Chapter 81: Sarutobi Hiruzen: Could It Be That I Was Wrong?

Konohagakure – Hokage Tower Over an hour later, Maruboshi Kosuke knelt before Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes swollen and bloodshot from weeping. The Third Hokage was stunned. In all his years—aside from that one mistake decades ago—he had never seen Kosuke break down like this. What happened? Was the pressure of mentoring Kyohiko really that overwhelming? Or had something else occurred that morning? Had something so significant happened in just a few unmonitored hours? Bewildered, he helped Kosuke up. "Kosuke... what’s going on?" "Hokage-sama... I want to become a jonin!" "...What?" Hiruzen placed his pipe aside, his expression caught between confusion and shock, unable to believe what he had just heard. Become a jonin? You? By the Sage! Ever since becoming Hokage, Hiruzen had strategized how to resolve Kosuke’s emotional barriers. Never had he imagined Kosuke would come to this realization on his own—yet he had no idea why. What had changed? Was it really just talking to Kyohiko that caused such a drastic shift in perspective? Hiruzen fell into deep contemplation. Then, he gestured for Kosuke to sit. "May I ask... why? For years, you’ve refused promotions, believing that remaining a genin was your atonement." "I..." Kosuke hesitated for a moment. Being lectured and enlightened by an eight-year-old wasn’t exactly honorable. But recalling Kyohiko’s words, he pushed past his pride. Compared to the weight of "legacy" and "protection," what did his personal shame matter? Straightening, he declared: "I was schooled... by a child." He then recounted his conversation with Kyohiko. Hiruzen listened in silence. Protection. Legacy. The Will of Fire. Truth be told, he couldn’t have phrased it better himself. And what struck him most was that Kyohiko didn’t just preach these ideals—he lived them. "Dust." This tiny organization’s details had already reached him through ANBU. Hiruzen had a basic understanding of its principles and operations. Mutual progress. Collective protection of Konoha. That boy truly resembled Nidaime-sama too much! After a long silence, the Hokage sighed. "Kosuke... Your skills and strength have long met jonin standards. You could have led teams years ago. But your guilt held you back, and I couldn’t force you." "I must thank Kyohiko. He’s given our village back a jonin." Hiruzen’s voice was firm. Kosuke hung his head. Indeed, all this time, he had just been avoiding responsibility—deluding himself into thinking his self-imposed punishment meant anything. "Hokage-sama, I have another request." "Name it." Seeing him turn over a new leaf, Hiruzen was more than willing to accommodate. Kosuke squared his shoulders. "I want to document my mistakes—my real failures—in a case study for future genin. Let them understand the weight of leadership and the cost of poor judgment." Hiruzen’s eyes widened. "Kosuke, you don’t have to do this..." If he did, Kosuke’s name would become synonymous with failure for the next generation—his past arrogance overshadowing his contributions. Could Hiruzen bear that? Kosuke shook his head. "This is the price I must pay. And if my meager sacrifice can help young shinobi grasp the responsibilities of command... I would die happy." He wasn’t afraid of sacrifice. What he feared was wandering aimlessly for decades again, ignorant of his true purpose. Hiruzen was deeply moved. Konoha had never done anything like this before. But if compiling such case studies—no matter how small their impact—could eventually shape better shinobi, surely it was worth pursuing? After a long silence, he nodded. "This is your courage and conviction. I have no right to refuse." Kosuke would have never thought of this himself—it had to be Kyohiko’s doing. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Kyohiko’s advice benefited Konoha. And that made it worth doing! That said... This kind of thing had to be voluntary. Not everyone had Kosuke’s resolve. A single case alone wasn’t enough to compile into a guide. "I’ll carefully consider how to implement this. For now, about your jonin status... The Academy graduation exams are approaching. Would you like to mentor a team next year?" "I’ll obey the village’s arrangements." Kosuke stood firm. As Kyohiko had said—a true jonin, a true embodiment of the Will of Fire, wasn’t just about protection. It was about passing the torch. How laughable that a man in his forties needed an eight-year-old to enlighten him. "Good. Then I’ll assign you three students this year." Hiruzen couldn’t suppress a