Many times, Uzumaki Naruto was very meticulous in his thoughts.
He could feel Iruka's inner struggle.
Or rather, he guessed it.
So the two sentences he just said were intentional.
"Alright, the morning assessment ends here."
"Everyone, go back and practice your throwing techniques."
"This afternoon will be combat drills, so everyone, be prepared."
After Iruka gathered everyone, he said a few words and then dismissed them for lunch.
He, meanwhile, took the score sheet and hurried towards the Hokage Building.
The fox demon's score was too good.
He had to let the Third Hokage know.
This was not a good thing; if it spread, it could very likely cause panic.
Soon.
Thump, thump, thump —
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe.
He said calmly, "Come in."
Creak —
Iruka pushed the door open, still holding the score sheet.
Seeing Iruka, Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly sighed.
He had been busy recently and hadn't had time to counsel Iruka.
As Iruka walked over, Hiruzen Sarutobi began to ponder in his mind how to make him act according to the Will of Fire.
Iruka had already respectfully placed the score sheet down.
"Lord Third, this is the score sheet for our class's throwing technique assessment today."
"Please take a look."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded amiably.
He then picked up the score sheet to examine it.
What caught his eye was Uzumaki Naruto, ranked first, with a perfect score, and a special mark.
A perfect score with a mark usually meant — he got one hundred points because one hundred was the maximum, but his actual performance had exceeded one hundred points.
"Lord Third, this score… is too dangerous."
"I believe this Uzumaki Naruto should not become a Ninja."
Iruka said with a serious expression.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not reply.
Instead, he silently opened another document, stroked his beard, and chuckled lightly:
"Iruka, oh ~"
"Don't be so hasty."
"You take a look at this first."
Saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed the document towards Iruka.
Iruka picked up the document and read it carefully.
The content was not extensive.
But it contained a crucial piece of information.
A moment later, Iruka took a deep breath.
He found it somewhat difficult to suppress his inner excitement.
"Lord Third… whose test paper is this?!"
"He understands the Will of Fire too thoroughly!"
"After reading it, I felt like the clouds had parted and the mist had cleared!"
Iruka praised it several times in a row.
Hiruzen Sarutobi just chuckled.
'A Jinchuriki is not a mascot.'
'It seems that in the future, Naruto becoming a Jinchuriki like Killer Bee of Hidden Cloud Village, who can cooperate with the Raikage, is just around the corner.'
'With Naruto in the future, and Asuma returning from the Daimyo… the status of a Guardian Ninja… no, that's not enough yet.'
'There's still plenty of time, enough for me to plan slowly.'
Senju Tobirama: ???
Senju Tobirama: Monkey! You… you always manage to surprise me!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "…"
How did my inner thoughts get broadcast?
If they hadn't been broadcast, I would have had a chance to throw some dirt on Danzo, letting Danzo share some of the heat.
Asuma, who had been silent, finally let out a bitter laugh.
His constantly bent back finally broke.
However, Asuma's first thought was still to avoid affecting his relationship with Yuhi.
"Lord Third, this answer is truly authoritative!"
"Lord Third, could it be that you answered it yourself?"
Iruka's face was full of admiration.
The interpretation of the Will of Fire in this document was too comprehensive!
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and said, "Look at the top right corner of the last page."
Hearing this, Iruka quickly flipped to the last page to check.
And then, Iruka's smile froze directly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly rose.
"There's no deception; this is the answer Naruto wrote himself in front of me."
"To be honest, I was also very surprised."
Uzumaki Kushina: "Damn it! The moment I think about my child enduring such humiliation, I can't sit still. Old Monkey, wash your neck and wait!"
Minato Namikaze: Wash your neck!
Uzumaki Kushina: "I will absolutely not let any of you off!"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Don't rush, Mikoto and I are drawing all those faces from memory… I will definitely make you regret being alive!"
Minato Namikaze: Regret being alive!
Uzumaki Kushina: "You shut up!"
Inside the Shinigami's stomach, Minato's lips curled slightly.
He said to the Nine-Tails Yin Half-Body:
"Kurama, did you hear that?"
"I said two full sentences this time, and Kushina didn't say 'shut up,' she said 'stop talking'… her tone is much gentler!"
Looking at the excited Minato.
The Nine-Tails Yin Half-Body shook its head helplessly.
Is this guy under so much pressure?
He's completely lost the demeanor of the yellow flash he had in life.
Ōnoki: "Hahaha, I never thought the Fourth Hokage was such a person."
Fourth Raikage: "Indeed, if it weren't for this chat room, I truly wouldn't have known that Minato Namikaze was such a person."
Fourth Raikage: "He completely lacks the presence of the yellow flash on the battlefield."
Mei Terumī: "Hmm, he's a very gentle and easygoing person."
Mei Terumī: "It's impossible to imagine that such a person would be a Ninja who could make all Ninja villages issue orders to abandon missions and flee if they encountered the yellow flash, without repercussions."
Mei Terumī: "Unfortunately, he's henpecked and made a fundamental mistake, which is why Senior Kushina is so angry."
"Iruka, you also went through this age."
"What were you doing at Naruto's age?"
"If you've been rained on yourself, you want to hold an umbrella for others."
"You are an excellent Ninja."
"You deeply understand the Will of Fire; you should know that Naruto is also a part of Konoha, he is family."
"…"
Over in Konoha, as Hiruzen Sarutobi began to emotionally manipulate Iruka.
They also showed expressions of nostalgia.
One by one, their faces showed emotion and excitement.
The Will of Fire is the strongest will in the Ninja World!
Whenever their stance was not firm, or when they wavered.
On the black frame big screen, as long as the Will of Fire appeared in the black frame world.
Their stance immediately became firm again.
In some ways.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage, still had some tricks up his sleeve.
Of course.
Not many tricks.
"I understand, Lord Third… Thank you!"
Iruka bowed solemnly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"It's good that you understand."
"I won't let you down!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to reinforce his words when suddenly, he sensed something.
He patted Iruka's shoulder and said, "Go have lunch. There's still an assessment this afternoon. You've worked hard."
"It's no trouble!"
"Lord Third, I shall take my leave."
"Hmm." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a light smile.
After Iruka left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat back in the Hokage's chair.
After a dozen breaths.
Bang, bang, bang —!!!
The door was knocked again.
However, with this force and rhythm, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even need to think to know who it was.
Bang —!!!
Without any warning.
The Hokage's office door was kicked open.
A one-eyed old man, leaning on a cane and covered in bandages, walked in.
Its eyes glared malevolently at Hiruzen Sarutobi.