Chapter 8: The Third Hokage

  About a day after the Nine-Tails was sealed, in the Fire Shadow Hall, many Jonin including young Kakashi and Asuma were gathered. At this time, our protagonist Meng Rong was observing these familiar yet strange faces before his eyes...

  "...the Third Hokage, this is the legacy of the Fourth Hokage." At that time, Danzo was telling Hiruzen and a baby Naruto about sealing the Nine-Tails.

  "Hmm... If you say so, then the Fourth must have used that technique. Sigh..." The Third Hokage said with a hint of regret, exhaling a puff of smoke.

  "And also, this young girl, she helped us during the process of sealing the Nine-Tails, the Fourth Hokage said to let her stay in the village. He wants to cultivate her into an excellent ninja." As he spoke, Danzō pointed at Mei Terumī standing beside him.

  "Oh? You're a little girl, what's your name?" The Third Hokage asked warmly.

  "My name is Meng Ling, full name is Shen Ruyue Meng Ling." Meng Ling scratched the back of her head and replied somewhat nervously.

  "Hmm, not bad, indeed a good seed for a ninja." The Third Hokage praised.

  "Judging from the situation two days ago, the girl in front of you has already reached the level of a lower ninja. However, I asked her age yesterday and also verified it... " He pointed at Meng Ling again.

  "...She is now only three years old." Toshizo said slowly.

  "Three... three years old?" The Jonin present, including Kakashi, were shocked. But Mei Terumi just scratched her head in embarrassment and smiled foolishly on the side.

  "For a kid of this age with average aptitude, they're not even old enough to attend the Ninja Academy yet." Kakaashi said calmly, holding a copy of "Makeout Paradise".

  "This is Kakashi in his youth, his hairstyle was really strange back then. At that time, Kakashi seemed to still be a member of the Anbu." Meirin supported her chin and carefully sized up the Kakashi before her eyes, thinking to herself.

  "Huh?" Kakashi also noticed Meirin's gaze: "What? Is there something dirty on my face or something?" Kakashi asked, pointing to his nose.

  "Hmm... nothing." Upon hearing this, Meng Leng couldn't help but feel a dizzy sensation. Is there something on your face? Are you kidding me? You've wrapped your entire face so that only one eye is visible, even if you had flowers on your face I wouldn't be able to see them.

  "Alright, I won't say anything more. My words are done, and I have my own matters to attend to. Farewell for now..." With that, Danzo didn't even wait for the Third Hokage's response and walked straight out of the grand hall where everyone was gathered.

  "Your name is Meng Ling, right? Tell me, what's your purpose for coming here... or rather, what's your goal?" The Third Hokage's expression softened greatly now that Danzo had left. He began to ask Meng Ling kindly.

  "Come here, of course, is to become a ninja, this is my dream all along." To be honest, Meng's impression of the Third Hokage was still very good, from the previous plot, it can be seen that the Third Hokage was an old good man who always thought for others, although he died at the hands of his own disciple in the end. However, most of what he did in this life is praiseworthy. Including how he handled the matter of Naruto, the Jinchuriki.

  "Oh? Is that so? Well, I'm looking forward to it." The Third Hokage shifted his gaze from Mei Terumi's body and looked at Kakashi, who was wearing a dark outfit next to him. "Kakashi, you'll be in charge of teaching her for the next two years, and then she can enter the Ninja Academy to take the Chunin qualification exam."

  "Kakashi?" Upon hearing this, Meng also jumped in surprise, thinking that he would be taught ninjutsu by the Third Hokage after all, but unexpectedly it was still Kakashi who would be teaching him ninjutsu. His heart couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.

  "Doesn't the little girl want to? You know, Kakashi is a member of the Anbu, right?" Ashma said with a smile, lighting up a cigarette and taking a puff.

  "Are all the Anbu really that formidable?" Meng Ling remembered that in the original Naruto storyline, apart from 'Tajima Uchiha' and 'Kakashi', who were both born into the Anbu, it seemed like most of the other Anbu were basically just extras.

  "Of course, the members in the dark part are the elites of the Konoha ninjas, especially Kakashi, who is the son of the genius ninja White Fang of Konoha and a rare genius himself." The Third said with a smile.

  "Really?" Meng Ling's face showed a puzzled expression, but in her heart she was scolding these people for being idiots. Humph, Kakashi? I probably know more about his affairs than all of you combined.

  "Of course it's true, so do you agree or not?" The Third Hokage asked.

  "Teacher." Mèng Líng proved her own idea with her actions and immediately ran to Kakashi's front and bowed down.

  "Alright then." Kakashi gently patted Mei Terumi's small head and said softly.

