Hagoromo reached the door and glanced at the two bugs still loitering behind him. Then he raised a hand and knocked on the office door.
"Come in." An aged but powerful voice came from inside.
Hearing the response, Hagoromo opened the door and went straight in. A figure wearing a ceremonial robe embroidered with the words "Third Hokage" stood before the window.
Only upon hearing the door open did he turn around.
Hagoromo hurriedly straightened his posture and said with a look of respect, "Lord Third!"
"Hagoromo, it's you. Come over."
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was already in his sixties, and the wrinkles and age spots on his face were quite pronounced. The look in his eyes, however, was still full of authority.
But when he saw Hagoromo, he put aside his Hokage demeanor and greeted him kindly, more like a grandfather from next door.
Hagoromo's expression did not change in the slightest. He looked like a young man who truly admired the Third.
He walked briskly over to the Third.
"Lord Third, what did you need me for when you're so busy?"
Hagoromo came to the window and first glanced at the students running out of the school gates one after another. Only then did he turn to the Third Hokage and ask.
"Hagoromo, how does it feel to be in charge of a class for the first time?"
The Third did not answer Hagoromo's question. Instead, he continued looking toward the playground as he spoke to him.
"There's a bit of pressure, but fortunately the students are all well-behaved. I'll do my very best to teach them."
Hagoromo could not quite tell what the Third wanted, so he could only respond with great humility.
"Good. I've been watching your performance these past few years. You've always been a good kid."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was very satisfied with Hagoromo's answer. After all, whether it was the reports from the people he had arranged or what he had observed through his crystal ball,
Hagoromo, a previously unremarkable Chunin, had indeed done just as he had said.
"Thank you for the praise, Lord Third. I'll work even harder!"
Hagoromo put on the attitude a passionate young man ought to have and responded energetically.
Seeing Hagoromo's sincere expression, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had seen countless things, could not help nodding in satisfaction.
It seemed he had done a fine job of spreading the Will of Fire. Going forward, he could also bring Hagoromo further into the Hokage faction's circle.
"I called you here this time not only to express your attitude toward teaching, but also because there's something I'd like you to do."
Only after Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that their conversation had achieved his desired result did he reveal the real reason he had called Hagoromo here today.
"Please give me your orders, Lord Third. I'll do everything in my power!"
Hagoromo hurriedly lowered his head slightly and responded with great respect.
Wasn't everything he had done since entering the room meant to find out what the Third wanted?
"Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. That fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout once again."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke the words he had said before his death in the original story. The bearing of someone long accustomed to power had left his eyes; instead, he seemed like an ordinary old man.
Standing beside him, Hagoromo did not interrupt. After all, he knew that what came next was the real reason Hiruzen Sarutobi had summoned him.
"Hagoromo, these children are like new leaves. It isn't only their studies that need guidance."
"Their living environment and healthy upbringing are even more important things I want to ensure as Hokage."
When Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he turned his gaze from the playground to Hagoromo.
With a solemn expression, he said, "There's a boy named Naruto Uzumaki in your class this year. You know him, don't you?"
Hearing this, Hagoromo hurriedly raised his head. "Yes, Lord Third."
"What do you think of the boy?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and continued his questioning.
"He's a very good boy. He's well-behaved and pays close attention in class."
As if searching his memory, Hagoromo paused for quite a while before looking at the Third and answering.
"I imagine you've also heard the rumors about this child."
After saying that, the Third Hokage fell silent.
Damn it, was that something an ordinary little Chunin who only taught at the Ninja Academy could answer?
Hearing the Third's question, Hagoromo almost lost his composure!
His thoughts raced as he considered how to answer the Third's question.
"Yes, Lord Third. But all I know is that Naruto Uzumaki is my student now, and I only need to fulfill my responsibilities as his teacher."
Hagoromo recalled what he had said to Iruka yesterday. The Third had most likely learned of his answer then.
Otherwise, he would not have brought up the subject in front of Hagoromo again. That was why Hagoromo hurriedly gave that answer.
"Very good." The Third Hokage was very satisfied with Hagoromo's answer, even though he had already learned of it yesterday.
Even so, hearing that answer again now left him very satisfied.
"If every teacher were like you, I wouldn't have to worry about the upbringing of the village's children."
Old geezer! Do you hear yourself?
It was a good thing there was no one else around. If Hagoromo dared respond to that and word got out later,
he would simply be asking for trouble.
Perhaps realizing he had misspoken for a moment, the Third did not linger on the subject. He raised a hand and pointed toward the playground nearby.
Hagoromo looked in the direction the Third Hokage was pointing. It was that same swing, and Naruto was sitting there, swinging back and forth.
Though he was far away, Hagoromo could still see the expression on Naruto's face.
Naruto was gazing enviously at the parents who had come to pick up their children from school.
The constant calls and the warm atmosphere left Naruto, who had been looking on with envy, feeling somewhat dejected.
Even though he was alone on the playground now, he could still clearly sense the indifferent gazes of some of the parents who occasionally came to pick up their children.
"Hagoromo, I hope that from now on, you'll not only do your best for Naruto in his studies, but also pay more attention to his living situation."
The Third looked at Naruto's solitary figure on the playground, a rare trace of guilt appearing in his eyes.
Hagoromo, who had already been watching him, noticed it immediately. He then discreetly looked away and turned back toward the playground.
At the same time, he asked in a puzzled voice:
"Lord Third, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Although he had a guess, Hagoromo still thought it would be better to ask for clarification.
This concerned the Nine-Tails, the center of a whirlpool. No matter how eager he was,
he could not neglect the necessary caution. After all, Root and Danzo's earlier moves were still fresh in his mind.
"The boy didn't eat at noon. He slept alone on the rooftop. I hope you can help him with his midday meal from now on."
After speaking, the Third Hokage turned back to Hagoromo.
His eyes fixed on the young man before him, who was only about seventeen.