Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen silently took a long drag from his pipe after hearing Kakashi and Asuma's report.
But his expression was heavy with thought.
"Nagi… is he really a civilian?"
Ordinarily, the Ninja Academy would forward every student's records and performance reports to the Hokage's office. If someone stood out, Hiruzen would make note and pay extra attention.
But when it came to Nagi, Hiruzen realized he knew almost nothing.
And yet such a person had just effortlessly defeated the genius of the Uchiha clan.
"Was Nagi holding back all this time?"
Hiruzen sank deeper into thought—only to be interrupted by an ill-timed voice.
"Hiruzen, this ninja called Nagi has been hiding his strength. He clearly has ulterior motives against the Village!"
Danzo, standing to the side, almost slammed his abacus beads into Hiruzen's face in agitation.
Hiruzen merely shot him a sharp glare.
How could he not know what this so-called "old friend" was really thinking?
"That's impossible. Nagi is a genius born of Konoha. As long as he hasn't done anything to endanger the village, we absolutely cannot treat him like that."
"Hiruzen, Root is short on manpower. Just hand over this Nagi kid to me."
Danzo gave up pretending and laid it out plain—hands spread, attitude casual.
Yeah, I want him. So what?
"Nagi was raised in the light of Konoha. He's a product of our village's sunshine. There's no way I'm handing him over to you."
Hiruzen's rejection came swiftly—and with a bizarre justification.
Danzo represented the shadows, and Nagi had grown in the light. That alone was reason enough not to give him up.
Danzo was fuming.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen slammed his desk and stood up.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"Hmph!"
Danzo's eyes burned with resentment. Why—why was he never the one sitting in that chair?
Why was it always him?
Bang!
Seeing there was no convincing Hiruzen, Danzo stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Leaving Kakashi and Asuma to awkwardly exchange glances.
"…Sorry you had to see that."
"Next, Kakashi, I want you to go to the Academy and bring Nagi here. I want to reward him personally."
Hiruzen's tone brightened with enthusiasm.
Given Nagi's immense potential, they needed to ensure his bond with Konoha remained strong.
Only by deepening that bond could Nagi grow into a true pillar of Konoha.
"Yes, sir."
Kakashi hadn't expected Hiruzen to value Nagi this highly.
Meanwhile, outside the Hokage Tower, Danzo had not truly left.
"Danzo-sama."
"Danzo-sama."
Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū greeted him immediately.
Danzo waved a hand, still boiling with anger.
"You two. Head to the Academy and bring someone to me."
Danzo's eyes remained fixed on the Hokage Tower, dark and brooding.
Hiruzen… if you won't be benevolent, don't blame me for being ruthless.
"The Academy?"
Fū and Torune were a little stunned. Did someone new just pass Danzo-sama's trial?
"Yes, sir!"
Still, they didn't hesitate. Danzo's orders were absolute.
"Oh, right. What's this person's name?"
"Nagi."
Fū blinked in surprise but quickly concealed his reaction.
Danzo didn't notice, but Torune, as his longtime partner, definitely did.
However, Torune didn't say anything—until Danzo left.
"You seemed to recognize that boy, Nagi."
Fū didn't hide it.
"I've heard about him from my niece. Apparently the Yamanaka clan was planning to recruit him… as a potential son-in-law."
Fū looked conflicted. Everyone knew—being called to Root meant you were being targeted.
And someone like Nagi, with no backing, would have no good end if that happened.
"…Fū. You better remember your place."
Torune gave Fū a meaningful look—one he'd have to reflect on himself.
Then the two rushed off to the Ninja Academy without delay.
"Who are you two?"
The students had just finished their combat training and barely had time to rest when the two Root agents arrived.
Iruka stiffened the moment he saw their attire.
Boar and pig masks. That was ANBU gear.
And from what Iruka knew, dealings with ANBU never meant anything good.
"Which one of you is Nagi? We're here on orders from the Hokage to escort him."
Torune and Fū exchanged a glance, then answered without hesitation.
Outside the village, your title is whatever you say it is.
"Oh… I see."
Iruka didn't question it. He couldn't imagine anyone daring to impersonate ANBU inside Konoha.
…Though once he got more experience, he'd realize—yeah, some people absolutely dared.
"Nagi, the Hokage-sama is requesting your presence!"
Sakura practically squealed with excitement at the news.
"Ino, why are you staring? Aren't you happy that Nagi's getting to meet the Hokage in person?"
Sakura was confused. Ino wasn't acting like her usual feisty self at all.
"No, it's nothing. Just… that ANBU guy looks kind of familiar."
Ino finally shook herself out of it.
"Familiar?"
Nagi had also taken notice of the yellow-haired ANBU. He didn't recognize him at all, despite his encyclopedic knowledge of the plot.
But there were plenty of ANBU—he wasn't expected to know them all.
As Nagi walked away with the two Root agents, one of them glanced back at Ino.
And at that moment, Ino felt a chill run through her heart.
[End of Chapter]