"Dad, the Hokage-sama is calling you!"
Guy tugged hard on Duy's sleeve and whispered excitedly, "The Third Hokage-sama actually knows you—are you friends with the Third Hokage-sama…?"
Only then did Duy come back to his senses a little from his daze.
"Ah, yes!" He nodded instinctively, but his cheeks reddened.
No father wants to lose face in front of his son.
But as a champion of youth, lying was something that made him feel ashamed.
"Third Hokage-sama…" Standing before Hiruzen, Duy greeted him somewhat awkwardly.
"Duy, you're here for morning training too?"
Hiruzen said with a smile, "How many laps did you run with your son today?"
When the topic came up, Duy could not help straightening his chest slightly, gaining confidence as well: "We've already run three hundred laps around the village's inner ring! After seeing your youth and effort, Guy and I plan to add another three hundred!"
Sakumo's gaze shifted slightly to the side.
In the village, he also had a widely recognized trait—keen eyes that could see others' potential.
'At this age, the calluses on his palms are already this thick?' Sakumo's expression grew more serious. 'His frame has developed very well too…'
The intensity of running six hundred laps—if it was true—was already enough to make people look at him in a new light.
Hard training was not something you could accomplish by just talking about it.
To train to this extent, unyielding willpower was only one part of it.
Physical talent was also absolutely beyond ordinary.
Kakashi quietly rolled his eyes.
He knew that father-and-son pair, Might Guy and Might Duy—given how attention-grabbing their "youth" performance was…
'He wants to get into the ninja academy, but this guy can't even use ninjutsu…' Kakashi held back the urge to make a sharp comment, muttering to himself, ¿Six hundred laps? What a load of bragging!'
After all, the Hokage-sama was right here.
"That really is an outstanding child!" Hiruzen praised Guy heartily. Because of his own daily morning training, he could roughly estimate it in his mind.
What Duy said was the truth.
Hearing Hiruzen's praise, Guy's eyes lit up at once.
Aside from his father, this was the first time he had received affirmation from someone else…
And it was even from the Hokage!
"How is the child doing at the academy?" Hiruzen asked in a casual, chatty manner.
"He hasn't enrolled yet, Third Hokage-sama!" Duy's tone sank slightly, but then he brightened again. "But we'll work hard! We'll definitely get in…"
Guy, who had just lifted his head, lowered it again.
If it were in front of others, he might still be able to give a thumbs-up: Thanks for the support!
But here, in the Hokage's presence…
"Didn't make it in? Doesn't the Ninja Academy have a make-up examination?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening as he spoke in an unquestionable tone: "Duy, tell me the whole situation."
The Ninja Academy's first examination was a comprehensive test of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
The make-up examination, on the other hand, was aimed at children who possessed exceptional talent in a particular area. It could be likened to the mechanism of a "Special Jōnin."
With Guy's talent, if he had been overlooked…
Then it meant that the Academy's admissions personnel—if not committing a major problem—were at the very least being negligent in their duties!
As Hiruzen's expression shifted, the air itself seemed to freeze slightly…
What moments ago had felt like a warm spring breeze abruptly turned sharp and chilling.
Duy hesitated for a moment.
This burly man uncharacteristically twitched his nose as he spoke: "That day, seeing Third Hokage-sama sparring with Orochimaru-sama, hearing your declaration about protecting the village…"
"I was too excited!"
"Guy was the same. We overdid our extra training, and as a result, on the day of the make-up exam, we hadn't recovered…"
"This was the fault of youth—this was not taking training seriously enough!"
"So Guy and I thought that, since we hadn't respected the village's examination, we should punish ourselves by delaying enrollment by a year and doubling this year's training volume…"
Several crows flew overhead at just the right moment, cawing a few times.
The solemn atmosphere dissipated into nothingness.
Hiruzen almost failed to hold it together.
A ninja's way of thinking really was too peculiar and varied—he still needed to get used to it.
He had thought there was a problem with the Academy…
"Duy, your intentions are good."
Hiruzen said softly, "But a ninja's training cannot rely on hard effort alone. It requires a structured educational system, and talent must be demonstrated at the right time."
"If Guy does not enter the Ninja Academy, then no one will be there to evaluate him in a timely manner. Later on, when the village provides targeted advanced training for Academy students, even those with aptitude may miss the opportunity."
Duy felt a sting in his chest. "Hokage-sama…"
Was he really saying such heartfelt words to a genin like him?
"I can see your heart of gold, Duy." Hiruzen shook his head. "But sometimes, being overly restrained is not a good thing…"
"As Hokage, I often worry about one question."
"How can we ensure, as much as possible, that children—and everyone—receive resources suited to them?"
