Minato sat behind his desk, hands folded, expression calm but guarded. The air in his office was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that always came w hen the elders were involved.

He had barely brought the girl back to Kushina before another ANBU practically dragged him into this meeting. The discussion had been going in circles, predictable as ever.

Koharu Utatane tilted her head in disapproval. "Two days, Minato. Two days, and only now are we being consulted on the matter? This is an unacceptable oversight."

Minato exhaled slowly, willing his patience to hold. Right. We're starting with this, then.

His fingers drummed lightly against the table. "Trust me, I'd love to know why I wasn't informed sooner." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "I've already made it clear that any intelligence bypassing my desk will not be tolerated."

He let his words settle, let them absorb the weight of his statement. Then, he continued, "Kakashi encountered the girl by chance yesterday night and made the reasonable decision of informing me."

There was a pause.

Danzō, who had been sitting with his hands folded, finally spoke. "ANBU responded adequately. Bringing her in was a necessary precaution." His voice was smooth, calculated. He gave Minato a nod, his tone almost reassuring. "I intended to present you with a full report when we had a clearer picture of her origins."

Minato caught it immediately. Intended to? The audacity.

Before he could speak, Homura cleared his throat. "It was a matter of urgency," he said, his tone shifting slightly, as though Danzō's explanation had reframed the situation. "That makes sense."

Minato's fingers tapped once against the table. Ah. Now that it wasn't my decision, they are fine with it.

His expression remained neutral. "Interesting," he murmured, his tone deceptively light. "First, it was an unacceptable oversight." His gaze flickered between them. "But when it turns out ANBU already acted under someone else's command… it suddenly makes sense?"

A pause.

Koharu's lips pressed together. "Hokage-sama, you know as well as we do that some matters require immediate action. Potential threats must be assessed before they reach your desk."

"And yet, two days, and still no report on it?" His voice was light, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. His gaze settled on Danzō, watching, waiting.

Danzō barely reacted. "We are still gathering intelligence. However, given the girl's... capabilities, I agree that she warrants discussion. She did, after all, evade ANBU."

Homura scoffed. "That alone is reason enough to question her presence."

Minato levelled him with a steady look. "A chase that she treated like a game, not an escape attempt."

Koharu frowned. "That makes it even more concerning. A wild child who sees evading our forces as play? What kind of training has she received?"

Minato resisted the urge to sigh. Didn't I already explain this? "None that we can tell." he said simply. "Her agility is remarkable, but I have seen no indication of formal training."

Danzō's expression didn't shift. "Survival alone does not explain the sheer physical capabilities she demonstrated. Nor does it explain why you have placed her under your personal supervision rather than allowing ANBU or a specialised unit to handle her."

Minato's lips pressed together briefly. Because I don't trust you anywhere near her.

"We are not in the habit of treating children as prisoners," he said smoothly.

Homura scoffed again. "You mean you want to coddle her while ignoring the potential danger she poses."

Minato's patience thinned. "Danger?" he repeated, tilting his head. "What danger do you think she poses, exactly?"

Koharu exchanged a glance with Homura before answering. "We know nothing about her origins, her abilities, or why she was in the forest to begin with. For all we know, she could be a missing-nin's child, an experiment, or worse, something deliberately placed near Konoha to spy on us."

Minato inhaled slowly. His voice remained measured.

"She's exactly what she appears to be—a child who grew up outside of human civilisation. I understand the concern, but she hasn't demonstrated any intention to harm this village. Keeping her under my observation is preferable to leaving her in an interrogation cell."

Koharu's lips thinned. "You are being reckless, Minato."

Danzō took that moment to interject, his voice smooth, measured. "If the Hokage is so determined to oversee her development, then perhaps the best solution is to ensure she is given the proper environment to cultivate her abilities." He leaned forward slightly. "Perhaps within a specialised program."

His grip on the arm of his chair tightened slightly, but his face remained unreadable.

"No," he said simply.

Danzō did not react outwardly, but Minato caught the faintest flicker of something beneath his ever-controlled expression.

"You would rather she remain undisciplined? Untrained? If she is as physically capable as you say, then she must be molded into something that benefits the village."

"She's a child," Minato countered, his voice carrying an edge now. "One with no understanding of chakra, jutsu, or even our language. She is not a weapon."

