Village Life - Part 4

Minato’s POV

“We’ve balanced the treaties to a point where neither party has truly lost. Suna is satisfied, and so are we. I’d call this a win-win, Minato,” Shikaku said.

Everyone from the council was gathered. We had just finalized the agreements, even helping the Kazekage make the Ichibi’s seal ironclad. That in itself was no small feat.

“Let’s hope Suna’s medical group won’t stir trouble when the joint program begins,” Tsunade muttered, exhaustion lacing her voice. She and Nawaki had been working day and night over that collaboration.

“Then let’s call it a night and wrap it up here, everyone,” I said. It was already dark outside, the meeting stretching far longer than expected. I was restless—Kushina, Naruto, and I had a family dinner planned, and I wanted nothing more than to be home with them.

Everyone seemed in good spirits as the council adjourned.

---

Two hours later, there was a knock at our door. We had just finished dinner. Naruto sat curled up with Kushina on the sofa, while I was sprawled nearby, letting the warmth of home soak into me.

When I opened the door, my heart skipped. “Sensei?”

Jiraiya stood there, looking more serious than I’d seen in months. It was unusual—he had other plans tonight. If he came here, it meant something was wrong.

“Come in,” I said quickly.

He greeted Kushina and scooped Naruto into his arms. My son giggled, clinging to him like always, but Jiraiya’s eyes didn’t soften. He sat down with Naruto still in his lap and looked at me.

“Minato… I thought Sen’s bullying incident at the academy was already dealt with?” His voice was low, firm.

Both Kushina and I froze. She turned sharply toward him, eyes narrowing.

“Yes. Kakashi and obito found the culprits and handled it,” I replied, confused. “Why bring that up now?”

“Because tonight, Anko and Sen had a spar. From what I gathered, Anko has been harassing her for a while. Sen finally snapped and challenged her.” His expression hardened further. “This isn’t just about a spar. Anko admitted openly, in front of the village, that she bullied Sen—and she had no remorse.”

I felt Kushina’s chakra flare before her temper did. Her voice was sharp. “She what?”

Jiraiya raised a hand before she could storm out the door. “It gets worse. Minato, Anko used an S-rank torture genjutsu on Sen. On her own comrade. In front of everyone.”

My blood ran cold. Kushina shot to her feet, livid. “WHAT?!”

“And some Suna shinobi were there too. They witnessed all of it,” he added grimly.

The weight of that hit me instantly. Not just the betrayal of a comrade, but the political risk—foreign shinobi watching one of our own openly torment another.

“This has gone too far,” I muttered, my voice iron. “I’ll see to it that Anko is punished for using an S-rank on a fellow Konoha-nin. That much is certain.”

Kushina leaned forward, eyes burning. “And Sen? How is she?”

“Sen’s in good spirits. She had her tricks. Truth is, she was never actually caught in the genjutsu. But Anko still used it on her,” Jiraiya explained.

“Where’s Anko now?” Kushina asked, her tone sharp enough to cut steel. I could see she was two seconds from storming the hospital herself.

“She’s in the hospital. Sen knocked her down cold.”

Kushina blinked, then smirked despite her fury. “That’s my girl , dattebane ”

I rubbed my forehead, still processing. “This is… grave. I had no idea Anko harbored this much hatred for her. Sen never even gave her the time of day.”

“It’s jealousy,” Jiraiya said flatly. “Sen’s achievements, her growth, her name as a Senju now… Anko can’t stomach it.”

I met his eyes and nodded, my decision already made. “Then I’ll see to it, Sensei. Anko will get what she deserves.”

The next day, I made my way to T&I with Shikaku and Sakumo at my side. The corridors of the building felt heavier than usual, the silence pressing down like a fog. It wasn’t surprising—this place carried the weight of secrets, of screams that never reached the surface.

We were escorted to the meeting room, where Inoichi and Ibiki were already waiting. Both of them looked tired, the kind of tired that comes not from sleepless nights but from carrying truths too heavy to speak.

I took my seat at the head of the table, the others settling in around me. My voice was calm but firm.

“Suna’s delegation hasn’t left yet, and we already have an incident at our hands. You’re aware of Sen and Anko’s spar last night, Inoichi?”

Inoichi met my eyes. His expression told me he already knew far more than I wished he did. “Yes, Hokage-sama. I’m aware Anko used an S-rank torture genjutsu on her.”

The air in the room tightened. Ibiki crossed his arms but said nothing, his silence a heavier statement than words.

Inoichi was Anko’s senior here, which meant responsibility fell on him as much as on her. He sat straighter, waiting for me to continue.

“I want an official reprimand on Anko,” I said, my tone leaving no room for doubt. “It’s not about the spar itself. Shinobi spar in the village all the time—Anbu, jōnin, even the younger ones. But using an S-rank technique… on her own comrade?”

The table seemed to grow colder.

Inoichi lowered his head slightly. “I apologize, Hokage-sama. Anko was considered a responsible shinobi here in the corps. What she did was… unexpected.” His voice carried both regret and unease, as though he, too, was trying to piece together where things had gone wrong.

