Teacher

"The assessment is over! Sawada Hiroki, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina have demonstrated tactical proficiency and teamwork far beyond their peers and have successfully passed! As of today, you are officially promoted to Konoha genin!"

No one raised any objections to this result.

Although the process had been bizarre, the outcome was clear—Jiraiya's Shadow Clone had indeed vanished.

Regardless of the method used, the ability to force back a Shadow Clone of one of the Sannin was proof enough of their qualifications.

Even if their individual contributions during the process varied slightly, there was no doubt that all three possessed at least the capabilities of a genin.

"Oh, oh, oh! We did it!" Kushina was the first to react, jumping up in excitement and throwing her arms around Hiroki's neck. "Hiroki, you're amazing!"

Namikaze Minato also let out a sigh of relief. He walked over to Hiroki, his azure eyes filled with curiosity and admiration. "Hiroki-kun, that technique you used at the end... did you create it yourself?"

Hiroki simply nodded calmly without offering much explanation.

His gaze drifted past the crowd, briefly meeting the eyes of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō in the spectator area.

He knew that the real "assessment" was only just beginning.

As for the Third Hokage's warning about "not displaying anything too dangerous," Hiroki wasn't yet sure if his new technique met that standard.

"The three of you, come with me to the Hokage's office." An Anbu ninja appeared behind them like a ghost, his voice devoid of any emotion.

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was oppressive.

The three children had not yet arrived, and the office was currently occupied only by the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, his student Tsunade, and Shimura Danzō.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the main seat, puffing on his pipe one draw at a time; the swirling smoke made it impossible to read his expression.

Tsunade stood by the window with her arms crossed, looking furious—clearly still angry about Jiraiya's disgraceful display.

As for Shimura Danzō, he stood in the shadows of the corner like a statue, saying nothing.

It was clear they were all waiting for someone.

The next moment—

The office door was suddenly kicked open with a loud "bang," and a disheveled figure came tumbling in.

The person who arrived was none other than Jiraiya.

He was soaked from head to toe, with vegetable leaves hanging from his hair and his face covered in bruises and the distinct imprints of wooden basins; he looked absolutely wretched.

"Sensei! You have to stand up for me!" As soon as Jiraiya entered, he threw himself in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk, wailing, "I... I was just working on my artistic creation when I was besieged by a female ninja of unknown identity..."

"Shut up! You idiot!" Tsunade let out a roar and punched the nearby wall, causing it to crack like a spiderweb instantly. "You still have the nerve to speak! You've disgraced Konoha!"

"I... I was just trying to find inspiration!" Jiraiya shrank his neck, not daring to look at Tsunade again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples in a headache, tapped his pipe against an ashtray, and cut off the farce. "Jiraiya, let's talk business. What do you think of these three children?"

At the mention of business, Jiraiya immediately dropped his playful demeanor, his expression becoming unprecedentedly serious. He stood up straight and looked at Hiroki with burning eyes.

"Sensei, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina are rare talents with immense potential." He began by affirming the two.

Especially Namikaze Minato; Jiraiya had watched that child grow up. His ability, personality, and talent were unparalleled in every regard.

But Hiroki was different.

If Namikaze Minato was the type of child who was precocious, then Hiroki was more like a mature ninja. His performance in the assessment was different from Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, who had wanted to defeat Jiraiya head-on.

That guy had been focused on passing the assessment from the very beginning.

Jiraiya pondered how to describe Hiroki's talent.

After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"Sensei, can you understand? Our hypothesis: we are facing an enemy, so how should we defeat him on the battlefield?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully. "I understand what you're trying to say. You mean that Namikaze Minato and Kushina's current thinking is still largely focused on how to utilize their own strengths."

"Exactly. And that kid Hiroki, his thinking is more about guessing my next move and formulating a strategy based on my intentions." As he said this, Jiraiya's expression gradually grew serious.

"That is the biggest difference between a mature ninja and an apprentice."

Hearing such high praise, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction and pushed the matter forward. "Since you appreciate them so much, then I will leave these three children to you. You will personally mentor them and form a new squad."

Danzō sneered but said nothing. Sure enough, Jiraiya dropped a bombshell the next moment.

