A white-haired young man wearing glasses appeared behind them.
"Oh, it's Senior Kabuto!"
Everyone greeted him.
Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses and exchanged pleasantries with everyone.
"Shinsei!" Ino greeted him cheerfully, ran over in a few strides, and hugged his arm.
Shinsei had no choice but to respond warmly.
Ino really was a little too bold, paying no mind to how many people were around. If Shinsei had not spoken to her about it before, she would already have thrown herself into his arms.
Now Shinsei felt two soft mounds rubbing against his arm. Luckily, he was still young. If he were two years older, he would definitely have embarrassed himself in public.
His friends had passed the exam and were all happy now. Even Naruto had recovered much of his energy and looked excited.
Sasuke supported Naruto. Their relationship had now reached a new stage; they would never have been this close before.
The sharp-eyed Shinsei spotted a masked person gesturing to him.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Shinsei and Hashihime followed the newcomer away.
The door opened to reveal an old man wearing a bamboo hat, seated and smoking a pipe. It was none other than the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. An adult female ninja was also standing in the room, dressed in mesh with her right hand bandaged. She was Mitarashi Anko, the examiner for this round of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
"Shinsei, Hashihime, you're here." Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a mouthful of pipe smoke. "You encountered Orochimaru. Tell me what happened."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Shinsei bowed and explained everything in detail, secretly watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression.
"You did very well, Shinsei." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in approval. "To think Konoha has produced another genius of such caliber!"
He raised his head to look at Shinsei before him, then suddenly sighed. "If only a genius like you had appeared a few years earlier!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to remember something, then shook his head.
"Are you having any difficulties? Is there anything you need me, as Hokage, to do? I haven't given you the attention you deserve. A genius like you should not have been treated this way." The Hokage's gaze turned kindly. He seemed to look at Shinsei with anticipation, hoping he would ask for some help that was within his power to provide.
Shinsei had no expectation of receiving any help from Hiruzen Sarutobi. It had been far more than a day or two since he had shown his talent; he had even surpassed Sasuke to become the top student of their class.
Two years earlier, Shinsei really had needed help. He had lacked both instruction in ninjutsu theory and exposure to advanced ninjutsu. But by now, he had already established a preliminary path for his ninjutsu system. Rather than count on the Third Hokage, he would be better off waiting for Tsunade to take office. As a fellow member of the Senju Clan, the treatment and resources he received then would naturally far exceed what he received now.
Still, he had to accept the olive branch the Third Hokage extended. Otherwise, being labeled someone who did not know how to appreciate a favor would make things difficult for him. After all, the Third Hokage was not dead yet.
"Uh, I need some time to continue developing my ninjutsu." Shinsei thought it over and decided to make that request.
"Oh? Is it that Water Release: Kirin ninjutsu?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I have some new ideas now and want to strengthen it, but that will take time."
"It really is an impressive ninjutsu. Developing ninjutsu certainly takes a lot of time." The Third Hokage nodded. This technique, which combined offense and defense, reminded him of the Uchiha Clan's unique Mangekyō ninjutsu, Susanoo. "The Fourth Hokage spent three years developing the Rasengan, yet you've developed several powerful ninjutsu in such a short time. I've only ever seen talent like that in my teacher."
Shinsei knew whom the Third Hokage meant: the great master of forbidden technique development, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. He had not expected him to compare him to Tobirama.
"I wouldn't dare compare myself to Lord Second Hokage."
Shinsei believed he simply had a somewhat broader way of thinking. The other factor was his powerful mental strength, which had allowed him to develop Water Release: Kirin, a ninjutsu whose power was proportional to the difficulty of controlling it.
"No!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "My teacher wasn't as formidable as you at your age."
Shinsei did not know what to say. Excessive modesty would be hypocrisy. Tobirama Senju was not a transmigrator, so of course he could not have accomplished what Shinsei had at this age.
"By the way, have you considered having this ninjutsu included in the Scroll of Seals?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a mouthful of pipe smoke, his gaze seeming full of anticipation as he looked at Shinsei.
With you putting it that way, what else can I say?
"It would be my honor, Lord Hokage!"
"Good boy!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "You may also choose a ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals as a reward for submitting yours."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"You've earned it." The Hokage thought for a moment, then added, "If there's anything you don't understand, you can come and ask me as well."
"Huh? May I? Lord Hokage, wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" Shinsei widened his eyes, seemingly unable to believe the Hokage was showing him such care.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed momentarily taken aback. You're really going to ask? But he immediately said kindly:
"Of course. Helping Konoha's new shoots grow strong is my responsibility as Hokage."
Shinsei really did have something he wanted to ask, but he had never had the opportunity before. Now that the conversation had reached this point, he would milk whatever benefits he could.
"I lack sensory ninjutsu and want to develop one myself, but I've run into some difficulties."
A sensory technique was something Shinsei had always wanted to develop. It also had a bearing on whether he could learn Flying Thunder God in the future. He had originally intended to ask Tsunade later, but Tsunade herself rarely used ninjutsu, mostly smashing things with her fists. Her supporting ninjutsu were also mostly related to the human body.
The old man before him, however, was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu. Almost no one in the current Shinobi World could match his understanding of ninjutsu. Even Orochimaru might not possess his knowledge.
Shinsei wanted to turn Water Release into mist and use the mist to link chakra sensing and control.
Shinsei had already obtained the relevant ninjutsu for turning Water Release into mist from Zabuza Momochi. But he had currently hit a bottleneck in connecting chakra within the mist and lacked the relevant knowledge. The main problem was that the mist was too dispersed. The chakra distribution always dissipated along with it, leaving intermittent patches that would not connect.
After hearing Shinsei give a rough explanation of his ideas, the Third Hokage pondered for a moment.
"I have a general understanding of your problem, but I can't give you a specific solution right away. I have a rough idea, though I'll need to test it." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe.
"Today isn't a good time. Come see me after these two busy days are over. I'll also give you half a month off. Just report to the Hokage Building every day."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
After saying goodbye to the Hokage, Shinsei and Hashihime left the room.
Hashihime wore a resentful expression. Shinsei knew she envied his time off.
"Hakutaku!"
A voice rang out.