After leaving those words behind, Minazuki Yuzuki's figure walked ever further away, until disappearing from Itachi's view.

'I once followed Namikaze Minato'… What does this mean? Itachi couldn't understand the meaning of these words.

Minazuki Yuzuki repeatedly sent his subordinates back to the Ninja School in a manner that almost lost composure, even suppressing him, a genius of the Uchiha Clan. What connection did this have with the late Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato?

◎

After bidding farewell to Itachi, Minazuki Yuzuki walked alone in the park, feeling not desperation, but a sense of bewilderment.

He did not deceive Itachi.

Because he had reasons that compelled him to act this way.

During the period when the Fourth Hokage was confirmed, he pledged his loyalty to Namikaze Minato, believing he could accomplish great things with the promising Hokage.

At the time, he was in his thirties, at the peak of his strength as a ninja, full of youthful fervor. He did not want to lead a life hanging by a thread.

Being drawn to the youthful Hokage Namikaze Minato was only natural.

He had always believed that Namikaze Minato could become the revival leader of Konoha, removing the remnants of a stagnant era from the village.

Moreover, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chouza, and others joining the ranks made him feel that Konoha had the potential to keep moving forward.

When they all harbored hopes to undertake this grand enterprise— the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato was sacrificed.

This dire news directly crushed all the ninjas who had sided with him.

After that, the elderly Third Hokage regained power, and the former forces of the Fourth Hokage were either departed, absorbed, placed in cold storage, or subjected to unprecedented suppression.

As merely an ordinary Jonin, Minazuki Yuzuki knew he had no power to resist the Third Hokage.

He was merely a civilian, who through thirty-plus years of effort had become a Jonin.

He had no backing from any family, and his Ninja Techniques were extremely modest.

If targeted, he would be the first.

Dying undefeated definitely wasn't feasible; doing so would result in disappearing from within Konoha's ranks, without affecting the Third Hokage one bit. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Because the one to act would surely be Shimura Danzo, the Leader of Root.

With the Fourth Hokage's death, his influence would naturally be divided by the upper echelons.

He didn't have the family background like Nara Shikaku, who could rely on familial power to deter Danzo from acting recklessly. Leveraging the influence of the Nara Clan, Nara Shikaku could still inherit his father's position and become Konoha's Jonin Squad Leader.

Nor did he have the fame like Hatake Kakashi, who became famous at a young age and saved Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, thus still appreciated by the Third Hokage, joining the Anbu, steadily rising in rank, and approaching the heart of the village.

This is the plight of being a minor character.

To survive, he could only use self-tainting means, letting Danzo grasp his weaknesses, avoiding the fate of being purged.

In this way, it equates to handing over his entire life to Root for judgment.

As he anticipated, Danzo spared him, using these weaknesses to develop him into an unofficial member of Root, serving as an informant.

After that, Minazuki Yuzuki deeply felt that his dreams were shattered.

Thus, he felt not only desperation but also bewilderment.

Like standing at a crossroads without signs, momentarily unsure of what to do next.

The Third Hokage would not use him heavily, nor would Danzo loosen the chain around his neck.

If blame must be placed, it would be on his impulsive fervor at the time, choosing the wrong team.

"Honestly, having such youthful fervor at thirty or forty years old, is truly a failure…"

Minazuki Yuzuki sat on a park bench and let out a bitter laugh.

Itachi's successful promotion from his squad to Chunin meant that Root no longer needed him to monitor Itachi.

This squad naturally had no value to maintain.

Next, what kind of fate would be arranged for him?

Would he directly enter Root… or continue to use this manner of 'jealousy', keep leading Genin to execute missions, repeating this 'jealousy' model, muddling through life in a disgraceful and contemptible manner…

Thinking of this, Minazuki Yuzuki's heart was filled with discontent.

Having experienced countless life-and-death situations on the battlefield, even when surrounded by enemies, he had never felt such desperation.

If it was possible, dying in battle back then would have granted him the title of 'hero', avoiding living in such humiliation.

He had also considered suicide for honor.

But thinking of his wife who shared hardships, and his children already in school… these were reasons that prevented him from committing suicide for honor; he had to live.

Even if barely surviving, he must undertake the responsibilities a man should have.

Suicide would be too lenient for himself.

He could only take each step as it came.

While he was feeling distressed, a voice sounded in his ear:

"You don't seem to be in a good mood, Jonin Minazuki."

Minazuki Yuzuki heard this and instinctively raised his head.

He saw a man with an unusual pentagon hairstyle.

"You're… Haruno Kizashi?"

Indeed, his hairstyle was too distinctive.

He was a regular Chunin from Konoha, just barely familiar, maybe.

But having too few interactions in the past was a fact, too.

"It's me. Why, hasn't your student just become a Chunin? Many people say he's a genius, so why do you look so unhappy?"

Haruno Kizashi, quite uninhibitedly, sat next to Minazuki Yuzuki, speaking in an envious tone.

He was indeed envious, that a ten-year-old child had already become a Chunin, much more accomplished than him, who was just a lounging Chunin.