In the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Fugaku ate snacks and drank tea, chatting pleasantly as they looked through the blinds at the center of the training ground.
The Third took a sip of tea and remarked, "Uchiha Mai, Obito, Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai... they are all very talented children.
"Mai and Asuma aside, I have also seen Obito's report card. His theoretical knowledge is a complete mess, while his practical skills are above average. What is strange is that after spending some time on any category of practical training, his level improves significantly.
"This performance is remarkably similar to Jiraiya's back then. He may seem like rotten wood that cannot be carved, but he is actually a very promising ninja. His future is bright."
"He is merely an ordinary child. He does not deserve such exaggerated praise from Lord Hokage," Fugaku said modestly, though he was panicking inside.
What did it mean for the Hokage Faction to praise a young Uchiha as promising? Was it sincere praise, or a warning?
Fugaku believed it was the latter. That little bastard Mai had been beating up Asuma far too often lately. The old man probably could not save face anymore.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, set down his teacup, and continued his assessment. "That little girl Kurenai inherited Shinku's exceptional talent for genjutsu. She, too, will become an outstanding ninja in the future.
"Although Rin Nohara and Might Guy are only moderately talented, they are both quite good among civilian ninjas. The latter especially is inspiring enough to be held up as a model for Konoha.
"They are all good children, and they all have bright futures."
The world was not all about fighting and killing; it was about connections and social graces.
Konoha currently had more and more civilian ninjas, and geniuses like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Master Minato had emerged one after another. Winning the people's support was essential.
Why keep Rin Nohara and Might Guy? Those who understood, understood. It was politics—nothing shameful about it.
The Third abruptly changed the subject. "However, as Konoha's ninjas, talent alone is not enough. They must also understand the Will of Fire.
"Back then, Lord Tobirama and I went to the Land of Lightning to sign a peace treaty. Unexpectedly, we were ambushed by the rebellious Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and were once forced into a desperate situation.
"Seeing that dozens of Konoha's core forces were about to die in the Land of Lightning, Lord Tobirama spoke. He asked, 'Who is willing to die with me and serve as bait to hold back Kinkaku and Ginkaku?'
"Everyone hesitated for a moment. Only I stepped forward without a second thought. Everyone knows how it ended.
"Lord Tobirama personally appointed me Konoha's Third, then generously went to his death and bought precious time for the main force to retreat.
"At the time, I was not the most outstanding among us. Danzo was also Lord Tobirama's disciple, and his strength surpassed mine somewhat back then.
"Why did Lord Tobirama personally appoint me as the Third? Because I had comprehended the Will of Fire."
Those in power had to establish their own legitimacy. Sarutobi Hiruzen's legitimacy was that he had stepped forward and declared that he would die alongside Senju Tobirama.
Over the years, the Third brought up this matter whenever he had the chance, then went on about the Will of Fire.
In truth, no one could clearly explain what exactly the Will of Fire was, or give it a concrete definition.
Sometimes it meant selflessness. Sometimes it meant sacrificing the small self to preserve the greater whole. Sometimes it meant preserving the spark of hope...
Such a vague definition was extremely advantageous to Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage. Because it was vague, the Hokage could interpret it according to his mood and needs.
The final authority to interpret the Will of Fire rested with the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage's spirit of sacrifice is worthy of every one of us learning from," Fugaku said, clapping enthusiastically as he flattered the Third's puffed-up ego.
When the straight man set up a punchline, the foil had to play along.
"It was merely the choice that anyone who had comprehended the Will of Fire would make."
Sarutobi Hiruzen modestly waved his hand, casually casting those who had not stepped forward back then—Danzo, Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the rest—to the opposite side of the Will of Fire.
What a masterful punch!
After a round of self-aggrandizement to reinforce his legitimacy, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally returned to the main subject. "Therefore, I am quite curious.
"Only two people can join Minato's team. The other four will all be eliminated.
"When faced with this situation, who will be the first to comprehend the Will of Fire, step forward, and voluntarily withdraw to fulfill the others?"
Here it came, here it came—the classic Konoha routine, the little test during team assignments!
A test certainly did not have to be limited to snatching bells.
"It will definitely be your son, Asuma!"
Fugaku laid on another dose of flattery. "Lord Hokage, your understanding of the Will of Fire is beyond our reach.
"As your son, Asuma has surely developed a profound understanding of the Will of Fire through constant exposure to your teachings.
"Although he bullies classmates, collects protection money, skips class, pranks teachers, and smokes at school, I believe he is a good child.
"When the right time comes, he will make the right choice."
Hilarious. What even was the Will of Fire? Sarutobi Hiruzen had defined it himself, so of course his understanding was profound.
The Uchiha had always been a thorn in the Hokage Faction's side, while Danzo's group of assholes kept pushing the theory that the Uchiha were a threat.
Fugaku, as clan head, truly lived an exhausting life. Flattering the Third was part of his daily routine. Calling it sycophancy might be a stretch, but he was certainly bending over backward to please him.
"Not necessarily."
That's what I thought.
The Third tossed out a classic line from the King of Duelists and smiled. "It is not impossible that Uchiha Mai will be the first to step forward.
"I hear that he is close with Might Guy and Yuhi Kurenai, and Obito is his clansman.
"Isn't it said that the Uchiha are the clan of supreme love? Willingness to sacrifice oneself to fulfill one's friends—that is great love."
"As for Mai, that is indeed possible. No one in the Uchiha treats others more kindly than he does," Fugaku said with a nod.
"Then let us wait and see," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile.
At the center of the training ground, everyone froze upon hearing Namikaze Minato's words.
What did he mean? Only two people could pass, while everyone else would be eliminated? Wasn't that elimination rate far too high?
If they were eliminated, would not all their years of effort have been wasted?
Uchiha Mai calculated rapidly. That only two people could join Master Minato's team was probably true. But whether the four eliminated people would be unable to become ninjas was questionable.
Konoha had always loved playing tricks on children.
Setting aside theoretical knowledge, even Rin Nohara, the weakest of the six in terms of combat ability, was quite outstanding among civilian ninjas.
Even if she could not join an elite team, she would not be sent back.
Moreover, the Ninja World was currently fraught with undercurrents. Every major hidden village was engaged in an arms race, so there was even less chance they would prevent someone skilled enough from becoming a ninja.
The real situation was nowhere near as cruel as Master Minato had described.
Then it was necessary to stand out in this game and join Master Minato's team—and there was no need to feel any psychological burden about it.
Before you continue