The final day arrived, and the results of the Chūnin Exams were in.
First place, unsurprisingly, went to Itachi Uchiha.
Second was Akiyoi Shinya.
Third, Haku.
Fourth, Deidara.
Fifth, Hyūga Tenri.
As the rankings were announced, Deidara watched Heshu laughing and talking with the top three winners. Tears welled in his eyes again.
"Winning and losing are part of a ninja's life. Don't take it to heart, Deidara!" Ōnoki looked at the boy and sighed.
Deidara didn't hear a word. His eyes were locked on Heshu.
Damn it!
Next time. Next time, he would definitely earn the Hokage's praise!
The Iwa-nin standing behind Ōnoki exchanged complicated looks.
They weren't sure how to tell the Tsuchikage… was it possible Deidara didn't care about victory or defeat at all? That he just… wanted the Hokage's attention?
Gaara, held in Chiyo's arms, watched Heshu with wide, obedient eyes.
"Mama…"
Gaara stretched out his chubby, lotus-root-like arms again.
Chiyo calmly pressed his little hands back down.
Heshu feigned deafness. He kept laughing and chatting with the top three contestants.
"Um, Sensei… may we go back now?"
Itachi didn't want to interrupt, but his little brother was waiting for him at home.
Heshu's mouth twitched. He knew exactly why Itachi was in such a hurry.
He placed a hand on Itachi's head. "Itachi, I'm holding a celebration banquet for you all tonight. If you're worried about Sasuke, bring him along."
Akiyoi Shinya's eyes brightened. He nodded politely. "Thank you, Sensei."
Being an undercover agent in Kumo… this kid has suffered.
Heshu's conscience twinged for exactly one second.
Hyūga Tenri rushed over, slinging an arm around Itachi and Shinya's shoulders. "Alright! We haven't hung out in forever!"
Night fell.
When Hyūga Tenri arrived at the reserved private room, she frowned in surprise.
Why is this room so huge?
It was just a celebration banquet for a few people. Why would they need a massive luxury suite?
She was about to say something when someone yanked her inside. "Kurenai Yūhi, Jonin?"
Tenri looked at the woman before her, her eyes full of confusion.
"What's going on? I thought this was a celebration banquet?"
She glanced at the dimmed lights and the piles of gift boxes at her feet.
"Shh! Here's the plan…"
Kurenai whispered into Tenri's ear.
Tenri's eyes grew brighter and brighter. She nodded firmly. "Mm! Okay!"
Heshu walked out of the Hokage Tower and stretched.
The setting sun cast a golden glow, making all of Konoha look vibrant and prosperous.
To his surprise, Nara Sōsai—who usually dreaded overtime—had volunteered to handle the post-exam wrap-up work.
Heshu was happy for the free time. It was the perfect chance to head to the reserved room early for his students' celebration.
"Hokage-sama!"
The restaurant owner greeted him with a brilliant smile.
"This is your reserved room."
Heshu took the card, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
Wait a minute.
He'd definitely booked a small private room. How did it become a deluxe VIP suite?
Who was wasting his money?
Didn't they know he was poor?
[Host, you're not poor. You're stingy.] the System stated.
["Stingy my ass! This is called being frugal! You think raising Naruto and Hanzo is free?"] Heshu immediately retorted.
[…]
The System didn't know how to counter his shamelessness.
Naruto's child support allowance was more than sufficient.
As for Hanzo… Hanzo's situation was even more pitiful.
He was a free nanny.
Heshu pushed the door open, his eyes sweeping the room.
Killer Bee, butt in the air, doing who-knows-what. The Raikage, blowing up balloons. Mei Terumī, slowly savoring red wine. Ōnoki, flying around the room directing everyone.
And…
Shisui, holding a bouquet of flowers. Juri, a party popper tucked under his arm. Yako, writing cards. Kakashi, forced to sweep the floor. Hanzo, holding little Naruto. The Third Hokage, hovering around Hanzo asking if he needed anything. Tsunade, bickering with Chiyo. Jiraiya, harassing the beautiful Iwa kunoichi…
"Sorry. Wrong room."
Heshu smoothly closed the door.
[…]
Shisui's outstretched hand froze mid-air.
"Didn't you say the Hokage would be later?" Yako glared at Juri through gritted teeth.
Juri scratched his head. "That's what Nara Sōsai told me!"
[…]
Outside, Heshu checked the room number against his card. Three minutes later, he pushed the door open again.
BANG!
Confetti rained from the ceiling. Streamers draped over Heshu's head.
Heshu: […]
"Uh… feels like the streamer cannon was aimed wrong?" Yako whispered.
"It's fine. The one firing it was the Third Hokage. Lord Hokage won't mind," Kurenai said calmly.
"Oh… that makes sense!" Hyūga Tenri, standing beside Kurenai, swallowed and agreed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled happily. "Heshu, my boy! None of us knew your exact birthday, so we thought we'd celebrate it for you today!"
