As night fell, Shūichi Hoshita dragged his tired body back home.
With limited time today, he only managed to make three Explosive Tags, earning 600 ryo.
For food expenses, that would cover about 25 meals for him.
For an average person, it would be enough for 100 meals.
Since learning how to make Explosive Tags, including today's earnings, he had accumulated 4,000 ryo.
"Just four more days of hard work, and then I can go on a shopping spree and buy several types of ninja tools," Shūichi silently planned. But as soon as he opened the door and entered his house, he sensed something was off.
"Who's there?"
Shūichi shouted softly, preparing to retreat.
But before he could move, a terrifying force pressed down on his shoulder, immobilizing him.
A large man appeared behind him.
"Don't be afraid. We're from the Root. Lord Danzo wants to see you," said a figure in a fox mask standing by the entrance.
Shūichi's heart sank, but he also felt a slight sense of relief.
At least they weren't here to kill him.
The hand on his shoulder released its grip, and Shūichi stepped forward.
Why would Danzo want to see him?
Was it because of Head Nonō Yakushi?
Or because of his own abilities?
Had he been under surveillance for a long time?
How should he respond?
Should he act naive or like a genius?
In an instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through Shūichi's mind.
As he crossed the threshold, he saw Danzo sitting on the sofa in his living room.
Danzo's right eye was covered with a bandage, but his right hand appeared normal, without any bandages.
"Lord Danzo!"
Shūichi greeted him calmly with a bow.
Danzo looked at Shūichi, a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and said, "You're very talented. The Ninja Academy is no longer suitable for you. The Root is where you truly belong, where your potential can be fully realized, allowing your talents to serve Konoha better. You can become a hero who protects the village!"
Shūichi bowed again, saying, "I'm deeply grateful for your high regard, Lord Danzo."
"If the Third Hokage allows it, I would be honored to serve you and join the Root. After all, the elite level of the Root is second to none in Konoha."
Danzo's gaze sharpened. "It seems Nonō Yakushi has taught you well."
"You're very clever!"
"But you don't need to worry about Hiruzen. The Root is part of the ANBU."
Still bowing, Shūichi respectfully said, "Lord Danzo, I'm currently a student at the Ninja Academy. The Third Hokage is the headmaster, so I am one of his students."
"I must receive the Hokage's approval and permission before I can graduate early and join the Root to serve you."
"Impudent!"
"How dare you refuse Lord Danzo!"
A sudden shout rang out, and Shūichi felt a terrifying killing intent envelop him, making every hair on his body stand on end. A wave of fear surged from deep within.
For the first time, he realized that killing intent was a real thing, capable of instilling overwhelming terror in its target.
Cold sweat ran down his back, and droplets of sweat unknowingly began to form on his forehead.
Biting the tip of his tongue, Shūichi spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Lord Danzo, if I were to agree to serve you without the Third Hokage's permission, that would be a betrayal of the Third Hokage."
"If I betray the Third Hokage today, I could just as easily betray you in the future."
"I believe this is not your intention."
Danzo stared at Shūichi, his admiration growing.
For someone of this age, to remain so composed and articulate in such a situation—perhaps only Orochimaru could compare.
He became even more determined to bring Shūichi Hoshita into the Root.
"Very good!"
Danzo slowly stood up and walked past Shūichi, saying, "Serving me is the same as serving Hiruzen."
"Besides, your head director, Nonō Yakushi, is also a member of the Root. You were born to be part of it."
"So, Hiruzen won't stop you."
As he spoke, Danzo paused, already at the door, and added, "Moreover, you wouldn't want anything to happen to Director Nonō Yakushi, would you?"
With those words, Danzo exited the house.
The two Root shinobi inside the room also vanished silently, as if they had never been there.
The terrifying killing intent receded like a tide, and Shūichi couldn't help but gasp for air.
Danzo, that despicable old man, was bullying a child like him.
This whole scenario hadn't been part of Shūichi's expectations.
Danzo showing up at this moment likely meant he had noticed the significant progress Shūichi had made over the summer.
What should he do?
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Shūichi closed the door and headed to the bathroom.
He washed up, cooked a meal, and filled his stomach.
By the time he had finished cleaning up, he had thought things through.
Without worrying whether the Root was still watching him, Shūichi headed straight for Konoha's bustling streets.
Before long, he found Tsunade in a tavern, with Shizune by her side.
Luckily, it was still early, and Tsunade hadn't gotten drunk yet.
