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After helping the devastated Tsunade settle down, Manji left the morgue and went to the Hokage's office.
The Hokage sat behind his desk with a pipe between his lips, guilt lingering in his eyes.
"I failed in my duty as Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "I couldn't even protect Nawaki, the Second Hokage's grandson…"
His face looked full of grief, though Manji didn't believe for a moment that Hiruzen was genuinely mourning Nawaki.
When Hiruzen's father died, White Zetsu said he went drinking with Danzō. Hiruzen had barely finished paying his respects at Sasuke Sarutobi's grave before taking Danzō to a bar.
"There's no need to blame yourself, Lord Hokage," Manji replied evenly. "Death is unpredictable on the battlefield."
That was all he said.
Hiruzen sighed and tapped his pipe on the ashtray.
"Don't hurry back to the Land of Wind for now," he said, meeting Manji's eyes. "Sakumo is holding the front, so things should be fine. Stay in Konoha and spend time with Tsunade. She's stubborn, and you might be the only one who can help her."
Hiruzen had lived long enough to understand people. He had noticed the feelings in Tsunade's eyes whenever she looked at Manji.
That was why he believed Manji's presence might ease some of the pain she felt after losing her brother.
"All right." Manji nodded in agreement.
"There's one more thing," Hiruzen said, his voice softer. "While you're here, I'd like you to be a jōnin instructor for a graduating team. If you don't want to, just say so. I won't make you."
"Which children would I be teaching?" Manji tilted his head.
Hiruzen picked up a scroll and unrolled it on the desk. Three names were written in black ink.
"Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Shinnosuke Sarutobi."
Manji's eyes narrowed when he saw the names, but he understood why Hiruzen chose them. None of these kids were ordinary.
Minato Namikaze was a civilian prodigy who had stood out in Konoha in recent years. His talent, intelligence, and determination were among the best of his generation.
Kushina Uzumaki came from the Land of Whirlpools and had already been chosen as Konoha's next Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Manji himself had brought her to the village after Uzushiogakure fell.
Shinnosuke Sarutobi was the Hokage's son and had inherited Hiruzen's skill with all five basic nature transformations.
"Will you accept?" Hiruzen asked, making no attempt to hide the expectation in his eyes.
He had both personal and professional reasons for his decision.
As a father, he wanted his most promising son to learn from one of the world's strongest shinobi. Manji could help shape Shinnosuke's character and abilities.
Among Konoha's current shinobi, only Hiruzen and Manji had mastered all five basic chakra natures.
As Hokage, Hiruzen also had to think about Minato and Kushina. He couldn't think of anyone in Konoha better to teach them.
Manji and Minato were both civilian-born prodigies, so Hiruzen thought they would relate to each other. Kushina already trusted Manji since he had brought her to Konoha.
Manji hesitated.
Honestly, he wasn't very interested in being a jōnin instructor. Minato and Kushina would one day become the parents of Asura's next reincarnation, and Manji worried that getting close to them might change future events.
'Forget it. I'll just do what I want.'
Once he stopped overthinking, the choice was easy.
"All right. I'll take care of them."
........
A light breeze moved across the rooftop as Manji stood with his hands behind his back.
Three young shinobi faced him, their eyes full of anticipation.
"My name is Manji. Starting today, I'll be your jōnin instructor."
All three faces lit up at the announcement.
Kushina never thought Big Brother Six Paths would be her teacher. Minato's heart pounded and his fingers tightened at his sides.
Manji was known as Konoha's greatest civilian-born prodigy. But that title alone didn't do him justice—he was Konoha's greatest all-around genius.
Countless young shinobi would have jumped at the chance to study under him.
Shinnosuke looked at Manji with open admiration, his fists clenched and trembling with excitement. He wanted to master all five chakra natures, but he had never idolized his father, even though Hiruzen was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu.
To Shinnosuke, Manji's mastery of the five nature transformations was what a true genius should have.
"Big Brother Six Paths! Wait, no, Sensei!" Kushina called out before anyone else could speak. "I'm Kushina Uzumaki, and my dream is to become the first female Hokage in Konoha's history!"
Manji nodded. Kushina was much more outgoing now, closer to the spirited girl he remembered from the original story.
When he first brought her to Konoha, she had been scared and withdrawn. Now, she spoke with confidence and held her head high.
"It's an honor to meet you, Manji-sensei. I'm Minato Namikaze," Minato introduced himself, bowing respectfully. "My dream is to become Konoha's first civilian-born Hokage. I look forward to learning from you."
Manji nodded in approval. Minato was just as polite and calm as he remembered.
"Sensei! I'm Shinnosuke Sarutobi!" the third student declared, stepping forward. "I'm your biggest fan, and my dream is to become the second Hokage to master all five chakra natures!"
Manji nodded as he studied him.
So this was probably Konohamaru Sarutobi's father.
In the original story, Konohamaru called Asuma his uncle, and Hiruzen had two sons, Asuma and Shinnosuke. That made Shinnosuke the most likely candidate, and his early death explained why he never showed up.
Manji rubbed his forehead as he looked at the three kids.
'Do all three of them really want to become Hokage?'
"All right. I hereby declare Konoha's Team One officially formed!" Manji announced with a single clap.
He didn't bother arranging a bell test afterward. In his opinion, those tests were unnecessary.
........
That same afternoon, he took his three new students to select their first mission and chose an A-rank assignment without hesitation.
"Manji, an A-rank mission is dangerous!" Hiruzen warned, staring at the newly formed team with concern.
All three children were talented, but throwing fresh graduates into an A-rank mission on their first day still made him uneasy.
"Don't worry. My team isn't afraid of high-ranking missions," Manji replied, accepting the assignment.
"You're not worried something could go wrong?" Hiruzen asked.
Manji shook his head.
As if he would ever lose control of the situation.
He wouldn't worry unless the mission meant taking all three kids through the Ōtsutsuki homeworld without a scratch.
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