The small apartment of Obito Uchiha was a far cry from the lavish Uchiha compound Obito could have grown up in. A thin mattress lay on the floor, wrapped in a faded blue blanket, with a second blanket and lumpy pillow at one end. An old oak desk stood against the wall, its surface cluttered with books, notebooks, and a single framed photograph of his team.

Obito sat cross-legged on the mattress, his back against the wall, eyes closed in concentration. The tomoe of his Sharingan spun lazily as he cycled through the hand seals, chakra flowing through his coils like a gentle stream.

These days, activating his doujutsu was as natural as breathing. He'd become so accustomed to the world through its crimson haze that he sometimes forgot he even had them activated. A soft frown tugged at the corner of his lips as he recalled the first time he'd awakened the Sharingan, that fateful day on the Kannabi Bridge mission.

His eyes snapped open, the tomoe blurring into a kaleidoscope of red and black. Pushing himself to his feet, Obito crossed the small room and sank into the chair before the desk. The photograph showed Team Minato on the day they'd become a squad – a fresh-faced Obito grinning widely, Kakashi glaring at the camera, Rin caught mid-laugh with two peace signs, and Minato-sensei smiling that warm, paternal smile of his as he ruffled Kakashi and Obito's hair.

Obito's gaze lingered on his friend's face, a pang of sadness tightening his chest. He still missed Kakashi, he was his friend and true rival. But nowadays that role was taken over by Might Guy, who hadn't even remembered fighting him before in the chunin exams but still knew that Obito was the strongest among their generation. That's why Guy sought him out to be his rival. But Guy wasn't quite on Obito's level, maybe someday that gap would feel less like a chasm and more like a short jump.

A soft knock sounded at the door, pulling Obito from his reverie. He glanced over his shoulder as the door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

Minato stood in the doorway, dressed casually in a simple blue shirt and navy pants. A warm smile played across his face as his gaze fell upon his former student. "I thought I might find you here," he said, his voice gentle.

Obito returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sensei," he greeted with a nod.

It had been a month since Rin's departure, leaving Obito as Minato's sole remaining student in the village. The young Uchiha had thrown himself into his training with renewed vigor, but Minato could see the pain lingering behind his eyes.

Stepping fully into the modest apartment, Minato crossed the room and settled on the edge of the mattress. "How are you holding up?" he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

Obito shrugged, his gaze dropping to the photograph once more. "I'm alright," he murmured, though the hollowness in his voice suggested otherwise. "Just...keeping busy."

Minato nodded, his expression softening with sympathy. He knew all too well the ache of losing those precious to you. Reaching out, he rested a comforting hand on Obito's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I have some news," he said after a moment. "News that I hope will lift your spirits a little."

Obito lifted his gaze, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes. "What is it, Sensei?"

A proud smile curved Minato's lips. "Lord Third has selected me to be the Fourth Hokage."

Obito's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "The Fourth Hokage?" he echoed, disbelief and pride mingling in his voice. A broad grin spread across his face as he realized the weight of Minato's words. "Sensei, that's incredible!"

Minato chuckled, his own smile brightening at Obito's enthusiasm. "I'm honored to have been chosen, it's my dream after all."

Obito's excitement was palpable. He gave Minato a big hug, holding on tightly. "This is amazing news! I'm so happy for you, Sensei. You truly deserve it."

Minato's expression grew more serious, though his eyes still shone with warmth. "Thank you, Obito. But with this new role, there will be changes for both of us."

Obito tilted his head, curiosity etched across his features. "What do you mean?"

"As Hokage, my duties will shift," Minato explained. "I won't be able to take on students in the same capacity anymore. However, I believe you're ready for the next step in your shinobi journey."

Obito held his breath, sensing the weight behind Minato's words.

"Obito, I recommended you for promotion to the rank of Jōnin," Minato stated, pride shining in his eyes. "You not only awakened your Mangekyou, you also defeated a whole battalion of stone Shinobi. Not even experienced Jounin can do that."

For a moment, Obito could only stare, his mind struggling to process the news. "Jounin?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "At my age?"

Minato nodded, his smile reassuring. "You've proven yourself that you're not just a chunin, anything less than Jounin would be a waste of your talents."

