"What are you two talking about? I don't uand a word..."

  "Nothing, sensei. See you ter!"

  Shisui waved goodbye.

  He still didn’t uand, but he was determio keep searg for answers.

  As Kyoichi watched them leave, he let out a silent sigh.

  In Konoha, it wasn’t just the Uchiha that isoted themselves, f what was essentially a "vilge within a vilge."

  There was another just like them—the Hyuga !

  At least the Uchiha still sent their young to the Academy every year, but the Hyuga rarely did so, preferring to educate their children within the itself.

  A...

  Only the Uchiha faced discrimination and targeted policies. The Hyuga were spared from such treatment, not merely because of the Uchiha’s supposed "disloyalty."

  Even if Shisui became the leader and led his people dowh of a "good" Uchiha, Danzo would still likely refuse to sheath his bde.

  Danzo's staoward the Uchiha was far harsher than that of the Third Hokage.

  If Shisui couldn't prehend the reasons behind the rift between the Uchiha and the oners of Konoha, there was no point delving deeper into such topics with him.

  With that thought, Kyoichi turned and headed toward Ichiraku Ramen.

  As for the Third Hokage?

  What was there to worry about?

  The Third wasn’t like Danzo.

  Kyoichi’s as—encing Shisui and Obito to help civilians and perform unpaid tasks—would only earn him the Hokage’s gratitude.

  Upon arriving at Ichiraku, Kyoichi was just about to sit down when a swift shadoroached.

  Whoosh!

  An Anbu ninja, masked and imposing, appeared before him.

  "Kyoichi Kanda, the Third Hokage summons you to the Hokage's office."

  "Me?"

  "Yes..."

  "Alright, I'll go immediately."

  Kyoichi uzzled but didn't dwell on it.

  The Anbu’s direess made it clear this wasn’t a casual request.

  Without dey, he followed the Anbu, both of them using the Body Flicker Jutsu to reach the Hokage's offi mere moments.

  "Lord Hokage, Kyoichi has arrived."

  "Dismissed."

  "Yes, sir!"

  The Anbu disappeared, leaving only the Third Hokage and Kyoichi in the room.

  The Third Hokage removed his hat, his demeanor warm and casual, like a kindly elder. He stood, smiling as he examined Kyoichi from head to toe.

  "It’s been years, and look at you now—all grown up!"

  "You know me, Lord Hokage?"

  Kyoichi was slightly taken aback.

  "Of course. Yrandmother and my teacher were close retives. When you were born, I even held you in my arms."

  "This... My grandmother never mentio."

  Kyoichi scratched his head, an awkward ugh.

  But in truth...

  He knew full well this was likely fabricated.

  It was a cssic tactic to build rapport. There was o expose it, though. The Hokage’s efforts to close the psychological distaween them were clear indications of his io win Kyoichi over.

  This referable to ht reje.

  "Hehe, by all ats, you’re like family. Rex, let’s just have a chat."

  "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

  Kyoichi bowed respectfully, sitting only after the Hokage gestured for him to do so.

  Lighting his pipe, the Third Hokage smiled and asked, "Siurning to the vilge, how have you been feeling?"

  "Holy, Lord Hokage, you may not believe it, but ever since rec from my injuries, I feel like my body has grown stronger, and even my Water Release teiques seem more powerful."

  Kyoichi shared some of the truth.

  The Hokage’s smile widened. Puffing on his pipe, he excimed, "You have the blood of the Senju your veins. This is your Senju heritage awakening."

  "Really?!"

  "Indeed!"

  The Hokage seemed genuinely delighted, puffing smoke as he spoke. Kyoichi’s straightforwardness iing his dition clearly pleased him.

  "By the way, I’ve heard about your ret work at the Academy. With the wartime chaos disrupting grade levels and graduation timelines, stig strictly to protocol isn’t ideal. Your flexible teag methods are endable!"

  "Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

  Kyoichi smiled, but inwardly, he pohe Hokage's iions.

  Mentioning the Senju bloodline and praising his teag—could this be leading to a promotion?

  "Don’t be so tense. I called you here partly to chat, but also to ask if, with your ret awakening of the Senju bloodline, you’d be willing to participate in the Jōnin Exam?"

  The Hokage handed him a form—an application for the Jōnin Exam.

  Kyoichi was stunned.

  A promotion to Jōnin?

  He had expected some sort of reward but hadn’t imagi would be this.

  Jōnin...

  He fell silent, weighing the pros and s. Being a Jōnin would grant him more authority and freedom but also e with heavier responsibilities and more dangerous missions.

  However...

  The Hokage’s assessment of his strength was already oable. Refusing the promotion might create unnecessary misuandings.

  Finally, he scratched his head and said, "Lord Hokage, I’m just a in. I’m worried I might not be qualified."

  "Your strength is more than suffit. As for other areas, those be developed with time. Years of war have left us with a she of Jōnin. Your promotion would be a great help."

  The Hokage sighed.

  "If you believe in me, Lord Hokage, then I’ll give it a try!"

  Relieved, Kyoichi sighe form.

  "That’s the spirit. Strength be trained, but the heart and will are what truly matter. Few people these days truly uand the Will of Fire."

  The Hokage’s smile deepened.

  Kyoichi uood the subtext.

  Shisui.

  See?

  He’d said so—the Hokage should be thanking him!

  Of course...

  The Uchiha robably livid. A talented young member of their , after spending only a few days with him as a teacher, had already shifted his mi. It wouldn’t be surprising if they fronted him soon.

  Not that it mattered.

  The current Uchiha were weak.

  After Madara left, they didn’t dare follow him.

  When Kagami died and the Third Hokage came to power, they were gradually pushed to the margins of Konoha’s political ter, yet they still didn’t resist.

  They only began pting rebellioheir situation became untenable.

  What were they doing before?

  Kyoichi held little regard for the current Uchiha —even less faku Uchiha.

  The man was weak and indecisive.

  If Shisui could abandon his na?ve ideals and beore pragmatic, he’d already be a better leader than Fugaku.

  Leaving the Hokage’s office, Kyoichi walked home, refleg on the enter.

  The Third Hokage’s i was clear: he wanted Kyoichi to align with the Hokage fa.

  To that end, he even brought up old es to the Senju . It was almost ughable but showed the Hokage bore no ill will toward him.

  For now, Kyoichi didn’t o worry about the Third Hokage.

  In fact...

  The Hokage might even shield him from Danzo’s maations.

  As for the Jōnin Exam, with the looming war year, seg a Jōnin position would be highly advantageous.

  The only was...

  "What happens to my system after I bee a Jōnin?"

  Kyoichi g his Mentor System.

  The system seemed designed for teag. As a Jōnin, staying at the Academy would be unlikely.

  Still, he was just a temporary instructor. Injuries or not, his time at the Academy was always going to be short-lived.

  With that thought, his mind cleared.

  As a Jōnin, he could request a team or roam freely, leveraging his talent fuidance.

  Not a problem!

  Gcell