Rules and Fate

That afternoon, Katsuo was summoned to the Hokage Office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a drag from his pipe and looked at him.

"Are you sure you've thought this through? I don't approve of you graduating so soon. There's still a lot you need to learn."

"My mind is made up." Katsuo looked at him.

"You stubborn brat!"

The Third Hokage helplessly cursed as he tapped the ash from his pipe.

Then, he took a Konoha forehead protector from his desk drawer and held it out to Katsuo.

Katsuo reached out and accepted it. Looking at the slightly worn forehead protector, he glanced at the Third Hokage in confusion.

"Hiruzen, that's your forehead protector... You actually gave it to him!"

Utatane Koharu, the Hokage Advisor and secretary beside him, exclaimed.

"Hmph, looks like you think highly of this brat!" the other Advisor, Mitokado Homura, said.

Katsuo looked at the two of them, then at the Third Hokage, his expression somewhat complicated...

Heh! Do they really think I'm some clueless little brat?

Katsuo sneered inwardly. He was certain that there were at least a dozen of those deliberately weathered forehead protectors under that desk!

Watching the three theatrical old men perform, Katsuo did not feel any disgust. He found it amusing, yet also deeply moved... The Konoha higher-ups' brainwashing techniques had truly reached perfection!

Since the three old actors were putting on such an earnest performance, he could not remain unmoved.

He raised a hand and gently stroked the "worn" forehead protector, a glimmer of tender moisture in his eyes, before carefully tying it around his forehead.

Everything was understood without words!

Seeing his expression and movements, the three of them became completely certain that he was another inheritor of the Will of Fire!

This child can be put to use!

The three of them thought the same thing without prior agreement.

"I want to take the Chunin Exams in ten days."

Katsuo suddenly spoke, his words simple and direct.

"No!"

The three were initially stunned, but Utatane Koharu immediately refused.

"Your mission record is zero. You are not qualified to become a Chunin yet!"

Katsuo crossed his arms over his chest and eyed her sideways.

"Konoha has no relevant regulations on this. A Genin does not need to provide a mission record to advance to Chunin, nor are there any specific mandatory requirements. At least... there are no written rules on this at present."

"..."

The two Advisors had nothing to say. Katsuo's words were airtight; Konoha indeed had no such regulation yet.

After saying that, he looked at the Third Hokage and smiled.

"Isn't that right, Third Hokage?"

"Looks like you came prepared! Very confident, are you?" The Third Hokage smiled as well.

"Of course."

Katsuo tilted his chin up and answered calmly.

What an arrogant brat!

Utatane Koharu felt slightly displeased. She thought the boy before her was being rather conceited.

"!!!"

"Heh... I hope you truly have what it takes!"

The Third Hokage gazed into his eyes and smiled. He did not dislike this sort of headstrong youthful arrogance.

The moment he said those words, he had effectively approved Katsuo's application for the Chunin Exams!

"As you wish."

Katsuo said this as he turned and left.

"Hiruzen! This is against the rules..." Mitokado Homura said solemnly.

Leaning back in his chair, the Third Hokage stretched lazily.

"Konoha truly hasn't finalized any rules in that regard yet."

"Then..." Utatane Koharu spoke up, her meaning obvious.

"Let's issue a written regulation after this round of the Chunin Exams. Don't let that little fellow look down on us..." The Third Hokage said with a smile.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both rolled their eyes at him, but they did not raise any further objections.

The moment Katsuo walked out of the Hokage Building, he spotted Old Duy in surprise!

At that moment, Might Duy was bowing repeatedly to the Hokage guards at the entrance while pleading.

"Please, let me see Lord Hokage one more time!"

"Go home. The Third Hokage already knows about your request, but rules are rules. The Second Hokage set this rule, and even the Third Hokage cannot change it so easily. The Third Hokage already made an exception by allowing you to become a Genin... Don't make things difficult for him anymore!"

The guard sighed helplessly.

Katsuo heard their conversation and immediately walked over to Old Duy.

"What happened, Brother Dai?"

Old Duy was visibly stunned when he saw Katsuo coming out of the Hokage Building.

"Little brother! Why are you here? And that thing on your head!!!"

He pointed at Katsuo's forehead protector in astonishment.

"I just graduated... I'm a Genin now."

"Really? Congratulations!"

Might Duy's face was full of joy. Now that Katsuo had successfully become a ninja, he was probably even happier than Katsuo himself...

"Why are you here, Brother Dai? And why do you want to see the Third Hokage?"

Hearing Katsuo address the Third Hokage so directly, the guard at the entrance immediately showed his displeasure.

"You should talk some sense into him. He can't even use the Three Body Technique and only knows taijutsu. The Third Hokage already showed him great leniency by letting a dead last like him become a ninja, yet he still wants to take the Chunin Exams... Konoha has a written rule that those without talent for ninjutsu are not allowed to advance to Chunin. This is a rule set by the Second Hokage!"

"!!!"

"Because of this?"

Katsuo looked at Might Duy in surprise. Recalling the Original Work, Might Duy really had been a lifelong Genin.

Might Duy nodded dejectedly, looking especially despondent!

"..."

Seeing him like this, Katsuo silently turned around and headed back the way he had come. He was going to reason things out with the Third Hokage!

The guard did not stop Katsuo from going upstairs. After all, he had just come down from there.

Walking through the corridor, Katsuo clenched his fists. He had originally wanted to find Might Duy, tell him about the side effects of that medicinal wine, and persuade him to stop drinking it.

But now, he abandoned that thought.

No one has it easy. This is the sorrow of little people!

Katsuo sighed inwardly. Perhaps Might Duy already knew about the medicinal wine's side effects, but he truly had no other choice.

Unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu, if he could no longer rely on taijutsu either, could he still be considered a ninja?

The ninja world had no place for the weak, and Konoha was no exception. Medicinal wine and hard work were the foundations of Might Duy's strength. The two depended on each other; neither could be spared.

When he arrived outside the office, Katsuo instinctively wanted to kick the door in, but he forcibly stopped himself halfway through raising his foot!

He did not yet have the right to break down that door. His strength was not enough to support him doing something like that.

He secretly gritted his teeth, adjusted his state of mind slightly, and then pushed the door open.

Seeing Katsuo return, the Third Hokage revealed a puzzled expression.

Before he could ask anything, Katsuo coldly demanded, "Why can't Might Duy advance to Chunin? You should know that his strength isn't weak."