Sarutobi Hiruzen's Conditions!

"Hey, Qi Luna! Long time no see! Welcome home!"

Seeing Qi Luna's figure, Kushina waved her hand in extreme excitement to greet her.

Hearing Kushina's call, Qi Luna gave a few instructions to the three children, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, then waved back to acknowledge Kushina.

"Everyone, I'm back! See you all later!"

After greeting Kushina and the others, Qi Luna did not leave the group. She simply pointed toward the Hokage Building and followed Orochimaru toward the Hokage Office, preparing to report on their mission to the Third Hokage.

"Order: Recall Hatake Sakumo to assume the position of Anbu Commander. Instruct Utatane Koharu to continue guarding the Sunagakure front; didn't she say she was struggling against the potent poisons developed by Chiyo recently? I will have Tsunade rush to the front lines as soon as possible to resolve her urgent crisis..."

On the front lines, Konoha ninjas fought with their lives, making immense contributions and sacrifices to protect their homeland.

Stationed at the rear headquarters, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Hokage, was naturally not one to slack off, nor was he some useless figurehead who only knew how to reap the rewards of others' labor.

Facing the ever-changing situations on various battlefields, Sarutobi Hiruzen made one tactical adjustment after another.

As Anbu members moved in and out, one directive after another was issued from within the Hokage Building by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. These orders would then be dispatched to the various battlefields, becoming yet another vital link in swaying the tide of war.

"Teacher."

"Old man."

"Lord Hokage."

"Lord Hokage!"

Orochimaru, the other two, and Qi Luna entered the Hokage Office, bringing the three children with them.

Unlike the casual greetings of the first four, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were clearly somewhat restrained. Facing the leader of Konoha Village—the strongest man in the Land of Fire, the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the man who would dictate their fate in the coming days, the three children found it difficult to remain calm.

"Oh? You've returned?"

"I was just talking about you all. Although the outcome of the war is now decided, until the specific agreements and terms are signed, various frictions and conflicts along the borders are inevitable. I know you've just returned and have had a very difficult time, but in order to minimize the sacrifices of our Konoha comrades, I must ask for your help once more..."

Hearing their voices, Sarutobi Hiruzen put away the pipe he had been clenching in his mouth and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his expression looking slightly weary.

"I understand, old man."

"But at least let me get some rest. I just had a fight with that old guy wearing a breathing tube two days ago, and I still haven't recovered. As much as I hate to admit it, he truly lives up to the name 'Demigod'!"

Tsunade did not refute or argue; she simply stated the facts.

And the reality was indeed that, among them, everyone except Qi Luna was in poor physical condition. To ask them to return to the front lines immediately was simply asking the impossible.

"That's right, old man. At least give us three days to recover. How long has it been since we've had a full night's sleep?"

Jiraiya slumped into a sofa nearby, his tone laced with a hint of resentment.

"Three days should be just about right."

Even the usually composed and steady Orochimaru agreed with Jiraiya's assessment at this moment.

Though he might not have wanted the time off for purely restorative reasons...

Watching his three disciples in such a state, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only shake his head helplessly.

"I was too impatient. Very well, let it be. Go and get some rest. In three days, you will join the rotation teams and head to the various battlefields."

Having finished the official business, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and walked over to the three children.

"You must be Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, right? Qi Luna mentioned your names in her letter to me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen bent down and patted Yahiko on the head. He could see that among these three children, the other two looked to this orange-haired boy as their leader.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Although Yahiko's legs were trembling slightly and his voice was tense and sharp, his eyes were exceptionally firm!

"Do you understand what this implies, Qi Luna?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was low and steady.

"They are from the Land of Rain, war orphans from an enemy nation, and furthermore..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze lingered on Nagato, whose eyes were hidden beneath his bangs.

Qi Luna straightened her posture, her half-tied red hair swaying like flames behind her.

"Ah, I am fully aware of all the risks involved, but I still wish to request, to ask you, Lord Hokage, to give them a chance—a chance to survive!"

She placed her hand on Nagato's head and stroked his hair.

"They should not become the price of this war..."

Yahiko suddenly stepped forward, his voice trembling as he spoke:

"We... we will definitely become great ninjas! We won't be a burden to Big Brother Qi Luna!"

Konan gripped the corner of Qi Luna's clothes tightly, her eyes shimmering with tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Nagato stood silently to the side, his eyes hidden in the shadows, revealing no emotion.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag of his pipe, letting the acrid smoke fill his lungs. His gaze swept over the reports from the Amegakure battlefield that had been sent back days ago—a list of Konoha ninjas who would remain in the Land of Rain forever.

The seeds of hatred had long been deeply rooted between the two nations, and these children... they should have been the new buds on that tree, inheriting an indelible hatred...

"Do you know why I agreed to let you and Kushina come to Konoha?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked suddenly.

Qi Luna was stunned for a moment. "Because... we are the candidates to succeed Grandma Mito's duties and become the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki?"

"No!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and walked to the window, gazing out at the bustling and noisy streets of Konoha.

"It is not just that. If the village only needed a next Nine-Tails jinchuriki, you alone would have been enough."

"But I have always believed that only when everyone in the village lives together in harmony will Konoha become truly powerful! The Konoha established by the First Hokage was never meant to belong to any single person, nor to any single ninja clan!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around, the wrinkles on his face appearing exceptionally deep in the sunlight.

"And I must also consider the safety of the village. You were right not to mention it in your letter. That power... that power which is only mentioned in fragments even in ancient texts—who can guarantee its nature?!"

Qi Luna knelt on one knee, ripped the clan emblem from her sleeve with her right hand, and pressed it against her chest.

"I swear in the name of the Uzumaki: I will teach them the Will of Fire. If any one of them betrays the village in the future..."

Her voice choked for a moment.

"I will kill them with my own hands! And then take my own life to atone for the sin!"

The Hokage Office fell into silence, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall.

Nagato suddenly raised his head, a flash of purple light that Qi Luna had never seen before flickering in his eyes.

"We... we don't want to see anyone else die!" the boy's voice was barely a whisper. "When my father and mother died... I couldn't do anything... that is why... I..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze wavered slightly.

He recalled the prophecy Jiraiya had mentioned previously—"The Child of Prophecy who will bring great change to the Ninja World!"

Could it be that fate had entrusted such a heavy burden to this ragged war orphan standing before him?

Tapping his pipe gently against the corner of the desk, Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision as Hokage.

"Very well, Qi Luna."

"I agree to let the three of them stay."

"But in return, I have two conditions."

He held up one finger.

"First, for the next six months, they will be under the constant surveillance of the Anbu, especially Nagato! Even after six months, they must undergo regular Anbu check-ups, especially Nagato! This will continue until they graduate as ninja and I personally test whether they are fit to be ninja, especially Nagato!"

He held up a second finger.

"Second, from today on, you are a Chunin in my direct Anbu squad. You will be personally responsible for their education and surveillance. If any one of them shows signs of being a threat to Konoha..."

"I understand!" Qi Luna bowed deeply, her red hair cascading down like a waterfall. "Thank you for your mercy, Lord Hokage!"

As Qi Luna led the three children out of the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen relit his pipe.

Through the curling wisps of smoke, he seemed to see the countless possibilities that the future held.

"I hope this decision of mine does not lead to irreparable consequences for Konoha..."