Danzō's fingers tapped against the table once. Slowly.

"All tools start as raw materials, Hokage-sama. It is our duty to refine them."

The room was silent.

Minato held his gaze, waiting.

Then Danzō added, his tone perfectly neutral, "A child without direction can become a danger to herself and others. The sooner she learns control, the better—for her own sake, of course."

Minato inhaled slowly, masking the irritation that curled in his chest. For her own sake? Don't make me laugh.

Homura sighed, rubbing his temples. "Minato, be reasonable. The village must come first. If she has potential, it should be harnessed—"

Minato cut him off smoothly. "The village does come first." His voice was calm, but his tone left no room for debate. "I have already begun considering options for her training. Rest assured, she will be watched closely."

"By whom?" Homura pressed.

Minato smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Someone I trust."

A brief silence.

Danzō's fingers tapped once against the table. "I assume you will keep us informed of her progress."

Minato met his gaze. "I will handle this matter as I see fit. If there are any concerns relevant to village security, you will be the first to know."

Silence stretched between them. Koharu's frown deepened, and Homura's irritation was clear. Danzō, however, simply nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Very well," Danzō murmured, leaning back. "But I expect regular reports on her progress."

A pause. A subtle test of wills.

Minato didn't blink. "And I expect all reports concerning the village on my desk." His tone was even, but the meaning was clear.

Danzō inclined his head. "Of course."

Minato knew better than to believe that was the end of it.

But for now, he had bought time.

He cast one final glance at the council. "If that's all, I have other matters to attend to."

The elders exchanged glances before nodding, though none looked particularly pleased.

Danzō was the last to rise, adjusting his cane before giving Minato one final look. Assessing. Calculating.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.

Minato exhaled slowly, waiting until the door shut behind them.

Minato had barely settled into his chair when a firm knock echoed against his office door. I swear, if this is about another council complaint…

"Enter," he called, straightening as the door opened.

Hawk stepped inside, his movements precise as always. He approached the desk and placed a neatly rolled scroll in front of Minato with his usual efficiency.

"The report from last night, Hokage-sama."

Minato didn't reach for it. Instead, he leaned back, arms folding loosely over his chest, and studied Hawk carefully.

"Forget ANBU protocols, training, village security—all of it." His tone was easy, but there was a weight behind it. "I want your personal opinion."

Hawk didn't answer immediately. Just a pause. Not long, but long enough to mean something.

"…She's different," he finally said.

Minato smirked. "A safe answer."

A longer pause.

Hawk exhaled lightly. "She's sharp. Playful, but not careless." His words were measured, carefully chosen.

Minato's smirk deepened. "That's more like it. What makes you think she's sharp?"

Another brief hesitation. Then—

"She watches everything. Every movement. Every interaction. I doubt much escapes her notice." A pause. Then, almost reluctantly, because it was hard not to be at least a little impressed…"She uses that information cleverly."

Minato hummed in agreement. "Like calling you a rock."

Hawk stiffened. Damn it.

Minato grinned, resting his chin on one hand. "A rock. On a path." He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "One of my most capable ANBU, reduced to an obstacle that she kicked to the side. Tragic."

Hawk remained silent for a long moment. The worst part of all of this? He wasn't even mad about it. "…I believe she also patted said rock."

Minato chuckled. "Ah, yes. A very dignified pat, from what my wife tells me."

Hawk exhaled sharply through his nose. "I take it that's why I'm here."

Minato hummed in agreement. "Not completely. I think she's got an instinct for people, and she seems to somewhat like you."

Like me? That wasn't the word Hawk would've used. She had tested him, watched him, and in the end, decided to acknowledge him in her own way. Teased him, even. He still didn't know what to make of that.

Minato's amusement faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. "You've been in ANBU for a long time. Your record speaks for itself—reliable, efficient, adaptable." His tone shifted slightly. "But I don't need an assassin for what I'm about to ask."

Minato reached into his desk and pulled out another parchment, slightly thicker than a standard mission scroll. He rolled it across the desk, watching as Hawk's gaze flicked to it before slowly reaching for it.

"This isn't a normal mission. But it's just as important. You've worked in ANBU long enough to know how quickly the wrong people take an interest in something unusual." Minato said seriously.