  "Alright......" Seeing that one thing had been settled, the Third Hokage immediately stood up. "...Since everything has been handed over, let's disperse. Little Mei and I will go for a bit, I still have something to tell you." The Third Hokage spat out a mouthful of green smoke and walked towards the door.

  A moment later, on the rooftop of the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage stood with his hands behind his back, and behind him was a still somewhat bewildered Mei Terumi.

  "Is it Uchiha Madara." The Third Hokage finally spoke up.

  "Mmm..." Meng Ling responded with a murmur.

  "Are you really only three years old now?" The Third Hokage asked softly.

  "What's wrong? The old man suddenly asked this question?" Meng Ling felt a sense of unease in her heart. Had the Third Hokage already suspected her? Indeed, everything she had done was impossible for a three-year-old to accomplish.

  "Because when I heard Tsuma say seal the nine-tailed demon fox, your reaction was not like that of a three-year-old girl at all." The Third Hokage turned around and stared tightly at Mu Lin.

  "Meng Ling's heart skipped a beat... Her hands began to circle involuntarily."

  "Heh heh, don't be nervous, I know Danzo's character. If he thought you were a threat to Konoha, he wouldn't have brought you to see me. So, I can confirm that you don't have any malicious intentions towards Konoha. Perhaps your mental age is much more mature than your peers, but these are all unimportant." The Third Hokage smiled.

  "Could it be that the Third Hokage brought me here just to tell me this one thing?" Meng Ling asked, somewhat puzzled.

  "Haha, of course not." The Third Hokage smiled.

  "What's this?" Meng Ling was even more perplexed.

  "Let's not talk about this for now, I'll ask you a question and you must answer truthfully." The Third Hokage said seriously.

  "I know." Meng Ling replied.

  "What do you think about the Fourth Hokage sealing the extremely vicious Nine-Tails into his own son's body?" The Third Hokage asked slowly, exhaling a long breath.

  "Hmm... although I personally think that Naruto will be ostracized by the villagers for a while due to the Nine-Tails' influence, the Fourth Hokage must have also thought of this point. Perhaps after obtaining the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto's future path in life will change for the better... so I think the Fourth Hokage must have had a more long-term plan." Mei Terumi said clearly and concisely. Of course, apart from some parts that were her own thoughts, Mei was basically just repeating what the Hokage had introduced about sealing the Nine-Tails.

  "Your analysis is quite correct, it seems that what Tsuma said wasn't just boasting after all. Your intellect is indeed not like a three-year-old girl's. If the facts hadn't forced me to believe you're really only three years old, I would have thought you were a spy sent from another country. But these are all unnecessary words now. Hehe." The Third Hokage chuckled.

  They say that ninjas' reasoning abilities are on par with Holmes, and it seems that's not an exaggeration. Meng Ling thought to herself.

  "Can you listen to me for a moment?" The Third Hokage came before Mu Lin, patted Mu Lin's little head, and said seriously.

  "Fire Shadow Grandfather, please speak." Although Meng Ling was very disgusted with this action, the current situation didn't allow her to say much.

  "Don't tell him that the Nine-Tails' chakra is sealed within his body, okay?" The Third Hokage's eyes became slightly moist.

  "I understand your intention, but you should know that paper can't wrap fire, and Naruto will eventually find out about this matter too." Meng Ling said, looking up at the Third Hokage.

  "Hehe, of course I know that, but after all he's still just a kid. We've already owed him by sealing the Nine-Tails into his body. Now, all I can hope for is that he'll have a happy childhood." As he said this, the Third Hokage looked out at the distant blue sky.

  "Oh, I see." Although she said so with her mouth, Meng Leng didn't know why, but at this time, in her heart, it was very contradictory. The idea of the Third Hokage was good, but how did he know that Naruto didn't have a happy childhood? Should she tell the Third Hokage now or not, his current approach was completely futile?

  "It's better to give up, even if I say it, he won't believe me. And because of this, the future will have a momentum that never gives up." Meng Ling made her own decision at this time.

  "Alright, that's all I have to say. Go see your teacher now, he's already waiting for you. You should know, Kakashi is a genius and his help will be invaluable to your future." The Third Hokage smiled.

  "Well, see you later, Third Hokage." Meng Ling called out, flipping over and jumping down from the rooftop, her figure gradually disappearing from the Third Hokage's line of sight.

  Having seen Mei Terumi leave, the Third Hokage returned once again to his office and began writing on a piece of paper.

  "Article XX of the Konoha Village Rules: From now on, all villagers of Konoha are forbidden to mention the nine-tailed demon fox sealed within a person..."

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