Then That's the One—

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tejima Shinichi's calm, unreadable face and sighed inwardly.

He could naturally see the undisguised distance and indifference beneath the boy's seemingly respectful exterior.

Clearly, Tejima Shinichi had long anticipated that today's matter would ultimately be handled so lightly. Perhaps... he had long since stopped expecting anything.

Such composure and insight into the ways of the world, appearing in a mere boy, left Sarutobi Hiruzen with complicated feelings.

He understood that if he could not provide a substantive explanation now, this highly promising young sapling's trust in the village—and in him as Hokage—would suffer greatly.

"Shinichi," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a hint of a sigh, breaking the silence. "What happened today gave you quite a scare."

Tejima Shinichi gave a slight bow, his tone so flat that no emotion could be heard in it. "Serving the village is my duty."

The answer was proper, yet it carried an impersonal coldness.

At that moment, Yamato, standing to the side, could not help speaking up, his voice urgent. "Hokage! Elder Danzo, he—"

"Yamato." Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand, cutting him off. "I have my own considerations."

Yamato's lips moved, but in the end, he swallowed his words. Only his tightly clenched fists revealed his inner turmoil.

He cast a worried glance at his disciple beside him, afraid that this "grievance" would chill Tejima Shinichi's heart.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took in both of their reactions, and his gaze returned to Tejima Shinichi.

Seeing Tejima Shinichi's calm expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen instead felt a trace of guilt well up within him.

"What happened today was indeed the village's failure toward you," Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured him again, then changed the subject. "Yamato said your attainments in Water Release and Earth Release are exceptional. That reminded me of an old acquaintance."

Tejima Shinichi looked up at him, unsure what Sarutobi Hiruzen meant.

"He was my teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama." After a moment of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "He devoted his life to studying ninjutsu and created countless secret techniques."

"The village has wronged a ninja loyal to it, and it should naturally offer compensation."

"Since you suffered this injustice today, the village should compensate you. Given your talent and potential, I have decided to make an exception and permit you to learn one Water Release Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals."

At those words, a gleam immediately flashed through Tejima Shinichi's eyes.

A Water Release Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals... now that was something.

Although the Water Release Ninjutsu within the Scroll of Seals might not be as rare as space-time techniques such as the Flying Thunder God, how could anything personally included by the Second Hokage possibly be ordinary!?

Advanced ninjutsu such as Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade might not have reached the officially designated S-rank, but its combat power was absolutely not to be underestimated.

After all, they were the essence of the Second Hokage's lifelong mastery of Water Release.

Yamato could not help exclaiming from the side, "Hokage, you're actually allowing Shinichi to learn a technique from the Scroll of Seals?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a slight nod. Seeing the light rekindled in Tejima Shinichi's eyes, the knot in his heart eased somewhat.

"This is the compensation Shinichi deserves."

And this compensation had been the right choice.

This child's heart had not gone completely cold after all.

"Judging by your reaction, you understand the significance of the Scroll of Seals." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in the tone of an elder instructing a junior. "None of the techniques inside are ordinary. Be cautious when choosing, diligent when practicing, and even more mindful of restraint when using them."

Having said that, he spoke no further and raised a hand, making a simple gesture toward the air.

An Anbu figure wearing a cat mask appeared silently in the center of the office and dropped to one knee.

"Hokage."

"Take him to the Storage Vault of the Scroll of Seals. Follow the order."

"Yes!"

The Anbu ninja rose upon receiving the order and gestured for Tejima Shinichi to proceed.

Seeing this, Tejima Shinichi solemnly bowed to Sarutobi Hiruzen once more. "Thank you, Hokage!"

Then he turned and followed the Anbu ninja.

The Anbu ninja led Tejima Shinichi to a large door.

After coordinating with the guards, the doors opened, revealing a secret chamber.

"You have one hour." The guiding Anbu's voice was utterly flat. "You may only select the Water Release Ninjutsu authorized by the Hokage. You are not permitted to read any other content. We will supervise you here."

Tejima Shinichi nodded and stepped inside.

The Scroll of Seals lay open in silence atop a stone platform in the center of the chamber.

He stepped forward, his gaze falling upon the writing.

Flying Thunder God, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Reaper Death Seal... one forbidden technique after another, names he had only heard in legend, passed before his eyes. Each represented the pinnacle of power and danger, making his heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.

His gaze continued downward.

When he turned to a certain page, his breath suddenly caught.

[Wood Release Ninjutsu]

Those four words instantly seized all his attention.

An overwhelming desire nearly crushed his reason, urging him to claim it for himself at once.

But in the end, Tejima Shinichi merely took a deep breath and forcibly looked away.

Endure it, he warned himself. Now isn't the time. At the very least... I have to wait until that woman becomes Hokage.

He no longer lingered and quickly flipped back to the Water Release Ninjutsu section. His eyes swept across several techniques—Water Severing Wave, Instant Water, Heavenly Cry... before finally settling on "Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade."

He needed a powerful technique capable of delivering a decisive blow and determining the outcome of a battle. It could make up for the weakness in his current ninjutsu arsenal: his lack of a move that could secure victory in a single strike.

Granted, he possessed Water, Earth, and Wind affinities. He had even begun exploring the nature transformation of the Rasengan, attempting to recreate Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

But that was ultimately a distant and uncertain step.

Even if he succeeded, his current physique would not allow him to throw it safely like Naruto would in the future. It would be no different from a double-edged sword that harmed both enemy and wielder.

Before he could develop a safer and more refined trump card, he urgently needed a ready-made ultimate technique with sufficient power—one he could reliably control.

And the S-rank Water Release technique left behind by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—Hard Vortex Water Blade—was precisely such a choice.

It compressed an immense amount of Water Release Chakra to the absolute limit, condensing it into a torrential spear that pierced through everything, possessing unparalleled single-target destructive power.

This was the most crucial missing piece in his current tactical arsenal.

"This is the one. Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade."

The supervising Anbu stepped forward and skillfully copied the training-scroll section for "Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade," sealing it into a smaller scroll before handing it to him.

Tejima Shinichi accepted the scroll. It felt slightly heavy in his hand.

Yet when he turned to leave the secret chamber, a trace of regret still rose in his heart.

Too bad it's only Water Release... in the end, it's still...