"Hey~ Qi Luna! Long time no see! Welcome home!" (Long time no see, welcome home!)
Seeing Qi Luna, Kushina waved excitedly and called out to her.
At Kushina's shout, Qi Luna gave Nagato and the other two a few instructions, then waved back.
"Everyone, I'm back! See you in a bit!" (Everyone, I'm back. See you later!)
After greeting Kushina and the others, Qi Luna didn't leave the group. She just pointed toward the Hokage Building, then followed Orochimaru to the Hokage Office to report to the Third Hokage.
"Understood. Recall Hatake Sakumo and appoint him head of the Anbu. Order Utatane Koharu to continue holding the Sunagakure front. Didn't she say she's been struggling lately against the deadly poisons Chiyo developed? I'll have Tsunade head to the front as soon as possible to help her through this crisis..."
On the front lines, Konoha Ninja risked their lives, making tremendous contributions and sacrifices to protect their home.
As the Hokage stationed at the rear headquarters, Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally didn't slack off, nor was he some useless man who simply sat back and enjoyed the fruits of others' labor.
As the situation on the various battlefields changed by the day, Sarutobi Hiruzen made one tactical adjustment after another.
Anbu members came and went, and one order after another left the Hokage Building on the Third Hokage's authority. They would then head to the various battlefields, becoming another crucial factor in determining their outcomes.
"Sensei."
"Old man." x2
"Lord Hokage."
"Lord Hokage!" x3
Orochimaru and the others, along with Qi Luna, entered the Hokage Office with the three children.
Unlike the first four, who simply greeted him, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were clearly ill at ease. Facing the leader of Konoha and the strongest man in the Land of Fire—the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who would soon have a hand in deciding their fates—the three children found it hard to remain calm.
"Oh, you're back?"
"I was just talking about you. Although victory is now all but assured, there are bound to be clashes and skirmishes along the borders until the specific agreements and terms are signed. I know you've only just returned and have had a hard time lately, but to reduce the sacrifices of our Konoha comrades, I have to ask you for one more favor..."
Hearing them, Sarutobi Hiruzen took the pipe from his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression weary.
"I understand, old man."
"But at least let me rest first, will you? I only fought that old guy with the breathing tube a couple of days ago, and I still haven't recovered. I hate to admit it, but he really does deserve the title of 'Demigod'!"
Tsunade didn't argue or make excuses. She was simply telling the truth.
And it was true: of their group, only Qi Luna was in good shape. Sending the rest straight back to the front lines would be asking the impossible.
"Yeah, old man. Give us at least three days to recover, will you? It's been ages since I've had a proper night's sleep..."
Jiraiya slumped onto a sofa, sounding a little aggrieved.
"Three days should be just about right."
Even Orochimaru, usually the most mature and composed of them, agreed with Jiraiya.
Though perhaps he wasn't just looking to rest...
Looking at his three disciples, all in such a state, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only shake his head helplessly.
"I was too impatient. All right, then. Go get some proper rest. In three days, join the rotation and head to the various battlefields."
Once the immediate business was settled, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood and walked over to the three children.
"You must be Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan. Qi Luna mentioned you by name in her letter."
Sarutobi Hiruzen bent down and patted Yahiko on the head. He could tell that the other two looked to the orange-haired boy as their leader.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Yahiko's legs trembled, and his voice was nervous and shrill, but his gaze was unwavering.
"Do you understand what this means, Qi Luna?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was low and steady.
"They're from the Land of Rain, war orphans from an enemy country. And besides..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze settled on Nagato, whose eyes were hidden behind his bangs.
Qi Luna straightened up. Her half-tied red hair swayed behind her like flames.
"Yeah, I understand every risk involved. But I still want to ask you—Lord Hokage—to give them a chance. A chance to live!"
She placed a hand on Nagato's head and gently patted it.
"They shouldn't have to pay the price for this war..."
Yahiko suddenly stepped forward, his voice trembling as he spoke:
"We... We can become strong ninja! We won't be a burden to you, Big Brother Qi Luna!"
Konan clutched Qi Luna's clothes tightly. Her eyes glimmered with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Nagato stood silently to one side, his eyes hidden in shadow, revealing no emotion.
Sarutobi Hiruzen drew deeply on his pipe, filling his lungs with the pungent smoke. His gaze swept over the report from the Amegakure battlefield that had arrived a few days earlier—the list of Konoha Ninja who would remain there forever!
The seeds of hatred had long since taken root between the two countries. And these children... They should have been new shoots on that great tree, inheriting an enduring hatred...
"Do you know why I agreed to let you and Kushina come to Konoha?" Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly asked.
Qi Luna was taken aback. "Because... we're candidates to take over Grandma Mito's duty and become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"No!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and walked to the window, looking out at Konoha's busy, bustling streets.
"That's not the only reason. If all we needed was a new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, you alone would be enough."
"But I've always believed that Konoha would grow stronger only if everyone in the village could live together in harmony! The Konoha founded by the First was never meant to belong to just one person or one clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around. In the sunlight, the wrinkles on his face seemed especially deep.
"And I have to consider the village's safety. You were right not to mention it in your letter. That power... That power recorded only in a few scattered words, even in ancient texts—who can guarantee what it might do?!"
Qi Luna dropped to one knee, tore the clan crest from her sleeve, and pressed it to her chest.
"I swear in the name of the Uzumaki: I will teach them the Will of Fire. If any of them ever betray us..."
Her voice caught for a moment...
"I will kill them with my own hands! Then take my own life to atone!"
Silence fell over the office. The only sound was the clock on the wall, ticking away.
Nagato suddenly looked up. A violet glimmer flashed in his eyes, something Qi Luna had never seen before.
"I... We... don't want to see anyone else die!" The boy's voice was barely audible. "When my father and mother died... I couldn't do anything... That's why... I..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze wavered slightly.
He remembered the prophecy Jiraiya had mentioned last time: "The Child of Destiny who will bring great change to the Ninja World!"
Could fate have entrusted this ragged war orphan with such a burden?
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe lightly against the corner of the desk and made his decision as Hokage:
"All right, Qi Luna."
"I agree to let the three of them stay."
"But in return, I have two conditions."
He raised one finger.
"First, the Anbu will keep them under constant surveillance for the next six months, especially Nagato! After that, the Anbu will inspect them regularly, especially Nagato! This will continue until they graduate and become ninja, and I personally determine whether they're fit to be ninja—especially Nagato!"
He raised a second finger.
"Second, as of today, you're a Chunin in the Anbu under my direct command. You'll personally be responsible for their education and surveillance. If any of them shows signs of becoming a threat to Konoha..."
"I understand!" Qi Luna bowed deeply, her red hair falling like a waterfall. "Thank you for your mercy, Lord Hokage!"
After Qi Luna left the Hokage Office with the three children, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe again.
Through the wisps of smoke, he seemed to see countless possibilities for the future...
"I hope this decision of mine won't bring irreversible consequences to Konoha..."
Before you continue