I'm dead, I'm dead!
After he showed them he could form a Rasengan with his bare hand last night, shouldn't they have been all the more determined to keep him in the village for observation?
So why did Hiruzen seem to want him to leave the village and gain experience instead?
The outcome felt different from what Hagoromo had expected, and he was a little dumbfounded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in his chair, was also taken aback by Hagoromo's reason.
His withered fingers unconsciously began tapping on the desk as he thought of Naruto, who was still at the Ninja Academy.
Hagoromo really couldn't start taking missions now and give up his work at the Ninja Academy.
Even if he did, it would have to wait until Naruto graduated.
With that in mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke.
"How about this, Hagoromo?"
"I'll give you two Ninjutsu now as a reward for the missions you'll carry out later."
"Practice hard this week and try to get stronger."
"On weekends, you'll carry out missions. I'll arrange them all and try to make sure you can get back in time to teach."
Hagoromo: "???"
Wait, I have to teach on weekdays?
And when I'm supposed to be off on weekends, I have to go on missions too?
He's working me like a slave!
Hagoromo, who had been worn down by a 007 work schedule in his previous life, felt like his resentment was about to shoot straight into the heavens.
Calm down, I have to calm down!
Hagoromo really wanted to flip the desk in front of him. Calm the hell down, my ass!
"Well? What do you think of this arrangement, Hagoromo?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a smile, pleased with how he had handled it.
Naruto wouldn't lose a teacher who cared for him, and Konoha could train a capable Jonin.
Good, my ass!
Afraid he wouldn't be able to control his expression, Hagoromo reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Actually, looking at it from another angle, this wasn't without its benefits.
After all, there would be too many Ninjutsu rewarded for teaching later on.
No matter how careful he was, he might accidentally use one.
Then, no matter how many excuses he came up with, they would all ring hollow.
But if he followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan, as long as he met the requirements, he could easily give all those Ninjutsu a legitimate source.
And he could teach them to Naruto and the others later on, too.
Huh?
Thinking of Naruto, Hagoromo's eyes lit up.
That's right. If I can openly teach the Ninjutsu the system rewards me with to Naruto or any disciples I take in the future...
Couldn't I exploit that bug endlessly?
With that thought, Hagoromo no longer objected much to Hiruzen Sarutobi's landlord behavior.
He looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi and spoke.
"Lord Hiruzen, I have no objections."
"My only requirement is that it can't interfere with my current work as a teacher."
"After all, just as you said, children are the foundation of Konoha's prosperity."
Hagoromo wasn't exaggerating when he said that.
After all, before taking over Naruto's class,
Hagoromo had already taught quite a few students. In the subjects he taught,
those students were almost always among the top few in their year. Otherwise, Hagoromo wouldn't have caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll arrange your missions."
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a scroll from the lining of his Hokage robe and placed it on the desk.
Hagoromo blinked, then reached out and took it.
He rose and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Thank you for looking after me, Lord Hiruzen. I won't let you down."
"Heh, good. Go on."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, nodded, and waved him off.
After closing the door behind him, Hagoromo let out a long breath.
He looked at the scroll in his hand. He had no more classes before noon, so he turned and headed for the rooftop.
After all, he had gotten this in advance for his future missions. If he didn't take a look first, it would affect how well he carried out those missions.
That's right!
Thinking this, Hagoromo reached the rooftop, shut the door behind him, and opened the scroll.
"This..."
Looking at the two Ninjutsu recorded on the scroll, even Hagoromo, whose standards had recently been spoiled by the system, couldn't help but be taken aback.
The first Ninjutsu was the one he had just received as a teaching reward: the Shadow Clone Technique.
The second was a B-rank Ninjutsu, Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet.
What was more, it was a version exclusive to Hiruzen.
Hagoromo knew that because of the Hand Seals.
They were simple: Ram, Horse, Dragon, Tiger.
As the Second Hokage's disciple, Hiruzen naturally had quite a few techniques at his disposal.
The Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet that Zabuza and Kakashi Hatake had used against each other in the original story was the same rank as the Earth Dragon Bullet, and it required a full forty-four seals.
Back when Hagoromo had seen that, he had wondered what would happen if it were him.
Forget making all forty-four seals; his fingers would definitely get twisted into knots.
Only after coming to the world of Hokage had Hagoromo gradually come to understand.
With a deeper understanding and knowledge of a technique, skilled ninja could simplify its Hand Seals.
And as things stood, the Second Hokage was the biggest cheat of them all.
Nearly every Water Release technique was like a toy in the Second Hokage's hands, earning him the nickname Water God.
Not only could he reduce the number of seals a technique required, but the power it unleashed was even greater.
"What a monster..."
Even with the system's help, Hagoromo couldn't help marveling once again.
He wanted to test the power of the Earth Dragon Bullet, but since he was still at school, he gave up on the idea.
Instead, he turned his attention to the Shadow Clone Technique.
After pretending to puzzle over it a few times, Hagoromo figured that was enough and used it.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, several clouds of smoke burst up with a bang.
Hagoromo looked to his left and right. This perspective really was... novel.
Six Hagoromos stood on the rooftop, looking at one another. Even if Naruto came over now, he wouldn't be able to tell which one was the original.
No, they were all solid clones with Chakra. No one could tell.
While Hagoromo was still experimenting, in the principal's office,
Kakashi, wearing a mask, knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Kakashi reported that Hagoromo had tried the technique a few times before using the Shadow Clone Technique, and had even created five Shadow Clones.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help nodding. That aptitude was indeed good.
He had talent and plenty of Chakra.
Those were the most basic requirements for becoming a Jonin.
Having finished his experiment, Hagoromo stretched. He would be busy from here on out.
He wondered what his first mission in two years would be.
Hopefully, it wouldn't be too troublesome.
Hagoromo rolled his neck and stopped dwelling on it as he headed downstairs.
He still had to eat with Naruto later. He felt like he was getting busier and busier.
As he passed the principal's office, Hagoromo saw a masked, silver-haired Anbu standing guard outside.
Hearing him, the Anbu turned to look at Hagoromo, then nodded in greeting.
*???*
Wait, what's going on?