Tsunade, standing in for Kairen, responded,
"Then his merits?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples in some annoyance, then smiled and said,
"If Moku Kairen needs any ninjutsu, tell me and I'll exchange it for you."
For the first time, Moku Kairen finally spoke in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi. His jet-black eyes met the other man's complex, ink-dark gaze, and his first words put the other in an awkward spot.
"Can my merits be exchanged for… the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Hiruzen fell silent.
Of course Moku Kairen's merits could be exchanged, but if he learned Flying Thunder God at a high level it would be difficult for the leadership to control.
The two advisory elders beside Hiruzen began to stir.
Koharu, looking straight at Moku Kairen, said bluntly,
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is a space–time ninjutsu that's of extraordinary importance to the village. Therefore only those especially loyal to the village can be given the chance to learn it. We don't trust you that much — after all, you were once captured by Sunagakure, so we don't know…"
Tsunade snorted,
"What do you mean by that? Are you implying Moku Kairen was trained as a spy by Sunagakure? Then does that mean all the Sunagakure people he killed were also Sunagakure operatives?"
"His battle record shows he acted alone. The intelligence ninjas did follow-up investigations — those were handled by Sunagakure. We can't confirm whether Moku Kairen's feats are real."
"You—"
Tsunade was about to say more, but Moku Kairen gripped her hand.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then at the two advisory elders beside him, and finally at Danzo waiting behind them with that gloomy, smiling face.
Those four, whatever contradictions they had, were all cut from the same cloth.
Even if Moku Kairen's merits were genuine, they wouldn't hand a strategic-level technique to someone the high command couldn't control — especially a strategic ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God.
Seeing the atmosphere grow silent, Hiruzen smiled and finally said,
"No to the Flying Thunder God. Later I'll have the Anbu copy down the techniques in the Scroll of Seals; take a look and tell me which jutsu you need."
Tsunade snorted, grabbed Kairen's collar, and walked off without looking back, not forgetting to leave a parting shot:
"The Scroll of Seals belongs to my Senju family!"
"Hey… Tsunade, Tsunade, wait for me!" Jiraiya followed after Tsunade.
"Minato, Minato, we'll go too!" Kushina grabbed Minato's hand and followed down from the Hokage Rock.
The great families and Anbu gradually dispersed as well.
Hiruzen watched Kairen and his group head down the rock steps, his eyes flashing with endless calculation.
Danzo approached, his tone full of barely contained anger:
"Sarutobi, what are you trying to do? Why didn't you hand that brat over to Root, to thoroughly study his bloodline so we can increase Konoha's combat strength?"
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo, then looked toward Orochimaru, who was following after Tsunade and the others:
"No. His bloodline would be very helpful for winning this shinobi world war. Konoha needs him."
Most importantly, without certainty, Hiruzen couldn't tell how strong Moku Kairen really was — and besides, Tsunade wanted to protect him.
Danzo snorted and walked away, not even bothering with his three underlings, muttering under his breath,
"A hypocritical old man!"
On the rock steps beside the Hokage Rock.
Jiraiya followed Tsunade, smiling ingratiatingly, "Tsunade, how about a drink tonight?"
Tsunade shook her head, pointed at Kairen and said,
"I still have to clean his room. I won't be going out tonight."
"All right then!" Jiraiya sounded disappointed — refused again.
Moku Kairen patted Jiraiya on the back to console him.
"Give it up. Tsunade doesn't like greasy men."
Jiraiya glanced back at Moku Kairen and scoffed,
"What greasy men?!"
He pointed to the kanji for "oil" on his forehead protector.
"This is the symbol of Myobokuzan this time, and it also represents my toad sage!"
Jiraiya stopped his idle chatter and looked seriously at Moku Kairen.
"Kid, are you really as strong as sensei says?"
Moku Kairen clasped his hands behind his head and said casually,
"Who knows? Maybe I'm in the mood to push through the whole shinobi world!"
"Brag!" a crisp voice cut in — not Jiraiya's rough voice.
Kairen turned. A head of red, soft hair.
A hair knot tucked at the right side, large, bright black eyes, fair skin — a beauty to rival Tsunade.
Most importantly, her aura mixed girl and mature woman, exuding a distinctive, fragrant elegance.
If only she could be won over…
"Host triggered an impulse; self-generated shadow clone!"
System, don't slander me — I didn't mean anything! Moku Kairen frantically explained in his head.
From his consciousness bank, a shadow clone with a forehead protector labeled [The Thief] appeared out of thin air.
The Thief burst out laughing: "Naruto, I see you still dare to go against me. Great — the boss has already taken a liking to your mom!"
"You idiot, I told you I'm not Naruto!" the Naruto shadow clone shot back.
A cop shadow clone stepped up and slapped handcuffs on the Thief's wrists.
"Off to the station with you!"
...
Kushina's black pupils watched Moku Kairen with curiosity and asked,
"Where did your Nine-Tails chakra come from? Don't you have a Nine-Tails inside your belly? Is it male or female?"
"..."
Minato gave a helpless smile, stepped closer and said to Kairen,
"Forgive her, Kushina was joking!"
I'm really sorry — I just had a thought about your wife… Kairen deeply repented in his heart.
Kairen formally looked at the golden-haired Minato and recalled his record in battle.
Minato Namikaze— the second successor of the Flying Thunder God Technique, a Kage-class shinobi known for a yellow flash, and future Fourth Hokage.
Hmm… this man's main characteristic is yellow.
Minato extended his hand: "Hello, I'm Minato Namikaze, a jōnin of Konoha."
Moku Kairen took his hand and replied, "I'm Moku Kairen, a genin of Konoha."
Kushina covered her mouth and giggled.
"Are you trying to make me die laughing? You're a hero of the Sunagakure battlefield — why are you still a genin?"
Moku Kairen answered plainly,
"Because I haven't passed the Chūnin Exam yet. I came back this time to pass the Chūnin Exam."
"The Chūnin Exam?! You're already fifteen or sixteen, you've taken the Chūnin Exam a few times, right?" Kushina started turning over the little gears in her head she didn't usually move.
Tsunade gave a light laugh, "He's only ten—he'll be eleven in three months."
Kushina looked Moku Kairen over carefully — he was about her height. How could he possibly be only ten years old?