Reward eligibility, successful training

"I want to be Head of the Medical Department!"

Shihōin Naraku, the Deputy Head of the Medical Department, stood in the Hokage's Office and firmly stated his demand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held his pipe, forgetting to light it as he stared in surprise at Shihōin Naraku, who had suddenly appeared. "Why?"

He did not believe Shihōin Naraku was unaware that the Medical Department Director had no real authority at all. It was merely an impressive-sounding title.

Not long after Shihōin Naraku took control of the Medical Emergency Response Unit, his word had essentially become law throughout the Medical Department. Its head was merely an old man Hiruzen Sarutobi had appointed, someone with considerable seniority whose responsibilities consisted only of simple tasks and relaying the Hokage's assignments.

Things had not changed much after Shihōin Naraku became deputy head, either. Shimura Danzō and the two elders had intervened in the most important division, the Medical Emergency Response Unit, while the remaining branches, such as the Corpse Disposal Unit and Animal Care Unit, were still in Shihōin Naraku's hands.

Thus, whether Shihōin Naraku was Head of the Medical Department had no effect whatsoever on his authority.

Shihōin Naraku looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said bluntly, "I'm currently overseeing the division of the Medical Emergency Response Unit. Becoming Head of the Medical Department would make things easier and allow me to complete the division as soon as possible."

Seeing Shihōin Naraku's determined expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated, but finally said, "All right. Since that's what you want, you are now Head of Konoha's Medical Department!"

[Ding! The host has been promoted to Head of Konoha's Medical Department!]

[Congratulations to the host on receiving five prize draws! Remaining prize draws: seven!]

[Friendly reminder: a ten-draw pull is more likely to yield amazing items!]

There it was-the system notification.

Still, Shihōin Naraku felt a little regretful. Although he had received the maximum five chances from the Lottery this time, adding the two he had left from before only gave him seven, not enough for a ten-draw pull that could yield good items.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Shihōin Naraku leave, a thought suddenly struck him. Could Naraku be using this opportunity to show that he doesn't want to become a Hokage candidate?

No, they haven't been informed yet. Neither Naraku nor Kakashi should know. But they're both quick thinkers, so they might have guessed a few things.

With that suspicion in mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered over the next few days that Shihōin Naraku was no longer spending time around Naruto Uzumaki with Kakashi Hatake.

He immediately sent someone to ask about it. Shihōin Naraku's answer was perfectly matter-of-fact: he was busy with the division of the Medical Emergency Response Unit and simply had no time to visit Naruto Uzumaki. Kakashi Hatake was there anyway, so it made no difference whether he went.

That settled it for Hiruzen Sarutobi. Shihōin Naraku must have guessed something, which was why he had directly asked him for the position of Head of the Medical Department and distanced himself from Naruto Uzumaki.

Shihōin Naraku's sudden actions caught Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat off guard. He truly had not expected Naraku to be unwilling to become a Hokage candidate.

In another sense, Hiruzen Sarutobi actually trusted Shihōin Naraku a little more now. But Naraku had all but stated his refusal outright, and he could hardly force him to become a candidate. There was no justification for that.

Tap, tap, tap...

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his chair, looking indecisive. After a while, he rose, left the Hokage Building, and began strolling around Konohagakure.

"Ah! Lord Hokage!"

"It really is the Third Hokage!"

"This bouquet is for you, Lord Hokage!"

"Wow, it's Grandpa Hokage..."

It had to be said that, in the eyes of Konohagakure's ordinary residents, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was a Hokage worthy of great respect.

The civilians did not really understand what happened among ninja, but they did live quite comfortably under Hiruzen Sarutobi's protection, and that was enough. Ordinary people were always concerned with food, clothing, housing, and transportation. They wanted nothing beyond that.

This also showed why Shimura Danzō was unsuited to becoming Hokage. Spending all day in the gloomy underground was inherently at odds with the Hokage's necessarily sunny image. Whatever he was like behind the scenes, the Hokage had to maintain a great, glorious, and upright image in public.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wandered around Konoha for a long time, leisurely accepting everyone's affection before finally returning to the Hokage Building. This time, however, he went to the rooftop.

A gust of wind swept past, stirring Hiruzen Sarutobi's white robes.

Standing on the rooftop and looking down at Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind.

"Since Naraku has already made his wishes clear, I'll let Kakashi do it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had thought it through. He was only deciding on a Hokage candidate. Even if Kakashi Hatake became Naruto Uzumaki's supervising teacher, that did not mean he would necessarily become Hokage.

If something unexpected happened, as long as he was still alive, he could simply choose someone else. It would not be much trouble.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been appointed Hokage on the battlefield by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. Konoha had made it through back then, so nothing should go wrong during peacetime.

Having made up his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer questioned Shihōin Naraku about the matter. Besides instructing the ANBU to take proper care of Naruto Uzumaki's meals during this period, he occasionally appeared himself to eat with Naruto Uzumaki and offer him tips on Tree-Climbing Practice.

Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake remained hidden, watching Naruto Uzumaki grow little by little every day.

"I did it!"

"Hahaha, I did it!"

Naruto Uzumaki stood on the big tree, jumping about with delight. One careless misstep nearly sent him falling.

Fortunately, the chakra beneath his feet kept him attached to the trunk, preventing his fall.

"Be careful."

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, exhaled a mouthful of smoke, and watched the delighted Naruto Uzumaki with a smile.

Leaping down from the tree, Naruto Uzumaki flopped onto the grass, an irrepressible smile on his face. The joy that moment of success brought him was truly beyond words.

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over and stood beside Naruto Uzumaki, watching him roll over, sit up on the grass, and sway back and forth.

"Hehe, Grandpa Hokage, can I become a ninja of the village now?"

Naruto Uzumaki looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi hopefully. He thought he was now stronger than everyone at the Ninja Academy. After all, none of them could do what he had done.

"No, you still have to pass the Ninja Academy's exam."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Naruto Uzumaki the answer he least wanted to hear.

"How come? Iruka-sensei said the graduation exam is the Clone Technique. That's what I'm worst at!"

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head. After practicing tree climbing for so long, he could feel himself growing stronger. Unfortunately, his Clone Technique remained hit-or-miss.

"Hehehe..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed with his smile. "There's nothing I can do about that. Iruka is a teacher at the academy. I can't change his decisions."

"But you're the Hokage!"

However slow Naruto Uzumaki might have been to catch on, even he could tell that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not help him with this.

He could only reluctantly abandon the idea of taking a shortcut and diligently practice the Clone Technique.

Of course, Naruto Uzumaki did not know that, even if someone at the Ninja Academy failed to graduate, that person would never be him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would not allow him to fail to graduate, and neither would Konoha as a whole.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki failing to graduate? What a joke.

Naruto Uzumaki had to set out on the path to becoming a ninja. This was the course fate had laid out for him!