The Assessment Is About to Begin

Through Danzo's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered that he really had not paid much attention to Asuma, and he felt somewhat ashamed. He pressed his pipe against his temple, a trace of frustration flashing across his face.

"I do not have the Second Hokage's ability to handle the village's affairs, the greater good, and my own family with equal ease. There must always be choices and sacrifices, mustn't there?" With his back to Danzo, Hiruzen seemed to be answering him, yet also comforting himself.

"Go tell that to your son. I do not want to hear it." Thinking of how he had raised Kazashiro, Danzo felt that although he had spent his entire life losing to Hiruzen, he could at least claim a small victory when it came to family.

"Heh heh, Asuma will understand. Or rather, everyone who possesses the Will of Fire will understand. Danzo, what exactly are you..."

Seeing Asuma disappear into the school building, Hiruzen turned to look at Danzo.

"Can that thing protect Konoha?" Danzo returned Hiruzen's gaze with his single eye and extended his bandage-wrapped arm. "Will cannot protect Konoha, Hiruzen. Only iron and blood can protect Konoha. For this village, I paid with an arm and an eye. You should know that."

"..."

Hiruzen had witnessed Danzo's sacrifices with his own eyes. That was why, even when some of Danzo's actions went too far, he still shielded him and even deliberately indulged him.

After all, Danzo truly was fighting for this village.

As for how much selfishness was mixed into it, Hiruzen consciously chose to ignore it.

"Do you have any thoughts about this year's incoming students?" Setting down his pipe, Hiruzen did not continue the previous topic.

Every year, Danzo kept an eye on some of the more talented children among the students, intending to recruit them into the Anbu when the time was right.

After all, Root's true name was the "Anbu Training Department." Aside from members personally designated by the Hokage, most trained here before going on to serve in the Anbu.

As for the Root ninjas directly under Danzo, he personally sought out talented individuals, trained them separately, and kept them at his side.

"You are the Hokage. Isn't it up to you whom you choose?" Since Kazashiro was about to enroll, Danzo had not specifically paid attention to those students lately, instead focusing his energy on training his son.

"This year's batch is full of promising talents. Kurenai Yuhi's daughter, Kurenai; Hatake Sakumo's son, Hatake Kakashi; Shiranui Kazama's son, Shiranui Genma; as well as Aoba Yamashiro, Namiashi Raidō, and others..."

Taking out the enrollment roster, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the densely packed names and smiled faintly.

These were Konoha's green leaves. As long as they were properly nurtured, Konoha would flourish without end, and one day, the First Hokage's vision would be realized.

"In the end, those who pass the assessment will still be members of ninja clans with deep foundations. Ordinary civilian children can only wait for enrollment seasons when ninja clan children are scarce before they can get in." Danzo's sardonic words shattered Hiruzen's fantasy.

"As long as those ninja clans remain, especially the Uchiha, Konoha will never truly be at peace." A sharp glint flashed through Danzo's eye. "I know what you are thinking, Hiruzen. Back then, in order to truly unite Konoha's ninja clans, the First Hokage took the initiative to strip the Senju Clan name from his people and let them integrate into Konoha. But what about the other clans? They only did everything they could to carve up the assets left behind after the Senju Clan disappeared."

"Look at your disciple, Princess Tsunade. As the First Hokage's granddaughter, all she has left is an old building, isn't that right?" Danzo's words made Hiruzen somewhat embarrassed.

He wanted to say that Tsunade was so poor because she had gambled away the family fortune, but considering that she was his disciple after all, exposing her shortcomings directly seemed likely to damage his own reputation. Besides, most of the vast Senju Clan lands had been taken by Hiruzen and turned into Konoha's public property for the village's development.

Although it had been for the village's sake, combined with what Danzo had just said, Hiruzen looked exactly like the sort of immoral ninja clansman Danzo had described.

Damn Danzo. Even at a time like this, he did not forget to take a jab at him.

After being choked up by Danzo several times in a row, Hiruzen decided not to talk to Danzo for the next hour.

"Groups of four, enter the rooms." Inside the school building, a teacher pointed at several rooms ahead, signaling for the children to enter in groups of four for their assessments.

Kazashiro's group consisted of him, Anko, Shiranui Genma, and...

"Yo, hello there."

A guy with a bowl cut and a green jumpsuit gestured toward Kazashiro and the others, flashing his gleaming teeth.

"My name is Might Guy. Please take care of me."

Holy crap, Red Dog—no, he was still Little Red Dog. No, that was not right either. He should be Green Dog.

Sure enough, the voice he had heard earlier had come from Might Guy.

Shiranui Genma, with a toothpick in his mouth, glanced at Might Guy but did not respond. He merely nodded before turning away.

Anko looked Might Guy over with interest, then leaned close to Kazashiro's ear and whispered, "I think I've seen this guy before. He walks around the streets on his hands all day, shouting things about 'youth' or whatever."

"Huh? How come I've never seen him? Where did you see him?" Kazashiro asked Anko quietly.

"On my way home, of course. Oh right, your house is in the center of the village, isn't it? No wonder you never see him. His family seems to live at the very edge of Konoha." Anko patted Kazashiro's shoulder, reminding him to think about where he lived.

"I see." After hearing Anko's explanation, Kazashiro showed an understanding expression. Before Anko could react, he extended his hand. "My name is Shimura Kazashiro. This is Mitarashi Anko, and the one with the toothpick is Shiranui Genma. Please take care of us, Guy."

"Oh! Let us spread the vigor of youth together, Kazashiro!" Seeing Kazashiro's outstretched hand, Guy froze for a moment before enthusiastically shaking it and delivering his signature line.

"All right, next group."

Before they could continue talking, the teacher's voice came from inside the room. The four children who had entered earlier then walked out with varying expressions.

Some were dejected, some were delighted, and others were full of confidence.

Although the assessment results would be posted in the village the following week, some of the children could more or less guess their final results from the teachers' tone and attitude.

"Shiranui Genma, right? Throw a shuriken and let me see." The male teacher sitting at the desk looked up at the somewhat cocky Shiranui Genma, pointed at the shuriken on the table, then pointed toward the target on the wall.