~ Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great day.
~ This fanfic started on a whim, and I'm not entirely sure about it. So, don't be surprised if it ends up being dropped. :/
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Konoha Ninja Academy, Principal's Office
"Hooo— Hooo— Why is this brat stubborn?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared wide-eyed at Jin, feeling utterly helpless.
Just moments ago, Hiruzen had truly reasoned with logic and appealed to emotion.
He had utilized the full extent of his eloquence as a skilled politician.
But Jin's answer remained two simple words:
Not going!
But facing a drunkard—emotional appeals were useless, so what good would threats be? They might even backfire.
Wait...
Hiruzen's eyes shifted. Emotional appeals didn't work, but what about material incentives?
"Ahem, Jin, as long as you participate in this Chūnin Exam and bring glory to Konoha, I have a bottle of fine liquor I can give you."
Hiruzen cleared his throat twice and proposed.
As for his earlier thought about making Jin quit drinking? Hiruzen pretended he never said it.
"Hm? Really?"
Sure enough, Hiruzen saw Jin's eyes light up.
Just as Hiruzen felt a little smug, Jin's next sentence nearly choked him.
"It's settled! I'll take the exam, you give me a room full of good liquor!"
Jin's eyes gleamed as he slapped the desk.
You have excellent hearing!
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
When did he say he'd give Jin a room full of good liquor?
It was clearly one bottle!
Did he think good liquor was free?
Although he was the Third Hokage, his personal funds weren't exactly abundant.
If he really gave Jin a room full of fine liquor...
"Jin, I said one bottle. One bottle of fine liquor. You misheard."
Hiruzen explained helplessly.
"Old man, Y-you're going back on your word! You clearly said a room full of good liquor before! I have decades of drinking experience; I never mishear things after drinking! I'm not going!"
Hearing this, Jin instantly got angry.
Decades of drinking experience my ass!
Even if you started drinking in the womb, that's only nine years!
Though, considering Jin had indeed been drinking for seven or eight years...
Hiruzen rubbed his face wearily.
"Fine! As long as you get first place in the Chūnin Exams! I'll give you a room full of good liquor!"
Seeing Jin's stubbornness, Hiruzen understood that some sacrifice was necessary. He gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Deal! Come on, pinky swear!"
Jin's slightly drunken face was now dead serious.
"If you lie, you have to swallow a thousand needles!" (Note: Standard Japanese pinky promise consequence)
Hiruzen felt his entire face twitching. Eventually, unable to refuse Jin, he completed this "contract" with him.
"Alright, then... you get the liquor ready! I guarantee I'll cut down everyone who comes for the exam!"
Jin patted his chest confidently.
"Wait!"
Hiruzen had just breathed a sigh of relief, but hearing Jin's words, he instantly tensed up again.
'How could he forget about this!'
Jin might not distinguish between friend and foe during the exam!
Kakashi and the others are a prime example!
If Jin ended up cutting down all the Konoha participants during the exam—
Not only would it fail to showcase Konoha's strength, but it would become a laughingstock!
"Um, Jin, during the exam days, could you maybe... not drink?"
Hiruzen pleaded earnestly.
"No drinking? For several days? Not going!!!"
Hearing this, Jin turned around, ready to leave.
"Wait, wait!"
Hiruzen quickly grabbed Jin, looking utterly exasperated.
If anyone else behaved like this, he, as Hokage, would have lost his temper long ago.
But towards Jin—whose name he had chosen, who became an orphan due to his own mistaken decision—Hiruzen simply couldn't bring himself to get angry.
'Perhaps, if he had a complete family, Jin wouldn't drink at all?'
Hiruzen sometimes thought this.
"Fine! You can drink! But even if you get drunk, you have to recognize the Konoha symbol! You can't accidentally harm our own villagers!"
Hiruzen said helplessly.
"That's it?"
Jin replied with utter disdain.
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One Hour Later
"What's this?"
Hiruzen held up a Cloud Village symbol and asked.
"This... this thing? It's... Konoha, right?"
Jin swayed unsteadily, then slapped his hands together, speaking confidently.
"Didn't you say 'That's it?'?! How come you've been trying to identify these for half an hour and still can't get it right!!!"
Hiruzen was on the verge of collapse.
Considering Jin might get very drunk during the exam, Hiruzen had just plied him with several more bottles of liquor.
After all, as Hokage, he had to consider all possibilities.
The result... after half an hour, Jin still couldn't recognize the symbols correctly!
'No, I have to think of something. Otherwise, Jin really will cut down our own people.'
Hiruzen frowned, thinking hard.
"How... how about using this?"
Just then, Jin pulled something out of his pocket and suggested.
Hiruzen looked up, and his lip twitched violently.
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