That night, in the Hokage's Office.
The dim room was filled with smoke.
After listening to Morino Ibiki's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi, known for his composure, wore an expression that barely concealed his shock.
As the Professor of Ninjutsu, he naturally understood how terrifyingly difficult that genjutsu was.
Naruto was a genjutsu prodigy?
Even Sasuke, the Uchiha clan's sole survivor, had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan?
He was only twelve, wasn't he?
He took two deep drags from his pipe, intending to calm the turmoil in his heart, but the pungent smoke made him cough outright.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was worthy of being the Third Hokage. Having weathered countless trials, his acting was impeccable. After only two sharp coughs, he immediately recovered and asked without changing expression.
"Is that all?"
"Lord Hokage, that's all."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and instructed him.
"Mm. You may leave first."
"Yes."
Although the man had already left, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained lost in thought.
Naruto. Sasuke.
They had actually given Konoha such a surprise at a time like this.
That was true. The other great nations had long begun training troops and preparing for war. Konoha should have new talents emerging as well.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly recalled something.
It had been ten years ago, when Naruto was still little.
Three days after he taught Naruto how to refine Chakra, Naruto had learned the Transformation Jutsu on his own and had even fooled the Anbu assigned to protect him.
Back then, he had seen that Naruto was a genius, but Naruto's later performance had failed to meet a genius's expectations.
Naruto had loved playing pranks as a child, and Hiruzen had assumed he was merely mischievous.
But looking at it now, there had to have been another reason.
Otherwise, why had Naruto