Obito swallowed hard, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and trepidation. To be promoted to Jounin at the mere age of thirteen was an immense honor, but it also carried a tremendous responsibility. "Kakashi was a Jounin at twelve and how'd that help him."

Obito made his way up the winding staircase of the Hokage's estate, each step echoing against the stone walls. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of excitement and nervousness swirling within him. As he reached the rooftop, the warm sunlight enveloped him, and he squinted, shielding his eyes with his hand.

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the Hokage's estate, where Obito found himself standing amongst an esteemed group. He was nervous, these people were way older and wiser than him, how did Minato's simple invitation cause him so much fear?

Beside him stood the village elders, Homura Mitokado, a man with glasses and a neatly trimmed beard, and Koharu Utatane, a woman whose hair was elegantly styled into a bun. Their presence exuded a sense of wisdom and authority that Obito couldn't help but admire.

To his right was Danzo Shimura, a figure shrouded in mystery. The right side of his face was obscured by bandages, and his right arm hung in a sling, a testament to the battles he had endured. Obito couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this man than met the eye.

The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo who regarded him with a playful smile that was not returned. Danzo just glared at the Third, but Obito didn't know why.

And then there was Jiraiya, the legendary toad sage and one of the three legendary Sannin. His long, white hair cascaded down his back, and his confident demeanor spoke volumes of his reputation as a powerful shinobi and a master of the sage arts.

Obito couldn't fathom why he, a mere shinobi, a chunin, no he was Jounin, had been invited to such a prestigious gathering. He had expected to simply observe Minato's coronation from afar, but his master had other plans.

As the elders exchanged hushed whispers and Danzo's visible eye scrutinized the surroundings, Jiraiya turned to Obito, a curious look on his face. "I didn't know they were allowing kids up here. How'd you manage to sneak past the guards while wearing that? They'd have nailed you in seconds."

Obito looked down at his attire, a long white robe overtop his clothes. He looked back up at Jiraiya, feeling a surge of confidence. "I didn't sneak past anyone," he replied, a small nervous smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Minato-Sensei invited me himself."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "So, you're the one who awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, huh?" He let out a hearty chuckle. "Minato wasn't kidding when he said you were special. But let's see if you can live up to the hype, kid."

Obito's eyes widened as Jiraiya mentioned training Minato. "You were Minato-Sensei's sensei?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

Jiraiya let out a boisterous laugh. "That's right, kid. I taught that knucklehead everything he knows." He shot Obito a sly grin. "Well, almost everything."

Obito couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of learning something from the man who trained his sensei. "What was he like back then?" he asked eagerly.

Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, let's see. Minato was always a diligent student, but he had a tendency to be a bit too serious at times. I had to remind him to loosen up and have some fun every once in a while. I mean the kid was so sour sometimes."

"Really?" Obito chuckled, finding it hard to imagine the easy-going Minato he knew being too serious.

"Oh, you better believe it," Jiraiya continued. "He was always so focused on mastering every technique, sometimes he'd forget to enjoy the journey." He paused, eyeing Obito curiously. "But enough about Minato. Tell me about yourself, kid. What makes you so special that Minato can't stop singing your praises?"

Obito rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, I'm not sure if I'm all that special. I just try my best to be a good shinobi and protect those who are important to me."

Jiraiya's expression softened. "That's a noble goal, and one that Minato shares. But there's more to being a great shinobi than just good intentions." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "If you truly want to be a great Shinobi you have to learn all the facets of the world, from cultures to techniques to the unconventional. You also have to face adversity without batting an eye."

Obito nodded, hanging on to every word. He couldn't help but feel respect for this man who had helped shape Minato into the exceptional shinobi he was today.

"So, tell me, kid," Jiraiya continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you have what it takes to walk the path of a true shinobi? Or are you just another flash in the pan, destined to fizzle out before your time?"

Obito took a minute to answer, Jiraiya's words were all too true. If he wasn't careful then he'd burn himself out before getting a real chance to prove he could become a great Shinobi. "I won't fizzle out! I'll learn not to rely on my eyes. That way I'll be a Shinobi first and an Uchiha second."

Jiraiya seemed content with the answer, but the boy still had problems, mainly confidence. He was similar to Minato at that age.

