Choosing Ninjutsu

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the Hokage's Office, leisurely reading through documents.

Ever since he had taken his nephew's advice and started using Shadow Clones to handle paperwork, he could often finish a day's work in just a few hours. He spent the rest of his time idling away.

He had already finished reading the document in his hand, but out of mild interest, he read it again.

"Hmm, I never expected Virility Pills to sell so explosively. I can't even see things as clearly as a six-year-old child. What a failure!"

Though he was thinking of failure, a smile appeared on his lips. Konoha's funds are much more comfortable now, and Biwako and I have already made our relationship official. Should I try a Virility Pill too?

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts began to wander, the door to the Hokage's Office slammed open with a bang.

Sarutobi Hiruzen jolted in fright. Only after seeing that it was his good friend Shimura Danzō did he relax, then ask irritably, "What is it? Why are you in such a rush?"

"My disciple has developed a new type of potion. I came to report it to you," Shimura Danzō said with a solemn expression.

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze for a moment before taking a mental turn and realizing that Danzō was talking about his nephew. But only one day had passed—how had this guy already come over looking like he wanted credit for "guiding everything"?

Still, for Danzo to rush over so urgently, what had his nephew come up with this time?

Only then did the three little ones trailing behind Danzo catch up and enter the Hokage's Office as well.

Danzo spoke. "What follows is Top Secret Information. Have the Anbu withdraw!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand. A few whooshes sounded out, quickly fading into the distance.

Then the two big shots turned their gazes toward Sarutobi Toru.

Sarutobi Toru obediently stepped forward. With so many people around, he could not be as casual as he was alone with his uncle. He said seriously, "It's like this. I developed the Perfect Development Potion..."

After listening to Sarutobi Toru's introduction of the potion, Sarutobi Hiruzen shot to his feet in excitement. "This... this really is a huge surprise!"

After saying that, he formed a hand seal and vanished from everyone's sight with a puff.

"???" Shimura Danzō was instantly dumbfounded. So you used Shadow Clones every day while you were at work?! You're this perfunctory? I might as well be the Hokage!

At the Training Ground, after the classic bell-grabbing exercise, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled as he watched the performances of his three disciples.

Suddenly, his body stiffened. "Orochimaru, Tsunade, come with me to the Hokage Building!"

With that, he vanished from the Training Ground.

Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged puzzled looks. Not daring to delay, they immediately hurried toward the Hokage Building.

Jiraiya, tied to a Wooden Post: ??? What about me?? You're just leaving me behind like this?

When Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at the Hokage's Office, Shimura Danzō had already displayed the bearing of the Pot Kage—his face was nearly as black as the bottom of a pot! "Hiruzen! You've gone too far!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand. "I was testing my disciples today, so I left a Shadow Clone behind to work."

He immediately changed the subject. "Has the potion been tested? Does it have any flaws?"

At that moment, Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had followed behind him, also entered the Hokage's Office. Both looked at the crowd in utter confusion.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Sarutobi Toru spoke directly. "The greatest flaw of the Perfect Development Potion is that its cost is too high. The materials alone for a single dose are worth Six Million Ryo."

After all, it involved changes to the entire endocrine system. Every ingredient required was exceedingly precious. If Sarutobi Hiruzen had not approved a large amount of funding for him during this period, he could never have developed the formula.

Upon hearing that number, even Sarutobi Hiruzen, despite Konoha's wealth, sucked in a cold breath. The fantasy in his head of Konoha's ninja greatly increasing in strength, sweeping through all directions, exterminating the Four Kage, and unifying the world was mercilessly shattered by money.

"Also, this potion works best on younger ninja. The older they are, the worse the effect. Once they are past thirty, it basically does nothing."

It was easy to understand. The younger one was, the greater their potential and plasticity. Once someone grew old, their potential had been exhausted, so naturally the effect would not be as good as it was for young people.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a bitter expression. Most people who could afford the potion were Jōnin, but how many Jōnin were young?

"Also, a standard dose can increase the Chakra of a six-year-old ninja by fifty percent. I can also provide a customized version tailored specifically to an individual's physique, which can increase Chakra by eighty percent. However, the older the recipient, the weaker the effect."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and picked up the formula on the table. "Then make a customized dose for everyone who knows about this first." His gaze paused on the white-haired ninja before he continued, "You, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Hiruko will be considered to have completed an S-rank mission. The potion expenses will be covered by public funds."

Orochimaru immediately revealed a delighted expression. Although Sarutobi Toru had said that he and Tsunade had participated in the potion's development, they both knew their own contributions. He and Tsunade had only served as cheering accessories. Even though he knew Sarutobi Toru would not leave him out, getting something for free now, along with an S-rank mission, naturally made him very happy.

As for Tsunade's reaction? I'm rich, beautiful, and the granddaughter of a Hokage. I'm not short on money!

"As for Sakumo..."

Danzo snorted. "Put both my share and Sakumo's on my tab!"

The white-haired ninja immediately looked at Danzo with gratitude. Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and said, "All right. You're really willing to spend."

Sarutobi Toru curled his lip. What are these two old schemers acting for? A genius like Hatake Sakumo would definitely not have been left out even if this had not happened today.

Poor Hatake Sakumo was only seven or eight years old, yet these two had him completely in the palm of their hands.

Still, although he had already suspected it, Sarutobi Toru was somewhat surprised. He had never expected the future famous Konoha White Fang to be Danzo's disciple!

Looking at it this way, theories claiming that White Fang's suicide had something to do with Danzo's schemes probably could not hold up.

There were many disciples in the Hokage world who wanted to kill their teachers, but he had never seen a teacher treat their disciple badly. No matter how ruthless Danzo was, he would not stab his own disciple in the back, would he?

"I'll store the formula in the Scroll of Sealing. You still haven't chosen the ninjutsu I promised you last time. This is a good opportunity, so I'll give you another chance. Choose two ninjutsu directly!"

As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke to Sarutobi Toru, he summoned a massive scroll and handed it over.

Sarutobi Toru had been busy researching during this period and had not chosen any ninjutsu. Now that the opportunity had come, he naturally did not stand on ceremony.

Aside from Danzo, Sarutobi Toru's team leader, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, the other companions quietly left the Hokage's Office. A ninja's ninjutsu was classified intelligence. Although Sarutobi Toru likely would not hide it from them, they would not take the initiative to pry.

After looking through the Scroll of Sealing for a while, Sarutobi Toru said, "All right, I've decided. I'll choose these two ninjutsu!"