"Lord Hokage?"
The person sitting in the living room was none other than the Third Hokage, known as the Shinobi Hero. His appearance had taken Jiuming completely by surprise. After exclaiming, he stood outside the living room, frozen in place.
"Jiuming, what are you doing at the door? Come in."
"Come sit over here. Look, this is the ninjutsu teacher I found for you."
"Are you satisfied?"
Uzumaki Mito beckoned to Jiuming, who was standing outside, and smiled. Sarutobi Hiruzen sat beside her. He smiled and nodded at Jiuming, then began to look him over.
"No wonder Lady Mito calls him a genius. His physique clearly comes from years of training."
"He must be quite skilled at Taijutsu."
As Jiuming sat across from him, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself.
This wasn't the first time he'd seen Uzumaki Jiuming. They'd met at the start of the school year, and Hiruzen had also kept an eye on him during his speech at the Ninja Academy. But on those occasions, Hiruzen hadn't had the time to examine Jiuming as closely as he could now.
With Jiuming this close and so much time to observe him, Hiruzen could naturally pick up on many more details.
"Grandma Mito, I'm just a kid who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy. I'm not even a Genin. It would be fine to have any Chunin teach me."
"There's no need to trouble Lord Hokage."
"Besides, Lord Hokage must be very busy right now. Wouldn't it be a waste of your time to come and teach me?"
Though Uzumaki Jiuming didn't directly refuse, he still expressed his thoughts tactfully. As a teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen was certainly qualified. He was the Shinobi Hero of the Shinobi World, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, and had taught the future Sannin.
But from Jiuming's point of view, Hiruzen wasn't the best choice for a teacher. After all, becoming Hiruzen's student would mean getting dragged straight into Konoha's internal struggles. No matter how much Jiuming denied it, if Hiruzen became his teacher, he would undoubtedly be branded as part of the Hokage faction.
That wasn't to say there was anything wrong with joining the Hokage faction. It was just that, given Jiuming's current strength, attracting the attention of Konoha's High Command too early wasn't a good thing.
"That's all right, Uzumaki Jiuming."
"Although Lady Mito asked me, I'm actually quite happy to be your teacher."
"Training the next generation is part of my responsibility as Hokage, after all."
Before Uzumaki Mito could speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile. He was quite pleased with Jiuming. At present, there were only two people in Konoha who could become Jinchuriki. One was Uzumaki Kushina, who had already formed bonds in Konoha and could be trusted completely.
Even if Mito chose Kushina as the Jinchuriki in the future, Hiruzen, as Hokage, wouldn't have to worry about the Jinchuriki resenting the village. He had also gotten to know Minato Namikaze well, and he was someone Hiruzen could trust.
But Hiruzen wasn't so sure about the other potential Jinchuriki, Jiuming. Judging by Jiuming's behavior at school, he clearly hadn't formed many close bonds with his classmates. His only ties in Konoha seemed to be Uzumaki Mito and his sister.
But if Hiruzen became his teacher, he would have plenty of time to teach him about the Will of Fire. That way, whichever of the siblings became the Jinchuriki, they would remain loyal to Konoha. Mito's request that he teach Uzumaki Jiuming was exactly what Hiruzen wanted.
"Is that so?"
"Then thank you, Lord Hokage."
Seeing that Hiruzen had already put it that way, Jiuming couldn't refuse. His earlier words had been tactful enough; anyone listening would simply think he was a considerate child who didn't want to trouble the Hokage. But if he refused after the Third Hokage had said all that, he'd really be taking Hiruzen's goodwill for granted.
That would only make the Third Hokage suspicious and displeased.
A normal child would be so excited to have the Hokage as a teacher that they wouldn't be able to sleep all night. Jiuming pushing that teacher away would definitely seem strange.
"Heh, then I'm counting on you from now on, Jiuming."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with a smile and nodded slightly at Jiuming. Jiuming knew what to do. Since there was no changing the fact that Hiruzen would become his teacher, he might as well go along with it. Building a good relationship with Hiruzen now was essential. If he was bound to be branded as part of the Hokage faction, he might as well make that label stand out.
Sometimes, staying neutral was actually the most dangerous choice.
