The old fox and the young fox

At the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage saw Danzo off with a smile. Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune also regained their senses and, supporting each other, followed Danzo away.

Although he let the two go, the Third Hokage felt that this move was worthwhile and even a huge gain.

Bang! A muffled sound.

The door to the Hokage's Office was slammed shut, causing the entire room to tremble violently.

The Third Hokage sat in his chair with a smile, Danzo from his lips. The louder the door slammed, the angrier Danzo, and the happier Danzo was.

Standing to the side were eight people, the two small teams that the Third Hokage had sent out to wipe out the remnants of the Root.

Team Kakashi didn't achieve much, only capturing Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune alive, but another team wiped out a secret training base of the Root.

Finally, the Third Hokage raised his hand, signaling everyone to leave, "You all go ahead, I need to talk to Tōka."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

With a whoosh, seven figures vanished from the room in Body Flicker Technique.

The office, which was slightly crowded just a moment ago, now only has the Third Hokage sitting in a chair and Tōka dressed casually at the desk.

What are Tōka's plans next?

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, grinning as he stared at Tōka.

Upon hearing this, Tōka would be a fool if he couldn't guess that the Third Hokage had another task for him.

"If it is a mission, please enlighten Lord Hokage." Tōka tried his best to maintain the image left by the White Zetsu Clone in Konoha, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, leaving no room for criticism.

"It's like this, some of the teachers at the Ninja Academy have recently gone on practical training, so we're a bit short-staffed. We'd like you to substitute for them for three days."

As they were talking, the Third Hokage took out a form and handed it to Tōka.

It's a form containing personal information, such as name, gender, age, and preferred Ninjutsu.

Tōka raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at the Third Hokage. Ninja Academy teachers need to participate in practical training? More like brainwashing training!

"Okay, three days of substitute teaching is no problem." Tōka nodded, took the information form, and turned to walk downstairs to the Mission Hall.

Teaching at the Ninja Academy is also considered a mission, and you'll receive a commission in return. The only difference is that the mission is assigned to Konoha.

With a soft click, the door to the Hokage's Office closed again.

The Third Hokage sat back down in his chair, pipe in hand, slowly closed his eyes, leaned back, and looked completely at ease.

The room fell silent instantly, and wisps of White Smoke drifted away through the window with the wind.

Finally, the Third Hokage rubbed his temples and opened his eyes again, his usual kind and gentle demeanor replaced by a deep and serious expression.

"Kakashi, what do you think of Tōka?"

Swish!

As the Third Hokage finished speaking, a dark figure Body Flicker Technique appeared in the room—it was none other than Kakashi, who had returned!

Kakashi didn't leave at all; as the squad leader, he needed to stay behind to report the details of the mission to the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage... well, it's hard to say." Kakashi was taken aback by the question, hesitated for a moment, and replied in a deep voice.

"What missions has Tōka been doing in Konoha all these years?" The Third Hokage asked, his tone a mix of question and answer, though it was clearly a question.

Only the Hokage and he himself knew the mission records of the Konoha Ninja.

Even Kakashi couldn't possibly know such classified information.

Kakashi lowered his eyes and remained silent. He knew that the next Third Hokage would provide the answer and tell him what to do next.

"Class C mission!"

The Third Hokage murky, kind eyes are gone; all that remains is a gaze of wisdom.

"Since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, all the missions Tōka has received in Konoha have been C-rank missions."

Kakashi's expression tightened, as if he had grasped the Third Hokage's meaning.

This operation against Root, though considered the final stage, is definitely not something that can be dismissed as a mere C-level mission.

"Does the Lord Hokage mean that Tōka today is somewhat different from usual?" Kakashi asked in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage chuckled, shook his head, and put the pipe back into his mouth.

Taking a deep breath, the Third Hokage opened his mouth and exhaled a puff of white smoke before slowly saying, "It should be that the Tōka of the past is different from today."

"The Lord Hokage asked Tōka to teach at the Ninja Academy..." Kakashi didn't understand the Third Hokage's intention, as there hadn't been any practical training sessions with the Ninja Academy teachers during this period.

"When facing whom is a ninja least guarded?" The Third Hokage asked with a knowing smile, a pipe dangling from his lips.

He paused for a moment, then gave his answer.

