As the Hokage prepared to leave with Lucien, a shadow blocked the doorway.
Bandages concealed his right eye, and his face radiated cold suspicion.
"Lucien of the Uchiha? Hiruzen, have you truly thought this through?"
Danzo… Lucien thought, his eyes narrowing.
Danzo's gaze hardened. "I believe the uproar regarding several Uchiha disappearing last night may not be a coincidence. Perhaps this child is involved."
"That's enough, Danzo!" Hiruzen snapped, slamming his pipe down with heat in his tone. "I've already accepted him as my disciple. I will take responsibility."
Danzo lingered a moment, his words sharp as blades. "Don't forget Uchiha Madara, Hiruzen. One day, you may regret this decision." With that, he turned and left, vanishing into the shadows.
"Don't mind him," Hiruzen said softly, offering a faint smile to Lucien. "He was once my comrade, and now a councilor. His words are heavy, but… not always just."
Lucien's expression remained calm. "It's fine."
Training with the Hokage
Soon, master and disciple stood in the training grounds.
"Show me your ninjutsu," Hiruzen said with a small smirk.
"Yes, Sarutobi-sensei!"
Lucien's hands became a blur. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" A blazing inferno surged forward with devastating speed.
The Hokage replied immediately, his own seals whipping just as quick. "Water Style: Water Wall!" A dome of water surged up, snuffing the fire instantly.
Lucien's Sharingan spun, memorizing every detail. The Water Wall's movements burned into his mind. He had already copied the technique.
"Excellent." Hiruzen's eyes lit. "Perfect chakra control. Lightning fast seals. You've practiced well. In that case… let's move on. You wanted compound ninjutsu? To master it, you must learn the elemental Dragon Bullets."
Hand signs flashed. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Three serpentine dragons of fire roared forward, their movements slithering at Hiruzen's command. The ground ignited as though the earth itself was burning alive.
Lucien imitated without hesitation. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
His dragons spiraled forward, wild and untamed at first, but his chakra control stabilized quickly. He forced them into a straight assault, the flames barreling forward like obedient serpents.
Hiruzen's eyes gleamed in surprise. "Incredible… even controlling them so soon…"
"Do not let them lose shape!" the Hokage barked.
Lucien's hand twitched slightly—instantly, the three dragons straightened in obedience, roaring forward.
"Amazing! To master B-rank fire techniques in a single attempt… I couldn't ask for a better student."
With that momentum, Hiruzen continued. "Now watch carefully—Water Dragon Bullet!"
Only three seals flashed before a massive dragon of water surged forth, spiraling toward the trees and crashing them into splinters.
Lucien copied at once, forming the seals. "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A dragon erupted from his mouth itself, slamming into the training posts with violent force.
"Excellent! Next—Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!" The Hokage slammed the ground, turning earth into a colossal mud dragon.
Lucien's palms moved as fluidly as if he had practiced it for years. The ground split beneath him, another dragon of hardened soil storming forward.
"Wind Style: Wind Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon Bullet!"
One after another, Hiruzen demonstrated—and one after another, Lucien executed them flawlessly, as if the techniques belonged to him the instant he saw them.
"You've mastered all Five Elemental Dragons in one day." Hiruzen's voice trembled in admiration. "I trained Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade. But your speed… even they did not grasp so fast. Your talent surpasses even Orochimaru's at your age."
Lucien's breath came steady. Inside, the excitement roared—five elemental dragons… and the Water Wall. Enough to annihilate a jonin.
But before they could continue, three Anbu suddenly appeared.
Hiruzen sighed, weary once more. "We'll stop here. Shigure, go home and practice. Do not rush. Consolidate. Once you master these five dragons, you'll hold dominion over the battlefield."
Lucien bowed. "Yes, Sarutobi-sensei."
The Unexpected Gathering
Exhilarated, Lucien returned home, his thoughts ablaze with possibilities. The Five Dragons, the Water Wall… my strength has soared again. At this pace, who can stand in my way?
But when he pushed open his door, he froze.
Waiting in his home were Hatake Kusuo, Hyuga Akaicho… and Xiaoxing.
"…You three? Why are you here?" Lucien muttered, suspicion threading his tone.
All eyes locked on him.
P.S. This chapter highlights the massive leap in Lucien's power as he learns all five Dragon Bullet techniques in a single training session, shocking even the Sandaime. But the cliffhanger turns personal—his teammates, and Xiaoxing, await with unknown intentions.
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