“I want a full inquiry,” I pressed on. “Why she did it. Why she admitted in front of the entire village that she knowingly harassed and bullied Sen. After that, I want her evaluated—by you personally.”

Inoichi nodded gravely. “Understood.”

That was all that needed to be said. The meeting adjourned, and the weight carried with us back to my office.

---

“Has she not woken up yet?” Sakumo asked once we were inside, his voice quieter than usual.

“She has,” Shikaku answered, rubbing the back of his neck. “But Sen did a number on her ribs. Anko is still recovering.”

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. “All this hatred and drama… and for what? She’ll be downgraded to a lower rank, if she keeps her place at all. I had not expected this from a shinobi like Anko.”

For a moment, none of us spoke. The silence was heavy, thick with the unspoken realization that this wasn’t just about two kunoichi—it was about the trust between comrades, about what it meant when one of our own turned that trust into poison.

A knock broke the stillness.

“Come in,” I called.

My assistant stepped inside, bowing slightly. “Hokage-sama, your final meeting with Kazekage-sama is in two hours.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

He left us again, and I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. The Kazekage meeting was meant to be simple—a final formality, a friendly conclusion to days of heavy negotiations. Unless, of course, fate decided to throw something unexpected at us.

But even as I reached for the scrolls we’d need, Anko’s shadow lingered in my mind.

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I was back in my apartment this morning after staying at Tsunade’s. It was around ten. I’d already had breakfast there, so the only thing left to do was tidy up my place, organize things a bit, and then laze around for the rest of the day.

I started dusting first, then moved on to cleaning my scrolls. I had to give the finalized illustrations to Jiraiya-sama this evening anyway—the next book in his series was scheduled for release next year, just a couple of months from now.

After that, I checked my storage seals and mission supplies. I released the edible stock sealed into my arm markings, inspected what was left, and made notes to buy replacements. It was always better to be over-prepared than caught short in the field. My missions had been getting tougher lately. I’d been in the Anbu for a few months now, and according to our captain, we’d soon be handling S-rank assignments.

A knock came at the door. I sensed the familiar chakra immediately—Kakashi.

I stood and went to open it. He greeted me with that usual easy smile. “Yo.”

“Hey,” I returned the smile and stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. He entered casually, as if it were his own home, and dropped himself onto the sofa.

“Want something to drink, Kakashi?” I asked, sliding the clean scrolls into the table drawer.

He leaned back, relaxed. “No, I already had breakfast. I’m full for now.”

I nodded and continued my chores. It was always like this between us—quiet afternoons filled with comfortable silences, shared tea, and easy company.

After a while, Kakashi tilted his head slightly. “Are you okay, Sen? You weren’t caught in the genjutsu, right?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes watchful.

“I was never in the genjutsu,” I replied calmly. “She tried twice, but I was already prepared.”

He nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“People underestimate you a lot,” he said, sounding thoughtful. “I can’t tell why.”

“I thrive on that,” I replied, smiling as I flipped through a magazine. “I like it when people underestimate me.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t know how you pull it off. Even Jupei and I were convinced you were caught under her genjutsu that day—and so were half the operatives watching the spar.”

“I have my techniques, Kakashi. Everyone does,” I said lightly. “Fuinjutsu is a fascinating and rewarding field. It’s always been my forte. I’ve been working with seals since before my academy days.”

He looked at me for a moment, then asked, almost too casually, “Would you teach me some?”

I froze mid-motion, blinking in surprise. Of all people, him asking me to teach? Kakashi was already an elite operative—efficient, deadly, precise.

He shrugged slightly, as if reading my mind. “I’m average at fuinjutsu. There are some techniques I’m comfortable with, but not much beyond that. Like most Anbu, I lack the kind of expertise you have. What you do requires patience and discipline.”

I smiled faintly, still a little stunned. “I’m flattered, Kakashi. I’ll teach you whenever we’re both free. What kind of seals are you interested in learning?”

“The kind that’ll help in the field,” he said after a pause. “Like the ones you use for concealment—those seals that let you hide in plain sight. And your storage seals… the ones that hold enough water to last a month.” His visible eye glinted with interest.

“Alright,” I said with a grin. “I’ll teach you those.”

He leaned back again, eye crinkling with amusement. “Just so you know, Shisui might ask you for help too.”

“What??” I gaped at him.

He only laughed softly, eyes curving mischievously above his mask.

I shook my head and sighed. “You all are impossible.”

We continued talking, the easy rhythm of our conversations settling back in. The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting pale gold on the floor, and for a while, it felt like one of those rare quiet moments between missions.

Kakashi tilted his head slightly. “You know,” he began, voice calm but edged with curiosity, “I’m honestly shocked you didn’t give Anko the beatdown she deserved. Not that I’m trying to rile you up—but you showed an unbelievable amount of restraint. You’re a saint, really.”

I had expected that question. Everyone had been whispering about that confrontation.

“Kakashi,” I said softly, closing the scroll drawer and leaning back against the table, “I simply don’t care what she says. She’s nothing to me.”

His brow lifted slightly, intrigued.