"Shūichi!"
Shizune exclaimed in surprise when she saw him.
"Shizune!"
Shūichi greeted her with a smile, then approached the table and bowed to Tsunade. "Good evening, Lady Tsunade. I'm Shūichi Hoshita."
Tsunade glanced at him. "Kid, I know who you are. Shizune says you're quite the genius."
Shizune blushed at that.
Shūichi smiled at Shizune, then turned to Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, I'd like to ask you to take me to see the Third Hokage."
"Hmm?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, showing a bit of interest. "Why?"
Shūichi laid it all out. "Just now, the Root leader, Danzo, broke into my house and invited me to join the Root."
"What?"
Shizune gasped, "Shūichi, you..."
"Lady Tsunade..."
But before she could finish, Tsunade silenced her with a glance.
Disgust flickered in Tsunade's eyes, but she smirked. "Danzo is the second most powerful man in Konoha, and the Root is very strong."
Shūichi responded righteously, "But I'm a student at the Ninja Academy, and the Third Hokage is the headmaster. That makes me his student."
Tsunade scoffed, "So you're saying you're my junior, then?"
Shūichi quickly seized the opportunity. "If Lady Tsunade doesn't mind, then of course I am."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, took a sip of her drink, and snorted. "You're right. You're a student at the academy, and if you don't want to, Danzo won't be able to do anything to you."
"Don't worry, if Danzo tries to take you, the old man won't let it happen."
Shūichi quickly added, "But Danzo threatened me with the orphanage and Director Nonō Yakushi."
Tsunade's hand, which was holding her cup, paused. Her mood took a nosedive.
She usually turned a blind eye to Danzo's dirty deeds, but when they were shoved in her face like a pile of filth, it was too revolting to ignore.
Setting her cup down, Tsunade's expression finally grew serious.
Beside her, Shizune watched Shūichi with deep concern, clearly wanting to say something to Tsunade but holding back.
Looking at Shūichi, Tsunade asked, "What do you plan to do once you see the old man?"
Shūichi blinked and replied, "Lady Tsunade, I'm still just a first-year student at the Ninja Academy, not even six years old yet."
"My parents died for Konoha, so as the Hokage and headmaster of the academy, the Third Hokage is like a guardian to me."
"Now that I'm being bullied, shouldn't I report it to my guardian?"
"And shouldn't the Third Hokage stand up for me?"
What's the best trick a child has?
Tattling!
Telling an adult!
Tsunade was momentarily stunned by Shūichi Hoshita's words. She then took a closer look at the little boy in front of her.
Yes, after all, he was just a kid, not even six years old.
His mature thinking and way of speaking almost made her overlook his age and identity.
Interesting!
Tsunade smiled and then stood up. "In that case, let's go!"
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"
Shūichi quickly expressed his gratitude, quietly letting out a sigh of relief.
When he had first sought a solution, his initial thought was to find Kakashi and seek help through Sakumo Hatake.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
The name of Konoha's White Fang was very prominent, and his strength was formidable, even surpassing that of the Sannin.
In Konoha, he was subtly considered the strongest after the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
However, after analyzing the situation more thoroughly, Shūichi realized that in terms of influence, Sakumo Hatake couldn't compare to Tsunade.
He had also considered asking for help from Tenka, the sister at the Tenka's shop, but he quickly ruled that out as well.
Without a doubt, Tsunade was the best choice, followed by Sakumo Hatake, then Tenka.
Lastly, he could consider seeking help from his academy sensei, Kazuya Kimura.
Or he could just stake out the Hokage's office and intercept visitors.
Now that Tsunade was stepping in, the situation carried much more weight.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi's judgment were clouded by Danzo, he would still have to give face to his disciple, Tsunade.
This was the best strategy Shūichi could devise with his current abilities and connections.
When strength isn't enough, one must rely on their network.
Shūichi gave Shizune a reassuring look, and the three of them headed out together.
"Kid, a word of caution."
Tsunade suddenly stopped and said, "Even if you go tattle, it won't affect Danzo. In fact, it might make him see you as an enemy."
Shūichi nodded. "Don't worry, Lady Tsunade, I understand that."
Danzo was the second most powerful figure in Konoha, a former comrade and close aide to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
There was no one in Konoha more suitable than Danzo to handle the tasks that the Hokage couldn't be directly involved in.
This was a matter of practical interests.
And even considering what Danzo had done, it was still far from enough to bring him down.
Reporting him now would only serve to annoy Danzo.