Thinking this, Jiuming got up and walked over to Hiruzen. He sat down cross-legged in front of him, bowed deeply, and said:
"Teacher Sarutobi, I'm in your care from now on."
At Jiuming's gesture, Hiruzen's expression turned serious. Before Jiuming bowed, the two of them had merely been teacher and student. After Uzumaki Jiuming bowed, however, they had become something more: master and disciple. If Hiruzen accepted, Jiuming would become one of the Sarutobi faction for good.
As his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen would also have to protect his student.
Jiuming kept his head lowered. Hiruzen hesitated in surprise for only a moment before breaking into a broad smile.
Only three people could be considered his direct disciples, and each had been an exceptionally gifted genius. Jiuming already had a reputation as a prodigy, too. Teaching a child like him would certainly do nothing to tarnish Sarutobi Hiruzen's name.
Hiruzen's expression turned solemn. He bowed in return to Jiuming.
"From this day onward, you are my disciple, Sarutobi Hiruzen's."
Only then did Jiuming look up. A smile spread across his little face.
"Yes!"
Uzumaki Mito, seated at the head of the room, smiled with relief at how smoothly Jiuming and Hiruzen had hit it off. She knew the state of her health. She could no longer protect the Uzumaki siblings as they grew up. She had already planned to use the opportunity of finding Jiuming a teacher to find the siblings a protector as well.
As the current Hokage of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen was clearly the best choice. Among all of Konoha's leaders, Hiruzen was famous for being gentle and forgiving toward his own people. Mito knew she could trust him. After she was gone, Hiruzen would be the Uzumaki siblings' new protector.
"All right, since you're master and disciple now, Jiuming, make sure to study hard under Sarutobi."
"I'm a little tired, so I'll head back to rest."
After Mito spoke, she started to get up. Hiruzen, who was beside her, quickly hurried over and helped her up. He moved so fast that Jiuming, who had also been about to help her, was several beats too slow.
"Heh, Monkey, stay here for a while. Jiuming, take me to my room."
Using Hiruzen's support to get to her feet, Mito beckoned to Jiuming. Jiuming immediately went to her side and let her lean on his shoulder.
"Please wait a moment, Teacher Sarutobi."
Jiuming greeted Hiruzen, then served as Mito's walking stick and left the living room with her. After the two of them had gone, Hiruzen returned to his seat and sighed softly to himself.
"Even someone as powerful as Lady Mito can't escape the passage of time."
"I wonder how much longer the village's last pillar can hold out."
Seeing Mito's condition today left Hiruzen deeply worried. The fighting at the front was going fairly well, but if anything happened to Mito, the Jinchuriki, the advantage Konoha had built up on the battlefield could vanish in an instant. If matters came to that, Konoha itself would be threatened.
That was the last thing Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, wanted to see.
It wasn't long before Jiuming returned to the living room after taking Uzumaki Mito back to her room. He was no longer so reserved in front of the Third Hokage. He immediately said to Hiruzen, "Teacher Sarutobi, teach me Lightning Release Ninjutsu today!"
Seeing the excitement on Jiuming's face, Hiruzen was reminded of how he'd once taught Jiraiya and the others. The furrow in his brow relaxed.
"Good. I happen to have some time this afternoon, so let me see what level you're at first."
"Let's go to the Training Ground. You'll have more room there."
Hiruzen didn't waste time. He picked up his hat, stood, and left the house first. Jiuming didn't bother preparing anything; he simply followed the Third Hokage out.
"Lord Hokage! I've got some eggs at home. I'll bring them over to you later."
"Lord Hokage, thank you for looking after my husband. He'd have died in the hospital without you."
"..."
As Uzumaki Jiuming walked through Konoha with the Third Hokage, he finally understood just how much respect Hiruzen commanded in the village. The walk from Mito's home to the Training Ground took less than ten minutes, yet plenty of villagers greeted Hiruzen along the way.
More than a few expressed their gratitude. The Third Hokage was also remarkably approachable. He could chat for a while even with people he didn't know. As a result, a walk that should have taken ten minutes took a full thirty before they reached the Training Ground.
