The Third Hokage Makes a Run for It

"Mom, didn't you char these a little too much?"

"No, this is the charcoal-grilled flavor your Aunt Akimichi taught me! If you like it, have some more!"

"Um... why aren't you two eating?"

Uchiha Uzumaki and Nara Yamanaka looked toward the center of the table, at the plate of potatoes giving off faint black smoke.

The two exchanged a knowing glance.

"I'm full just looking at my husband!" (≧∇≦)/

"Me too!" (＾ｖ＾)

Xuanhui lowered his eyes and silently kept shoveling food into his mouth.

"By the way, son, your father said Lord Hokage has taken you on as his disciple! Is that true?"

"Of course! Your son is a genius!"

Xuanhui shamelessly praised himself, making the couple laugh.

"Good, good! My son is really going places! Here, eat more! You need to grow!"

With that, the two of them began piling food onto Xuanhui's plate in perfect unison.

"That's enough, that's enough! It's way too much! I can serve myself!"

Xuanhui put up a token protest, but as usual, he still finished every last bite.

"I'm full."

Xuanhui wiped his mouth and dashed back to his room.

The two at the table saw that the little lightbulb had disappeared and immediately embraced.

"Honey! You're beautiful today too!"

"Darling, you're so handsome today too!"

"Honey!"

"Darling!"

"These lovebirds are really too much..."

Xuanhui did not want to keep getting fed dog food, so he usually stayed in his room whenever he was home.

Come to think of it, he was clearly a transmigrator, yet he did not even have a system!

It had already been eight years! In anticipation of his system's arrival, he exercised every day, all so he could rise quickly once he got his cheat ability!

And yet... he had a happy, loving family, was born with Chakra of four attributes, awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan at eight, and today, had even become the disciple of the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi!

It looked like he had the protagonist's template, yet somehow it did not...

As for the current point in the timeline... thinking carefully, it should be before the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War!

In roughly one or two years... perhaps even sooner, it would probably break out...

He was only eight. Being able to keep up his training was already pretty good. It seemed that starting tomorrow, he would have to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi and build a solid foundation first!

Xuanhui had a long-term goal: to protect this shinobi world!

At the very least, he wanted to reduce as many regrets as possible!

But speaking of changing the world, relying on himself alone—a four-clan mixed-blood ninja without a cheat ability—would really be rather difficult!

"If possible... as I recall, those three should all be pretty easy to talk to during this period, right?"

With plans turning over in his mind, Xuanhui gradually drifted off into the night...

"Teacher Sarutobi, is this the remarkable kid you mentioned?"

A pale-skinned man with vertical pupils and a cold, aloof demeanor spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Orochimaru, don't let his age fool you. This kid has tremendous potential!"

Looking at the cold and mysterious man, Xuanhui recognized him at once.

"Good morning, Teacher!"

"Good morning, Mr. Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru's half-lidded eyes opened slightly wider.

"Oh? You know me?"

"I once saw Mr. Orochimaru from afar. I think you're a very intelligent and rational ninja!"

Orochimaru's eyes opened fully as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in surprise.

He had just completed an S-rank mission, finished reporting in, and collected his reward when Hiruzen Sarutobi had forcibly dragged him over, saying there was a good kid he had to meet.

"Teacher Sarutobi, you were right. This kid really is interesting."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and rubbed Xuanhui's head.

"Xuanhui, let's start with a simple test!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not wearing the Hokage robes today, but casual clothes instead.

"Xuanhui, do you understand Chakra?"

"Mm, roughly. Everyone is born with Chakra. It is the sum of physical energy and spiritual energy. Physical energy can be extracted from the cells, while spiritual energy can be strengthened through training."

"Not bad. You know a thing or two!"

Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru nodded in approval.

"Now, I'll teach you how to extract Chakra!"

As Xuanhui listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru take turns instructing him, his head began to spin.

About an hour later, a wondrous power finally began to flow through his body, and he succeeded at last.

Unfortunately, the sensation vanished almost as soon as it appeared, so he could only start over from scratch.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the sun in the sky, then let out a long sigh.

"Orochimaru, I have official duties to attend to. I'll leave this child to you."

"Xuanhui, from now on, study properly under your Senior Brother Orochimaru! But don't worry, I'll teach you whenever I have free time!"

With that, before Orochimaru and Xuanhui's astonished eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi vanished from sight with astonishing decisiveness!

Only one adult and one child remained on the training ground...

"That old man..."

Orochimaru was already a ninja capable of standing on his own, but... even as a calm and rational ninja, he could not avoid having the occasional rebellious streak.

"Um... Mr. Orochimaru, will you continue training with me?"

Xuanhui tugged on Orochimaru's wide sleeve and looked up, trying to use his age to launch a "pitiful attack"!

Orochimaru clenched his fists and composed his expression before looking down.

Xuanhui was gazing at him expectantly, leaving him unsure how to refuse for the moment.

"One morning. I'll only accompany you for one morning, all right?"

Just as expected! Orochimaru was still in his good-guy phase, so he could still communicate normally.

"Okay!"

Thus, the two once again immersed themselves in their enthusiastic lessons.

By noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky, and both of their clothes were soaked through with sweat.

"Let's stop here for today."

Xuanhui wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He had already gained an initial grasp of how to extract Chakra. Next, he just needed to gradually become proficient!

"Wait, Senior Brother Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru turned to leave, but Xuanhui suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"What is it?"

Orochimaru turned back to look at Xuanhui, thinking he still had something important to say.

"Um..."

The fingers clutching his sleeve rubbed together.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, Senior Brother Orochimaru. Could I treat you to a meal? Consider it repayment for your instruction!"

Orochimaru had wanted to refuse, but seeing Xuanhui's earnest face, he could not help but relent.

"All right..."

At that moment, Orochimaru's stomach growled at a very inopportune time.

"I'm hungry too, as it happens. Let's go!"

Orochimaru immediately turned around and started to leave, but then suddenly remembered something.

"One more thing. Don't call me Senior Brother anymore. Call me Teacher!"