Obito heard the door to the rooftop opened, it was his Sensei and his wife. Kushina was in her Jounin uniform with her hair done up into a ponytail, a great smile on her face as she kissed the Hokage to be. Minato was wearing a white cloak with black sleeves over his normal Jounin attire. He gave Obito a bright smile as he passed him to look out over the railing. Obito looked back to Jiraiya, "Sorry, I wanna go talk to my Sensei." Jiraiya nodded and Obito followed shortly after his sensei.

Minato stood near the edge, his gaze fixed on the sprawling village below. The wind gently tousled his hair, and Obito couldn't help but notice the aura of serenity that surrounded him.

"Obito," Minato greeted, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I'm glad you could make it."

Obito nodded, his throat suddenly dry. "Of course, Sensei. I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Minato turned his attention back to the village, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of pride and responsibility. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it? All those people, living their lives, unaware of the sacrifices made to protect them."

Obito followed his gaze, taking in the bustling streets and colorful rooftops. "It is," he agreed, a lump forming in his throat. The view was unlike any he'd seen.

"You know," Minato began, his voice tinged with nostalgia, "When I was a student, Jiraiya-sensei used to take me up to the Hokage monument to look over the village. He'd say that the Hokage's duty was to watch over the village, to protect its people with everything they had."

Obito listened intently, captivated by Minato's words.

"Back then, it seemed like such a daunting task," Minato continued. "But now, standing here, I feel a sense of purpose like never before." He turned to face Obito, his eyes shining with determination. "I promise you, Obito, I will do everything in my power to safeguard this village and its people."

Obito felt a swell of pride and admiration for his sensei. He knew, in that moment, that Minato was destined for greatness.

"I know you will, Sensei," Obito replied, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'll be right there with you, every step of the way."

Minato placed a hand on Obito's shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie and trust. "I wouldn't have it any other way, little buddy."

Together, they stood on the rooftop, gazing out over the village they had sworn to protect, as a Shinobi and as a Hokage. Minato patted Obito on the back as he stepped away from the railing, "Come now, let's not keep everyone waiting."

Several hours later as Minato settled into the Hokage's office, he'd already begun giving missions. But missions weren't the only he was required to do.

Minato's office was a flurry of activity, with various shinobi coming and going, each bearing reports or requests for the newly appointed Hokage. Amidst the chaos, Minato sat at his desk, a stack of paperwork threatening to bury him alive. He rubbed his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache forming.

This had always been Minato's dream yet he hadn't expected it to be raw unending paperwork. "No wonder it's not in the job description."

Taking a deep breath he sighed as he looked at a mission assignment, then there was a knocked at the door.

"Enter," came Minato said with an enthusiastic voice, hiding his previous sadness.

Obito stepped inside wearing a Jounin flak jacket over a navy blue shirt with dark pants, his eyes widening as he noticed the huge amount of paper standing on Minato's desk. "You wanted to see me, Sensei?"

"Ahh, yes." Minato struggled to find the mission assignment he wanted to give to Obito. "I have a mission for you."

Obito noticing his sensei's frantic search decided to try and stall for him, "Are you sure you should be giving out missions on such a momentous day?"

Minato shrugged, "There's no reason to keep everyone from going on missions. And besides, the village can't slowdown. With the end of the War we've finally stabilized our economy, slowing down would only cause inflation or lose our on special opportunities."

Obito laughed, "Okay, okay. I wasn't expecting a lesson on economics." Obito relented and wanted some actual details upon his assignment, "What type of mission?"

Upon actually finding the assignment he handed it toward Obito, "It's a mission that'll take you to the Daimyo's palace."

Obito's demeanor grew excited, "Oh yeah, what then?"

Minato smiled, "To deliver the Leaf's accounting report."

Obito was then hit by a metaphorical fist that killed any and all of his enthusiasm for the mission. He let his dislike known, "Come on Sensei, can't I do something interesting?"

Minato held up a hand to shush him, "I know you want some excitement, especially after being cooped up in the village for a month. But I wanted your first Jounin mission to be something simple yet important."

Obito nodded, still frowning. "Alright, Sensei. If it's important I'll do it." A boring mission is probably what he needed.