"Ah, Kakashi, you're here too. Have the preliminary exams ended already? Is there something you need?"
Seeing Kakashi Hatake, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally dropped the look of someone enjoying a juicy spectacle and asked him a question.
"Huh?"
Kakashi Hatake pulled his gaze away as well. Feeling a little uncomfortable under their stares, he turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and hurriedly nodded before explaining why he had come.
"Lord Hokage, I came to discuss something with you. My students rescued someone from another village."
"She was constantly tormented in her village and doesn't want to go back. She wants to stay in Konoha. Those kids insisted I come and ask whether that would be possible."
"Hmm, well..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately hesitated.
After serving as Hokage for so long, he had long since set his emotions aside. Pity couldn't solve anything, and others wouldn't spare you just because you were pitiful.
Jiraiya's expression stiffened at those words!
Right, he had originally intended to put in a good word for her. Who would have thought the matter with Orochimaru would shock him so much that he forgot to mention it to Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Only when Kakashi Hatake brought it up did Jiraiya remember!
"What's her name?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't immediately agree or refuse. Instead, he asked for her name, wanting to establish which country she came from first. If she really did betray them, could he defeat her?
Kakashi Hatake replied calmly, "Her name is Karin. She's from the Land of Grass!"
"Oh..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi still hesitated. He could defeat her, but was she worth taking in?
Seeing this, Jiraiya knew it was time for him to step in.
"Well, old man, I saw that little girl while I was protecting my student. She's quite promising and has a special constitution. She seems to