Shūichi had already taken all this into account, but he remained undeterred and continued, "He can't do anything to me while I'm in the Ninja Academy, but once I leave for missions, he'll have a thousand ways to deal with me."
"As long as there's no evidence, who could say anything?"
Tsunade remained silent, then nodded. "As long as you understand."
She resumed walking, and the three of them made their way toward the Hokage's office.
Shūichi spoke up, "Lady Tsunade, could you request that the Third Hokage bring Director Nonō Yakushi back?"
"The director possesses unparalleled medical ninjutsu. Forcing a medical ninja to gather intelligence is the greatest disrespect to their skills."
Tsunade glanced at Shūichi and said, "You're absolutely right."
Shūichi looked around cautiously and reminded her, "Lady Tsunade, the Root shinobi might still be monitoring me. Meeting the Third Hokage as quickly as possible is the best course of action."
Tsunade paused for a moment, then grumbled, "Got it!"
In the next instant, Shūichi felt the wind whipping against his face, his features distorting.
Tsunade had grabbed him by the back of his collar, lifting him with one hand while holding Shizune with the other. With a powerful leap, she sped toward the Hokage's office.
Women really are petty!
Shūichi thought to himself, but he was deeply grateful to Tsunade.
...
Tsunade landed outside the Hokage's office, letting go of Shūichi and Shizune.
Feeling solid ground under his feet, Shūichi quickly tidied up his hair and rubbed his face, which had grown stiff from the wind.
The reason he had taken the time to shower and eat before coming out was not only to think of a solution but also because he didn't want to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi looking pitiful.
Since Danzo had targeted him for his talent, he needed to present himself to Hiruzen as a genius, ensuring the Third Hokage would take him seriously.
"Smart kid," Tsunade muttered to herself, then turned to Shizune. "Shizune, you wait here."
Shizune nodded obediently. "Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Shūichi flashed Shizune a warm smile and nodded before following Tsunade into the Hokage's office.
At the same time, in the Root base, Danzo had just received the news.
He was stunned, his expression darkening.
What a wicked and cunning little brat!
Danzo stood up and walked out. He wasn't afraid of Shūichi's complaints, but he couldn't allow such a cunning child to spout nonsense unchecked.
…
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade didn't bother knocking and walked right in with Shūichi, which didn't surprise Hiruzen Sarutobi at all—he was used to it by now.
As soon as Tsunade had arrived downstairs, an Anbu ninja had reported her presence to Hiruzen.
Given his keen observation, it wasn't difficult for him to deduce that Tsunade was here because of Shūichi. After all, Shizune hadn't come upstairs.
"Old man, this kid wants to see you," Tsunade said, not bothering to explain further, and then stood aside to watch.
Shūichi quickly bowed in greeting. "Lord Third Hokage!"
"Shūichi!" Hiruzen greeted him warmly. "It's late. Is there something important you need to discuss?"
Shūichi straightened up and said, "Just now, Lord Danzo tried to recruit me into the Root."
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, exhaling smoke that partially obscured his face. "I see."
"As the head of the Root, Danzo does have the authority to recruit, but he still needs my approval."
Shūichi quickly continued, "Lord Third Hokage, that's exactly what I told Lord Danzo."
"If you issue an order, as a student of the Ninja Academy, I should naturally follow the command of the Hokage and the principal of the academy."
Hiruzen smiled lightly. "That's true."
Shūichi's tone suddenly turned indignant. "But, Lord Third Hokage, Lord Danzo threatened me."
"He blatantly violated Konoha's Will of Fire by using the orphanage and Director Nonō Yakushi to intimidate me."
Tsunade, listening from the side, was stunned.
He hadn't mentioned the Will of Fire earlier when talking to her.
This kid really knows how to tailor his words to his audience!
Tsunade couldn't help but grit her teeth in secret.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen took another two puffs from his pipe. He knew Danzo well enough to realize that these were indeed tactics Danzo would use.
However, before he could respond, Shūichi, even more agitated, continued as if his words were burning on his tongue. "Lord Third Hokage, you taught us at the academy that as Konoha's ninjas, the inheritors of the Will of Fire, we must have the determination to protect our comrades and the village."
"But isn't the orphanage part of Konoha?"
"Isn't Director Nonō Yakushi part of Konoha?"
"As the Hokage's advisor, Lord Danzo threatened me using my comrades. This is a betrayal of the Will of Fire, a shameful betrayal of you, Lord Third Hokage!"
