The main Hokage man will only hinder my speed in making hand seals

Today is the day the merchants are returning, and Kakashi is waiting at the meeting place early this time.

The merchant sold the goods he brought and confirmed the supplier, so it can be said that the trip was worthwhile.

So compared to the large and small suitcases they brought with them, their luggage when they returned was a lot lighter.

Of course, this is for businessmen.

Because at this time, two tall mountains of luggage were blocking everyone's view, giving them an oppressive feeling.

"What are you doing?" Kakashi looked at Might Guy with dead eyes.

After all, Kai is a Jonin who has seen the world, so how come he is more excited than these Genin kids he is with?

After staying for a few days, he actually had more luggage than when he came.

"You don't remember this, right?" Might Guy lowered his voice mysteriously.

He reminded Kakashi: "Whenever we go to a place we have never been to, we should collect as much information as possible and give it back to the village."

Therefore, the extra luggage are things that Might Guy believes can reflect the local customs and culture.

"Ah..." Kakashi was speechless.

Is it possible that this so-called information collection is carried out quietly and without causing any disturbance?

Besides, walls have ears. If he talks about collecting intelligence on the street in someone else's territory, he will really be arrested as a spy.

Feeling the suspicious gazes of passers-by, Kakashi cleared Might Guy of suspicion without changing his expression: "You brought local specialties, that's good."

Might Guy wanted to explain in more detail: "Although it is a specialty..." but it is not a simple specialty.

This is the important information he collected after walking through the streets and alleys!

Before Might Guy could sabotage him, Kakashi cleverly changed the subject: "By the way, there's still some time before the Chunin Exams, do you want to train together?"

“NoNoNo.” Might Guy had his own plans: “We are competitors from now on, so I can’t show you my trump cards.”

"Okay." Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, finally getting the topic of intelligence over with.

As the departure time drew closer, everyone had packed up, but Sasuke and Naruto had yet to show up.

Kakashi could guess where Sasuke was, so he was actually more worried about Naruto.

Could it be that Qinghe and that guy really borrowed the money and didn’t return it?

Fortunately, the situation that would cause Kakashi to suffocate did not happen.

When it was almost time to set off, Sasuke and Naruto came back.

"Sorry, something delayed me for a while." Sasuke did not explain the reason in detail.

Naruto clasped his hands together and apologized to the waiting people, "It's my fault. I was so busy yesterday that I accidentally overslept today."

Yesterday he took his parents to visit relatives and had been busy all day, so he must be very tired.

After everyone arrived, Kakashi went to inform his employer and told them that they could leave at any time.

But the merchant seemed to have not yet arrived: "Please wait a moment, we need to temporarily join two people."

This is the employer's freedom, Kakashi and the others have no objection.

Everyone continued to wait.

Soon, some temporary members from the merchant's side arrived.

Rin handed the backpack with all the new IDs and information to Kushina and Minato.

"Minato-sensei, Kushina-sensei, I will drop you off here today. I will visit you in Konoha later."

At this time, Kushina and Minato had changed their appearance. They wanted to return to Konoha, so they naturally could not use their original identities.

At least not for the time being.

"Lin..." Kushina's mood was very complicated.

She looked at the street behind her again and again, but still didn't see the person she wanted to see.

Minato put his arm around Kushina's shoulders, comforting her.

He looked at Lin in front of him with a complicated mood: "Lin, have you been happy these years?"

Of the three students back then, he thought Kakashi was the only one left.

Now that he knew that Obito and Rin were both fine, he felt happy but also felt more guilty.

In places where he failed to appear in time, his students died and resurrected, and went their separate ways.

Maybe he is really an incompetent teacher.

"Yeah." Lin nodded with a smile: "I am realizing my dream."

Protect the people and things that you value first. Once you are able, then protect the people and things that others value.

Everyone here is expanding this peace little by little.

Lin waved to Kakashi from a distance, and then said to Kushina and Minato beside her: "Goodbye, please take care of yourself in Konoha."

The current situation in Konoha is not too bad, but it is definitely not as harmonious as it appears on the surface.

