"That's exactly what I was thinking too."
"While we do have a duty to serve the village,"
"But the students' own choices should come first."
"The students are lucky to have a principal who genuinely looks out for them."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down, the brainwashing around the Will of Fire at the school had faded away.
Kawaki valued human rights more—students should have the right to choose for themselves.
Instead of being indoctrinated as children by authority figures to become tools with no independent thoughts.
Unless someone was willing to go voluntarily, Jiraiya still wouldn't be able to take any students from the Ninja Academy.
As long as he clearly explained the risks and benefits beforehand, Kawaki could accept it if some students were still willing to go.
Now that there were suitable people already available, Kawaki didn't need to trouble himself further.
He just needed to delegate the task—it was certain the vice principal would willingly take charge.
A few well-placed compliments left Vice Principal Onoda feeling satisfied.
"Where, where indeed. This is simply my responsibility."
Onoda smiled so broadly his wrinkles could've squashed mosquitoes—he was entirely under Kawaki's control.
With his age and not many other aspirations left, all he wanted was to leave behind a good reputation.
Flattered like this, Kawaki struck a nerve with Onoda.
"Aww, nothing should ever be taken for granted."
"If you insist then, I'll confidently entrust everything to you."
"I'll have someone reach out to coordinate with you."
"And regarding recruiting for the new department, please ensure high standards."
"This is about safeguarding the students' futures."
With just a few words, Kawaki handed off the entire matter and calmly sipped his tea again.
"No problem at all, leave it to me!"
Hearing "responsibility for the students," Onoda swelled with pride.
When had he last remembered that he was only the vice principal?
Wasn't this something Kawaki should handle?
"Then I'll trouble you for this."
"I see you enjoy drinking tea too. Next time I'll bring some from home for you."
Kawaki wasn't just flattering him—small gestures went a long way toward keeping Onoda in good spirits.
"In that case, I won't decline."
Smiling, Onoda saw Kawaki off at the door. From start to finish, he hadn't asked too many questions—always knowing his place.
Having such a capable assistant definitely made Kawaki's job much easier.
After dealing with all this, evening approached. It was time to clock out early.
Kawaki walked slowly toward home at his usual unhurried pace.
Even if Jiraiya came to the school now, there'd be someone to receive him—Kawaki felt totally at ease.
For several consecutive days, Jiraiya had been incredibly busy.
Recruiting staff everywhere, seeking Tsunade's approval for funds and land,
And even overseeing construction projects—seriously wishing he could split himself into multiple copies to manage everything.
Eventually, he dragged Makoto along to assist him.
As for visiting the school to scout potential spy candidates, he put that at the bottom of his list.
Anyway, there was no rush. He figured getting past Kawaki wouldn't be easy.
Leaving things alone for now might not be a bad idea either.
Perhaps once Kawaki let his guard down, things would proceed more smoothly.
Once everything else was ready, he'd come back and deal with it patiently—he refused to believe that the great Toad Sage couldn't fail to recruit a few students.
Vice Principal Onoda kept waiting, but no one ever came to recruit students—leaving him completely puzzled.
Kawaki watched Orochimaru tinkering with the device, he understood nothing.
"Gave him three people."
Orochimaru didn't even lift his head, and assigned three medical ninja to Jiraiya, all as a favor to their shared mentor.
"So stingy?"
Kawaki stood there talking without any discomfort, forgetting that his initial thought was not to give anything to anyone.
"Can you say that without blushing?"
Even Jiraiya has spoken a lot about you.
Orochimaru then slowly raised his head and cast a glance at Kawaki, wondering how this person could have such thick skin.
How many people are there in the entire medical department? It's already very generous to assign three to yourself, okay?
"What did you say about me? I didn't interfere in anything."
"How can he blame me for not going himself?"
Kawaki always seems to have a convincing argument when he's being evasive.
If it weren't for his actions, Jiraiya wouldn't still be absent from school by now.
"Hehe~"
Orochimaru sneered coldly, without saying a word.
Ichikawa Kaede understood the meaning all too well.
Misaki watched the two joking around, trying hard not to laugh out loud.
The mighty figures who seem so lofty in the eyes of outsiders have a surprisingly big contrast in private.
"When is his new department going to start operating normally?"
Kawaki knew he was in the wrong and changed the subject.
"I don't know, it should take some more time."
"I haven't transferred the personnel here yet."
Orochimaru isn't very concerned about these matters. Currently, aside from going home to sleep, he basically eats and drinks in the laboratory.
"Is that so."
Kawaki's mind quickly turned, and he guessed what plan Jiraiya was up to.
It's impossible to say that he gave up on choosing people at school.
Orochimaru is becoming more and more disgusted with this guy; it's fine when he's idle.
When I'm busy, it's really annoying beyond endurance.
"You dare to drive me away from the lab I built?"
Kawaki found it hard to accept—it had cost him a fortune to create!
"Any objections?"
"Do you want me to go find Tsunade and talk things over with her?"
Orochimaru felt no guilt at all. What's so great about spending money?
"You are remarkable, you are noble."
"I'll just leave then."
Kawaki suppressed his resentment, his face showing displeasure as he walked away.
If Orochimaru says that he has delayed the progress of the experiment, his fate is already predictable.
"Move it. Don't come back for no reason."
Orochimaru's smugness was plain to see.
Misaki couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
Kawaki shot her a fierce glare.
"I'll be back."
With those parting words, Kawaki turned and vanished from sight.
"Finally gone. Tsunade should really give him more to do."
Orochimaru muttered another complaint. He couldn't stand slackers like that.
He was swamped with work as it was.
"Sister Tsunade is probably too busy to even think about giving him assignments."
Misaki said with a slight smile on her face.
It had been days since she last saw Nawaki. They had left the village again for missions.
In comparison, Brother-in-law Kawaki sure has all the time in the world!
"Never mind, let's forget about him."
"You've improved quite a bit recently. Keep it up."
"Now go get me that reagent."
Without needing Orochimaru to specify its name, Misaki could accurately retrieve items based on the situation.
With Kawaki gone, there were no interruptions.
Their experiment went far more smoothly.
Except for occasionally thinking about Nawaki, Misaki remained serious and focused while learning from Orochimaru.
Being Hashirama's grandson, Nawaki should naturally inherit the Wood Release ability.
Misaki kept these thoughts close to her heart. If she could make this happen, she knew Nawaki would adore the surprise.
Just as she was thinking of her beloved, he was thinking of her too.
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