?About That Matter?
Hane was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood. He took a deep breath and looked at the Third Hokage with a steady gaze.
"To receive the favor of the Third Hokage... is my honor. Of course I have no objections."
What a joke. He was an orphan picked up from the battlefield. To be favored by Konoha's Third Hokage and taken in as his final disciple—he would have to have been kicked in the head by a donkey to refuse.
"HAHAHAHA... Excellent!"
"I'll spread this good news right away!"
Seeing Hane agree, the Third Hokage burst into hearty laughter.
To take in such a supremely gifted final disciple in his old age was deeply gratifying to him as well.
"However, kid Hane, shouldn't you change the way you address me now?"
"Uh... Teacher Sarutobi."
That night.
The news that Konoha's genius ninja, Yakushi Hane, had defeated every examinee in this year's Chunin Exams, been exceptionally promoted to special jonin by the Third Hokage, and accepted as his final disciple spread through all of Konoha as though it had grown wings.
A six-year-old special jonin, who had also become the final disciple of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage—the legendary Sannin's junior disciple.
When the ninjas who had participated in the Chunin Exams brought this news back to their respective villages, the entire ninja world was shaken!
Uchiha Clan territory.
"Hane is already a special jonin?!"
"And Lord Hokage even accepted him as a disciple?!"
Shisui, who had just returned from a special mission, froze.
"The gap between us is actually getting wider and wider..."
Upon hearing this news, Shisui trained even more desperately.
"No! After the New Year, I'm taking the Chunin Exams too..."
"I can't let that guy leave me far behind!"
Root, underground base.
"Special