smile. Kosuke had lost an eye during a mission long ago, yet he still charged into battle, taking on the most dangerous tasks. But his value extended far beyond that. Passing on his skills was just as important. And coincidentally, there was one team in need of a new sensei. —— Psychological counseling complete. [You helped a shinobi resolve his emotional burdens, allowing him to embrace a greater role as a jonin] [Reward: Willow Dance proficiency increased] Not a wasted effort! Kyohiko exhaled in relief. Why had he chased Kosuke all the way to the Memorial Stone? For this measly reward, of course! At least his efforts bore fruit. Willow Dance leveled up. As he absorbed the new insights flooding his mind, his expression shifted to surprise. This version of the Willow Dance was... different. At the Expert tier, the one-handed seal adaptation amplified the genjutsu’s potency. The illusions were stronger. For example... He had previously attempted to merge the Crescent Moon Dance with the Willow Dance, showcasing a half-baked prototype. Now, he could execute it flawlessly. Wait— "If the essence of Willow Dance is motion-triggered genjutsu—with seals merely streamlining the process—could I apply this principle to... the Darkness Genjutsu?" The thought sent a thrill through him. If he could integrate Darkness Genjutsu, it would become an assassin’s dream. Even if not, just mastering a one-handed-seal variant would be a nightmare for Uchiha. Worth experimenting with. Every shinobi had techniques that suited them best—perhaps this path was his. —— Land of Wind – Sunagakure Pakura stood before the Third Kazekage, head bowed in silence. The air was thick with tension. Finally, the Kazekage sighed. "I won’t punish you." "I should’ve realized Chiyo-sama’s intentions, but—" "Don’t blame yourself. This was Chiyo’s choice. Even if you’d noticed, nothing would’ve changed." His voice softened. "She had only one grandson. The moment she demanded his body back... she’d already decided." He patted her shoulder. "Let it go." "Yes, sir!" Pakura’s voice quivered. Nearly every shinobi in Suna had been treated by Chiyo at some point. How could she not grieve? Which made it all the harder to comprehend— How could Sasori, the grandson she died for, remain so cold? Had he no humanity left? The Kazekage gazed toward the Land of Fire. Chiyo... I hope your grandson proves worthy of your sacrifice. Then, his brow furrowed. "Where is Chiyo’s body? She deserves a proper send-off from the village." Sasori smirked, flicking a finger. The cloth bundle behind him unfurled, revealing a humanoid thing. The Kazekage’s eyes narrowed. "You turned your own grandmother into—" "Eternal art." Sasori’s tone was glacial. The Kazekage’s expression darkened with disbelief. Sasori scoffed. "Posthumous ceremonies are meaningless. Save the pageantry for the living. I’ll return to the village... but if you interfere with my research—" "I forbid human puppets. That forbidden art is too dangerous—especially using our own people. Try it, and I’ll kill you myself, Chiyo’s wishes be damned." The Kazekage’s stance was unyielding. Sasori re-sealed the puppet. "Fools never change. My mistake, thinking you’d be different." As he turned to leave, the Kazekage spoke again. "If you’re planning to provoke Konoha... don’t." "Oh?" "The one guarding the border is Orochimaru... of the Sannin." The Kazekage’s fingers twitched, his expression shifting imperceptibly. Just now... Using his Magnet Release, he’d sensed the truth—Sasori’s "puppet" wasn’t human. It was just an ordinary construct of iron and cloth. Perhaps Sasori wasn’t as lost as he seemed. "Chiyo wouldn’t want you continuing this path." His tone was almost pleading. "She must have left you the Chikamatsu Collection. With your talent, you could create puppets surpassing them." "The Chikamatsu Collection..." For a fleeting moment, pain flickered across Sasori’s face. His steps faltered. A scroll weighed heavily in his hand, the words "Father" and "Mother" scrawled across its surface. Surpass the Chikamatsu Collection? A bitter smile twisted his lips before vanishing into a sneer. "I’ll return to the village... but don’t expect anything." He looked up at the sky. "My pursuit of eternal beauty is beyond your comprehension. So unless it’s important... leave me alone." With that, he unsealed the puppet back into the scroll. Then, step by step, he vanished into the dunes—toward Sunagakure. Was trading Chiyo for Sasori really worth it? The Kazekage stood motionless. Chiyo had believed Sasori could be Suna’s future... But could an uncontrollable genius truly