Ōnoki: "Quite interesting. The Kage position is truly monopolized by one family."
Mei Terumī: "As far as I know, Hidden Cloud Village is the only one like that."
Fourth Raikage: "Hmph, if you have the ability, come and take it. What's wrong with hereditary succession? We're not afraid of challengers."
Fourth Raikage: "But we won't resort to dirty tricks like those people on the Konoha High Council!"
Fourth Raikage: "If you don't believe me, you're welcome to visit Hidden Cloud Village and see for yourselves."
Mabui: "Hidden Cloud Village also has internal conflicts, but everyone tacitly agrees not to kill each other."
Mabui: "All previous Raikage have been the strongest in the village. Before taking office, they would set up a ring and fight until only one remained."
Mabui: "Also... the Raikage's lineage is inextricably linked with the Daimyo's lineage."
Samui: "Therefore, in terms of strength, prestige, and status, every Raikage is truly deserving."
Killer Bee: "Yo~!".
Bang—
Killer Bee, who had just spoken, was kicked away by the Fourth Raikage before he could even begin his performance.
Ōnoki: "That is an undeniable fact."
Ōnoki: "But now, it seems the Third Hokage clearly wants Asuma to become the Fifth Hokage."
Ōnoki: "Ino–Shika–Chō... and the Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka, the six great Ninja clans' support, plus the identity of a Guardian Shinobi, the identity of the Hokage's son, and the Konoha Military Police Force Sarutobi Clan's prestige among civilians."
Ōnoki: "There's no need to even consider strength."
Orochimaru: "Teacher Sarutobi's usual style; even if Danzo wanted to snatch it, he couldn't."
Orochimaru: "If Teacher Sarutobi really succeeds, Naruto will only be relegated to Danzo's current position in the future."
Utatane Koharu: "Orochimaru, no matter what, you are still a Konoha Ninja. Even if you've become a rogue Ninja... do you really have to slander Konoha like this with outsiders?!"
Homura Mitokado: "Koharu is right."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura had not spoken for a long time.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado knew it was their turn to make an appearance.
Orochimaru: "Hehe, two old immortal Advisors..."
Orochimaru: "I just remembered, I did some research before."
Orochimaru: "Advisor Homura, would you like to hear it?"
Orochimaru: "It's about Asuma."
Homura Mitokado's face instantly changed.
Ino Yamanaka: "What, what? I want to hear it~"
Utatane Koharu: "Orochimaru, don't talk nonsense!"
Orochimaru: "Hahaha~"
Inside the Root Organization's base.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face also turned ugly.
Danzo sat in the main seat, sneering.
The black-framed large screen continued to display the scene.
[In a blink of an eye, there was only one month left until the Ninja Academy graduation exam.]
["Alright, everyone, quiet down."]
[On the podium, Iruka had a smile on his face.]
[He looked at the students in their seats, filled with gratification.]
[In a trance, it was as if he had returned to seven years ago.]
[These half-grown children had just enrolled.]
[They were all little kids, and in the blink of an eye, these little kids had become big friends.]
[His gaze swept around.]
[Finally, Iruka boldly looked towards the upper right corner.]
[The Naruto Gang... who knew when that name had spread.]
[Iruka was both gratified and helpless, even a little fearful.]
[These little rascals were truly a headache.]
[It wasn't just him.]
[Even the only substitute teacher in seven years had been 'poisoned' by them.]
[No teacher dislikes excellent and eager-to-learn students.]
[Well, under normal circumstances, of course.]
[But every member of the Naruto Gang was excellent and eager-to-learn in a way that could drive a teacher crazy.]
[In severe cases, it could very likely lead to bankruptcy.]
Iruka: "Wuwuwu~"
[After seeing everyone quiet down.]
[Iruka then said: "There's only one month left until the graduation exam."]
["Everyone, focus and study hard."]
["In a month, when I see you all, I hope you will all have successfully passed the exam and become Ninja."]
[Iruka tapped the blackboard, then added: "For the next month, I will also prepare for the exam with you."]
["So, everyone, cheer up~!"]
[As his words fell, the classroom remained quiet for a while.]
[Suddenly, a small voice sounded.]
["One month... I can't wait~!"]
[Immediately after, everyone seemed to have received some command and began to whisper among themselves.]
["Ninja... I'm so excited! Then we'll be able to wear cool Konoha headbands like Teacher Iruka~!"]
["I heard we'll also be divided into teams, three people per squad!"]
["Three people... I hope I can be on a team with Naruto-kun~!"]
["You all go fight over Naruto-kun, I'm not greedy, I just want Sasuke-kun~"]
["Tch, a bunch of weaklings, I'm going to be on a team with Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun!"]
["..."]
[With graduation approaching, Iruka didn't interrupt the children's conversations.]
[He just patiently waited for the classroom to quiet down.]
[If they weren't excited, how would they study hard?]
[The Naruto Gang was unaffected.]
[Nervous?]
[That was absolutely impossible.]
[Almost every member of the Naruto Gang was a top student.]
[And knowing that after becoming Ninja, the time and frequency of their gatherings would significantly decrease, they weren't as excited about it.]
[But these were inevitable things.]
[And at this moment, the most impatient person in the entire class was the aloof Sasuke.]
[He had been aloof for three years.]
[For three years, he hadn't had much contact with the Naruto Gang.]
[Kiba once said that when he was walking his dog, he passed by the now semi-restricted Uchiha Clan compound.]
[He had seen Sasuke's figure.]
[He seemed to always live there alone.]
[Always training alone until midnight.]
[At that time, Kiba suggested that they should gather, play, and train in the Uchiha Clan compound in the future.]
[So, everyone encouraged him to approach Sasuke.]
[Without any surprise, he was ignored.]
[Kiba, unable to take it, immediately challenged Sasuke during a practical exercise.]
[And gave Sasuke a good beating.]
[However, he ultimately lost.]
[Because of this, Sasuke's face was dark for several days, and he had many new injuries on his body.]
[It was so difficult to deal with Kiba, which was a huge blow to Sasuke.]
[He trained like crazy.]
[If he knew that Kiba was strictly forbidden from using anything Naruto had taught him, perhaps... whether Sasuke could win would be another matter.]
[Sasuke was indeed strong, but this was still the early stage; he didn't even know how to activate his Sharingan. It wouldn't be easy to defeat Kiba, who was trained by Naruto.]
Looking at Sasuke in the black frame world.
Everyone fell silent.
Uchiha... genius?
This Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique... he must have practiced it for a long time, right?
It still seemed smaller than the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique Black-Framed Naruto used for the first time.
Sasuke's face darkened.
However, to his surprise, Naruto didn't go all out against him face-to-face.
[Half a month later.]
[Hokage Building, Hokage Office.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the Hokage's seat.]
[Standing before him were three familiar faces.]
[Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura.]
["Soon, it will be the Ninja Academy graduation day."]
["This batch of graduates has many with special identities."]
[Homura Mitokado spoke first.]
["How to divide the teams is a problem."]
[Utatane Koharu narrowed her eyes slightly.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly smoked his pipe.]
[He glanced at his good friend.]
[Danzo slowly put down the team assignment roster.]
["Hiruzen, did I see wrong?"]
["You actually want the Jinchuriki to become a Ninja?"]