Master and Disciple!

Ueno Kei only managed to drift into a fitful sleep in the early hours of the morning. Before that, he had been too agitated and bewildered to close his eyes.

He was excited because the Third Hokage actually wanted to take him as a disciple. This meant he had secured what could be considered a shortcut on the path to becoming a powerhouse.

He was bewildered because he couldn't fathom why the Third Hokage would choose him. This was the biggest question weighing on his mind amidst his excitement. Was he a genius? No, Ueno Kei didn't consider himself one. Whether it was ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, or even the Wind Wing Sword Technique he had learned, he felt he possessed no innate talent for the "arts" at all.

His background? That was even more laughable. Ueno Kei was just a simple orphan; he couldn't possibly have some earth-shattering identity.

Could it be that the Third Hokage simply looked at him differently because he had personally brought him back to the village? No matter how he looked at it, that reason felt too ridiculous and flimsy. So, what exactly was the reason behind the Third Hokage's decision to take him as a disciple?

Ueno Kei tossed and turned all night long.

Was it really fate? Did the Third Hokage just happen to like him? Ueno Kei pondered this, but he noted that the Third Hokage hadn't mentioned it during the past three years, only bringing it up after the incident with the Kurama Clan.

Ueno Kei guessed that it probably had something to do with his performance during that incident.

It must be said that while Ueno Kei hadn't guessed the entire truth, he was close enough. The reasons for the Third Hokage wanting to take him as a disciple did indeed include what Ueno Kei had speculated.

Of course, it would be more accurate to call it destiny rather than fate. Most people in this world believed in the existence of destiny, and the Third Hokage was no exception.

However, the "destiny" referred to here did not mean that a person's life was fixed from birth or that their future was set in stone.

Rather, it meant that the destinies between people were intertwined—that this person and that person shared an unbreakable, inseparable bond, and their lives were destined to cross.

This was one of the primary reasons the Third Hokage intended to take Ueno Kei as a disciple.

There were other factors, such as the Kurama Clan incident, but the deeper reasons were beyond Ueno Kei's ability to guess—nor would he ever be able to, and the Third Hokage would never speak of them.

Regardless of his excitement, bewilderment, or even the slight trace of trepidation, Ueno Kei never once considered refusing. It was obvious—anyone who refused would be a complete idiot.

Such a golden opportunity would never happen a second time.

If the Third Hokage hadn't told him to think it over for the night and return the next day with his final decision, Ueno Kei would have agreed on the spot.

Long nights lead to many dreams, didn't they?

Even for Ueno Kei, who possessed the mental age of a thirty-year-old, the anxiety of gain and loss was very real.

At this moment, hearing the Third Hokage's question again, Ueno Kei's heart gave a slight tremor. He tried his best to keep his voice from shaking and replied in a deep tone, "Lord Hokage, I am willing! It is my honor!"

The Third Hokage smiled faintly and said, "Kei, stand up. And from now on, you can just call me Teacher Sarutobi."

"Yes! Teacher Sarutobi!" Ueno Kei slowly straightened his body, his eyes burning as he looked at the Third Hokage, though his voice remained as respectful as ever—no, perhaps even more so.

The education from his past life was deeply ingrained in his bones; respecting teachers and elders was a concept carved into his mind.

In the past, he had shown the Third Hokage the necessary respect due to the leader of the village. But now, the Third Hokage had added the identity of a teacher—not merely a simple instructor like those at the Ninja Academy.

This was a true mentor, a figure as important as a father.

This made Ueno Kei even more respectful toward the Third Hokage. Of course, even as master and student, Ueno Kei couldn't suddenly feel a sense of intimacy; everything was just beginning, wasn't it?

The Third Hokage's personality, how he would teach in the future, and how their relationship would develop—these were all things that would take time.

"Kei, graduate starting tomorrow," the Third Hokage said calmly.

"Eh? Teacher Sarutobi... this..." Ueno Kei was startled. He had been thinking that today would just be about setting a schedule for his training before they parted ways.

After all, Ueno Kei didn't think Teacher Sarutobi, as the Hokage, would be free of official duties; they were surely piled up like a mountain. He would have been satisfied just to have the Hokage occasionally spare time to teach him, but he hadn't expected this. He was still wondering how the Third Hokage would arrange his training when this statement suddenly popped out.

It was true that Ueno Kei possessed enough chakra to be a standard genin and was proficient in the Three Body Technique. With the addition of the Wind Wing Sword Technique, his overall strength could rival an average chunin. But to graduate now? Honestly, Ueno Kei didn't feel prepared.

After all, this wasn't a time of war; there was no need for Ninja Academy students to graduate early.

Furthermore, aside from the special circumstances of wartime, there were no students who graduated early. At least, within the scope of Ueno Kei's knowledge, such students didn't exist. Even for a genius, there was no need for early graduation.

He couldn't understand why the Third Hokage would suddenly say such a thing.

The Third Hokage saw the confusion in Ueno Kei's eyes and said softly, "Kei, the Ninja Academy can only teach you so much. You won't learn anything more in the remaining two years there. Graduate early and join the Anbu. Although your strength is still a bit lacking, the Anbu is a great place to hone your skills."

Ultimately, after considering it for the night, the Third Hokage decided to have Ueno Kei graduate early and join the Anbu. The Anbu was the best place to temper a person. Of course, the missions the Anbu carried out were extremely dangerous, and their methods and approaches were sometimes quite extreme.

To be honest, the Third Hokage had been very hesitant about letting Ueno Kei enter the Anbu at first.

Beyond his belief in destiny and his personal fondness for the boy, the Third Hokage wanted to correct Ueno Kei's outlook on life and the world.

He wanted Ueno Kei to view the world correctly and better inherit the Will of Fire.

The Anbu was not necessarily a good place for that. Furthermore, Ueno Kei was only ten years old; one wrong step could plunge him into darkness, leading him to adopt a more negative or twisted attitude toward the world, which would be disastrous.

However, after their conversation and a night of deliberation, he decided to let Ueno Kei join the Anbu. Even with the drawbacks, the benefits far outweighed them.

With his own guidance, the Third Hokage was confident he could raise an excellent student—one no worse than the Sannin! He just needed to give Ueno Kei enough time to grow.

The future was certainly worth looking forward to!