Meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi (Part 2)

For Zhang Miao now, acting childish had become second nature. He could slip into it at will, without the slightest hesitation.

After all, children could say anything without consequence!

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi coughing violently, Zhang Miao immediately smiled and waved at him, then winked.

"Oh my, Third Elder, don't cough like that. You're making it look like you have a guilty conscience. Actually, I like pretty big sisters too. We're both men, you know? I get it!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

What the hell did you get?

Watching Zhang Miao wiggle his eyebrows at him, Hiruzen Sarutobi could neither laugh nor cry.

After taking a deep breath, he showed a wistful expression.

"Nightingale reported to me that you were a genius. At first, I didn't believe it, but now I do!"

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi mentioned Nightingale, Zhang Miao's face darkened. But it lasted only an instant before he returned to normal and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi with a smile.

"Third Elder, is the Nightingale you mentioned that purple-haired big sister? Can you tell me her name?"

Zhang Miao thought he had concealed it well, but he did not know that Hiruzen Sarutobi had caught that fleeting expression perfectly.

Seeing the instant change in Zhang Miao's expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank slightly.

"I don't know whether Kakashi told him, but judging from his expression, he probably already knows that Nightingale is dead. Yet this reaction is nothing like that of an ordinary child. Kushina was right—there really is darkness in this child's heart!"

With that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Zhang Miao again, his gaze full of seriousness.

"Ryunosuke, tell me, what is your dream?"

Asking about dreams was Hiruzen Sarutobi's usual method, because he believed that one could see many things from a person's aspirations.

But Zhang Miao was displeased.

What the hell? I came here to ask about Nightingale's identity. Fine if you won't tell me, but now you want to talk to me about life goals?

"Since you want to ramble on, I'll feed you some nonsense!"

With that thought, Zhang Miao put on a contemplative expression. After about two or three minutes, he seemed to have finally made up his mind and raised his head to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Third Elder, I've thought it through. My dream is to revive our Uzumaki Clan!"

"Revive your own clan?" Hearing Zhang Miao's answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately nodded.

Many clans in the ninja world rose quickly and declined just as quickly, so wanting to revive one's own clan was a fairly normal answer.

But compared to those children who shouted about becoming Hokage, Zhang Miao's answer seemed far too mature. So Hiruzen Sarutobi continued questioning him.

"Then what method do you plan to use to revive your clan?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had originally thought this question would stump Zhang Miao. After all, it was already good enough for a child to have a goal—how could he possibly think that far ahead?

But something unexpected happened again. The moment his words fell, Zhang Miao nodded once more.

"I've already thought about that. I've decided to find eighteen concubines and have a hundred children. I'll strive to completely revive the Uzumaki Clan within three generations. Of course, I know this task will be arduous, and the future will be difficult, but for the sake of reviving my clan, I can endure this hardship!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Kakashi: "..."

Damn it, we can endure that kind of hardship too!

Seeing Zhang Miao's expression of "self-sacrifice for a righteous cause," Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face twitched several times.

"Have you never considered becoming Hokage? Becoming Hokage can revive your clan too!"

Clearly, Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to guide Zhang Miao back onto the "right path," but unfortunately, as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Miao shook his head without hesitation.

"Being Hokage is impossible. I could never be Hokage in this life. But I can't become a daimyo either, so I can only marry more wives and have more children. That's the only way I can barely revive my clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Kakashi: "..."

Damn it, he even made it sound convincing. I almost believed him!

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized helplessly that he could do nothing about Zhang Miao, so he could only change the subject.

"Then after you revive your clan, what do you plan to do?"

"After reviving my clan?"

Hearing the question, Zhang Miao pondered for another two minutes before looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a serious expression.

"I plan to save the world!"

Hearing Zhang Miao's dream, Hiruzen Sarutobi was so excited that he nearly threw away the pipe in his hand.

This brat finally had a normal dream!

Thinking that, Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his excitement and continued asking Zhang Miao, "Then how do you plan to save the world? Are you going to become an outstanding ninja?"

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, even if Zhang Miao could not become Hokage, it would not betray Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki's trust if he could at least guide him into becoming an outstanding ninja.

But Zhang Miao's answer once again exceeded Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations.

"I plan to save the world with my beauty!"

"Good looks?"

Hearing Zhang Miao's answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned on the spot. Seeing Hiruzen's baffled expression, Zhang Miao nodded again.

"That's right, good looks. I think that if the ninja world is to have peace, the Five Great Nations must first be at peace. I remember that the Fourth Kazekage of the Land of Wind has a daughter named Temari. I've decided to win her over with my good looks, then trade my body for peace between Konoha and Sunagakure!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Get the hell out of here!

If peace could be traded for one's body, I'd have done it long ago. Would we still have needed to fight three ninja world wars?

But the Fourth Kazekage really had a daughter named Temari? How did he know that?

At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face twitched twice.

"I didn't expect you brat to be so well-informed. Even if the Fourth Kazekage has a daughter, what about the Tsuchikage of the Land of Earth?"

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's questioning, Zhang Miao once again wore a confident smile.

"The Third Tsuchikage has a granddaughter named Kurotsuchi. I can conquer her with my good looks too."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, had a son named Kitsuchi, but he truly had no idea that he also had a granddaughter.

As the Hokage of Konoha, how could he have the time to care whether the other Kage had granddaughters?

But how did Zhang Miao know that? And he was planning to conquer her with his good looks too—did he think his looks were money?

At that thought, the corners of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched twice again.

"Fine, let's not talk about the Land of Wind or the Land of Earth for now. What about the Land of Water? As far as I know, the Fourth Mizukage has neither a daughter nor a granddaughter. What do you plan to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought Zhang Miao would be stumped this time, but to his surprise, Zhang Miao burst into laughter as soon as he finished speaking.

"Hahaha, it's fine, don't worry. Ever since the Fourth Mizukage took office, Kirigakure has become the 'Bloody Mist Village,' and internal strife has never stopped within the village. I figure he won't last much longer before he's finished."

As he said this, Zhang Miao winked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I heard that Kirigakure has an older sister named Mei Terumi. Not only does she possess two Kekkei Genkai, but she also has a great reputation within the village. So I think she has a very good chance of becoming the Fifth Mizukage. When that time comes, I'll go conquer her with my good looks."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

Good looks again? Why don't you just fly up to heaven?