I'm the Hokage! Sarutobi! You'll regret this!

Only after Naruto stopped crying did Hagoromo crouch down and look straight into his reddened eyes.

A little embarrassed by his gaze, Naruto hurriedly wiped the tears from his cheeks and looked at Hagoromo shyly.

"I'm sorry, sensei."

Hagoromo shook his head, took out the handkerchief he had with him, and held it out to Naruto. "You don't need to apologize to me. Can you tell me what happened?"

Although Hagoromo could more or less guess the reason, he still felt the same way: when he had to act, he had to keep acting.

"It's nothing, sensei."

Naruto hesitated for a long time before shaking his head and speaking in a voice hoarse from crying.

The sun gradually sank, and the lingering rays of the fading sunset shone on the two of them.

The shadow of Hagoromo crouching and that of Naruto sitting on the swing complemented each other.

"All right, then. But Naruto, do you remember the dream you mentioned in class?"

"Of course I do, sensei!"

Hearing that, Naruto stood up and spoke to Hagoromo excitedly.

Hagoromo watched Naruto quietly and reached out to stroke his gleaming blond hair.

Mm, nice to the touch...

"Then promise me you won't cry anymore."

"The path to becoming Hokage or a great ninja is itself full of thorns."

Hagoromo's tone was gentle, as if he were teaching Naruto something, or perhaps repeating some principles.

"Yes... sensei."

Naruto's eyes, which had been bright, dimmed a little when he heard Hagoromo's words.

"You can't cry because a ninja can't be weak.

Naruto, if someone bullies you next time, hit back! Don't be afraid of losing; you can win next time."

Seeing Naruto's expression, Hagoromo naturally knew what he was thinking.

He vigorously ruffled Naruto's hair, then stood up and spoke slowly.

When Hagoromo finished, Naruto looked up in disbelief.

"Really, sensei?"

"Really. If you can't beat them, figure out why, and calculate whether you have a chance of winning when you get even next time. If you don't, seek outside help."

Hagoromo narrowed his eyes, hinting at it in his words.

"I have something to do, so I'll be going. It's late, Naruto. You should hurry home too."

With that, Hagoromo turned and walked toward the school gate.

"I'll do my best, sensei!"

Naruto stood there in a daze for a long time before turning and shouting at Hagoromo's retreating figure.

Hearing the answer, Hagoromo waved and walked out of the school gate.

He saw Iruka leaning against the gate and walked over to him.

"Let's go, Iruka. We don't want to keep the seniors waiting too long."

Iruka, who had been watching what happened by the swing the whole time, looked at Hagoromo as he approached, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

"What's wrong?"

Hagoromo looked at Iruka, who was still standing there, in puzzlement.

"Hagoromo, that kid is..."

Iruka caught up with Hagoromo and spoke from beside him, visibly conflicted.

"I know."

Hagoromo naturally understood what Iruka was trying to say and answered with a normal expression.

"But he's my student too. I only need to fulfill my responsibilities as a teacher."

It was a frank answer. Caring for his students had always been the style Hagoromo had established for himself.

If he kept it up, this style would be his protective charm. No matter how he looked at it, the Third wouldn't think anything was wrong.

After all, he was different from Iruka, and he had already been all alone when the Nine-Tails attacked.

So his current behavior was the most appropriate.

It would also do the most to reassure the Third about entrusting Naruto to him and letting Hagoromo give Naruto the right "ideas."

Iruka was momentarily taken aback by Hagoromo's answer. It was also why he had recommended Hagoromo to the Third Hokage.

As if he had finally let something go, Iruka said with a relieved expression, "Hagoromo, you really are a gentle person."

"Bullshit! Watch what you say, Iruka. I don't even have a girlfriend yet!"

Hearing that, Hagoromo couldn't help looking at Iruka with distaste. He felt as though his goosebumps were about to fall right off.

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had decided to conduct one more "inspection" before going home, also wore a serious expression.

After a long while, he stroked his goatee and chuckled with satisfaction.

The Third had lost count of how many times he had expressed satisfaction with Sawada Hagoromo's performance that day.

The Third was just about to pick up the cloth beside him and cover the crystal ball when the sound of the door being pushed open stopped him.

He looked up to see Danzo, almost half his face covered in bandages, standing before him.

"Sarutobi!"

Outside the Hokage's office, an Anbu who had been about to enter and report something stopped in his tracks when he heard the angry shout.

The next moment, however, he left using the Body Flicker Technique. A conversation between the Hokage and an elder wasn't something an Anbu like him could casually eavesdrop on.

Inside the Hokage's office, Shimura Danzō wore a fierce expression. His exposed eye showed his displeasure as he looked at the calm-faced Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"That's the Nine-Tails! How can you so casually entrust his training to someone who's only a Chunin?"

"Does it go against any of the village's procedures, Danzo?"

The Third Hokage asked calmly.

Hearing that answer, Shimura Danzō's breathing quickened, and he struck the floor with his cane.

"You know what I mean! The Nine-Tails should be entrusted to me. I can train him into a real weapon!"

"Instead of wasting time in a place like the Ninja Academy!"

The Third Hokage had paid no mind to Shimura Danzō's offensive act of pounding the floor, but at those words, he looked up and fixed his gaze on Danzo.

His tone was displeased as he said, "Danzo, watch your words! The Ninja Academy was the Second's life's work. You have no right to question it."

"Hmph! Then hand the Nine-Tails over to me."

Listening to the Third, Danzo also knew he had misspoken in the heat of the moment. He changed his tone and continued to press him.

"The Nine-Tails belongs to the village, and the one who leads Konoha is the Hokage!"

At this point, the Third Hokage reiterated it in a tone that admitted no doubt.

"I'm the Hokage!"

"You!... Sarutobi! You'll regret this!"

Danzo burned with anger at Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude, acting as though he were the supreme leader.

Whenever Danzo strongly demanded something, Hiruzen Sarutobi would use those words to suppress him.

But the facts were right in front of him.

No matter how rampant Danzo was, he didn't dare say another word. He took a deep breath and reined in his emotions.

After leaving those words behind, Danzo turned and walked out of the office.

We'll see, Sarutobi!

Only I can lead Konoha to become the strongest!

A momentary setback couldn't discourage him. Danzo knew full well that undercurrents had already begun to stir within the Uchiha.

And given the situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi needed him.

Konoha needed him too!

Since the Fourth died on the Night of the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha Clan, who had thought they had finally seen the dawn, had been suppressed once again.

If not for the Fourth's light allowing the Uchiha to feel that they too could live well in Konoha, perhaps they could have continued to lie dormant.

But after experiencing it, they had been cast down from the clouds once again.

For the extreme Uchiha, that was the greatest spark.