"Of course, this applies when dealing with children who have never seen blood and don't understand cruelty!"

The Konoha Ninja Academy in peacetime is a true ivory tower.

Even a Fox would show a genuine smile when faced with a group of naive kids.

At least, that's how he felt about himself in his Third Hokage.

So, to find out what Tōka's true colors are, we'll have to see how he interacts with these kids.

Ultimately, the Third Hokage generations never trusted Tōka.

A single, fatal blow, a mere drop of blood; Genjutsu cast with effortless ease—such a powerful being shouldn't be lying low like this. The Third Hokage has witnessed far too many people and events.

In other words, in the Third Hokage's view, Tōka has been "too low-key" all these years.

"Should we send someone to keep an eye on them?" Kakashi finally realized what was going on and secretly admired the Third Hokage's wisdom; he would never have thought of so much.

At the same time, Kakashi also felt some sorrow. Although Tōka had become quite distant from everyone over the years, Kakashi still acknowledged this...

One of the few rivals.

"No need. What happened before will happen again. I'm telling you this just so you won't do anything unnecessary."

The Third Hokage emphasized the word "you".

The intention was for Kakashi to remind the other people who could talk to Tōka.

"Yes." Kakashi nodded in agreement.

As Kakashi finished speaking, the Hokage's Office fell into silence once again, this time truly silent.

Outside the Hokage Building, Tōka, who was leaning against the corner of the wall, slowly opened his eyes and released his hand seals to dispel the Jutsu Formula.

"Heh, what a cunning Fox, even using children." Tōka coldly curled the corners of his lips, seemingly unsurprised by such behavior.

In the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War in Konoha 43, when he first arrived in Konoha, wasn't he almost killed by the Third Hokage?

Suddenly, a cold front swept by, and crystal-clear snowflakes fell from the sky with the wind.

Tōka looked up at the sky, wrapped her clothes tighter, and walked towards the familiar street.

Spring will arrive after the winter snow, and with the New Year approaching, the kids at the Ninja Academy are probably taking exams these days.

After the exams, it's time to go home for the Chinese New Year.

"Speaking of which..." Tōka, who Earth Flow quietly down the street after taking off his mask, suddenly remembered the answer he had given to the Fourth Hokage.

"It's time to go see that brat. So many years have passed, he should have popped the balloon by now, right?"

The next morning, Tōka got up early.

Because this was his first day as a teacher, even though he was just a substitute teacher, and he was only supervising a group of kids' final exams.

But as a teacher, one can't be late.

Ninja Academy.

The building was still the same as it had been years ago. Tōka looked at the doorplate and walked upstairs. The familiar corridor seemed to have been renovated.

As I passed a classroom, a noisy commotion entered my ears.

The air of youth radiated from the faces of the group of kids.

"You carefree fools." Tōka stood by the door, peering through the crack into the classroom. Some students were sleeping on their desks, while others were chasing and playing...

Or...

Playing with a dog?

And that one is feeding insects?

"Iruka's class?" Tōka raised an eyebrow. Wasn't that Kiba and Shino the ones teasing the dog and feeding the insects?

Judging from the conversation between the Third Hokage and Kakashi yesterday, being assigned to this class was no coincidence.

Was he testing whether I intended to attack the Nine-Tails- Tails?

Tōka stood at the doorway, squinting, lost in thought. "After all, he's Fox who could completely Danzo. Although he's old, he's only become more cunning and shrewd."

With a soft sigh, Tōka shook off the jumbled thoughts in her mind.

So it really was that idiot White Zetsu Clone who overreacted...?

The Third Hokage didn't lower his guard; rather, he let that fool, the White Zetsu Clone, believe he did. The only good news is that the White Zetsu Clone has been "well-behaved" in Konoha until now!

With a whoosh!

Tōka opened the classroom door.

Dozens of gazes simultaneously turned towards this side, some surprised, some curious, some delighted, some stunned—each with its own unique expression.

None of that is the point. The point is that the noisy classroom fell silent in an instant.

Tōka walked up to the podium without changing his expression, threw a stack of test papers on the lectern, and just as he raised his head to look down and was about to speak.

Wow!!

The quiet classroom suddenly erupted like boiling water, the noisy sounds like rolling thunder, making Tōka's ears ring.

"Hehe..."