Seeing all this, Uzumaki Jiuming couldn't help questioning the online claims he'd seen in his previous life about the Third Hokage being devious. For now, Hiruzen seemed unmistakably dovish. But according to those old netizens' analyses, the darkness in Hiruzen's heart was probably beyond what an ordinary person could imagine.
"His Chakra feels so warm and powerful. He doesn't seem like that kind of person."
Jiuming hadn't been idle along the way. He had secretly activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to probe the Third Hokage's condition. He could sense the power of Hiruzen's Chakra, as well as its warmth. Hiruzen could tell that someone was watching him, but he assumed it was one of the Anbu protecting him.
Though the saying that appearance reflected character didn't exist in the Naruto world, the way a person's Chakra felt could often reflect their personality.
"Hopefully I'm just overthinking it."
Before long, Jiuming and Hiruzen arrived at the Training Ground. This was Konoha's Training Ground Number One, covering nearly five hundred square meters. Most of the village's ninja were at the front lines, so there weren't many people training here.
"Look, it's the Third Hokage!"
"Dad? What's he doing here?"
"Jiuming? Why's that kid with the Third?"
The three members of Minato Squad were training at the grounds. The three of them had been practicing with shuriken, but when they saw Sarutobi Hiruzen arrive with Uzumaki Jiuming, they all stopped.
"Oh, Kotaro, and Kushina and Minato Namikaze, you're here too." Hiruzen was surprised to see his son at the Training Ground.
"Kotaro, didn't you have a mission? Did you finish it so soon? I haven't received any word about it."
Hiruzen looked at his son and asked.
"I finished the mission and returned to the village at noon. When I went to the Hokage Building to hand it in, you weren't there. Some middle-aged man received the report instead."
"By the way, Dad, if you weren't in your office, what are you doing here? And why are you with that little brat Jiuming?"
"If you came to teach me, there's no need. I don't need your help!"
Sarutobi Kotaro turned his head away in a huff. It looked like he was going through a rebellious phase. Hiruzen wasn't angry at his son's attitude. He just smiled and explained, "I came to teach Jiuming. He's my new disciple."
As soon as Hiruzen finished speaking, Sarutobi Kotaro looked over at Jiuming, a hint of jealousy in his eyes. Meanwhile, Kushina had already rushed over to Jiuming. When she heard that the Third Hokage had taken him as a disciple, she excitedly grabbed him by the neck and shook him.
"Jiuming! Is it true? The Third Hokage really took you as his disciple? Is it true?" Uzumaki Kushina had always dreamed of becoming Hokage. Hearing that her little brother had become the Hokage's disciple made her jump with excitement.
"It's true. It's true."
"I'm going to die."
Kushina's sudden attack left Jiuming completely stunned. For a moment, he couldn't break free of her hands. All he could do was keep slapping at the hands squeezing his neck as he struggled to speak.
"Huh? Sorry."
Only then did Kushina realize what she was doing and let go. Jiuming finally free, he coughed several times before he could breathe comfortably again.
"I nearly died." Jiuming rubbed his neck, still shaken.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage. I'm entrusting Jiuming to you from now on!"
Jiuming was still rubbing his neck when Uzumaki Kushina gave Hiruzen a solemn bow. The sudden gesture surprised the Third Hokage. After watching her quietly for a moment, Hiruzen smiled and patted Kushina on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll teach Jiuming well."
"Big Sis." Watching Kushina bow so sincerely, Jiuming was at a loss for words. He felt as if something had gotten stuck in his chest, and his eyes started to sting.
"You have to study hard under Lord Hokage from now on! If I find out you're slacking off, I'll make you pay!"
Without warning, Uzumaki Kushina punched Jiuming on the top of his head. Jiuming had been feeling a little touched, but now he clutched his head and crouched on the ground in pain.
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Why'd you hit me?"
Jiuming couldn't understand Kushina's way of thinking. The little bit of emotion he'd just felt vanished completely.
"Heh, you can get back to your training. Jiuming and I only need a little space."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the siblings fool around and spoke with a smile.
"I can put my training aside for now. I want to see how you teach your disciple!"
Sarutobi Kotaro folded his arms and walked over to sit under a tree, looking haughty. He seemed to be sulking, but Jiuming could understand why. With Hiruzen as Hokage, he probably had very little time to spare for training Kotaro.