"For a hard-working talent like Guy, not entering the Ninja Academy would make me feel that I have failed in my duty."
Duy was greatly alarmed. "Please, don't say that!"
Hiruzen said with emotion, "The ninja of this village are truly very good…"
"People like you and Guy—even participating in one more exam makes you feel guilty."
"As Hokage, I am very afraid of leaving behind comrades who possess such a strong Will of Fire…"
"So, Duy, remember this: if you achieve any results in your training in the future, you must promptly coordinate with the village. Even if you have shortcomings, the village will find a suitable position for you."
These words from Hiruzen came straight from the heart.
He also recalled some matters concerning Duy…
Aside from his passion for youth, because of his shortcomings as a ninja in coordination and tactical execution, no one had been willing to form a team with him…
As a result, he could only take on miscellaneous tasks like carrying bags or looking for cats, and had even been called a "cat-finding specialist."
"Let Guy enroll…"
Hiruzen reached into his pocket and, without changing his expression, asked Sakumo, "Did you bring money?"
The Hokage rarely carried money when he went out.
"I did, I did." Sakumo handed his wallet to Hiruzen.
Fortunately, he had brought it…
"I'll pay you back later."
Hiruzen counted out one hundred thousand ryō. "Genin Duy, the village has an important task for you!"
Duy instinctively stood straight. "Hokage-sama, please give the order!"
Hiruzen handed the stack over to Duy. "Take responsibility for the village's future nutritional work. Taijutsu and hard training are one part of it, but rest and nutrition must also keep pace…"
"If there are any mistakes, I will hold you accountable!"
Sakumo smiled silently.
As for those one hundred thousand ryō, he no longer felt like asking the Hokage for them back…
It really warmed the heart…
"Th-this… how can this be acceptable, Third Hokage-sama…"
Tears poured down Duy's face. He wiped them continuously, waving his hands in haste. "There are so many people in the village who need help. I'm just a genin…"
"Duy, you are very good."
Hiruzen patted his shoulder. "Ninja who need assistance are certainly not limited to you alone, and the village has already given this matter consideration."
"Those who lost both parents, those with talent but temporary hardship, the elderly living alone—all of them will be brought into the support system. The village will do its utmost to provide a safety net for them."
Hiruzen was not making empty promises.
He dared to say this because, on the administrative side led by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, the response to the 'Sacred Pill'—the chakra health supplement developed by Orochimaru and others—had been extremely enthusiastic.
The daimyō himself had been the most responsive of all, repeatedly inviting Hiruzen to visit the Land of Fire, while also understanding the recent situation among the major hidden villages of the shinobi world.
He only hoped that this excellent deal could be finalized as soon as possible—
to the point that he was just short of personally coming over and pouring the ryo straight into the Hokage's pockets.
Sakumo's eyes lit up.
Naturally, he himself was not part of this so-called support system, yet he deeply appreciated the warmth of human feeling behind it.
This was the village… this was the Will of Fire!
"So this money is simply an advance the village is giving you."
"You can't expect me, as Hokage, to see a problem and not solve it, only to keep dragging things out, can you?"
Duy accepted it with tears streaming down his face.
"Minato, if you decide to pursue this Lightning Release nintaijutsu, go file a report with the administrative department."
Hiruzen said, "Train properly. In the future, you'll be sent to the Ninja Academy to provide advanced instruction for the children."
"If there are seedlings suited to learning this technique, you'll be responsible for them!"
Minato agreed readily. "Hokage-sama, please leave it to me…"
Not only Sakumo—he too felt greatly encouraged by the Hokage's consideration for the village's future.
He genuinely wanted to contribute his strength.
"Want to learn?" Minato said with a broad smile to Guy. "I noticed your eyes—you were watching closely. Study hard at the Academy, and I'll come find you."
Guy nodded vigorously.
And at that moment—
Duy suddenly dropped to one knee, his voice deep and solemn.
"Third Hokage-sama, please forgive Duy's former narrow-mindedness!"
"I once believed that 'hard training' was purely an inner discipline, and that speaking of it to others went against the spirit of youth…"
"I never imagined that the Hokage-sama had already considered the village's needs to such an extent…"
"If I continue to act willfully, Duy would never be able to forgive himself. I humbly ask for your future guidance—so that my youth may make the greatest possible contribution to the village!"
Kakashi frowned.
What was a genin even saying?
Then, in the next instant—
Duy let out a furious shout: "Eight Gates Technique, open!"
Surging chakra burst forth from his body, blasting forward and making Kakashi's face scrunch up tightly.
A flicker of delight flashed through Hiruzen's eyes.
Another expert?
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