Naruto: Imitation Ninja

The next day, Xingliu and Minato prepared to head to the legendary Hokage Tower with the sealed Nine-Tails in hand. Since it had been late last night—or perhaps out of consideration for their efforts in driving off the enemy—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had allowed them to postpone their visit until today.

"Xingliu, if some strange old men ask you weird questions later, answer them if you feel like it. If not, you can ignore them. I'll have your back no matter what."

Walking through the bustling streets of Konoha's recovery, Minato explained the basics to Xingliu, who hadn't slept a wink since the previous night.

However, judging by how Xingliu was walking in a hilariously uncoordinated manner, it was unclear whether he was even paying attention.

---

Moments later, the two arrived in front of one of Konoha's most iconic structures—the Hokage Tower.

Looking at the faces of the past Hokage carved into the rock, Xingliu felt nothing but admiration. As for whether he could become one of them one day, did it even matter?

To a transmigrator like him, wasn't becoming Hokage as simple as lifting a hand?

Still, unlike others who might dream of being the village leader, Xingliu had no intention of taking on such a thankless job. Even Minato Namikaze, the youngest Hokage in history, wasn't in any rush to inherit the title from the Third Hokage.

Didn't that prove that being Hokage wasn't nearly as glamorous as people thought?

"We're here. But… are you seriously going in like that?"

Minato glanced at Xingliu, who had unknowingly adopted a dead-fish-eyed expression, and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

"Uh… my bad, my bad. I was just thinking about something stupid." Realizing his slip after Minato's reminder, Xingliu hastily adjusted his expression.

Under Minato's bewildered gaze, he reverted to a fatigued demeanor. If Minato hadn't already seen Xingliu's dead-fish eyes before, he might have been fooled by this act.

"Alright, seriously though, if anyone gives you trouble later, just walk away. I'll handle it," Minato said, his tone earnest.

"Haha, with you backing me up, I'm not worried. Still, those old geezers better not push me too far—I'm not someone who's easy to mess with."

Xingliu's words were playful, but Minato detected a faint trace of confidence and disdain beneath the surface.

Minato could only hope that those elders wouldn't provoke Xingliu too much. Although he didn't know why Xingliu had initially hidden his strength to approach them, his achievements—saving Minato's family and defending Konoha—spoke for themselves.

If those old fossils didn't know better, Minato wouldn't mind "helping" them retire early. After all, he had already decided to stand by Xingliu, even if it meant putting his title as the Fourth Hokage on the line.

---

"You've finally arrived."

As Xingliu and Minato entered the conference room, they saw not only the Third Hokage but also many unfamiliar faces. Among them was Danzo, the head of the Root division.

"Yes, Lord Third. We've arrived," Minato replied after he and Xingliu bowed to Hiruzen.

Xingliu, on the other hand, maintained a casual demeanor after the initial greeting. From the moment he entered, he looked as if he was just there to go through the motions.

Perhaps, as Minato had predicted, Xingliu's nonchalant attitude rubbed some of the elders the wrong way.

"Well, well, is this young brat the so-called hero who saved Konoha? Could it be that he tricked both the Third and Fourth Hokage?" a haughty voice sneered.

Once the first insult was flung, others quickly followed suit.

"Exactly! Maybe this kid took advantage of the Fourth Hokage's inexperience to fool him, and by extension, even the Third Hokage was misled!"

Wow. Xingliu couldn't help but marvel at how petty people could be.

From the moment he stepped in, he hadn't said a word beyond greeting Hiruzen, yet these people had already spun an elaborate drama.

Such creativity would've made them best-selling authors back in his original world—perhaps even the kings of dog-blood romance web novels.

"Have you all said enough?"

Minato's sharp gaze silenced the room. "I was there personally when Xingliu saved Konoha. If you don't believe me, then tell me—where were you during the enemy invasion?"

"This…"

Beads of cold sweat formed on the elders' foreheads. They couldn't possibly admit that they had been hiding out of fear, could they?

If they dared to say that, the Hokage might be too stunned to react initially, but once the shock wore off, these so-called noble clans would be stripped of their titles—or worse, exiled.

"Enough. I didn't summon you here for petty squabbles."

Hiruzen's commanding tone cut through the tension as he glanced at the bickering parties. "If I see this kind of behavior again, don't bother showing up before me in the future."

The nobles, cowed by the warning in Hiruzen's eyes, fell silent.

With order restored, Hiruzen turned his attention to Xingliu, who still stood nonchalantly beside Minato.

"Xingliu, do you know why I've called you here today?"

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