A bunch of naughty kids!

Tōka narrowed his eyes slightly, the dangerous aura vanishing in an instant.

Sasuke had been watching Tōka closely from the front row, suddenly woke up. No wonder he looked familiar; this guy was Tōka- senpai, the one that the man kept talking about!

Sasuke immediately lowered his hands from his chin and sat up straight, maintaining a proper posture.

Sakura, who was staring blankly at Sasuke, immediately noticed his change in Sasuke. Following his gaze, she looked towards the lectern.

"Wow, so handsome, no, so beautiful!~" Sakura, whose attention was completely focused on Sasuke, didn't even see Tōka walking into the classroom!

The classroom was so noisy that it was impossible to hear what was being said, but Tōka could read Sakura's lip movements perfectly.

What a nice view?!!

Tōka took a deep breath and silently told herself not to stoop to the level of a brat.

"Quiet!"

The voice wasn't loud, even slightly soft, but the two words Tōka uttered were as clear as Demonic Sound, reaching everyone's ears.

Many people were initially taken aback, but then indicated they didn't care and continued talking to themselves.

However, when she tried to speak again, she suddenly found that the words just wouldn't come out, as if her body had lost control.

"Let me briefly introduce myself. I'm the substitute teacher for you kids these past three days. I'm too lazy to tell you my name."

Tōka's attitude was extremely perfunctory, his slightly raised chin pointing at everyone, his contempt undisguised.

If the previously noisy classroom resembled a vegetable market, then Tōka's expression at this moment was like looking at rotten vegetables with disdain.

Within Tōka's illusion, a group of little ghosts dared not be angry or speak, and were unable to move.

"Next, the exam!" Tōka slammed his hand on the lectern, and with a clever force, the exam papers on the table scattered and flew towards the ceiling.

The exam papers fluttered through the air like nimble swallows, landing precisely on each student's desk.

"The exam has begun!"

As Tōka's low shout fell, everyone felt a sudden lightness in their bodies, as if they had regained control of themselves.

Staring at the exam papers on the table, everyone's minds were still a bit dazed, as if a lump of paste had stuck together.

"What are you all standing there for? Do you all want to get a zero?" Tōka pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of the first row, waving his hands and glancing down.

This is...

Something feels off. Shouldn't a teacher...?

With a click, Tōka set an alarm clock and placed it on the long table in the first row, and the quiet classroom immediately began to chime with the ticking of the clock.

Many students quickly picked up their pens and looked down at their exam papers.

Final exams are no joke; they're related to your New Year's red envelope!

The only one!

A blond-haired kid, chewing on a pen, glared at Tōka with displeasure, seemingly annoyed that Tōka's arrival had ruined his good mood.

With someone staring at him so intently, it was impossible for Tōka not to notice Naruto.

"Hey kid, why are you staring at me? Everyone's taking the exam, why Budong?" Tōka raised an eyebrow at Naruto and asked.

"Hmph, what brat? My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto slammed his hand on the table and shouted.

In an instant, the quiet classroom was as if struck by lightning.

All eyes turned to Naruto's face, but most of them looked displeased.

It's naturally unpleasant to have your thoughts interrupted.

Seemingly realizing that his voice was too loud and disturbing others, Naruto awkwardly scratched the back of his head and sat down in his seat, unsure of what to do.

"Alright, let's take the exam quietly." Tōka's smile faded, and he said seriously.

The sound faded away, leaving only the soft rustling of writing in the classroom.

In the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage sat upright in his chair, his hands loosely clasped and resting on a crystal-clear sphere.

The Telescope Technique uses crystal as a medium to observe the scenery of the village.

The Crystal Ball can be used to find people anytime, anywhere, but the condition is that you need to know the type of chakra the other person has. Once you do that, the Crystal Ball can find that person no matter how far away they are.

Using his Secret Technique to observe the classroom, the Third Hokage focused more of his attention on Tōka.

When Tōka spoke to Naruto, the Third Hokage's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Just when he thought Tōka's goal was the Nine-Tails...

Tōka turned his head to look out the window, seemingly only speaking because Naruto was staring at him in a daze.

"Little Fox, I'd like to see what tricks you're up to!" The Third Hokage glanced at the secret letter in his hand, his eyes growing increasingly serious...