Early the next morning.
Inside the Hokage's office.
As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen started work, he called Yamato over.
Yamato was the only ninja who knew Wood Style besides Senju Hashirama and Naruto.
A man with dull eyes pushed open the office door and said to Hiruzen, "Hokage-sama, I'm here."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him and asked, "Tenzo, you know about the Chūnin Exams, right?"
Yamato nodded seriously. "Yes. Although there was a slight problem during the process, the damage wasn't too bad."
"That's true." Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "The battle between Sunagakure's Tailed Beast and little Naruto completely changed the terrain of the Forest of Death."
"Tenzo, do you know why I called you here?"
Yamato's mouth twitched slightly as he replied helplessly, "To... restore the environment?"
Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Thank you for your hard work, Tenzo."
Yamato gave a small sigh. "It's not hard, Hokage-sama."
Then, Yamato set off.
However, a small change stirred within his heart.
Senju Hashirama's Wood Style was terrifying—but his own Wood Style could only be used for reforestation.
This thought made Yamato feel slightly depressed.
But when he arrived at the Forest of Death, he was dumbfounded.
He looked around at the dense jungle, scratching his head helplessly. "It should be here… but why did so many trees grow overnight?"
"No... this is definitely the trace of Wood Style!"
…
After confirming what he saw, Yamato hurried back to report to the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked when he heard the news.
He thought to himself: How long has it been since Naruto got the First Hokage's ninjutsu scroll? Has he already learned Hashirama's Wood Style that easily?
This was the same powerful Wood Style that Yamato had studied for years—barely managing to imitate a shadow of its true form.
From Yamato's description, it was clear that although Naruto's Wood Style wasn't quite as strong as the First Hokage's, it was already far beyond Yamato's.
Sarutobi's expression suddenly grew serious. He said to Yamato in a low tone, "Tenzo, if anyone asks about this, say that it was your Wood Style. Understood?"
"This…" Yamato hesitated for a moment, sensing something deeper, then nodded.
Seeing that he understood, Sarutobi dismissed him.
Shortly after Yamato left, Jiraiya entered the office.
Behind him was a young man with a bruised nose and a swollen face.
At first glance—oh? Wasn't that Uchiha Sasuke?
Sarutobi Hiruzen was slightly surprised. "Jiraiya? You're back?"
"Yeah," Jiraiya said, walking straight up to him. "I came to ask—how strong is Uzumaki Naruto now?"
Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and spoke in a deep tone. "Very strong. Much stronger than I was thirty years ago."
Jiraiya's expression turned understanding. "I knew it… No wonder he refused to become my disciple and sent this guy to me instead."
He glanced at Sasuke, who looked both injured and unconvinced.
Sarutobi didn't pay Sasuke much mind.
Although others called Sasuke a genius, Sarutobi didn't agree.
In his eyes, Sasuke's existence was merely to give the true Uchiha geniuses a sense of peace.
Now that Jiraiya had returned to Konoha, Sarutobi brought up what had been on his mind for a long time.
"Jiraiya, you know I'm getting old…"
"Teacher," Jiraiya interrupted him quickly. "You also know my personality isn't suited to being Hokage."
Hiruzen's eyes showed a trace of weariness.
Seeing that, Jiraiya sighed softly. "I can ask Tsunade. She should come back."
After all, Tsunade was Senju Hashirama's granddaughter, one of the village's founders.
Hiruzen nodded slightly, relieved.
As expected of my apprentice, he thought. He still cares, even a little.
He couldn't help but feel how old his bones had become.
If not for Danzo being too extreme and unfit to lead, Hiruzen would have abdicated long ago.
Then Jiraiya spoke again. "However, I want to take the kid who can use Wood Style with me."
Sarutobi was startled. "You already know?"
Jiraiya folded his arms and said solemnly, "Wood Style is an incredibly powerful ability. But he's still young—he needs the right guidance."
Sarutobi fell silent. The right guidance? Maybe it's already too late, he thought.
Although Naruto wasn't very old, his mentality, behavior, and composure were already that of an adult.
But since Jiraiya wanted to try, Hiruzen decided to let him.
Although Jiraiya himself was no longer young, in Hiruzen's eyes, he would always be a child.
…
On the street.
Jiraiya walked in front, with Sasuke following behind.
"Young man," Jiraiya said bluntly, "don't be so full of yourself. You're still far too weak. It's impossible for you to defeat that kid."
"Unless you truly learn to master the power of both the Nine-Tails and the Sharingan."
Sasuke clenched his fists but said nothing—he knew Jiraiya was right.
Finally, he asked, "Then what can you teach me?"
That was the most important question.
If he was going to become Jiraiya's disciple, he needed something to learn.
Otherwise, what was the point?
Jiraiya chuckled. "My ninjutsu isn't suitable for you. What you need is knowledge."
Sasuke frowned. "Knowledge?"
Jiraiya asked, "Do you know about the Senju clan?"
"I know," Sasuke replied after a moment's thought. "They were the old rivals of the Uchiha clan—one of the founding clans of Konoha."
Jiraiya nodded. "Compared to the First Hokage, the Second Hokage wasn't a peaceful man. Even though the Uchiha and Senju founded the village together, he never fully trusted the Uchiha."
"Tobirama Senju specialized in researching the Uchiha clan. He recorded everything he learned about how to fight them."
Sasuke's pupils shrank slightly. So the Hokage isn't completely bathed in sunlight after all… he thought.
Seeing Sasuke's reaction, Jiraiya continued, "That research contains almost every strength and weakness of the Uchiha clan's elite—and even some of the Sharingan's secrets."
"The one who knows you best is always your enemy."
"The Second Hokage's manuscripts are now sealed in Konoha's secret archives."
Sasuke's breathing grew heavier.
The Second Hokage—Senju Tobirama—was known in Uchiha history as their most formidable enemy.
It was said Tobirama knew everything about the Uchiha.
If I could obtain those manuscripts, Sasuke thought, I could not only learn more about the Sharingan but also discover how to overcome the weaknesses that destroyed my clan.
Jiraiya looked at him seriously. "But to get those manuscripts, you'll have to go through the Third Hokage."
Sasuke fell silent.
Jiraiya didn't like wasting time on people with questionable resolve.
Even if this one was personally recommended by Minato's son, he still had to prove himself.
After all, even Minato's son needed guidance.
So the people he recommended were unlikely to be exceptional.
Jiraiya finally said, "If you can get the manuscript written by the Second Hokage about the Uchiha, I'll officially take you as my disciple."
Then, Jiraiya turned and left in a blur.
Sasuke stood there silently for a long time.
After a while, he looked toward the Hokage Building and whispered to himself—
"I love Konoha."
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