Test

Fang Xu sat up straight. "Please, go ahead."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The first matter concerns this afternoon."

Fang Xu's heart sank.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "I've had those three children questioned. It wasn't arranged by Asuma, but they did take it upon themselves to cause you trouble because of the conflict between you and Asuma at school."

Fang Xu did not interrupt.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

"Asuma is my son. He did not lead this matter, but his status affected you. As his father, I cannot pretend not to see that."

He looked at Fang Xu, his tone serious.

"So, I apologize to you on Asuma's behalf."

Fang Xu immediately said, "Lord Hokage, there's no need for this. Those three were responsible for their own actions."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand.

"I know whose responsibility it is. But as Hokage and as a father, I should make my position clear."

Hearing this, Fang Xu relaxed slightly. At least the Third Hokage had not come to hold him accountable for fighting back against those three.

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, his gaze settling on Fang Xu's face.

"The second matter is that I wanted to come see you."

Fang Xu froze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice softened.

"Your father, Naoto, was a highly capable jonin under my command back then. You were still very young when he sacrificed himself for the village."

Fang Xu fell silent.

The original owner had few memories of his parents, but that emptiness had always remained.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Over the years, the village has provided you with compensation and living arrangements according to protocol. But as Hokage, I was indeed too busy with affairs and showed you too little concern."

As he said this, his face carried a hint of apology.

"Only after seeing you today did I realize that Naoto's child has grown up—and has become even more outstanding than I imagined."

Fang Xu's heart stirred. The Third Hokage had indeed noticed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not spell it out, merely saying, "Your father gave much for the village. Now you have begun training diligently as well. That is a good thing."

Fang Xu said softly, "I just want to have the ability to protect myself in the future, and protect the village too."

That was half true, half false. Protecting himself came first. As for protecting the village, it was not something he could not do.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very satisfied with that answer.

"It is good that you have such aspirations."

He picked up his teacup, then set it down again.

"I will have someone raise your compensation by one level. There will be many expenses in your training from now on. The village will not mistreat the orphaned children of ninjas who sacrificed for it."

Fang Xu's breath caught slightly.

His compensation would be raised by one level? That was far too important for him right now.

Lightning Body Tempering burned through money. His increased appetite burned through money. Ninja tools, scrolls, medicine—everything would cost money in the future.

He had just been pained by the cost of three bowls of ramen, yet the Third Hokage had unexpectedly given him such enormous help.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him, his tone gentle but expectant.

"Fang Xu, grow well. Once you have the ability in the future, make more contributions to the village."

Fang Xu had been worrying over training expenses. Raising his compensation by a level was exactly the help he needed most.

He stood and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Fang Xu's bow, but did not rise immediately.

He held his pipe in his hand, his gaze resting on Fang Xu, his tone still gentle.

"Sit down. You needn't be so restrained."

Fang Xu sat back down.

He knew very well that although the matter of compensation had been settled, the Third Hokage could not possibly have come to his door tonight solely for that.

Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject.

"Fang Xu, you have learned about the Will of Fire at the Ninja Academy too, haven't you?"

Fang Xu's heart tightened. Here it came.

The compensation was reassurance, and concern for an orphan was a way to close the distance. This question was the real test.

The Will of Fire was no ordinary slogan in Konoha.

If his answer was too hollow, it would sound rehearsed. If it was too cold, he could easily be seen as someone with no feeling for the village.

Especially since he had revealed his Lightning Activation ability today, the Third Hokage surely wanted to confirm whether he was worth cultivating—and whether he might become an unstable factor.

Fang Xu did not answer immediately.

He lowered his head and thought for several seconds before looking up. "Lord Hokage, if you only want the textbook answer, I can recite it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not interrupt, merely nodding.

Fang Xu continued, "But if you ask how I personally feel, the strongest impression the Will of Fire gives me is sacrifice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe paused.

"Sacrifice?"

"Yes."

Fang Xu's tone was very serious.

"The village did not come into existence out of nowhere. The houses, the streets, the Ninja Academy, the mission system, and the peaceful lives we children can have—all of that was bought by people standing at the front and facing danger."

He paused.

"My parents were ninjas. They died for a mission. The teachers at school teach us knowledge, and the village gives compensation to orphans. That is also the previous generation taking responsibility upon themselves."

"So I believe the core of the Will of Fire is not how loudly it is shouted, but whether one is willing to shoulder risks for others at critical moments."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him. The smile on his face faded slightly, but not from displeasure.

On the contrary, his gaze became more serious.

This answer satisfied him more than simply reciting, "Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on."

It was not unusual for children to memorize slogans.

Only someone who understood the Will of Fire through sacrifice and responsibility had truly thought about it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "Don't you think sacrifice is a heavy thing?"

"It is."

Fang Xu nodded, not pretending to be passionate.

"That is why I think it matters. If sacrifice came easily, there would be nothing worthy of respect in it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.

This child was more clear-headed than he had imagined.

Fang Xu added, "Of course, I am still only a student at the Ninja Academy. Talking about sacrificing myself for the village now would be too false. What I can do now is study hard, train hard, and not let my parents' and the village's care go to waste."

Those words were steady. He neither impulsively pledged his loyalty nor made himself sound grand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more satisfied.

If a young person claimed from the start that he was willing to immediately give his life for the village, that might not be genuine.

Understanding one's current weakness and being willing to grow step by step was what made someone worth cultivating.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked again, "Then what do you think of Konoha?"

This time, Fang Xu smiled.

This question was just as simple on the surface and just as difficult underneath. If the Will of Fire was an ideal, then the village was reality.

If he made it sound too small, the Third Hokage would be disappointed. If he praised it too extravagantly, he would seem glib.

Fang Xu thought for a moment and chose to tell the truth.

"Konoha is very good."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him.

Fang Xu said, "At least, it is very good to me. My parents are gone, but I still have a place to live, compensation, and the chance to study at the Ninja Academy. The neighbors are not especially close, but no one bullies me either."

At this point, his tone became a little more relaxed.

"My classmates are good too. Kurenai, Rin, and Guy are all friendly. Obito is a little noisy, but he has no bad intentions. The teachers teach seriously as well, and Ichiraku Ramen is delicious too."