"Lord Hokage, if people like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara had never existed in the Ninja World, the wars would never have ended, and the world would never have known peace."
"I realized that, and that's why I chose to give up the path of a ninja. I'm not strong enough to change the future. The outcome would always be the same."
"The village's survival is already set in stone. Rather than that, I might as well spend my days lazing around and enjoy myself."
Bai Lin put on a look of someone who wished to ride the wind home, yet feared the jade palaces above, then sighed once more to express his sorrow.
This display of wisdom unsettled Hiruzen Sarutobi even more than Bai Lin's earlier sharpness.
If someone with such vision and perspective really chose to laze around, it would be Konoha's greatest loss!
As the current Third Hokage of Konoha, I know that if Bai Lin had enough talent, he might even surpass my own students. With the right guidance, he could become Konoha's perfect Hokage.
Even if he couldn't, he could still become a strategist, every bit the equal of the Nara Clan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer sit still. He walked up to Bai Lin, his eyes burning with earnestness. "Young man, you're wrong!"
"How can you know you can't change things if you never try?"
"Your lack of strength is just an excuse to laze around. I know you long for peace, and everyone in the village thinks highly of you. Why not fight for the future you want?
"When I took the Hokage Position, I faced the covetous eyes of the other nations' ninja villages. For Konoha's peace, I still stepped forward!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi patted him on the shoulder, his voice gentler but still firm. "If you're willing, I can give you my full support. Once you've grown strong enough, I'll hand the Hokage Position over to you. Then you can try to change the course of the future."
"Lord Hokage!" Bai Lin pinched his thigh hard, tears welling in his eyes as he showed his gratitude.
He looked at Bai Lin, his eyes filled with hope. "Young man, don't disappoint me, don't disappoint Konoha, and above all, don't disappoint yourself."
"I can have one of my students take you on as an apprentice. You don't need to worry about learning ninjutsu."
Bai Lin took a deep breath and slowly raised his head. The struggle in his eyes had vanished, replaced by unprecedented resolve. "All right! I accept! I'll step forward and fight for peace. I'll become someone who changes the Ninja World! Even if it costs me my life, I won't back down!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his face breaking into a profoundly satisfied smile. "I knew I was right about you! Go on and get ready. I'll let you know when the time comes."
Bai Lin left the Hokage's office with a strange smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, too, wore a deeply satisfied smile.
"Bai Lin is a child worth investing in. He really is the perfect candidate to carry on the Will of Fire."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his treasured pipe, lit it, and drew a deep breath.
Amid the curling smoke, his gaze turned distant and solemn. "The situation is unstable, and war is close. If we can raise another outstanding ninja as strong as Tsunade, Jiraiya, or Orochimaru, Konoha won't suffer such terrible losses in the coming chaos."
"But he's far too mature for his age. I'm afraid he might stray down the wrong path. I saw that person's shadow in him. Was it just my imagination?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took another deep drag, his expression growing more complicated. "Orochimaru is my favorite student, and he's gifted, but he's too stubborn by nature. He isn't suited to teaching him."
"Jiraiya is too carefree. I wonder if this young man is that so-called Child of Destiny. I can have Jiraiya observe him when the time comes."
"Tsunade... Well, her medical expertise isn't exactly suited to the boy, but Konoha is her home. If there's even a chance he might harm the village, Tsunade will definitely set him straight."
"And seeing the cruelty of war and people getting hurt might make Bai Lin even more steadfast in his resolve to protect Konoha."
"Those who protect the people they cherish will surely shine for Konoha. Fortunately, he isn't an Uchiha. Otherwise..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dare pursue that thought.
The Sharingan was the eye that reflected the heart, bearing all its love, hatred, anger, and sorrow. Once its wielder fell into darkness, it was hard to escape.
The deeper their obsession, the farther they fell. The more powerful that strength became, the more terrifying its backlash.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wrote down a few names on a scroll, settling on the outcome of his conversation with Bai Lin.
It was already late, and the streets were beginning to fill with the warm bustle of evening.
Bai Lin pushed open the door to the Everything Shop and saw the members of his staff chatting in small groups.
There weren't many of them. Most were civilians, ordinary people without the talent to become ninja.
But a few were special: Minato Namikaze, Might Duy, and Uchiha Mikoto.
There was no need to explain Minato Namikaze. Bai Lin had raised him from childhood.
Might Duy was the first member to join the Everything Shop with money to invest. Back then, Bai Lin had been penniless. He couldn't afford to rent this shop, and he didn't even have pocket money while living at the orphanage. It was talk of youth, passion, and bonds that had won Might Duy over.
Might Duy had poured all his savings into helping Bai Lin set up the Everything Shop, even though he was only a Genin and didn't earn much.
But Might Duy was passionate about helping the villagers, and the Everything Shop's standards of conduct matched his devotion to "youth" and "passion."
Once he'd finished his Konoha Ninja duties, he felt he was wasting time if he had nothing to do, so he came to work at the Everything Shop.
He was always dashing here and there, and he gladly took on even the most trivial requests, like fetching water for the elderly or finding a cat for a child.
Uchiha Mikoto's presence was a surprise. She had volunteered to help at the Everything Shop. She was meticulous and good with numbers, and kept the shop's accounts and chores in perfect order.
Bai Lin could tell she wanted to change the villagers' preconceived ideas about the Uchiha Clan and become part of the village.
Though she was a member of the Uchiha Clan, she didn't share their pride. She treated others with kindness, and even when villagers looked at her with prejudice, she always responded with warmth.
As the Everything Shop grew, Mikoto had brought in a few other Uchiha to work there, but then they all disappeared without a word.
Only after Bai Lin asked did he learn that their fellow clan members had mocked and scorned them, saying things like, "How could Uchiha blood be wasted on menial work serving civilians?" and "No wonder you haven't awakened the Sharingan—you have none of the Uchiha's pride."
They had originally wanted to integrate into the village, but they couldn't bear the gossip within the Uchiha Clan. In the end, they had no choice but to leave, never daring to speak of "serving the villagers" again.
When the staff saw Bai Lin enter, they immediately fell silent. As if on cue, they sat cross-legged in neat rows.
Might Duy (Konoha Year 19, age 16, Genin)
Uchiha Mikoto (Konoha Year 23, age 12, Genin)