"As the Hokage's advisor, Lord Danzo even tried to overstep your authority by taking me away and making me betray you, Lord Third Hokage."
Tsunade was left speechless.
She had underestimated this kid.
As for Hiruzen, he was caught between anger at Danzo's actions and surprise and pride in Shūichi's words.
For a moment, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and didn't know how to console Shūichi.
The hidden Anbu members were also stunned, feeling a chill run down their spines.
This kid is too persuasive!
They even started to get the impression that Hokage's advisor Danzo might actually be planning to betray Konoha.
However, as Danzo, who had just reached the door, overheard these words, he was furious and immediately barged in.
"You wicked and cunning little brat!"
"You wicked and cunning little brat!"
Danzo's voice rang out, and Shūichi Hoshita reacted like a startled rabbit, instantly jumping and hiding behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. Impressive speed, but more importantly, quick reflexes.
Is he as talented as Minato?
Hiruzen wondered to himself.
Danzo, his face dark with anger, glared at Shūichi. "Hiruzen, this Shūichi is trying to drive a wedge between us!"
"I suspect he's been influenced by forces outside the village!"
Shūichi quickly spoke up, "Lord Danzo, can you honestly say you didn't threaten me?"
"You've had your Root ninjas watching me for a long time, haven't you?"
"You chose this moment to recruit me because the academy is about to start, and you feared that I'd make a name for myself and catch the Third Hokage's attention. So, you tried to bring me into the Root before Lord Third could learn more about me."
"As the Hokage's advisor and subordinate, Lord Danzo, your actions are an attempt to deceive and hide things from the Third Hokage. That's betrayal!"
"Threatening me with the village's comrades is a betrayal of Lord Third Hokage's Will of Fire!"
Danzo responded coldly, "Everything I do is for the good of the village. A little sacrifice is necessary."
Shūichi immediately retorted, "Then why isn't the sacrifice you? Why must it be me, a student who hasn't even graduated from the academy yet? Why must it be the poor orphans in the orphanage or the kind and gentle Director Nonō Yakushi?"
"As the Hokage's advisor, who inherited the Will of Fire from the Second Hokage, isn't it your duty to stand at the forefront, protecting the younger generation, and safeguarding Konoha's tender sprouts?"
Danzo's face twisted in anger as Shūichi's words struck a nerve, reminding him of the time he lost to Hiruzen and failed to become Hokage.
Shūichi's words had hit Danzo where it hurt the most, leaving him speechless and causing a surge of murderous intent to explode from him.
Tsunade, watching from the side, was thoroughly enjoying the show. Shūichi's words were incredibly satisfying and echoed her own thoughts.
But when Hiruzen saw the murderous intent radiating from Danzo, his expression darkened, and he called out sternly, "Danzo!"
Danzo snapped out of it immediately, reining in his killing intent.
Hiruzen then turned to Shūichi with a gentle expression. "Shūichi, don't worry, I'll handle this matter."
He then spoke to Tsunade, "Tsunade, take Shūichi and leave for now."
Tsunade was a bit reluctant, not quite done enjoying the show, but she was smart enough to know when to stop. She grabbed Shūichi and started to leave.
As they were walking out, Shūichi lightly scratched Tsunade's palm, then gave her a wink when she looked at him questioningly. He silently mouthed the word, "Director..."
Tsunade suddenly remembered, stopping in her tracks, and turned back. "Oh, right, old man, that Nonō Yakushi is an excellent medical ninja. It's a waste to use her as a spy."
"Besides, I might leave Konoha soon."
Her voice grew somber towards the end.
Hiruzen sighed and nodded. "I'll transfer Nonō Yakushi to Konoha Hospital."
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction and walked out with Shūichi.
After they left, Danzo immediately spoke up, "Hiruzen, Nonō Yakushi has excellent intelligence-gathering abilities..."
Hiruzen cut him off in a stern voice, "I've already promised Tsunade. That's final!"
Danzo had no choice but to relent, but he quickly added, "That Shūichi Hoshita has an astonishingly mature mind. If we don't control and train him properly, he could become a threat to Konoha in the future."
"Hiruzen, the Root is the best place for him. If you entrust him to me, I can turn him into a blade no less sharp than the White Fang of Konoha!"
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and said, "Shūichi is better suited for the Anbu."
To Hiruzen, Shūichi's understanding of the Will of Fire was more important than his talent.
