Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window of the Hokage's office, gazing expressionlessly at the bustling streets of Konoha below.
He had already put Kakashi's proposal from earlier out of his mind.
Adopt Tsunade's Medical Ninja system?
Tsunade and Kakashi were worlds apart. The difference between them went far beyond her title as one of the "Legendary Sannin."
Kakashi was one of Konoha's top jōnin, but he could never have come up with a proposal of that caliber. It simply wasn't his style.
He hadn't suggested anything like this in all the time he'd been here.
Hiruzen was nearly certain that Kakashi's sudden proposal to reform the system today had everything to do with this morning's survival exercise.
"Surpass the Fourth Hokage?"
Hiruzen quietly repeated Kakashi's assessment of Naruto. His gaze unconsciously lifted, passing over the entire village before settling on Minato Namikaze's statue at Kage Rock.
Just a few days ago, Naruto had been a child who only knew how to play pranks by painting on the faces of the past Hokage.
He was loud and disruptive, ranked last in his class, believed in the Will of Fire, and took pride in wanting to become Hokage.
At the time, he hadn't looked at all like someone who could become Hokage.
But in the blink of an eye, Naruto had not only suddenly matured, he had even defeated Uchiha Sasuke, the top student in his year, and Mizuki, a Chunin instructor, with ease...
Hiruzen didn't resent Naruto growing stronger.
After all, he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the village's "human weapon." If he could fully control the power of the Tailed Beast in the future, it would only benefit Konoha.
The stronger Naruto became, the safer the village would be.
But he absolutely couldn't stray from the right path. The Will of Fire had to become an ideal he believed in.
Becoming Hokage had to remain Naruto's only goal.
If he stopped using his strength for the village and even started having ideas of his own, that would be the most dangerous thing of all.
Before long, an Anbu wearing an animal-patterned mask appeared in the office. He had been secretly watching Naruto.
He knelt on one knee and gave a detailed report on everything that had just happened at Training Ground Three.
Hiruzen listened in silence, his expression unchanged. Every so often, he lightly tapped the windowsill with a finger. When the report was over, he waved for the Anbu to leave.
"Power is a double-edged sword..." Hiruzen murmured, putting particular emphasis on the last few words. "Especially the power of the Nine-Tails. A Jinchuriki who's too powerful and thinks too much... is unacceptable."
Hiruzen still felt the Anbu had exaggerated a little. He turned and walked back to his desk, then placed his right hand on the crystal ball and slowly infused it with Chakra.
The image inside shifted rapidly before finally resolving into a clear view of Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto was walking out of Ichiraku Ramen Shop, patting his stomach with a thoroughly satisfied look.
Then he turned and naturally headed in the direction of the Hyuga Clan Compound.
"Going to see that little girl from the Hyuga Clan again?"
Watching the scene in the crystal ball, Hiruzen's lips curved slightly.
He was still just a boy, after all.
It seemed the Jinchuriki was still under control.
At that thought, Hiruzen relaxed a little and leaned back in his chair, continuing to watch.
Meanwhile, on a street in Konoha.
Naruto was indeed heading toward the Hyuga Clan Compound, but he wasn't going out of his way to see Hinata. He simply needed to walk while thinking about a few things.
Without realizing it, he'd gotten into the habit of heading this way.
As he walked, Naruto suddenly paused, as if he'd sensed something, and gave an exasperated shrug.
"The Third Hokage's watching me with his crystal ball again... Whatever. Neji should be around here about now."
Naruto had long since gotten used to the Anbu and the Third Hokage's constant surveillance. He didn't pay it much attention and kept walking.
Sure enough, at the next corner, a familiar figure appeared.
It was Neji Hyuga.
He wore a Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector. His pale eyes always conveyed a cold detachment, and his right arm and leg were wrapped in white bandages.
If this had been the old Naruto, who'd been in a hurry to reconcile Neji Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi,
he might have rushed over to greet him.
Then he would have launched into all sorts of explanations, like telling him there was more to what had happened to his father, and that it wasn't the way he thought.
But this time, Naruto wasn't in a hurry. Just like when he'd first met Kakashi, he'd be content to simply get acquainted.
So Naruto kept walking. Just as the two were about to pass each other, he stopped and said in an ordinary tone, "Hello."
Neji had clearly noticed Naruto and recognized him, too. His brow furrowed slightly.
Of course, he'd heard about Naruto's reputation, especially over the past few days.
Quite a few people in the Branch Family were saying that one night, the troublemaking Naruto Uzumaki had actually eaten dinner with the Main Family's eldest daughter, Hinata, and walked her home.
Neji had been taught from childhood that, as a member of the Branch Family, he had to protect the Main Family.
Lady Hinata was especially important.
So the moment he saw Naruto, Neji was about to speak, intending to warn him to stay away from Hinata.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. This is more or less our first time meeting. I'm not talking to you for any other reason—I just wanted to get acquainted ahead of time. We'll meet again soon, during the Chunin Ninja Exams, if not before. See you!"
With that, Naruto didn't give Neji a chance to respond. He turned around briskly and continued on his way.
Neji stood there, utterly stunned, watching Naruto walk away. For a moment, he couldn't react.
What was with that guy?
Although he'd spoken with Naruto just two days earlier, and Naruto's behavior a moment ago had put Hiruzen somewhat at ease, Hiruzen still planned to check things out for himself based on the Anbu's report.
So, just as Naruto was thinking of a brilliant way to break the Caged Bird seal while walking down the street, the Third Hokage appeared before him again.
This had never happened in any of Naruto's previous cycles.
Naruto wondered to himself if the subtle change of suggesting to Kakashi that he recommend reforms to the Third Hokage was what had caused all the subsequent changes.
Whatever. That wasn't important. He'd see what the other man had to say first.
Hiruzen walked over at an unhurried pace, wearing his usual kindly smile.
"Naruto, I hear you did well today. Kakashi thinks highly of you," Hiruzen said warmly, as if bringing it up in passing. "He even said you have the potential to... surpass the Fourth Hokage."
"Teacher Kakashi is too kind." Naruto scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "I was just lucky."
"Luck is part of strength." The Third Hokage smiled faintly, his gaze faraway. "What matters is... always remembering the Will of Fire and protecting the village."
"Yes! I'll keep working hard, Grandpa Hokage!"
Though that was his response, Naruto was more or less getting tired of it.
After countless cycles, Naruto had already become Hokage. Naturally, he no longer had any desire to become Hokage or earn people's approval.
"Good."
Having confirmed his suspicions, Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "All right, I still have official business to take care of, so I'll be going. You'll start carrying out missions officially tomorrow. Keep up the good work."
"Take care, Grandpa Hokage!" Naruto said respectfully.
Only after the Third Hokage had disappeared completely at the end of the corridor did the smile on Naruto's face slowly fade.
Before you continue