be a blessing? "Sasori... why can’t you be more like that boy from Konoha?" According to intel, Konoha’s prodigy—barely older than eight—was already a jonin, his conduct exemplary. The polar opposite of Sasori. A heavy sigh echoed across the sands. —— Konoha – Near the Tea District Outside the Yamanaka Flower Shop, Uzumaki Yuki froze. Her eyes lit up. "A flower shop!" Kyohiko glanced at the sign. Yamanaka Florals. "The Yamanaka family’s business. Do you like flower arrangement?" "I love it, but—" She smiled faintly, avoiding unpleasant memories. After scanning the display, she sighed. "Too bad they’re not hiring. I’m actually pretty good at it." "What about cooking?" Kyohiko’s question caught her off guard. Yuki pondered, then brightened. "I used to cook for my grandma all the time! She loved my dishes. Back then—" Her voice cut off abruptly, her mood dimming. "...Never mind. I don’t like cooking." "Let me ask for you." Kyohiko entered the shop. A gentle, elegant woman—Yamanaka Rika—was trimming stems when the bell chimed. "Welcome! Oh—" She recognized Kyohiko vaguely before noticing Yuki. "Here to buy flowers?" "Actually, ma’am... is this shop hiring? My friend here loves flower arrangement and would love to apprentice here." Rika’s gaze swept over Yuki. A stranger... But that hair color. It was unmistakable— Uzumaki. Word of the girl’s arrival had spread among the village women. Rika’s smile warmed. "We’re slow some days, swamped others. An extra hand wouldn’t hurt. Come in!" "Thank you!" Yuki bowed deeply. Kyohiko stepped aside as they chatted animatedly about floral design—a topic he had zero interest in. While they talked, he browsed the displays. Then— His posture stiffened imperceptibly. Someone was watching them. Feigning nonchalance, he stretched, his left hand weaving hidden seals. Willow Dance. This technique’s core was the illusion—not the sword. In an instant, he vanished. —— Above the shop, a kunai pressed against a woman’s throat. "Identify yourself." "Jonin Kyohiko... I’m Yamanaka Mari, assigned to surveil and protect Uzumaki Yuki—" Her voice trembled. He’s fast. One moment, she’d been observing from the rooftops— The next, cold steel kissed her skin. "Yamanaka Mari?" If she dared give her name, it had to be under Hiruzen’s orders. "By the Hokage’s command." "My mistake." Kyohiko sheathed the blade. He’d hoped it was ROOT—a chance to make Danzo sweat. If it was Hiruzen’s ANBU... No issue there. Unlike Danzo, the Third Hokage at least followed some procedures. Before he could speak, another figure materialized— Animal mask. Black attire. "Hokage-sama summons you." "Understood." Kyohiko glanced back at the flower shop, then at the trembling Yamanaka. "Apologies for the scare." "N-not at all!" She didn’t dare act haughty. On a real battlefield, that strike would’ve killed her. What a terrifying kid. With a nod, Kyohiko Body Flickered down to bid Yuki farewell. She waved him off cheerfully. He dismissed his shadow clone. —— Hokage Tower "Hokage-sama." "Kyohiko, ah—sit!" Hiruzen cleared his throat, stubbing out his pipe before cracking open a window to air out the room. Then— He bowed slightly. "Kyohiko... thank you." "Sir?" "Kosuke’s been stuck for decades. I never knew how to help him... yet you did." His gratitude was genuine. Kyohiko shook his head. "I just couldn’t bear seeing a skilled shinobi waste his prime wallowing in regret." "Wasting his prime..." Hiruzen exhaled smoke. Perhaps he had been wrong to neglect psychological welfare. But he kept that thought to himself. Instead, he slid a scroll across the desk. "Review this." Kyohiko unsealed it—and his expression tightened. It was a report on Kurokawa. "Sage Transformation?" "Hn." Hiruzen tapped the ash from his pipe. "An unprecedented mutation. Thus far, sealing techniques only suppress it partially." Most seals targeted chakra clusters or specific pathways. But Kurokawa had never learned chakra control—his "sage chakra" stemmed from involuntary natural energy absorption. Thus, traditional seals struggled. Kyohiko pondered. "Could training him in chakra control help?" "That’s the current approach, but—" Knock. Knock. A pause. Hiruzen sighed. "Wait in the jonin briefing room. Another matter requires your attention." As Kyohiko turned to leave— The door opened. A pale, cold-eyed man stood in the doorway. Their gazes met. The man nodded slightly, stepping aside. Kyohiko returned the gesture before heading out. Yet as the door shut, two voices carried through— "Hand him over to me, Hiruzen." "Danzo..." (Broo Danzo always storm in to Hiruzen when he spot something)