Questions Before the Assessment!

The four followed the Third Hokage, leaving the School Playground and arriving at the Training Ground used for extracurricular activities.

The four were currently the focus of the Third Hokage's attention, considered prime candidates for cultivation. Otherwise, the Third Hokage wouldn't have personally intervened. He had been observing the four from the shadows.

He had thoroughly understood everything about the four, including their personalities.

A small team ideally consisted of three people, with one support-type ninja. Tsunade was clearly the support-type ninja. Of course, if you thought she was a support-type ninja and easy to bully, she could kill you with one punch.

With such a distribution, one person would be assigned elsewhere. Originally, Hikaru, who had risen through the ranks, should have been the one assigned elsewhere. However, the Third Hokage did not do this. Instead, he integrated the four into one team.

The Third Hokage naturally had his own plans for making such a move.

These plans also had his own reasons behind them.

As the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not, like other teachers, constantly take students on missions and teach them.

In terms of teaching, Hiruzen Sarutobi would do his best. In fact, as his students, the resources they received were incomparable to others.

Similarly, because the teacher was Hiruzen Sarutobi, he could not accompany them on missions. As the Third Hokage of Konoha, could Hiruzen Sarutobi take his students running around the world?

This was clearly impossible. Even if the Third Hokage were willing to do so, a group of people would jump out to oppose it.

This reason was also the biggest factor in him integrating Hikaru into the team.

Among the four, Orochimaru was the most apathetic, indifferent to everyone. Tsunade had a violent temper and could erupt at any moment. Jiraiya was carefree and might do something outrageous if one wasn't careful.

Only Hikaru, in the Third Hokage's opinion, was the most steady.

With four people forming a team, one person would be chosen to lead the team. When carrying out missions outside, the chosen person could restrain the other three. Otherwise, if he couldn't act, and Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya went out, the team could be in trouble at any moment.

They couldn't possibly have other people from the village escort them every time a mission required leaving the village, could they?

The four, Hikaru, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, had no idea what the Third Hokage was thinking. They followed him to the Training Ground, lined up, and waited for the Third Hokage to announce the content of the assessment.

"Before the assessment, I want to ask you a question. I hope you can answer truthfully, just follow your heart."

Just as the four thought the Third Hokage was about to begin their assessment, he suddenly uttered a sentence that made them slightly stunned. A question? And they had to answer truthfully?

Hikaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru exchanged glances. They were all a bit confused about what the Third Hokage was trying to do.

"First!!"

The Third Hokage showed no intention of explaining. He walked a couple of steps with his hands behind his back, looked up at them, and said, "When you are on a mission outside and happen to discover an enemy base containing important secrets, and obtaining these secrets could bring absolute benefits to the village, what would you do?"

After speaking, the Third Hokage smiled at them, waiting for their answers.

Hikaru's first reaction was a slight furrowing of his clear eyebrows. Orochimaru lowered his head in thought. Tsunade crossed her arms, unsure of the Third Hokage's true intentions.

Only Jiraiya looked at the others, then at the Third Hokage with his gentle smile. He raised his hand, scratched his head, and said with great distress, "Of course, we'd attack, go in, and get the secrets!!!"

"A very good idea."

The Third Hokage nodded with a smile and looked at Tsunade.

Tsunade was not as impulsive as Jiraiya. She hesitated for a moment and said, "We should first investigate the strength of the enemies in the base before deciding whether to act. If the enemies are too strong, a frontal assault would not be advisable."

Although she mentioned reconnaissance, Tsunade also leaned towards taking action and obtaining the secrets within the base, with the same outcome as Jiraiya.