"No!"

Jiraiya refused without a second thought.

He looked troubled and explained, "Sensei, although I would like to take all three of them, I... I have already promised someone else that I would take on two disciples."

Those two were Dekai, the son of an old friend, and a boy from the Uchiha clan, at the request of the current Uchiha clan head.

"Then take Namikaze Minato." Danzō finally spoke from the shadows in the corner, his voice hoarse and cold. "Leave Uzumaki Kushina and Sawada Hiroki to me. Root can provide them with the most suitable 'training'."

"Danzō!" Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, his tone stern. "I will not agree to this! Ninjas are not tools of the village! Hiroki and Kushina are heroes of the village, and they should grow up in the sunlight!"

Danzō walked slowly out of the shadows, his single eye staring coldly at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Womanly kindness! Hiruzen, your so-called sunlight will only make their dangerous abilities even harder to control! Only by undergoing the harshest tempering in the darkness can they become the sharpest blades to protect the village!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brows tightly and asked in a low voice, "Were Jiraiya's two disciples arranged by you?"

"Don't you know your own disciple's personality by now?"

Jiraiya stood to the side with a wry smile, not knowing what to say, and could only scratch his head in embarrassment.

"..." Tsunade glared at Jiraiya.

"That is out of the question!" Sarutobi Hiruzen resolutely rejected Danzo's proposal.

"Then you will only end up with a blunt weapon that will hurt yourself!"

"I am the Hokage!"

"I am the one who is correct."

Seeing that the two were about to fall into another endless argument, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger.

He knew that he could not let Sawada Hiroki fall into the hands of Danzo, but Jiraiya could not take them all on either.

He was silent for a moment, and finally made a difficult decision.

"How about this," he said slowly, "Jiraiya, you take Namikaze Minato with you. As for Sawada Hiroki and Uzumaki Kushina... we will wait for Orochimaru to return."

This proposal stunned both Jiraiya and Tsunade; had their teacher compromised?

Orochimaru was currently working under Danzo!

A glint of light flashed through Danzo's single eye; it was just as he had expected, he had chosen Orochimaru in the end.

Among the current outstanding elite jonin, there were very few who could keep Sawada Hiroki and the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in check.

Hatake Sakumo lacked sealing techniques, Jiraiya already had a disciple, and Tsunade specialized in medical ninjutsu, limiting her ability to instruct two students.

As for the other ninjas, they were either not directly under the Hokage's faction and had their own agendas, or they simply weren't well-rounded enough.

Orochimaru was the only suitable choice.

As for Koharu and Mitokado Homura? Hmph... Sarutobi didn't even trust himself, so how could he possibly let those two useless people teach anyone?

"Agreed." Danzo retreated back into the shadows and said nothing more.

Knock, knock, knock—just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat back down in his chair, looking exhausted.

"Enter," he said.

Sawada Hiroki walked in first, with Minato and Kushina following closely behind.

Sarutobi glanced at where Danzo had disappeared, then looked at the three children in front of him, sighed, and announced the decision he had just made:

"Namikaze Minato, from this day forward, you will follow Jiraiya to train. Sawada Hiroki, Uzumaki Kushina, you will wait for Orochimaru to return from his mission before officially becoming his disciples."

A look of joy appeared on Minato's face, but when he looked at Hiroki and Kushina, it was tinged with worry.

Kushina looked a bit bewildered; she had never even heard the name Orochimaru before.

As for Sawada Hiroki, his face remained calm, but a monstrous storm was raging in his heart.

Orochimaru!?

Before he could react, Sarutobi waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.

"Go back for now! When your teacher arrives, I will notify you!"

Ah, just going back like that? He wasn't going to continue asking about his jutsu!? Hiroki was stunned.

"Don't slack off during this time! Orochimaru is not exactly a kind teacher!" Seeing that Hiroki hadn't left yet, the Third Hokage added another sentence, which served as a prompt.

Hiroki breathed a sigh of relief; if that was the case, then that not-so-dangerous assessment could be considered passed...

However, Hiroki, who had kept his focus entirely on Sarutobi Hiruzen, did not notice the small glances Kushina was casting his way.