You could see it in Konohamaru Sarutobi later on, too. Sometimes, Sarutobi Hiruzen really was too generous with his attention.
Seeing Sarutobi Kotaro stop training and sit to one side, Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance and sat down with him. Minato was trying to be considerate of Kotaro's feelings, while Kushina also wanted to see how the Third Hokage would train her younger brother.
Jiuming also noticed Minato, who had been training with Kushina and Sarutobi Kotaro. He couldn't help thinking, So he hasn't become Jiraiya's student yet, and I've already become the Third's.
Doesn't that make the seniority all messed up? If he marries Kushina someday, should I call him brother-in-law, or should he call me master?
Maybe we should just go by different rules. I'll call him my nephew, and he'll call me little brother?
"Heh." As Jiuming indulged in his mischievous imaginings, the Third Hokage gave an awkward chuckle. He didn't mind Kotaro's words. Without a care in the world, he took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Jiuming.
"Jiuming, this is Chakra Paper. It can test your Chakra nature."
"Generally speaking, a ninja your age will have one nature. As they train and grow older, they may be able to master several Chakra natures."
"Lady Mito told me that you have Lightning Release Chakra, but if you have any other natures, I can teach you those too."
Hiruzen's words made Jiuming curious about the Chakra Paper. He'd never used it to test his Chakra nature. Back when he was learning to mold Chakra under Uzumaki Mito's guidance, he'd caused his Chakra to run wild, unleashing powerful Lightning Release Chakra.
Besides, Jiuming had spent most of his time since then training in Fuinjutsu, and very little practicing ninjutsu.
"Try putting some Chakra into this paper. Then I'll be able to tell what nature it is."
Jiuming took the Chakra Paper and curiously examined both sides of the white sheet before pinching it between his hands.
"I'll give it a try." As he spoke, Jiuming began to pour Chakra into the paper. He heard a faint sound, and the Chakra Paper in his hands suddenly crumpled into a ball. The next moment, it burst into flames.
"Hiss—" Seeing the paper catch fire without warning, Jiuming quickly tossed it away.
Sarutobi Kotaro, who had been watching from the side, jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "Is that Fire Release Chakra? Kushina, didn't you always say your little brother had Lightning Release?"
Kushina, who'd heard Kotaro's question, shook her head in confusion. Beside her, Minato said thoughtfully, "Maybe he has two natures. Jiuming might have both Lightning and Fire Release Chakra." After speaking, Minato gave Kushina a strange look.
As one of her teammates, Minato knew Kushina's Chakra natures were Water and Wind. In that case, her little brother shouldn't have Fire and Lightning Release.
"He is my real little brother!" Kushina angrily shook her fist at Minato when she saw him looking at her strangely.
"Well, I haven't even said anything yet."
"Maybe girls take after their fathers, and boys take after their mothers."
Minato muttered guiltily, while Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the training area, looking stunned.
"I wasn't mistaken. That was definitely Lightning Release Chakra. The paper crumpled up the instant he put Chakra into it. There's no question about that."
"Did it catch fire afterward because the boy has Fire Release as well, or..."
Chakra Paper could detect the basic Chakra natures. If the paper burned, that meant Fire Release. If it split apart, that meant Wind Release. If it got wet, that meant Water Release. If it crumbled into pieces, that meant Earth Release. And if it wrinkled, that meant Lightning Release.
A possibility crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, while Jiuming knew exactly why the paper had suddenly caught fire. He was certain he didn't have Fire Release Chakra yet. The paper had burned because he'd poured in too much Chakra and completely overloaded it.
"I'll know if my guess is right once I test it."
Hiruzen had an idea. Then he said, "Jiuming, I'll teach you a C-rank Lightning Release jutsu now: Lightning Style: Lightning Pillar."
"It's a jutsu that creates a blinding flash, making it hard for an enemy to see. It can be quite useful in battle."
"I'll demonstrate it once for you now."
As he spoke, Hiruzen slowly formed three hand seals. A brilliant light appeared in his hand, filling the already sunlit Training Ground with a blinding glare. Jiuming and the three onlookers were unable to see clearly, and instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.
"Holy crap, he turned into light!"
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