Jiraiya: "Teacher, look at the Fourth Hokage position?"

"Is this the true power of the world's greatest taijutsu master?"

Zhengyi rubbed his chest.

Upon hearing this, A couldn't help but blush.

Father... Father is still alive, so it's too early to call me the world's greatest taijutsu master.

You brat!

You really suit my tastes!!

A hated being told to apologize, but because of this flattery, he completely forgot that Zhengyi had been demanding an apology for Orochimaru.

After all, while some people worshipped him and others saw him as a monster, this was the first time someone had called him the world's greatest taijutsu master.

"Come on!" A didn't mind showing off his muscles and his prowess as the world's greatest taijutsu master in front of so many people.

He extended his pinky finger toward Zhengyi. "Sorry, I don't have a smaller finger than this."

"Yo, isn't that the finger you usually use to dig out your earwax?" Killer B's puzzled remark from the side caused A's vanity to skyrocket. "Can't help it, he's still just a child."

"Oh!!!" the Kumogakure ninjas behind him cheered in succession.

Zhengyi: "?"

Everything he had done up to this point was to provide cover for his teacher.

But now, he was genuinely angry.

Who do you think you are? What are you posturing for?

The Konoha ninjas were furious; if you're so capable, why don't you try soloing our strongest new-generation Jonin, Minato Namikaze, with your pinky?

What kind of skill is it to bully a child?

Damn it.

There was an age gap between Zhengyi and A, and his body hadn't even fully developed yet.

So, he was knocked down by A again and again.

Then he got back up again and again, falling repeatedly like a war machine that didn't know the meaning of exhaustion.

"Why don't you run?" In the end, even A was moved, impressed by Zhengyi's willpower.

"Apologize to my teacher."

"And if I don't?"

"I can fight you all day long!" The sun gradually set, casting a final glow upon him. Zhengyi tremblingly raised his fists, his eyes swollen shut.

Everything is for the teacher.

Teacher! Hurry up!!

I really can't hold on much longer.

"Yo, just apologize to his teacher." Killer B didn't know when he had started biting his handkerchief, tears streaming down his face. Oh! He would write a song for Zhengyi when he got back; this was the only Konoha ninja he admired.

Even the Eight-Tails Gyuki within him was moved. What kind of creatures are humans, that they would actually face death for their convictions?

"Lord A, boo-hoo-hoo..." The Kumogakure ninjas couldn't bear to watch this scene either.

"Burning his youthful spirit to protect his teacher! What do I do, should I jump in?!" In the corner of the Konoha group stood a man in a green spandex suit.

"Hey, Dai, you're just a Genin. This isn't a place for you to intervene, don't cause trouble." Under the persuasion of his companions, the man named Dai could only watch with tears in his eyes as Zhengyi burned his spirit and poured out his sweat. This is youth...

Everyone's gaze was now focused on A and Zhengyi.

A remained silent for a long time before suddenly rushing forward and knocking Zhengyi down with a punch. This time, Zhengyi really couldn't get back up.

If his companions hadn't held him back, Dai would have truly risked his life against A to protect this child's youth. Why? Why destroy a child's persistence?

Zhengyi lay on the ground, looking at the sky and breathing heavily.

"Your name." A looked directly at Zhengyi's face, the face of the Konoha Ninja Academy's heartthrob, now a complete mess.

"Zhengyi."

"My goal is to surpass you."

"Hmph." A snorted, but in his heart, he acknowledged this future rival.

When Orochimaru returned, dusty and tired, he saw Zhengyi covering his eyes and crying, "Teacher, I will never lose again."

"Did you hear that, future Fourth Hokage?"

Orochimaru was so embarrassed he could have dug a hole with his toes. Didn't he just give Zhengyi an order to stall the AB Brothers?

Was it really that difficult?

"Boo-hoo-hoo." But many people fell for such an awkward scene; the ninjas of Kumogakure and Konoha were moved to tears.

"Orochimaru, you have a fine student. It seems you aren't a coward after all." After a loud laugh, A retracted his earlier words for the sake of Zhengyi.

"Let's go, B."

A was having a great time today; he had just finished warming up with Zhengyi, and he planned to spar properly with Bee once he returned.

It was said that Orochimaru had rented a plot of land to start a ranch, intending to produce massive quantities of protein powder to bolster the strength of Konoha's ninjas.

However, the cows in Konoha produced very little milk.

Consequently, he set his sights on the dairy cows specifically bred in the Land of Lightning.

In times of war like this, if he were to place a large order for cattle, he would either be price-gouged or sold sick, underweight livestock.

It would be much better to simply steal them.

Therefore, he gave Zhengyi a strict order: he didn't care about Konoha's casualty figures, he only wanted Zhengyi to stall the AB Brothers and ensure they didn't discover anything upon their return.

As expected!

Zhengyi never disappointed him; any mission he entrusted to him would be completed perfectly.

Orochimaru's trust in Zhengyi was currently skyrocketing.

He counted the cows his subordinates had driven back; if he could pull off a few more heists, Konoha would never lack protein powder again.

Although Orochimaru loved conducting research, he understood one principle: if Konoha was strong, his future laboratory would be strong, and whatever materials he needed, a single command would have Konoha ninjas seizing them for him.

Strengthening Konoha's ninjas was a matter of urgency.

He would start by strengthening his most loyal student, Zhengyi.

Outsiders had no idea what Orochimaru and Zhengyi were up to; such shady business was not something they could go around shouting about to the world.

And so! During this time of war, with the people of Konoha in a state of panic, Zhengyi was featured on the front page of the newspaper by Hiruzen Sarutobi as a model to inspire the children.

<What is the four-year-old child with the mindset of a Hokage like today?>

The article clearly recorded Zhengyi's actions from that day, even adding a bit of artistic flair.

"Minato, this Zhengyi is very much like you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi praised the blonde jonin who had rushed back to rest and report on his mission.

Their Hokage lineage, well, truly produced talent after talent, all of them respectful to their teachers and devoted to the village.

It was quite annoying.

Perhaps it was just his own roots showing.

"What a shame that such a good kid ended up with Orochimaru," Jiraiya, who hadn't even had time to take off his armor, remarked with a sense of regret.

Although Orochimaru was his good brother, Jiraiya never shielded his faults; Orochimaru's heart had grown increasingly extreme over the years, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Perhaps...

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya both thought of Young Orochimaru, and then of the dark Orochimaru of the present.

One puffed on his pipe, while the other looked heartbroken.

"Old man, about the position of Fourth Hokage," Jiraiya said, winking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Oh~~ I think Orochimaru would be quite good," Hiruzen Sarutobi drawled, intentionally trying to scare Jiraiya.

"Don't do that, didn't we have an agreement?" Jiraiya plopped himself down onto the Hokage's desk.

"We'll see how you perform."

Minato stood there with a blank expression, looking somewhat bewildered; what were his teachers talking about regarding the Fourth Hokage?