You Call This a Three-Year-Old? Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shock!

As everyone rushed toward Asuma in a panic, Hayato remained unexpectedly calm. He didn't move, his mind turning over the situation.

The Anbu should be appearing any moment now.

What was surprising was that they had actually allowed Asuma to mistakenly eat that poisonous mushroom soup.

Before long, just as Hayato had anticipated, three figures appeared beside Asuma in a flash of lightning-fast Body Flicker technique; they were members of the Anbu.

"Who are you guys?" Obito, the enthusiastic neighborhood busybody, was the first to question them, his face full of confusion.

The Anbu members didn't bother explaining anything to these children. They acted with swift professionalism, hoisting Asuma onto their shoulders before vanishing from everyone's sight in a blur.

"Oh no, Asuma's been kidnapped!" Obito cried out in alarm, making a move to chase after them.

"Idiot, those people are saving Asuma." Kakashi stepped forward in time to pull back the impulsive Obito.

"What? You mean you know them?" Obito looked at Kakashi, completely bewildered, trying to get an answer from him.

Kakashi nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the group. "I think everyone here has already guessed their identities."

Hearing Kakashi say this, Obito froze and looked at the others, only to see them all nodding slightly, as if he were the only one still kept in the dark.

So I'm the only one who didn't get it.

"As the son of the Third Hokage, it's only natural that he has some protectors around him," Hayato spoke up to explain.

"Is that so? So they're the Hokage's men?" Obito asked, still somewhat puzzled.

The others nodded in succession to show their agreement.

At first, they had been terrified by the sight of Asuma being poisoned, but after seeing the Anbu appear, they felt much more at ease.

"I don't think anyone is in the mood for a picnic anymore. Let's pack up and head to Konoha Hospital," Hayato said, walking over to the campfire and extinguishing the roaring flames.

Indeed, they had no heart for eating or drinking now. With their classmate's life hanging in the balance, how could they possibly enjoy themselves?

Before long, the group packed up the picnic site and returned to the Hidden Leaf Village together.

Inside Konoha Hospital.

Asuma was rushed into the operating room to have his stomach pumped.

Fortunately, he hadn't consumed much, and thanks to the Anbu getting him to the hospital in time, there was no serious danger. After the stomach pumping, he was transferred to a general ward.

When Hayato and his group arrived at the hospital and made some inquiries, they learned which ward Asuma was in.

At the entrance to the ward, two masked ninjas stood guard. They didn't react when they saw Hayato and the others approach.

"Excuse me, how is Asuma doing?" Hayato stepped forward and asked politely.

"The doctor has already performed emergency treatment. He is out of danger, but he hasn't woken up yet," one of the Anbu members wearing a fox mask replied.

Hearing this, the friends present let out a sigh of relief, and Hayato nodded slightly, the weight in his heart finally lifting.

Inside the ward, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat by Asuma's bedside, quietly watching over his son.

Asuma lay on the bed, his face slightly pale, but his life was no longer at risk.

"A little suffering is good for you; it'll keep you from developing bad habits in the future," Hiruzen said softly. He habitually raised his right hand, intending to take a puff of his pipe, only to realize suddenly that he was in the hospital and hadn't brought it with him.

At the same time, he heard the commotion outside the ward and stood up to head toward the door.

Hayato and his group were just about to leave when the door was gently pushed open, and Hiruzen appeared before them. The two Anbu members immediately bowed when they saw their leader emerge.

"Lord Hokage," the two said in unison.

This scene left Hayato and his group stunned.

Though Hayato felt a bit of inner turmoil, he reminded himself that he had warned Asuma not to eat those poisonous mushrooms, so he shouldn't be blamed. The others, however, were filled with wonder, never expecting to run into the Hokage here.

Obito, in particular, bowed deeply to Hiruzen with a face full of reverence: "Good evening, Lord Hokage!"

Hearing Obito, the others also called out in unison: "Lord Hokage."

A kind smile appeared on Hiruzen's face: "Good evening, children. Asuma is fine now, so you don't need to worry."

"But you must take this as a lesson; you shouldn't just eat those brightly colored poisonous mushrooms in the future," Hiruzen added, showing no sign of blaming them at all.

He had already learned what happened and knew that the children, as friends, had warned Asuma earlier. It was just that Asuma had been rather stubborn at the time.

On the other side, hearing Hiruzen say this, Hayato felt much more at ease.

At the same time, Hiruzen's gaze met Hayato's.

"Hayato, is it?" Hiruzen asked.

Is he checking my identity? What is he trying to do? Hayato wondered to himself. But he didn't panic, merely nodding slightly: "Yes, that's me."

Hiruzen walked slowly toward Hayato, a benevolent smile still on his face: "Asuma is a bit rebellious, but his heart is in the right place. I apologize for his reckless behavior earlier, and I thank you for your warning at the time. I hope you can become good friends."

"I didn't take what happened earlier to heart," Hayato said softly.

He truly hadn't taken Asuma's provocation to heart, and he was speaking the truth. As for whether they would become friends, that was a different matter entirely.

Hearing Hayato's words, Hiruzen's eyes couldn't help but brighten.

This child is quite mature. It's hard for a normal child to simply brush off a provocation from another.

Or is he hiding something? If it's the latter, that would be even more surprising.

Is this really just a three-year-old child? Recalling the rumors within the Uchiha clan that this child possessed a mind like a demon, it seemed the words were not without merit.

"Alright, children, it is getting late. You should head home early, or your families will start to worry. If you are concerned about Asuma, come back tomorrow. He might be awake by then, but for now, he needs to rest well." After a brief exchange, Hiruzen spoke up.

The group looked at one another, their gazes eventually settling on Hayato.

Unknowingly, they had begun to gravitate toward Hayato as their leader. It was unclear whether this was due to his mature demeanor or their recognition of his strength.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for his lead, Hayato did not hesitate. "Understood, Lord Hokage, we will return tomorrow." With that, he turned and led the others away.

Before long, the group parted ways at the entrance of Konoha Hospital, each heading back to their own homes.

Hayato walked alone along the path to his house, reflecting on the events of the day.

Through a twist of fate, he had managed to cross paths with both the current Hokage and the future Hokage in a single day.

Thinking of Minato, Hayato muttered to himself, "He should have found Kushina by now. So, how will the Third Hokage, currently at the peak of his power, respond to this kidnapping incident?"

Hayato looked up at the sky. The moon hung high, casting a silver radiance upon his face and adding a touch of mystery and tranquility to the night.