"Naruto… he's still alive, and I can't touch the corpse…"
"Then—if I slap him twice now, would that count as defeating him?"
"If so, is there a chance to copy the entry?"
On the bank of the Nanga River, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy's eyes flickered with mischief. He thought he'd found a system bug.
Twelve little powerhouses in the world, born one after another this year? If he could go around patting their butts and pinching their cheeks…
He grinned, put one hand to his forehead, and bent over with childish triumph.
"Hahahahaha! I'm a genius!"
The system: …
Click!
At that moment, the Four Red Sun Formation above flared open. His laughter cut off instantly.
A pipe shimmered in the moonlight as people stepped into view.
"Three generations!" someone muttered.
"Huh? Survivors? Is that a child?"
Seeing movement inside the barrier, Sarutobi Hizashi tensed and tightened his grip on his wooden pipe. Those who could survive the Nine-Tails' rampage had to be extraordinary.
"A child?"
"Is that an Uchiha?"
When they saw the child's face, doubts flashed in their eyes. The Uchiha clan was practically extinct—this toddler looked barely two or three. Where had he come from?
The Hokage Guard followed close behind. When they saw the boy, Shiranui Genma spat out the senbon from his mouth and laughed in disbelief. "Oi? Could the Fourth's son have grown so big?"
The Genma squad and the Anbu all stared.
Jin Uchiha nearly choked on his own nerves, but he wore an innocent expression and clutched the token timidly.
"Old… Grandpa! My name is Jin. I—my uncle with the painted mask said—there's sweets here."
He deliberately repeated "painted mask." At the same time, the rune on his token glowed. The move drew everyone's attention.
Those watery big eyes studied the Third Hokage closely. If the old man showed any hint of malice, Jin was ready to activate his Golden Body and vanish under Weak Presence. He hadn't even trained Flying Thunder God yet—he had no chakra to use it—but he trusted the Third's kindness. The village elders were usually gentle to children, no matter the politics behind them.
Oil-masked Anbu? Token? Upon hearing those keywords, the three elders exchanged looks and turned away. The power struggles of the great families were not their concern; they had duties to perform.
Suddenly, an Anbu rushed forward. The scroll in his hand flashed red as he announced in a deep voice, "Token number B-74—the Third Investigation Team of the Root."
Hizashi's frown deepened. That confirmed it: the token was genuine.
A two-and-a-half-year-old wandering alone here? He couldn't be lying.
"So… you blame the Uchiha child?" someone asked.
"Blame a child, Danzo? Are you out of your mind?" the three elders said, their coldness flashing then melting back into warmth.
"It's fine, it's fine—go home soon." Sarutobi patted Jin's shoulder, feeling with his palm. There was no chakra—only dense bones and flesh, normal for a child. Uchiha children typically did not refine chakra until age four or five.
Relieved, he smiled and said, "Good boy—where leaves fall, fires rise!"
"Where leaves fall, the fire rises!" Jin pumped his tiny fist and cheered, then scampered off.
"What a proper child," the Third Hokage murmured, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. But thinking of Danzo, he frowned inwardly. He tapped his pipe against the stump with a thud. "Danzo—your hand reaches far enough."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office:
Danzo sneezed in the middle of a rousing speech.
"Danzo, are you all right?" one of the advisors asked.
"I'm fine! I'm marvelous!" Danzo rasped, tapping his staff. "The Fourth Hokage died—what's the first priority?"
"To stabilize the village?" Kuroho replied.
"Exactly—stability! We must appoint a Fifth Hokage to lead at once!" Danzo proclaimed. "Only the heads of the major families have the reach and influence to be considered, and none are more fit than me!"
He took a breath and unleashed a flourish of Wind Release chakra—his momentum grand and unmissable. Even his advisors nodded, impressed.
"But—" a pause in another voice.
Hearing hesitation, Danzo smiled and added, "I will grant you financial authority for the village."
"That settles it—no one else compares!" the advisors said in unison, agreeing eagerly.
Bang.
The office door suddenly burst open. The three froze when they saw the familiar pipe. Sarutobi Hizashi entered slowly, the lines on his face telling of heavy experience. He walked to the Hokage desk, pulled out a chair, and sat.
Danzo's jaw tightened—this seat was supposed to be his. He ground his teeth, but the Third Hokage ignored him and placed both hands on the desk.
"The Hokage's authority will be temporarily assumed by me," he said in a low voice. "Who supports that? Who opposes?"
"Agreed!"—and with barely a breath between them, Koharu and Homura (or whichever advisors) nodded. The village was in chaos; Sarutobi's leadership was their best hope.
Danzo's smile faltered. He looked less certain now.