His smile was grandfatherly. He finished speaking and pulled another party popper in Heshu's direction.
BANG!
More streamers covered Heshu.
"Hokage-sama!"
Streamers assaulted him from all directions, filling his vision with color.
Standing on a high stool, Kakashi was mechanically pulling poppers. He glanced at Sarutobi Aoki beside him. "Isn't this… a bit much?"
Sarutobi Aoki grinned widely, not hearing a word. When Kakashi's gaze became too intense to ignore, he finally turned. "Huh? What? Kakashi-senpai, what did you say?"
Kakashi: "…Never mind."
"Oh! Okay!"
Aoki went back to pulling poppers.
[…]
Heshu had enough. He activated his Limitless technique.
It took immense effort to squeeze his way out of the crowd.
"Teacher, happy day!"
Little Neji hugged Heshu's leg, showing a mouthful of baby teeth as he spoke obediently.
Heshu scooped him up and pinched his little cheek.
"Mama! Mama! Waaah…"
When Gaara saw Heshu holding Neji, his eyes immediately welled with tears.
He squirmed in Chiyo's arms, reaching for Heshu.
Chiyo: […]
"Waaaah… Big sis! Big sis!"
Little Naruto, held by Hanzo, was triggered by the crying. He opened his mouth and wailed.
Heshu: […]
Might as well pile them all on me. Just exhaust me to death.
This 100-point favorability was really too much to handle.
Sasuke Uchiha, held quietly in Itachi's arms, swept a disdainful glance over the other children. "Brother. They're useless."
Sasuke declared smugly, clinging to his brother's neck.
Itachi Uchiha: […]
There's no need to put it quite like that.
What was supposed to be a grand feast became a chaotic scene of adults scrambling to pacify children.
The Raikage clapped his hands over his ears, at his wit's end. "Can someone please get them to be quiet?!"
Inside Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails struck up a telepathic chat with the Nine-Tails.
"Your Jinchūriki's a bit noisy, huh?" the Eight-Tails remarked.
"Tell me about it," the Nine-Tails sounded utterly indifferent.
"Yo. I remember you used to have quite the temper."
The Eight-Tails looked curiously at the Nine-Tails, whose sharp edges seemed worn smooth.
The Nine-Tails paused. It lazily lifted an eyelid. "See that blonde woman outside?"
It was referring to Hanzo.
"Yeah? What about her?" the Eight-Tails replied.
"That's my Jinchūriki's nanny," the Nine-Tails said.
"She's just a regular person, right? A nanny's a good thing, isn't it?" The Eight-Tails was confused.
The Nine-Tails: "No! Bro, are you blind? Does that look like a 'regular' nanny? Last time your Kumo-nin came to kidnap the kid, two Jonin had their necks snapped by her in an instant."
"Who's that?" The Nine-Tails suddenly sensed a familiar chakra.
"Oh, the Two-Tails. What? Don't recognize it?" the Eight-Tails teased.
The Nine-Tails looked Yugito up and down. "No, but its Jinchūriki is pretty good-looking!"
"Yep! Yugito's the village beauty of Kumo!" the Eight-Tails stated factually.
"Village beauty?" The Nine-Tails scoffed. "She won't be your village's beauty for much longer!"
"What do you mean?" The Eight-Tails was stunned.
"What do I mean?" The Nine-Tails shot the Eight-Tails a look of disdain. "I called you blind and you really are! Can't you see that Yugito's face is practically glued to Heshu's?"
Not only was she close, but the way Yugito looked at Heshu… it was all tender affection and unspoken longing.
[…]
The Eight-Tails was now questioning its life as a tailed beast.
The Two-Tails overheard its two old friends and turned its head away in disdain.
It had no desire to converse with these two crude beasts. It would rather admire the Konoha Hokage's handsome features.
The atmosphere grew more festive and, simultaneously, more chaotic.
Little Neji, who had been looking for his dad on the floor, suddenly found himself perched on the Raikage's shoulders.
"?"
Neji blinked his big eyes. How'd he get so tall all of a sudden?
The Raikage sensed danger. He looked up, his eyes going wide.
Hiashi, having instantly spotted his son, swallowed hard. He apologetically lifted Neji off the Raikage's shoulders. "My apologies, Lord Raikage!"
The Raikage waved a magnanimous hand.
After tonight's drunken revelry, no one would remember a child had ridden on his head.
"Nii-san?"
Sasuke had also gotten separated from Itachi in the excited crowd.
Perfectly calm, Sasuke moved carefully through the throng.
He saw a familiar corner of fabric and his voice filled with hope. "Nii-san."
Little Naruto, who had been inexplicably grabbed, looked at Sasuke's pale face, then at the chubby little hand clutching his clothes. A huge grin spread across his face.
Sasuke's scalp prickled. He tried to run, but Naruto hugged him tight.
"Hehe, Sasuke!"
Tears immediately sprang to Sasuke's eyes. "Nii-san? Where are you?"