Moreover, what Konoha needs isn't just a killing machine. It needs someone with the Will of Fire, someone who can inherit the precious legacy of the predecessors and protect the village.
If he weren't so old, he would have wanted to personally teach Shūichi Hoshita.
"Tsunade might be able to do it. Maybe this could even keep her in Konoha..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered to himself while saying aloud, "Danzo, submit a report on Shūichi's profile tomorrow."
Danzo was reluctant. "Hiruzen, Shūichi Hoshita needs to be controlled. His thoughts are too dangerous."
"Precisely because of that, he needs proper guidance."
Hiruzen remained firm. "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Danzo stormed out, leaving the office in silence. Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his mind replaying Shūichi's earlier words.
Not a single word was wrong.
And how could he not be aware of Danzo's ambitions?
After a long pause, Hiruzen suddenly gave an order, "Shinnosuke, go inform Orochimaru to see me tomorrow."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
...
At a small eatery.
Shūichi, Tsunade, and Shizune were having a late-night snack together.
After watching such a good show, Tsunade's appetite was huge, and she was devouring her food with gusto.
Shizune, however, was a bit worried. "Lady Tsunade, Shūichi has completely offended Lord Danzo. Won't that be a problem in the future?"
Tsunade glanced at Shūichi. "That depends on his own abilities."
Shūichi smiled confidently, "Don't worry, Shizune, I'm a genius!"
Tsunade scoffed, "A dead genius is no genius at all!"
Her mood suddenly darkened.
Her brother Nawaki had been a genius too.
How many geniuses has Konoha lost?
Gulping down a cup of sake, Tsunade said, "Kid, if you're a prideful and complacent ninja, it's easy to end up dead."
"On the battlefield, even a Jōnin must be extremely cautious."
Shūichi accepted her advice humbly, "Thank you for the warning, Lady Tsunade. I'll be careful."
After finishing their meal, Shūichi returned home alone, sitting on his sofa to rest.
Danzo's threat had been dealt with—at least for now.
Yes, only temporarily.
As long as Danzo lives, the problem isn't truly resolved.
If Danzo doesn't come for him, he'll eventually take Danzo out himself.
"Looks like I really need to change my plans..."
Shūichi mused to himself.
Initially, he hadn't planned to graduate from the ninja academy early. But the results of his summer operation made him consider early graduation.
Now, he's decided to graduate early.
The ninja academy isn't enough to support the growth of his tag tree!
He shifted his focus to the tag tree.
Several tags on the tree remained unactivated.
Fire Release Expert, Clone Expert, Substitution Expert, Taijutsu Expert, Ninja Tool Expert, Medical Expert, Sealing Expert.
These specialist tags were all tempting, but activating them wouldn't be easy.
For example:
Tag: Clone Expert
Condition to Obtain: Master at least five different Clone Techniques.
Effect: Increases mental strength by 100%, allows effortless use of Clone Techniques without hand signs.
Looking at the list of expert-level Tags, Shūichi Hoshita's gaze settled on the [Fire Release Expert] Tag.
Among the various Tags, this one seemed to be the easiest for him to activate at the moment.
The [Fire Release Expert] Tag required him to master at least five C-rank Fire Release jutsu, and he had already mastered two.
Additionally, he had one more C-rank jutsu, the Dragon Fire Technique, that he hadn't yet practiced.
So, he only needed two more C-rank Fire Release jutsu. Perhaps Tsunade could help him with that?
Having set his target, fatigue began to take over.
Shūichi immediately turned off the lights and went to bed to rest.
The next day, at 9 a.m., Shūichi arrived at the Tenka Shop right on time and began working on creating explosive tags in the workshop.
Meanwhile.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just received Shūichi Hoshita's detailed file from the Root division.
As he finished reading through the file, Orochimaru knocked and entered.
Hiruzen immediately handed the file over to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru quickly scanned through it, showing a hint of surprise. Smiling, he said, "He seems to be a genius on par with Minato. Are you planning to have me take him as a student?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "No, I want you to go to the Root."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, instantly realizing that this Shūichi Hoshita must have caught Danzo's attention.
Sending him to the Root was to monitor Danzo, restrict him, divide his power, or perhaps even to succeed him…
"Looks like something quite interesting has happened!" Orochimaru chuckled to himself but simply replied, "Understood, sensei!"
Hiruzen nodded and continued, "Shūichi Hoshita will undergo special training in the Root in the future. When that time comes, I'll leave him to you."
…
After leaving the Hokage's office, Orochimaru went straight to the Root base and met with Danzo.
