The Young Clan Leader and His Bodyguards

Everyone was greatly shocked by Nawaki's words and looked at the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage looked at Nawaki with even greater fervor. "Nawaki really is far more intelligent than ordinary people. I doubt even the Nara Clan could match you in that regard. This will put you at risk, but we have to do it for the village's safety. I hope you can understand."

Nawaki nodded. "This little bit of risk is nothing compared to what Konoha means to me. Besides, I believe everyone will protect me, won't they? All for one, and one for all! Since I enjoy the village's protection, I should also do my part!"

"Well said! All for one, and one for all! Nawaki, you truly are a successor to the Will of Fire!"

Everyone was moved by Nawaki's persuasive words, adding another contribution to his Wish Power.

Jiraiya suddenly spoke up. "You must be the Child of Destiny the Toad Sage foretold. You should be my disciple!"

Jiraiya had already found Mount Myoboku and learned of the prophecy.

Sarutobi laughed. "Kid, you're not qualified to take on disciples yet. Besides, I've already decided to accept Nawaki as my student. I'll announce it publicly when the time is right. I doubt Lady Mito will object!"

Mito nodded. "As Hokage, you're certainly the best choice to be Nawaki's teacher." Her words implied that she hoped Nawaki would become Hokage. The two of them had settled the matter of his apprenticeship with a few well-placed remarks.

Nawaki was only too happy to agree.

"In that case, I'll become your disciple, old man!"

"Can't you call me 'Teacher'? Don't call me 'old man'!"

"Sure thing, Old Man Teacher!"

"You... Never mind. There's no getting through to you."

Jiraiya laughed. "It's settled! From now on, we'll call him Old Man Teacher!"

Tsunade nodded. "Old Man suits him!"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Heh heh heh. Old Man should shave off his mustache!"

"You little brats... Remember, don't let a word of what happened today get out! I have important business to attend to, so I'll leave you to your mischief!" With a poof, Sarutobi fled amid everyone's teasing, using the Body Flicker Technique.

After Sarutobi left, he soon convened a meeting of the village's top officials and informed them that Nawaki possessed the Wood Release bloodline and that he had taken him on as his disciple. Most of the officials were delighted and offered their congratulations. Shimura Danzō reacted most strongly, insisting that Nawaki should be his student, but no one paid him any attention.

At the same time, Nawaki received another notification from the system. He had gained nearly ten thousand points of Wish Power. He also noticed that most of the officials' Wish Power came from their surprise and delight. This included the leaders of the smaller clans, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and even Shimura Danzō! The two remaining clan leaders, from the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, felt not only surprise but also apprehension and wariness. However, they felt no hostility or murderous intent toward him.

Nawaki had expected this outcome. The smaller clans were connected to the Senju Clan through marriage, so of course they were pleased. The two advisors belonged to the Hokage Faction, so they naturally felt favorably toward the Senju Clan, the family of their teacher. Besides, Wood Release would greatly benefit Konoha.

Why was Danzō, who loved taking risks, delighted as well? For one thing, although he was a member of the Hawkish Faction and wanted to become Hokage, he truly put Konoha's interests first. His calls for battle might even have been motivated in part by a desire to avenge the Second Hokage.

For another, he was still young. He hadn't yet spent decades being suppressed by the Third Hokage, so his obsession and ambition weren't yet so intense and twisted. People changed under pressure from their circumstances; no one was born a villain. Danzō still had a conscience and wouldn't stoop to harming his own people by any means necessary. Even in the original story, he hadn't tried to wipe Yamato out. What's more, he might even be related to the Senju Clan. His main opponent at the moment was the Third Hokage, while Nawaki was only a two-year-old child. Though he had inherited Wood Release, he was still less of a threat than the Sannin, who had already grown into elite shinobi. That was why Danzō was so pleased to see Wood Release return. He had even wanted to take Nawaki as his student and instill his own ideas in him, using the boy's status and Wood Release to put the Hawkish Faction in control of Konoha. Unfortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen had beaten him to it.

As for the Hyuga Clan, they were indeed wary of Wood Release's power. However, the Senju Clan's faction currently held the upper hand in Konoha, and the Hyuga also had conflicts with the Uchiha Clan, another clan with a dōjutsu bloodline. They weren't about to entertain any foolish ideas. In the original story, they had never disobeyed the Hokage's orders.

As for the Uchiha Clan, after abandoning Madara and losing their Kage Level strength, they were no match for the Senju Clan. The Second Hokage had also used the Military Police Force as bait to lay a trap for them. They were quite content with their current authority, so they neither dared nor wanted to risk going after Nawaki. Hadn't they lived just fine while the First Hokage was alive? Now that the Senju Clan's Wood Release had returned, they were even less of a match. As long as they could protect themselves, that was enough. They only hoped to build a good relationship with the new Wood Release user. So, although they were wary of Nawaki, they wouldn't move against him. In the original story, the Uchiha Clan had grown increasingly arrogant and even staged a coup because the Senju Clan had gradually died out, leaving them convinced that no one could keep them in check. Now, their old rivals were still around, and Mito was there to keep watch, so they wouldn't entertain such foolish notions.

For now, then, the Senju faction still held the upper hand in Konoha and could maintain the balance of power. At the meeting, the Third Hokage had also ordered that anyone who leaked the news of Wood Release would be treated as a traitor to the village. With Anbu as an additional safeguard, Nawaki was in no danger of being exposed.

Nawaki had thought the matter through carefully before deciding to reveal his Wood Release. The outcome had gone just as he expected.

Although the news of Wood Release had only circulated among the village's top officials, it had still brought Nawaki considerable prestige. His prestige had risen to twenty points, more than double what it had been before.

After that, Mito, acting as the clan head, summoned the Senju Clan's elders and all its elite shinobi. Once Nawaki demonstrated Wood Release in front of them, everyone was overjoyed and pledged their loyalty to him. Wood Release meant everything to the Senju Clan. Whoever possessed it was the clan head. Even if the Second Hokage, Tobirama, came back to life now, he couldn't take that position from Nawaki.

And so, Nawaki officially became the Senju Clan's young clan leader, with the authority to assist Mito in managing the clan's affairs!

Mito was already over sixty and had limited energy. Sarutobi had also praised Nawaki as exceptionally intelligent, and he possessed the Wood Release bloodline. No elder or senior clan member could object. Since Wood Release was so important, only a select few in the Senju Clan could know about it for now.

To ensure Nawaki's safety, the clan assigned him personal bodyguards. Because their bloodline had weakened, the Senju Clan now had only eight elite shinobi. After setting aside the three elders and Tsunade, only four remained.

Nawaki therefore chose one elite shinobi and two Special Jōnin as his bodyguards. Special Jōnin were somewhat stronger than Chunin, and these two were particularly skilled at protection and stealth.