Stubborn old things can become nutrients for the new generation, but they can also become poisonous sores that rot inside.

The small caravan was finally able to set off, and Lin stood there and watched them leave.

She waited until their figures disappeared around the corner of the road before turning back.

"I'll go find Master Qinghe to register later." Lin said to herself.

So many years have passed, isn't it time for her to go back to Konoha?

Before it was because of memory loss, and later it was because I was busy with work and a little homesick.

But now everything is stable, and it would be nice to go to Konoha during the Chunin Exam.

On the other side, the small caravan slowly left the Kingdom of Qing.

After walking the road once, I felt much more familiar with it and the return trip was also faster.

Two weeks later, Team 7 and Team 3 returned to Konoha.

Returning with them were the disguised Minato and Kushina.

After entering Konoha, everyone went back to their homes.

Minato and Kushina are going to buy a new house, and their address is not yet certain, but they still invited Kakashi in advance.

"Thank you for your care along the way. After we find a place to stay, Mr. Kakashi must come and visit us."

"...Of course no problem." Kakashi hesitated before agreeing.

He always felt that these two people were somewhat familiar.

But they didn't reveal any clues along the way, so I hope I'm just overthinking it.

Tired Kakashi rubbed his temples and walked towards home with his bag on his back.

He had just finished washing up at home and was ready to have a good sleep to relieve the fatigue of the journey.

There was a knock on the bedroom window: "Kakashi, the Sandaime-sama wants to see you."

Kakashi knew that this trip would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.

He put on his clothes, opened the window, and followed the ANBU who were leading the way.

He needs to think carefully about what to say, what not to say, and what to say half-truthfully, and how to strike the right balance.

In the empty room, Sarutobi Hiruzen was making tea.

The rising mist from the hot water made his face a little blurry.

"Sama Sandaime." Kakashi knelt on one knee and greeted respectfully.

Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled twice and waved his hand to Kakashi: "Don't be so serious. Come and sit down, Kakashi."

"Yes." Kakashi sat down on the chair opposite Sarutobi Hiruzen.

After thinking for a while, Kakashi spoke first: "Please allow me to sort out the intelligence investigation on the Pure Country."

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe and took a puff: "It's not just because of this that I came to you."

In the midst of the smoke, he continued, "You see that over there, right? Uchiha."

“…Yes.” This was a fact, and Kakashi couldn’t deny it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was filled with mixed emotions. He sighed and said, "A few years ago, I was also shocked when I suddenly heard the news."

No matter how well the news is blocked, it will leak out as long as there is human interaction.

What's more, Uchiha never hid from beginning to end.

They spared no effort and risked their lives to escape. When they defected to another force, it was also an accusation against Konoha.

Danzo Shimura proposed to issue a bounty to kill Uchiha, but was rejected by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Uchiha who belonged to Konoha is dead, and Konoha has no right to interfere with the people of other countries unless Konoha wants to provoke a national war.

But Konoha couldn't, and didn't dare.

If the Uchiha were forced into a desperate situation again, they would definitely choose to fight to the death with Konoha.

No one wants to destroy the hard-earned peace.

"Kakashi, how are they doing over there?"

Kakashi thought back to what he had seen in those few days and answered truthfully, "Most of them are still doing their job as guards, and they seem to be getting along well with the others."

"Really?" Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed again: "Maybe Konoha really is sorry for them."

The room was quiet for a moment.

Kakashi has an important matter to report: "Sandaime-sama, the Seinoku Kuji will send someone to participate in this Chunin Exam."

"What?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned tightly.

This doesn't seem like a good thing no matter how you think about it.

"Well, I will arrange for people to strengthen the guard... I hope the visitors are guests."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand and said, "Okay, Kakashi, you go back first. I need to think about it carefully."

"Yes." Kakashi responded and turned to leave, returning the personal space to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"The Chunin Exams... Sei no Kuni... Uchiha..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen kept smoking.

Even if the visitors have bad intentions, Konoha cannot turn them away. What should it do next?

“I’m getting old…”

Maybe it's time for these old men and women to hand over power to the young people.

It's time for this pile of rotten leaves to become nutrients for seedlings.