Once his subordinates had left, Danzo looked at Orochimaru and said, "I hear you're interested in researching Hashirama's cells?"
Orochimaru nodded in acknowledgment. "Indeed, but the village rejected it."
"I can help you with that!"
Danzo knew why Orochimaru had been sent by Hiruzen, but his old friend clearly underestimated him.
"I can provide everything you need!" Danzo offered an extremely tempting deal. "Hashirama's cells, test subjects, funding!"
In one sentence, he covered it all.
"Of course, I'll have the right to enjoy the research results!" Danzo stated his apparent condition.
Orochimaru smiled. "Naturally!"
He agreed to the deal and then added, "That Shūichi Hoshita will soon enter the Root for special training. The old man has entrusted him to me."
Danzo's expression darkened upon hearing this, but as the leader of the Root, he didn't let his emotions take control. "Make sure he can be of use to the Root!"
Orochimaru nodded. "I understand!"
…
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
Shūichi Hoshita managed to earn 24,000 ryō in one go, but then spent it all at the Tenka Shop just as quickly.
While the store's assistant Tenka generously gifted him a set of ninja tools—shuriken, kunai, and senbon—at no cost, Shūichi used his earnings to purchase a batch of secret medicinal herbs for medicinal baths at a discounted price through the Tenka's Shop. However, that completely drained his summer earnings.
These herbs would last him about three months, which would cover the upcoming academy term.
But Shūichi didn't feel the slightest bit of regret.
The secret herbs were designed to relieve fatigue, heal hidden injuries from training, and strengthen muscles and bones. They also promoted growth and slightly increased chakra, even if they couldn't significantly boost chakra reserves.
They were still useful.
One of the reasons why shinobi from ninja clans were generally stronger than those from civilian backgrounds was not just their systematic training but also their superior nutrition and access to various secret herbs.
Generations of accumulation had widened the gap.
September 15th.
The new academy term began.
Everything seemed the same as it had been two months ago.
But it clearly wasn't.
In the afternoon, during the ninja tools throwing class, the girls cheered enthusiastically for Kakashi, while Obito Uchiha, as usual, was annoyed but couldn't match up to Kakashi.
When it came to ninja tools throwing, Shūichi was just average, not doing anything flashy.
The next class was a combat lesson.
Amid the continuous cheers, Shūichi quietly observed everyone's matches, taking note of their progress and updating the "intel" in his memory palace.
At the same time, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his crystal ball to secretly observe the combat class of Shūichi's class.
"Next match, Kakashi Hatake versus Shūichi Hoshita!"
Kimura Kazuya announced loudly.
Obito immediately protested, "Sensei Kimura, why am I not the one fighting Kakashi?"
Kimura Kazuya sighed inwardly. Could he really say this was an order from the Third Hokage?
Ignoring Obito's objections, Kimura Kazuya said, "Form the Seal of Confrontation!"
Shūichi and Kakashi formed the Seal of Confrontation, with Shūichi smiling quietly, "Kakashi, this time, I'm going all out!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I'll be waiting."
After the Seal of Confrontation was formed, both of them quickly retreated.
Kimura Kazuya glanced at the two, confirmed they were ready, and shouted, "Begin!"
In the next instant, amid the crowd's cheers, Shūichi and Kakashi charged at each other.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Fists and kicks collided, generating bursts of wind.
Their movements grew faster and faster, their strikes creating afterimages, causing the once loud cheers to gradually die down.
Shizune, Rin Nohara, and the others stopped cheering, their eyes fixed on the fight, unable to look away.
Even so, many found it difficult to keep up with the pace.
"Kakashi, that guy... actually..."
Obito clenched his fists tightly, reluctant to admit it, but it seemed Kakashi had improved even more over the break.
Meanwhile, Asuma Sarutobi's gaze remained on Shūichi, feeling a growing sense of urgency.
It was bad enough to be overshadowed by Kakashi, but now Shūichi was catching up too.
It wasn't that he looked down on Shūichi—after all, he was the Hokage's son. One Kakashi was already enough.
But clearly, some things don't change just because of personal feelings.
Shūichi had made significant progress over the summer, but so had Kakashi, who had also trained hard.
In pure taijutsu combat, even with his exceptional reflexes, Shūichi inevitably fell behind.
Not just in skill, but in strength too.
Bam!
Shūichi was kicked away by Kakashi, but as he flew back, he pulled two shuriken from his pouch and hurled them.
