"But we've never admitted a child like this before. Sometimes, giving up on a child at the right time is also a good choice. There are three hundred and sixty trades in the world, and in each one, there are outstanding talents…" The teacher clearly didn't want to admit him into the Ninja Academy.
From behind, the Third Hokage and Danzō overheard this and walked over.
"What's going on here?"
What's going on? Did he really not know?
That statement was obviously meant to draw a clear line: to let everyone understand that they weren't going to plead on behalf of a child with no "value."
Shigeo Hyūga's fingers curled tightly into a fist. Should he release some chakra to prove himself? But if he did, that would mean compromising with this Academy.
So what if he didn't get in? It wasn't as if he had to become a Konoha ninja. Thinking of this, Shigeo gradually loosened his grip.
The teacher in charge of registration, seeing the Hokage and Danzō, quickly stood and bowed. "My lords, please look at this child's eyes!"
At this moment, Shigeo's eyes were open—but his pupils were unfocused.
The Third Hokage already knew this. With just a word from him, Shigeo would have been allowed entry.
But the Hokage stayed silent. Instead, Danzō spoke:
"How about this—didn't Shizune say this child could already gather chakra? Let me check for myself. If that's true, then not only should he enter the Academy, but if his potential is promising, we'll cultivate him carefully. Of course, if not… we'll reconsider. What do you think, Hyūga Shigeo?"
Obviously, the two old foxes had already coordinated this. Was it really a "choice" between joining Root or the Hokage's Anbu? If he was marked today, he'd have no choice at all.
Before everyone's eyes, they were forcing him onto a tiger's back.
If he, at only six years old, was shown to already control chakra, then under the pretext of "protecting the village," the Hokage could push him toward Anbu. If he refused, it would be seen as going against the whole village. If he agreed, it would silence Tsunade, while giving Danzō full justification to take him away.
And if he resisted then? Even with immense jutsu potential, he'd only be labeled a missing-nin.
A missing-nin at six years old? A bit early, wasn't it?
Thinking this, Shigeo suddenly laughed. "Alright!"
He stretched out his arm. Danzō frowned but grabbed it tightly, his eyes dark and sharp as he probed Shigeo's chakra network. His gaze was like a desert scorpion—poisonous and cruel. If they were in his laboratory, he might already be dissecting the boy.
The more he checked, the deeper his frown grew.
Everyone was watching. Villagers whispered:
"What's going on? Why would one of the village elders check him personally? Is that kid really strong?"
"Don't know. He's just an abandoned child of the Hyūga, and blind at that. What's so special about him? Probably unfit to be a ninja."
Hearing this, members of the Hyūga clan lowered their heads slightly. Indeed, no one from their family cared about Shigeo. But still—his eyes were like that, and he still came to enroll? Wasn't that a disgrace to the Hyūga name?
Despite the murmurs, Danzō's probing continued.
"Well? Does he have chakra?" Shizune asked with a hopeful look.
Danzō lowered his head. Inside, the boy's body was completely empty—no trace of chakra at all. Could he truly be nothing but an ordinary child?
For the past half-year, Danzō had already been in contact with Orochimaru, sending him several gifted children as part of their cooperation. He'd even subtly asked Orochimaru about Shigeo, but the Sannin had claimed ignorance—whether truth or cover-up was unclear.
Yet from today's examination, Shigeo really did seem ordinary.
Danzō shook his head. "There's nothing there."
"How can that be? Half a year ago, Lady Tsunade checked personally—he had chakra then!" Shizune exclaimed.
"Perhaps he's been neglecting training these past six months. Diligence is everything—slack off, and you lose what you've gained," the Hokage said calmly.
Guilt flickered across Shizune's face. This half year, both she and Tsunade had been busy with missions, neglecting Shigeo. If he hadn't trained, his chakra disappearing was understandable.
She sighed. "My lords, please take him in anyway. Even if he can't see in the daytime, he can see at night…"
"No. If he's just an ordinary child—and disabled at that—then for his own good, the Ninja Academy cannot accept him." Danzō's words carried a faint edge of spite. "Hokage-sama, for his safety, it's best that he not walk the shinobi path. He isn't suited to be a ninja."
The Third Hokage looked conflicted, considering.
"Forget it then. If you don't want me, fine. Even if you did, I might not bother. I'll just go home." Shigeo turned away. It wasn't as if he needed their Academy. If not for wanting a couple years of stability because of his age, he wouldn't have come at all.
"Wait! W-wait a moment!"
Suddenly, from the street corner, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed—clop, clop, clop. A tall figure in wooden clogs, clad in gray with a red vest, long white hair streaming behind him, came running dramatically.
It was none other than Jiraiya of the Sannin.
He dashed over, sweating profusely, and panted heavily: "I-I'm not too late, am I? This kid—I'll take him!"
Without hesitation, Jiraiya scooped Shigeo into his arms. "If the Academy won't accept him, I'll take him as my disciple! No objections, right? And even if you object, tough luck—I've decided."
He looked Shigeo over carefully, grinning. "Wow, what a kawaii kid!"
Then he even rubbed his face playfully against Shigeo's. "Alright, little guy, I'll be staying at your place tonight!"
Shizune clapped her hands in delight. "So it was Jiraiya-sama—perfect! I knew it, Shigeo has talent, but none of you would believe me. Did Tsunade-sama tell you something? Wonderful!"
With Jiraiya stepping in, Shigeo's admission was as good as settled. After all, this was the man who had once trained the Fourth Hokage. With his words, who would dare refuse? And more than that, he had declared he would personally raise Hyūga Shigeo—an entirely different level of recognition.
(End of Chapter)
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