The reason Sanada Aran insisted on meeting the Third Hokage immediately was simple—he needed the Hokage's strength to protect his gravely injured parents and the few surviving members of the Sanada clan.
Aran himself had no choice but to devote his focus to cultivating his own power. Only then could he one day strike down Shimura Danzō with his own hands.
"A genius… truly a once-in-a-lifetime genius!"
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi received word of Aran's feats—and then saw the boy himself—he could hardly believe it. Not only had Aran mastered the B-rank Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, but he had also slain three Root operatives in succession, entirely on his own.
Even Hiruzen, hailed as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," couldn't help but marvel.At Aran's age, even he had never wielded a B-rank jutsu.
In this age where true talent in Konoha was dwindling, someone like Sanada Aran was a miracle, a prodigy that might not appear again for a hundred, perhaps even a thousand years.
Such a genius had to be drawn close at all costs.
"It's my failure," Hiruzen said gravely. "I did not send reinforcements quickly enough, and so your Sanada clan has suffered terrible losses. But rest assured—I will personally move against Danzō and avenge those who fell."
Aran's eyes hardened."No. Danzō's life is mine to take."
"What?"
The declaration caught Hiruzen off guard.
He knew Danzō's power well; even for himself, killing Danzō outright would be no simple matter. Yet this boy, still so young, claimed he would do it alone.
Instead of irritation, however, Hiruzen felt only greater admiration for Aran's unshakable resolve.
"I came here to ask one thing," Aran continued. "Save my parents and clan. Protect them as they recover. That is my only request—for now, my strength is still limited."
"That much is certain," Hiruzen replied firmly. "I'll stake my own life to guarantee their safety. And more than that, I can appoint you directly into the Anbu. That will aid you when the time comes to face Danzō."
"What?!"
The masked Anbu standing nearby could not contain their shock.
To be promoted into Anbu without even graduating the Academy? Such a thing was unprecedented. Even Uchiha Itachi—recognized as a genius among geniuses—had only entered the Anbu at age eleven. Aran was clearly younger, and yet…
Then again, the boy had single-handedly killed three Root operatives. That feat alone placed him beyond the reach of ordinary shinobi. Perhaps such a prodigy did deserve a place in Anbu.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage, but… I'd prefer to start as a genin," Aran said calmly.
"What?"
Hiruzen froze. The Anbu around him gaped in disbelief.
To turn down a guaranteed Anbu position just to become a lowly genin? It sounded absurd, almost foolish.
Aran went on:"If possible, when I graduate the Academy, I'd like to be placed on the same team as Haruno Sakura."
Hiruzen blinked, then gave a short laugh. "That's it? That's your great demand? I thought you'd ask for something far more difficult."
Aran shook his head. "No. As long as you grant me this request, that's enough."
"Very well," Hiruzen said with a chuckle. "I'll speak with Iruka when the time comes."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage. My parents are still in the hospital, so I'll take my leave now."
Once Aran departed, Hiruzen leaned back with a weary sigh, shaking his head in bemusement.
Why would a boy turn down the chance to become Anbu, only to insist on being a genin? And why specifically request to be on the same team as Haruno Sakura?
It didn't make sense—yet Hiruzen knew that keeping Sanada Aran close was worth more than satisfying his own curiosity. A prodigy of this caliber could not be allowed to slip away.
As for Aran himself, his true reason had nothing to do with Sakura. His real goal was to be placed on the same team as Uzumaki Naruto.
Only by staying close could he one day draw upon the Nine-Tails' immense chakra… and then, with that power, kill Shimura Danzō.
But Naruto was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. If Aran had voiced his true intent, the Hokage would certainly have grown suspicious.
And so, with careful calculation, he had spoken Sakura's name instead.