The Elderly Should Act Their Age

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaningful gaze, Shimura Danzō remained expressionless.

What a joke. He had acted with integrity; he had merely paused for breath while speaking, which had caused the break in his sentence.

"Hokage, Lord Danzo wants to transfer Chiga into Root!"

Kushina was clearly delighted by Hiruzen Sarutobi's appearance.

In Konoha, Shimura Danzō was the most difficult person to get along with, and only Hiruzen Sarutobi could keep him in check.

"Hiruzen, you know this boy is talented. Leaving him at Kushina's side is a waste. If he joins Root and I train him, not only could he become an Elite Jonin for Konoha in the future, but he could also provide better protection."

Danzo did not continue, merely locking eyes with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood what Danzo had left unsaid: better protection for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

But was that truly protection, rather than control?

Hiruzen Sarutobi had always known that Danzo coveted the position of Hokage.

It was an obsession born from a certain choice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could understand it, and he could tolerate it.

But when it came to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not allow Danzo even the slightest chance to interfere.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "No need. I believe Kushina can teach Chiga well."

Just as Danzo was about to continue, two ANBU arrived behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Enough, Danzo. You didn't come to the Hokage Building today to steal someone from Kushina, did you? Whatever it is, come inside and discuss it with me!"

At the sight of the two ANBU, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly cut Shimura Danzō off.

He did not know whether the Nine-Tails would go berserk if Danzo kept talking, but Kushina definitely would.

Seeing this, Shimura Danzō knew it was impossible to bring Chiga into Root in front of Kushina. He could only follow Hiruzen Sarutobi toward the Hokage Building.

Yet before entering the Hokage Building, he still turned back and gave Chiga a look, his eyes filled with determination.

"Stay far away from that man in the future. The hostility around his Root is too heavy!"

After watching the two leave, Kushina ignored the two ANBU behind her and spoke directly to Chiga.

"I understand, Teacher Kushina!"

Chiga nodded, though he felt it would not be that simple.

"By order of the Hokage Building, Kushina, you are to remain under the surveillance of two ANBU at home. Your student will likewise be monitored by one ANBU in his own home."

The lead ANBU stepped forward and said gravely to Kushina, "Please cooperate with our work!"

Kushina did not object. She merely nodded and led Chiga onward while speaking to him.

"Oh, right. Your teacher is a Jonin from the Sealing Team. As my student, you should at least learn a few Sealing Techniques, shouldn't you?"

As she spoke, Kushina took three scrolls from her Ninja Tool Pouch.

She handed them to Chiga and continued, "These three Sealing Ninjutsu are relatively simple ones. I think they'll be enough for you to study for a month."

"Understood, Teacher Kushina."

After thinking for a moment, Chiga reached out and accepted the scrolls Kushina offered him.

When it came to Sealing Techniques, the one Chiga remembered most clearly was the S-rank forbidden Sealing Ninjutsu known as the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

Yet the most awkward one was also the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

When it first appeared, it was said that the sealed person and the caster's souls would forever hate and fight each other within the Shinigami's stomach, never to be reborn.

It sounded terrifying, but during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Orochimaru cut open the Shinigami's belly and released every soul.

It was also one of the least imposing Shinigami.

Of course, Sealing Techniques had their advantages as well.

When dealing with people who could not be killed or Ninjutsu that could not be eliminated, they could be effectively sealed away. They still had practical value.

Seeing Chiga accept them, Kushina added, "Since we still have some time, let me explain these three Sealing Ninjutsu to you."

The three Sealing Techniques Kushina had given Chiga were not particularly difficult.

"The first is the Contract Seal. Earlier, didn't that Rock Shinobi opponent of yours summon a Chunin-level Summoning Beast? When someone summons a tough, thick-skinned Summoning Beast that you can't deal with, you can use the Contract Seal to dispel it."

"The second is the Evil Sealing Method. It isn't very useful in actual combat, but if you want to bring back prisoners of war, this Sealing Technique can effectively seal their Chakra."

"The third is the Two-Sided Seal. It's a simplified version of the Four Symbols Seal, but it's still rather difficult."

As the two talked, they arrived near the Ninja Academy.

Classes had already begun at the Ninja Academy. Just as the two were about to part ways—

"Chiga?"

Hearing this, Chiga turned around and discovered that the one calling him was Uchiha Obito.

Looking at the broom in Obito's hand, Chiga smiled. "Obito, you're late again?"

"Hmph, just thinking about it makes me angry."

Obito immediately said irritably, "I don't know where this old man came from. I saw him using a cane, with bandages around his arm and one blind eye. Out of kindness, I helped him cross the road, but he actually shoved me away! He was even rude about it, saying something like, 'I'm still in my prime. I don't need help from a Uchiha brat like you!'"

"Even then, I didn't hold it against him. I just figured he probably refused to admit he was old, so I enthusiastically went up to support him again. Who would've thought that old man would be so ungrateful? He actually hit me with his cane!"

"A fine young man like me has never been beaten for helping an old person cross the road. I can't believe I broke that record because of that old man. How infuriating!"

"You didn't hit him back?"

Chiga grew a little curious and asked.

From Obito's description, that person was clearly Shimura Danzō.

Chiga had only met Shimura Danzō for the first time today after becoming a ninja. Obito, who had not even become a ninja yet, would have had even less chance to cross paths with Shimura Danzō.

So Chiga believed Obito truly did not know Shimura Danzō.

Obito gave Chiga a surprised look. "He's an old man. How could I treat him like that?"

"But you must have said something, right?"

"Of course. Hitting an old man could easily cause problems, so I simply advised him to act his age. He was already injured so badly; he should stay in the hospital and rest instead of wandering around causing trouble for others. He should learn from the Third Hokage—at such an advanced age, he still worries himself sick over all of Konoha."

"."

Chiga was stunned. How many times had Obito stabbed Danzo with those words? Every strike drew blood.

"Ha ha ha!"

Kushina immediately doubled over with laughter. The anger she had received from Danzo earlier was instantly eased considerably.

Only after hearing Kushina laugh did Obito finally notice the person standing beside Chiga.