Kakashi anticipated this, pulling out a kunai and effortlessly deflecting the shuriken with two clangs, before decisively throwing the kunai back at Shūichi.
He saw that Shūichi was forming hand signs, preparing to use a Fire Release jutsu.
So after throwing the kunai, Kakashi also formed hand signs and crouched down.
He was confident that Shūichi would easily dodge the kunai and continue his jutsu.
Shūichi did indeed dodge Kakashi's kunai with ease and immediately changed his hand signs.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
Clone Jutsu!
Kakashi's expression shifted slightly as an earth wall rose up in front of him.
At the same time, numerous clones of Shūichi appeared, surrounding him.
But the key detail was that these clones didn't look like Shūichi—they had transformed into Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, Shizune, and Asuma Sarutobi…
On the first day of the new term, Shūichi had delivered a small shock to the entire class.
Earlier in the day, Kakashi had impressed everyone by using the Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu in tandem during Kimura Kazuya's assessment, creating a dozen identical versions of the teacher, which drew gasps from the class.
But Shūichi's move was even more captivating.
In that moment, the entire class surrounded Kakashi.
The most impressive part was how Shūichi's transformation was so convincing that even their fighting styles were perfectly mimicked, making it nearly impossible for Asuma, Obito, and the others to tell them apart.
"What an outstanding performance!"
Kimura Kazuya praised with admiration.
There was no doubt that Kakashi had wasted a jutsu, needlessly expending some of his stamina. And he would continue to drain his energy further.
Although Shūichi Hoshita's clones didn't have much combat power, they concealed his real body among them, forcing Kakashi to waste his energy taking down the charging clones while staying highly alert to guard against Shūichi's sudden attacks.
Which one was the real Shūichi?
Kakashi leaned against the earth wall he had created, punching the approaching clones one by one while observing and contemplating.
Was it Obito Uchiha? Asuma Sarutobi?
Suddenly, he noticed that the figures in front of him and on either side were forming hand signs.
Which one was real? Or was this another trick?
In a split second, after taking down two more clones, Kakashi quickly formed hand signs.
Another wall of earth rose in front of him.
At that moment, Kakashi was sandwiched between two walls.
Meanwhile, Shūichi also finished his hand signs.
The real Shūichi was the one on the left—now disguised as Asuma Sarutobi—who breathed out a streak of flame that pierced through several clones and shot between the two walls, rapidly expanding into a fireball.
Boom!
The flames exploded, but Kakashi had already leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the blast.
Clang! Clang!
As he descended, Kakashi deflected two kunai, only for Shūichi's clones to rush at him, obscuring his vision.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
One by one, the clones were destroyed.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Shūichi moved in and kicked Kakashi away.
This time, he appeared as Obito Uchiha.
Kakashi rolled a few times on the ground before jumping back up, bringing his hands to his mouth.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Almost simultaneously, Shūichi completed another set of hand signs and spat out a streak of flame, forming a fireball.
The same Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Boom!
The two fireballs collided, scattering flames and cracking the ground.
When the flames dissipated, Kakashi was breathing heavily.
His stamina was severely depleted.
Shūichi was also panting, but he was in slightly better shape.
He had used the Clone Jutsu, the Transformation Jutsu, and two Fire Release jutsus.
Kakashi had used two Earth Release jutsus and one Fire Release jutsu.
But clearly, the chakra required for the Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu was far less than that for Earth and Fire Release.
However, by this point, both of them were exhausted.
A ninja battle doesn't usually involve big, flashy jutsu duels.
For Genin and Chūnin, taijutsu skirmishes, weapon exchanges, and traps or sneak attacks are the norm.
Jutsu clashes? Most ninjas don't have that much chakra, and Genin and Chūnin typically don't know many offensive jutsus.
Shūichi's father was a Chūnin, but aside from basic techniques like the Substitution Jutsu and Body Flicker Jutsu, he only knew two offensive jutsus.
His mother, being a Genin, only mastered one Wind Release jutsu, Gale Palm.
Jutsu clashes? That's just not a thing.
So, after intentionally exhausting Kakashi's stamina, Shūichi engaged him in hand-to-hand combat again.
Punches landed solidly, both fighting until their last bit of energy was drained.
There was no doubt that Kakashi held the upper hand in terms of skill, strength, and sheer speed.
But Shūichi had the advantage in stamina and dynamic vision.
In the end, neither could overpower the other, and they were both too exhausted to continue.
"A brilliant match!"