The brother he was calling for was currently… otherwise occupied.
"Itachi, as a shinobi, how can you be ignorant of such precious knowledge?"
Tsunade had him in a headlock, her grip like iron. Two spots of red colored her cheeks, and she reeked of alcohol.
She ruffled his hair vigorously, only letting go when it was a complete, spiky mess. "Much better! Now you look the part!"
After all, the entire Uchiha clan was known for their spiky hair.
"Drink!"
Tsunade pressed Itachi down beside her, speaking with earnest concern. "I'm your teacher's teacher! That makes you my grand-student! As my grand-student, how can you not drink?!"
Itachi: […]
Kakashi quietly sidled up to Jiraiya.
"Lord Jiraiya?"
Kakashi poked the sage, who was currently charming a kunoichi.
"Hm? Kakashi?"
Jiraiya magnanimously chose Kakashi over the Iwa beauty.
"Lord Jiraiya… it's… that… um… it…"
Kakashi fidgeted. His usual dead-fish eyes shone with an unprecedented light. His hands rubbed together in a slightly sleazy gesture as a faint blush appeared on his cheeks.
"Oh! I know! You're asking about Icha Icha Paradise, right!" Jiraiya declared triumphantly.
Kakashi nodded eagerly.
"The next Icha Icha… will have to wait a bit!" Jiraiya said, stroking his chin.
"Why?"
Kakashi looked as if his soul had left his body.
"Because I'm planning to write a new novel!" Jiraiya waved his hand grandly. "I'm going to write a heroic shinobi legend that will be a bestseller across the world!"
Kakashi uttered a completely uninterested "Oh," and disappeared into the merry crowd, his retreating figure looking particularly desolate.
"Waa waa waa…"
The sound of a child crying reached Kakashi's ears.
He looked down to see little Naruto bossily dragging a sobbing boy around to play with him.
[…]
Kakashi stared, dumbfounded. Was forced playtime a thing these days?
"Naruto… your friend seems a bit… sad?" Kakashi pointed at the tear-streaked Sasuke.
Naruto looked up at Sasuke, used his sleeve to wipe the tears clean, and then went right back to forcefully making him play.
[…]
Kakashi watched Naruto's move, completely floored.
Noticing Kakashi hadn't left, little Naruto patiently explained, "Kakashi-nii-chan, Sasuke is just too happy!"
"I… Is that so?"
Kakashi looked at Sasuke's face of utter despair.
"Of course!" little Naruto nodded excitedly.
Inside the seal space.
The Nine-Tails' expression was indescribable.
The Eight-Tails looked at the Nine-Tails with an equally indescribable expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" the Nine-Tails demanded.
The Eight-Tails replied, "I feel sorry for you."
This Jinchūriki doesn't seem like the kind type.
[…]
The Nine-Tails snorted.
The Eight-Tails was worrying for nothing. It wasn't just the Jinchūriki who wasn't kind.
In Heshu's household, nobody seemed kind.
Besides that "ordinary" nanny, there was Heshu himself, and that slimy snake who was always trying to pick a fight with it.
As it thought, the Nine-Tails grumbled aloud.
"Oh! I know the slimy snake you mean! Little Cyan, right!" the Eight-Tails immediately chimed in. "But isn't Little Cyan a dragon?"
The Nine-Tails didn't answer. It just found that snake irritating.
"Speaking of which, Little Cyan is really popular now!"
Remembering Little Cyan's spectacle during the Chūnin Exams, a note of envy crept into the Eight-Tails' tone.
"Hmph! Groveling to humans is disgusting!" the Nine-Tails retorted angrily.
"Nine-Tails, why are you so malicious?" the Eight-Tails disagreed. "Little Cyan isn't groveling! On the contrary, people respect it! They buy its merch, fight to take photos with it, and even call it 'Lord Little Cyan'."
The more it spoke, the more envious the Eight-Tails became.
To maintain its image, Little Cyan acted very aloof in front of ordinary civilians.
But humans were a strange bunch.
The more aloof Little Cyan acted, the more they scrambled to worship it as an idol.
Heshu and Shisui sat comfortably at a table, enjoying some sake.
As they drank, Heshu's wandering gaze suddenly fixed on something.
"Heshu, what is it?"
In private, the three of them still used their given names.
Shisui followed his line of sight.
Akiyoi Shinya was mingling with the four Kage, laughing and talking with them.
Within moments, Ōnoki and the others were looking at Shinya with eyes full of appreciation.
[…]
Heshu stared, dumbfounded. He quickly took a sip of sake to calm his nerves.
He'd thought his most outstanding disciple was Itachi Uchiha.
Now he saw… he had been blind.
Akiyoi Shinya was the true master of the stealth-growth strategy.
Heshu looked at the Raikage.
The Raikage was gazing at Shinya, who spoke with confidence and ease, with the affectionate eyes of a father looking at his own son.
Heshu: […]
This. This was the true heir to his mantle.
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