Hiruzen Sarutobi

Everyone was still unprepared when Nawaki completed the jutsu in an instant. It was only the lowest-level ninjutsu, yet it was more shocking than an S-rank technique!

Caught completely off guard, everyone stared dumbfounded as the vines twisted and danced through the air like snakes.

"Wood Release!" Those two words filled everyone's minds.

Wood Release meant a great deal to Konoha! It represented the village's spirit and glory! The First Hokage had created Konoha's surroundings with Wood Release! Ever since his death, Konoha had desperately hoped Wood Release would reappear and once again become the village's shield. But Nawaki's father had not inherited the Wood Release bloodline. They had thought the technique was lost forever, but now, more than a decade later, it had reappeared in the Senju Clan! The First Hokage had died only a little over ten years ago, and people had not yet forgotten his deeds. Now that Nawaki had awakened Wood Release, it was easy for people to remember the God of Shinobi. Nawaki could inherit all of the First Hokage's glory and become Konoha's most legitimate successor!

After a brief silence, Nawaki received a notification from the system. The people had given him thousands of points of Wish Power once more. They looked at him with burning eyes, as if he were a rare treasure. Orochimaru's gaze was especially greedy.

With a "poof," a tall figure appeared in the smoke. It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The moment he saw Nawaki use Wood Release through the Telescope Technique, he had used the Body Flicker Technique to appear directly in the hall.

After appearing, Hiruzen first bowed to Mito. "Lady Mito, this matter is of great importance, so I barged in. Please forgive me."

Hiruzen was only thirty, brimming with confidence and presence. He truly lived up to his title of Shinobi Hero.

Mito waved a hand. "It's all right. I didn't expect Nawaki to inherit Hashirama's bloodline either. You must have come because of this, Third Hokage?"

"Exactly! Wood Release is important to the village! But the Shinobi World is tense, and every nation is recuperating. The Land of Fire lies in the center of the continent, surrounded by enemies, and the village has yet to recover its strength. Nawaki is still young. If news of his Wood Release gets out and other nations learn of it, he'll be targeted for assassination and his life will be in danger. It could even spark a war and lead to an invasion by other nations. If they use the threat of war to force the village to sacrifice Nawaki and the Senju Clan, we'll be in danger! So only a handful of people can know that Nawaki has awakened Wood Release. He must never use it in front of others unless absolutely necessary! At the same time, I'll do everything in my power to protect him. He is the future of our village!" Hiruzen looked at Nawaki with great hope.

Nawaki nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, old man Third! I won't reveal Wood Release in front of outsiders!"

Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction at Nawaki's earnest promise. After observing him for a year, he thought he understood the boy very well.

The boy was not only precocious and exceptionally talented, but also persistent (Nawaki was addicted to training). Most importantly, he had inherited the Will of Fire and was determined to protect the village and preserve peace (that was just talk). So he would surely keep his promise. Hiruzen believed this without a doubt. (His life was at stake. How could he not?)

But... something about what he'd just said seemed off. What had he overlooked? The Third Hokage pondered silently.

Just then, Jiraiya's laughter drew his attention. "Jiraiya! What's so funny? We're discussing something that concerns the very survival of the village!"

At that, Jiraiya couldn't help bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Sensei, you really do look old! Nawaki just called you 'old man,' and you accepted it so naturally!"

"It didn't feel awkward at all!" Tsunade laughed too.

"Sensei, you should shave your mustache. It really doesn't suit you," Orochimaru kindly suggested.

Even Mito teased him. "As Hokage, you should pay attention to your appearance, Hiruzen."

Under everyone's teasing, the Third Hokage finally realized what was wrong. "You called me 'old man Third'? Am I really that old, kid?"

But when Hiruzen asked, Nawaki simply nodded at him with an innocent grin. "Old man, you look so much older than my grandma!"

Hiruzen's face darkened, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He felt awful.

"Hahaha! Old man!"

"You look awful!..."

"Shave that mustache!"

Everyone burst out laughing, even the usually composed Mito.

The tense atmosphere vanished after Nawaki's joke, and laughter once again filled the hall.

"Ahem! That's enough! I still have serious business to discuss!" Hiruzen said sternly. "Wood Release is too important to ignore. I'll convene a meeting of the village's leadership to discuss it. What do you think, Lady Mito?"

Mito's expression turned serious. "The village was in turmoil, and it only settled down a few years ago. Is it really appropriate to tell them now?"

"Although we may have different ideals, I believe everyone has the village's best interests at heart. No one would betray the village by leaking information about Nawaki. If anything does happen, I promise I'll do everything I can to protect him—even if it means going to war! And I absolutely won't spare anyone who betrays the village!" Hiruzen had only been Hokage for a few years. He had yet to endure the devastation of the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, the betrayal of his students, the death of the Fourth Hokage, and a series of other blows. His character was still resolute, not yet weakened by age. He would never yield to threats from enemy nations; otherwise, it would be difficult for him to keep his Hokage Position. Besides, he had defeated Danzo with the support of Mito and the Senju Clan. He could never repay their kindness with betrayal.

"But why tell the leadership now? We could wait until Nawaki grows up," Jiraiya asked on everyone's behalf.

The Third Hokage also wanted to use the opportunity to teach his student some political tactics, so he patiently explained, "Ever since the First and Second Hokage died, the village leadership has lost the protection and restraint of overwhelming power. People have become unsettled, and all sorts of disagreements and conflicts have arisen. As Third Hokage, I don't have the authority the First and Second Hokage had. If everyone learns that Wood Release has returned, they'll regain hope and respect for it. I can use this opportunity to restore unity and bring all the village's strength together!"

Jiraiya curled his lip. "Being Hokage sounds like such a hassle! No wonder you've aged so fast!"

Hiruzen flew into a rage. "Shut up, you brat!"

Nawaki chimed in, "That's not all, right? You can also use this chance to find out whether there really are traitors among the village leadership. I bet the Anbu will have their hands full before long."