"Hokage-sama, I've mastered the Advanced Chakra Refining Technique you taught me."
"My chakra reserves have doubled!"
Cangwu's face lit up with excitement and gratitude.
Acting got easier with practice.
Hearing Cangwu's answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him with even greater approval.
"Cangwu, I have a mission I need to assign you."
"What mission?"
"This mission will be a challenge for you as well... All right, I've already made the arrangements. Take this application form downstairs now."
Cangwu picked up the application form from the desk and took a look.
His expression changed.
[Special Jonin Examination Application Form]
A pillow delivered just when he was getting sleepy?
Still, Cangwu could tell something was off.
He'd only just improved, and now he was being summoned.
Could that old geezer have been watching through the Live Broadcast Artifact when I ate the Glint-Glint Fruit?
Impossible!
If that were the case, the old geezer wouldn't be reacting like this.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
"Yes!"
Cangwu answered, then left the Hokage's office with the application form.
Half an hour later.
Cangwu returned to the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the report.
His aged face broke into a smile as radiant as a chrysanthemum.
"Good, very good!"
"These are some of my notes. Take them home and study them carefully."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
After Cangwu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the report.
Massaging his temples, he murmured,
"I never expected Cangwu's Space-Time Talent to be so strong... He might even learn the Flying Thunder God that my teacher left behind... But there's no need to rush."
"His grasp of the Body Flicker Technique is on par with Shisui's. That's enough for him to serve as a Jonin Instructor despite being a Special Jonin."
"An unexpected delight."
"Still, Kakashi remains the best candidate for Team 7's Jonin Instructor..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood and gazed out at Konoha.
"I'll see how things look in a while. Kakashi's having some health issues."
Then Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up Cangwu's file again.
His conversation with Cangwu from a couple of days earlier came to mind.
'What do you think of Naruto?'
'Are you referring to what happened twelve years ago, Hokage-sama?'
'Hokage-sama, the Nine-Tails is the Nine-Tails, and Naruto is Naruto. At first... I was just like everyone else, taking out my hatred of the Nine-Tails on an innocent child.'
'But as time passed, I came to understand that, having embraced the Will of Fire, I shouldn't act that way.'
'Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. I'm not only a teacher, but also a successor to the Will of Fire. Naruto isn't the Nine-Tails. He's also a tender new sprout in Konoha. I should treat him just like everyone else, help him grow to love this village, and, like me, understand the true meaning of the Will of Fire!'
'...'
All in all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was very pleased with Cangwu's answer.
"Team 7... is a little special, but I think Cangwu can serve as its Jonin Instructor until Kakashi recovers."
The Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still quite confident in his "White Moonlight" plan.
Uchiha Sasuke.
No matter. Uchiha Itachi, that Filial Son, had already taken care of things for Konoha's leadership.
There was no need to worry about him. When the time came, a "Konoha Hero" would appear, and the last Uchiha would return.
If Kakashi became Team 7's Jonin Instructor,
then the Sharingan's usefulness would become clear.
It could control the Jinchuriki, and it could also help the last Uchiha.
"Cangwu doesn't have the Sharingan, but if he learns the Sealing Jutsu in those notes, he'll have no trouble suppressing the Four Symbols Seal inside Naruto."
Meanwhile, after leaving the Hokage's office,
Cangwu glanced through the notes Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him.
He found information about the Four Symbols Seal.
He froze.
There was also information about the Sharingan.
In an instant, Cangwu had a theory.
That old geezer Hiruzen Sarutobi is planning to make me Team 7's Jonin Instructor!
Why?
Cangwu furrowed his brows.
"Congratulations. You've become a Special Jonin."
A cool voice came from behind him.
But when Cangwu turned around, the girl was gone again.
Cangwu shook his head.
No rush. I'll find out in a week.
In the meantime, I'll try to make some progress.
With that, Cangwu headed home.
"Well?"
"Does it feel different?"
Yugao looked at her good friend Anko and answered earnestly, "It really is different from before."
"What about Kurenai?"
Anko ate a dumpling and said crossly, "After I told her, she rushed off. I don't know where she went."
"I thought she was with you."
Yugao took off her Anbu uniform and shook her head. "I'm an Anbu ninja now. Kurenai wouldn't come looking for me at a time like that."
As she spoke, Yugao shot Anko a look.
"Kurenai left in a hurry... Forget it. I'll ask her tomorrow."
Anko had barely finished speaking
when a knock and a cough sounded outside the door.
"Well, that consumptive's here to see you again."
"Bye-bye~!"
Watching Anko leave,
Yugao sighed helplessly.
She went to the door and opened it a crack.
"What is it?"
"Cough, cough... Yugao, I've recently mastered a Sword Technique. I came especially to—"
Before Gekko Hayate could finish, Yugao cut him off.
"I'm tired. Maybe another time."
Gekko Hayate froze where he stood.
Only after Uzuki Yugao shut the door did he come back to his senses.
He gave a bitter laugh. His plan to use this as a chance to get closer to Uzuki Yugao had fallen through too.
Is it because of that Cangwu?
Thinking of the other man's face, Gekko Hayate unconsciously touched his own.
No. Yugao wouldn't be that shallow!
She's different!
She said she was only interested in Sword Technique!
Mm... My swordsmanship must not be good enough yet... I need to work even harder!
"Cough, cough..."
Then Gekko Hayate left amid a fit of coughing.
Uzuki Yugao sat on the sofa, rubbing her temples.
Her thoughts felt tangled.
She went to the bathroom, took off her clothes, and got into the tub, leaving only her head above the water.
Why has he changed so much all of a sudden... Did something happen during this time?
And why did the Third Hokage suddenly make him a Special Jonin... When did he learn that Body Flicker Technique?
One question after another surfaced.
Yugao felt a little vexed.
Normally, whenever she appeared, Cangwu would happily greet her with, "Big Sister Yugao."
She'd appeared in front of Cangwu twice today!
So why hadn't he called her that even once...
Just then, a figure appeared beside Yugao.
Yugao had sensed the other person approaching long ago.
"Did you see him? What did you find out?"
Yugao looked at her other good friend, Yūhi Kurenai.
Yūhi Kurenai shook her head.
"I followed him the whole way..."
After briefly recounting what happened, a strange glimmer appeared deep in Yūhi Kurenai's eyes.
Yugao also told her what had happened after the Third Hokage summoned Cangwu.
The two women looked at each other for a moment, then fell silent.
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga Encampment,
Hinata was curled up under her blanket, sadness still showing on her once-adorable face.
As time passed, the girl's cheeks grew rosy.
What should I do... Teacher Cangwu... He's so wonderful... What if, one day, he and I... How would I face him...?
Before you continue