“You’re forgetting,” I continued, tone steady, “I’m mentally older than all of you. I might look like a teenager, but I’m not. I can feel it in my mind—how old I am. I don’t have the energy or interest to be riled up by people like her.” I paused, a small, calm smile tugging at my lips. “Although, if it had been someone closer to me… that might’ve been a different story. But she embarrassed herself loudly enough in front of the entire village. I didn’t need to do a thing.”

Kakashi exhaled through his nose, something like amusement flickering across his face. “You’re a dangerous kunoichi, Sen. I’d rather not end up on your bad side.”

I laughed quietly. “Smart choice.”

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—it was familiar. Comfortable. Outside, a faint breeze rustled the trees. Inside, Kakashi leaned back with that same lazy poise, and I went back to sorting my mission scrolls, a faint smile still playing at my lips.

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Minato’s POV

The Suna delegation had departed this morning, and overall, the visit had been a success for both sides. We’d laid the groundwork for future cooperation—particularly in joint research and medical training programs. At the moment, Shikaku, Dan, Sakumo, and Jiraiya-sensei were seated in my office, discussing the follow-up reports.

“On another note,” Shikaku began, glancing at the documents in his hand, “Anko woke up yesterday as we know and was discharged. Inoichi summoned her straight to T&I. He said he’ll give you the official report soon, Minato.”

I nodded grimly. The spar between Anko and Sen had been a disaster. Using an S-rank technique against a fellow shinobi—especially during a supervised match—was not only reckless, it was illegal. I had ordered Inoichi to take strict action immediately.

Before I could respond, I sensed Inoichi’s chakra approaching the office.

“He’s here,” I said quietly. Moments later, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I called.

Inoichi entered, his expression as composed as ever, though there was a distinct heaviness in his presence. “Hokage-sama,” he greeted, offering a respectful nod before acknowledging the others in the room.

“I’m here to deliver the official report on Mitarashi Anko, as you requested,” he said evenly.

I gestured for him to proceed. The rest of the men gave him their attention.

“As of today,” Inoichi began, opening his folder, “Mitarashi Anko has been stripped of her senior shinobi privileges. She will lose her current status in T&I until she proves herself fit again. Additionally, she’s to begin mandatory therapy sessions.” He paused briefly before continuing. “From what I’ve gathered, her outburst stemmed primarily from jealousy—towards Sen. She never addressed those emotions or apologized for her previous behavior. Instead, she doubled down and escalated the bullying.”

“This is grave,” Sakumo said, his voice calm but firm.

Inoichi inclined his head. “She’s aware of the consequences and has accepted her punishment. Her evaluation—whenever it takes place—will be conducted by me personally. I’ll determine whether she’s fit to return to high-level missions. Until then, she’s prohibited from contacting or making any comments about Sen, directly or indirectly.”

I exhaled slowly, folding my hands on the desk. “That’s good to hear. I hope she keeps her word. If she doesn’t, the punishment must be made harsher.”

“Understood, Hokage-sama,” Inoichi replied. “She’s fully aware of the situation she’s in.”

Silence settled over the room for a moment. The faint rustle of papers and the hum of the village outside filled the gap.

“Let’s hope she learns something from this,” Jiraiya murmured.

I nodded quietly. “For everyone’s sake, she’d better.”

Later that night, after tucking Naruto into bed, Kushina and I sat together to talk. She was still worried about Sen—as she should be, being her sensei. I would have felt the same if it were my own genin in danger.

“Sen is safe, Kushina,” I said softly, resting my hand over hers. “She was never caught in the genjutsu, and Anko has already been punished. Using an S-rank genjutsu against a fellow shinobi isn’t something that can be overlooked.”

“I know, Minato,” she murmured, her brows furrowing. “But I can’t get past the thought that Anko’s hatred for Sen runs that deep… deep enough to make her lose sight of everything—rules, reason, even her own career. Sometimes people hold on to those feelings for too long. Promise me you won’t ever put Sen and Anko on the same team again.”

“I wouldn’t,” I assured her. “It would be far too risky to pair them together.”

I’d already discussed the matter with Shikaku, Inoichi, and Dan earlier. They were in charge of assigning jōnin-level missions according to each shinobi’s skills and psychological evaluation. We had all agreed—keeping Sen and Anko apart was necessary.

“Other than that,” I continued, trying to shift her mind to lighter things, “the rest of the week went smoothly. The Suna negotiations are complete, and both sides see a brighter future ahead.”

She nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful.

“Shinobi will return to their usual missions tomorrow,” I added. “That includes Sen. She’s thriving with her current Anbu team. They’ll be handling more S-rank missions soon—they’ve proven themselves to be a remarkably stable unit.”

Kushina smiled faintly. “She’s strong, that one. But I’ll still keep an eye on her… just in case.”

I chuckled quietly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

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So, this marks the end of the slice-of-life chapters.I’m really sorry it took me this long to post this one — I had an accident, and both of my hands are still healing. I’m okay now, but it’s been tough to write as fast as I usually do. Guess this just isn’t my year, huh? 😅

Anyway, this chapter wraps up the village arc. From here on, Sen and the gang will be heading out on missions beyond the Land of Fire! 🌸

Don’t forget to vote ☆ 👇