Studying Under the Third Hokage

"Lord Hokage! My son Xuanhui has what it takes to become Hokage!"

Xuanhui's father, Uchiha Uzumaki, held Xuanhui up with both hands, lifting the seven- or eight-year-old boy into the air.

Then he shoved him right in front of the middle-aged man holding a pipe... the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi!

"Uzumaki, calm down first. Let me take a look at the child!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly tossed aside his pipe and exhaled deeply to the side, emptying the smoke from his lungs.

Eight-year-old Xuanhui stared straight at the somewhat weathered Hokage before him.

Amazing! A real, living Hokage!

After eight years of transmigration, the Hokage had finally stepped down from the stone wall!

Eight whole years... Do you know how I spent those eight years?

Back then, Xuanhui had been struck by a truck and sent, with no attachments holding him back, straight into another world—the world of Naruto.

When he opened his eyes again, he was already a baby...

He had spent eight years growing up, and today, he had finally met a real big shot from Naruto!

Was his ninja journey... about to begin?!

"This little fellow is quite interesting! He isn't shy at all!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked Xuanhui up, turning him this way and that as he weighed him in his hands.

His face wore a kind, pleased expression.

"Little Xuanhui, how old are you this year?"

"Eight."

"Eight! You're this heavy at eight?"

A trace of surprise appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He squeezed Xuanhui's muscles, finding them rather firm!

Uchiha Uzumaki gestured wildly at the side as he excitedly added.

"Lord Hokage! Ever since Xuanhui could run, he's kept up his training!

We never even made him do it. He comes home drenched in sweat every day!

Isn't he an especially determined child?"

Of course. I was too young to learn ninjutsu...

There aren't even phones here. Other than exercising and reading, I don't know how else to pass the time!

Xuanhui grumbled helplessly to himself.

"Is that so? Little Xuanhui is excellent!"

Hiruzen smiled and reached out to pat Xuanhui's head.

Xuanhui instinctively raised an arm, blocking Hiruzen Sarutobi's large hand.

A sharp glint flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes!

His strength was not great, but his reactions were quite quick!

"This child truly is impressive!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's palm still landed atop Xuanhui's head, rubbing it back and forth.

"That's not all, Lord Hokage!"

Uchiha Uzumaki suddenly changed his tone, looking gravely at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"This child... was born with four chakra natures!"

"Hm?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile froze in an instant. Rare surprise appeared on his face as he looked down at the harmless-looking Xuanhui.

Normally, everyone was born with only one chakra nature.

Some special individuals were born with two chakra natures, known as a Kekkei Genkai.

Kekkei Genkai could usually be inherited, but four innate chakra natures...

"Does this child have a Kekkei Genkai?"

"No. Our family finds it strange as well!"

Uchiha Uzumaki immediately shook his head. He, his wife, and Xuanhui's paternal and maternal grandparents had all discussed whether there might be a hidden Kekkei Genkai.

After all, Xuanhui's paternal grandfather was from the Uchiha Clan, his paternal grandmother from the Uzumaki Clan, his maternal grandfather from the Nara Clan, and his maternal grandmother from the Yamanaka Clan.

"But none of us understand this sort of thing, so we made a decision—we brought Xuanhui here for you to take a look!"

After all, Xuanhui's four elders were all peripheral members of their respective clans and received little attention from them.

After the Hidden Leaf Village was founded, the major clans enjoyed peace and began advocating free love.

That was how Uchiha Uzumaki and Nara Yamanaka came together, resulting in Xuanhui.

"Hm... I've never seen a case like this either..."

Four innate chakra natures... Could it be a Kekkei Tōta?

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Mū, the Second Tsuchikage of the neighboring Stone Village.

"I'll personally teach this child!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently set Xuanhui down and looked seriously at Uchiha Uzumaki.

"That's wonderful, Lord Hokage!"

The moment Uchiha Uzumaki heard that, his legs went weak with excitement, and he dropped straight to his knees.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Xuanhui hurriedly stepped forward to support him, and only then did he barely manage to stand again.

"Quick! Xuanhui! Call him Teacher!"

"Teacher Sarutobi!"

Xuanhui released his support and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

A teacher was one who imparted knowledge, taught skills, and resolved doubts!

If he wanted to master more ninjutsu and chakra nature transformations, he would need plenty of guidance from this "Professor of Ninjutsu" before him!

"Good! Little Xuanhui is very smart! Such a clever child might surpass my three disciples someday!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily, rubbing Xuanhui's head and praising his cleverness.

Those three disciples could not hear him anyway, so he might as well build Little Xuanhui's confidence first!

"Oh, right, Xuanhui. Show Teacher Hiruzen that thing!"

"Do I really have to show him, Dad?"

"It's fine. There's no problem showing Lord Hokage!"

This airheaded dad... Isn't he afraid some terrifying trafficker might kidnap me?

With no other choice, Xuanhui looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

A flash of insight struck Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he instantly guessed what it was.

He stared at Xuanhui's eyes... until a streak of scarlet appeared, and a single tomoe slowly spun within them!

Hiruzen Sarutobi sucked in a sharp breath and hurriedly told Xuanhui to deactivate his Sharingan.

Xuanhui had not intended to keep it activated anyway. The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed, he put it away.

"Listen carefully, Xuanhui!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi crouched and patted Xuanhui's shoulder.

"You are still far too young. This power is still too powerful for you. Before you become strong enough, you must never show it to outsiders!"

I wasn't planning to activate it in the first place...

Xuanhui obediently nodded, pretending to be very well-behaved.

"Uzumaki... you have a son with tremendous potential!"

This was Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest feeling in recent years.

Xuanhui's natural gifts... were simply too outstanding!

He had to nurture him well! He had to pass down the ever-burning Will of Fire to him!

Looking at the innocent and ignorant Xuanhui, Hiruzen Sarutobi's resolve grew even firmer!

What a creepy expression... Can't Teacher Hiruzen pay a little attention to managing his face?

Of course, no one could hear Xuanhui's complaints.

"Tomorrow morning at seven, I'll be waiting for you at Training Ground Seven on the western side of the village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi made a simple arrangement with Xuanhui.

"Uzumaki, come with me. I have a mission to assign you."

Seeing that there was nothing else for him to do, Xuanhui bid Hiruzen Sarutobi farewell and turned to head home.

After Xuanhui left, Uchiha Uzumaki leaned closer.

"Lord Hokage, what mission are you assigning me? It isn't some classified mission, is it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the pipe from the ground and lightly rapped Uchiha Uzumaki on the head with it.

"How are you less clever than your own son...

Tell me, how did such a young child awaken the Sharingan?"