm and composed as ever, his arms crossed over his chest.

But upon closer inspection, one can see that his usually taut, sharply defined jawline has softened somewhat.

Ignoring Shikaku's complaints, he simply nodded in agreement in Minato's direction.

"They proved my judgment."

"Yes, yes, your judgment is the most accurate."

Shikaku pouted, scratching his signature pineapple-shaped haircut. "The real trouble is about to begin... Report, tactical simulation, follow-up arrangements..."

His rambling thoughts dissipated in the morning breeze.

All of this gave Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan an unprecedented sense of belonging.

They are the acknowledged and anticipated members of this large family called Konoha.

Stepping into the command tent, the atmosphere instantly shifted from relaxed to solemn.

Hiashi Hyuga stood beside the sand table, his posture upright like a pine tree.

Upon seeing the three enter, even Hyuga, who was known for his meticulousness and composure, showed a barely suppressed emotion on his face.

He nodded slightly to Minato and the three of them—a simple gesture that represented the highest level of approval.

They won the first step.

Yahiko took a deep breath. The familiar scent in the tent, a mixture of ink, scrolls, and a faint aroma of tea, completely put him at ease.

Without further hesitation, he reached into his warm bosom and solemnly took out the scroll that was tightly wrapped in oilcloth.

He held the scroll in both hands and handed it to Minato Namikaze.

At that moment, everyone inside the tent seemed to stop breathing.

That small scroll seemed to weigh a ton at that moment.

It carries a decision, a destiny.

The immaturity and impulsiveness of youth have faded from Yahiko's face, replaced by a composure and fortitude that even he himself has not been aware of.

"Commander-in-Chief of the Watergate,"

His voice was clear and powerful, echoing in the quiet tent.

"This is a return gift from Lord Hanzo to Konoha."

The scroll, tightly wrapped in oilcloth, was held in Yahiko's hands and solemnly handed to Minato Namikaze.

The campfire flickered, casting an intermittent glow on the huge ninja world map on the wall, and also casting a solemn shadow on the faces of everyone present.

Hiashi Hyuga stood ramrod straight, his hands behind his back, his entire being resembling a drawn sword, silently scrutinizing everything.

Fugaku Uchiha crossed his arms and leaned against the tent frame.

This small scroll seemed to weigh a ton at this moment.

It carries the weight of a decision, a destiny, and perhaps even the end of a war.

Minato Namikaze reached out and steadily took the scroll.

The touch was slightly heavy, still carrying the warmth of the boy's body in his arms.

Instead of opening it immediately, he first gave Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan a gentle smile that could dispel all their fatigue.

"it is good."

Then, he turned around, placed the scroll on the table next to the sand table, and slowly unrolled it.