Kimura Kazuya couldn't help but praise them, finally understanding why the Third Hokage wanted these two to face off.
If it had been anyone else, they might not have pushed each other to their limits.
Especially Shūichi—his abilities were nowhere near this level last term.
Meanwhile, Obito Uchiha and the other classmates were stunned.
Shūichi had always been impressive in theory, scoring perfect marks on every exam.
But in practical combat, he was only considered upper-middle tier.
Yet now, he had left the top-ranked Kakashi in a rather sorry state, and their match ended in a draw.
This was even more shocking than the visual impact Shūichi had created earlier with his combination of the Clone and Transformation Jutsus.
…
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished his observation.
There was no doubt that the fight between Shūichi Hoshita and Kakashi displayed a level of skill typically seen in Chūnin, a feat that even many Chūnin couldn't match.
Sarutobi had long known about Kakashi's excellence, but this time, he focused more on Shūichi Hoshita.
Undoubtedly, the information from Danzo was accurate without any exaggeration.
Adding to that were Shūichi's mature thinking, his self-discipline surpassing that of an adult, and most importantly, his understanding and maintenance of the Will of Fire.
There was no doubt that Shūichi was a civilian genius worthy of significant investment.
"Ten years from now, he might be another Minato..."
Sarutobi smiled broadly, harboring great expectations for Shūichi.
This also solidified his decision to train Shūichi.
But how should he train him?
Orochimaru was the first to be ruled out.
Sarutobi had felt that his disciple, Konoha's strongest Shinobi at the time, Orochimaru had undergone significant changes after the 2nd Ninja War.
Not only him, but Tsunade had also been nearly destroyed after the deaths of her brother and lover.
Thinking about this, Sarutobi's mood grew somber.
Jiraiya?
Sarutobi shook his head quietly.
He was originally an excellent candidate—Jiraiya was his disciple, outstanding in strength, and skilled at teaching.
Unfortunately, Jiraiya was often driven by what he called fate, spending most of his time traveling the world.
Even Minato had been nearly left to fend for himself, though he still turned out excellent.
"Shūichi has a greater advantage than Minato did initially. With his level of self-discipline, he just needs a mentor to guide him forward."
"Especially in terms of ideology..."
Sarutobi's decision was gradually taking shape.
---
September of the 38th year of Konoha passed in a flash.
Shūichi had also mastered the third Fire Release technique, Dragon Fire Jutsu, and was only two C-rank Fire Release techniques away from completing the requirement for the [Fire Release Expert] Tag.
This day happened to be a weekend. After a five-day interval, Shūichi went to the Tenka's Shop with the prepared explosive tags.
Since the start of school, he had only visited the Tenka's Shop on weekends, spending the weekdays making explosive tags at home using the materials he brought back.
Two tags a day for five days amounted to ten tags, totaling 2,000 ryo.
After receiving the payment, Shūichi looked at Tenka and asked with a smile, "Sis Tenka, you must know Fire Release techniques, right?"
Tenka smiled and asked, "Oh? Shūichi, do you want to learn Fire Release techniques?"
Shūichi nodded eagerly, looking at Tenka with anticipation.
In the ninja school, he was a talented student, mature and gentle.
In the eyes of Sarutobi and Tsunade, he was still a talented student, but with a mindset comparable to an adult.
In Tenka's eyes, however, he was just a pitiful, hardworking, five-year-old orphan.
Seeing Shūichi's expression, Tenka smiled and said, "Since you've been working so hard on making these explosive tags, I'll teach you a Fire Release technique!"
She then led Shūichi to the back of the shop, where there was a small testing area suitable for trying out jutsu.
"Now, pay close attention. This Fire Release technique is called Phoenix Flower Jutsu. It creates multiple fireballs to attack the enemy."
"You've already learned the Fireball Jutsu, so Phoenix Flower Fire Jutsu should be manageable. It requires more control over your chakra to direct the fireballs."
"Additionally, this technique can be used in conjunction with kunai to increase its power and control the attack's trajectory, making it harder for the enemy to evade."
As she explained, Tenka, dressed in a qipao, slowly performed the hand signs.
Shūichi, ignoring Tenka's impressive figure, focused on her hands, committing the sequence of hand signs to memory.
Rat - Tiger - Dog - Ox - Rabbit - Tiger!
Tenka completed the hand signs and with a mouthful of air, released three fireballs in a triangular formation.
Boom!
The three fireballs hit the ground three meters away, creating three scorched craters.