61The final peaceAI Model: kimi-k2-instruct-0905Chapter 61 – The Last Calm
Two weeks later.
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the Anbu's report, his brows knitting tightly.
'The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki first went to the abandoned Uzumaki Clan compound at the edge of the Village and took everything inside.'
'Then he withdrew every ryo from the bank, left the Village, and headed toward the Land of Rain.'
'The Anbu tailing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki lost contact with us several days ago.'
'Moreover, today our three elite Anbu squads sent to the Land of Rain have also gone completely silent.'
At this point the Cat-masked Anbu glanced worriedly at the old man before him.
'Sandaime-sama… we suspect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki may be defecting.'
Hiruzen shook his head.
'He won't.'
He had watched Naruto grow up; he refused to believe the boy would simply walk away.
Leaving sentiment aside, even looking at it from pure interest—
That night he had genuinely considered passing the title of Hokage to Naruto.
If the boy had nodded, he would have groomed him as his successor without hesitation.
As for betraying Konoha? Heading to the Land of Rain?
That was a minor country caught between greater powers, perpetually aflame with war.
Would he leap into such a battlefield for so-called 'freedom'?
Hiruzen instantly dismissed the idea.
Naruto might be young, impulsive, even reckless—but never stupid.
Yet why had he voluntarily left the Village for the Land of Rain?
'Took everything from the Uzumaki ruin…'
Hiruzen repeated softly, tapping his pipe.
Apart from the clan genealogy and some long-defunct scrolls, the place should hold nothing of value.
His thoughts were a tangled skein he could not unwind.
After a long silence he finally sighed.
'Keep dispatching Anbu squads into the Land of Rain; whatever the cost, find Naruto.'
'Yes, sir!'
'Anything else?'
The Anbu hesitated, then continued.
'Concerning the Root cleanup: although Lord Danzo has been unusually cooperative, staying behind closed doors, the situation below is grim.'
'Oh?' Hiruzen lifted an eyelid, exhaling a thick plume of smoke.
'At present nearly sixty percent of Root have been nominally absorbed, but among them are die-hard loyalists.'
'These people were brainwashed by Danzo; even after transfer they refuse orders and have secretly built a communication network separate from the Anbu.'
Hiruzen rubbed his pipe, eyes deep.
He knew his old friend too well.
A man who craved power would never surrender quietly; he had to be plotting something.
Yet as long as he remained Hokage, these shadow games could not become real waves.
'Compile a list of those die-hards; for now don't touch them, don't press too hard.'
'Understood!'
The Cat-masked Anbu vanished soundlessly into the shadows.
Quiet returned to the office.
Hiruzen leaned back, set the Hokage hat on the desk, and stretched.
Sunlight streamed through the window.
He felt a rare urge to walk outside.
Below the Hokage Rock.
Iruka pointed at the carved faces, boasting to his pupils.
'What you see now is the First Hokage, Lord Senju Hashirama, who founded our Village.'
The children gasped.
'Next is the Second Hokage, Lord Senju Tobirama, who perfected the Ninja system, created the Ninja Academy and the Anbu, making Konoha truly strong.'
'The Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, the mightiest of them all, a Genius revered as "the Professor."'
'The last one, the Fourth Hokage, Lord Minato Namikaze… he gave his life to protect the Village, so you may not know him well.'
Chatter rose and fell.
Konohamaru stared at the Third's stone face, unable to connect it to the old man at home.
A little girl raised her hand. 'Iruka-sensei, who will be the Fifth Hokage?'
Iruka blinked.
'Haven't decided yet—might even be me, hehe…'
Laughter burst out.
'Could be.'
An aged voice came from the back.
The children turned.
An old man with a pipe stood smiling.
A brief hush.
'Whoa!'
'It's Sandaime-sama!'
'The real one!'
The kids exploded; Iruka jumped, straightening. 'L-Lord Hokage!'
'No need for ceremony.'
Hiruzen waved gently. 'The Fifth Hokage… might be among you.'
The children erupted.
'R-really?'
'I can be Hokage?'
'Then I'll be Sixth!'
A spiky-haired boy sprang up, chest puffed, full of confidence.
'I'm only eight and I can throw Kunai a hundred times without missing! Iruka-sensei praised me—I'll be Hokage for sure!'
Gasps and admiring looks followed.
The boy swelled with pride; Hiruzen smiled.
'Strength matters… but the Hokage isn't simply the strongest.'
He knelt to their level. 'The Hokage's duty is to protect.'
'Protect the Village, protect comrades, protect those most important to you.'
The children exchanged glances.
The boy scratched his head. 'Lord Hokage, who are the most important people? Who's most important to you?'
Hiruzen did not answer.
He pointed to a small boy in the crowd who was secretly rolling his eyes.
'Him.'
The children followed his finger.
Konohamaru blinked. 'Eh, me?'
'Exactly.'
Hiruzen nodded with a smile. 'My grandson sitting here, Konohamaru.'
'Of course, not just him.'
'All of you here, everyone in the Village who carries the will of fire.'
'Every villager of Konoha is someone I want to protect.'
The children listened in a daze.
'So if one day you become Hokage…'
Hiruzen straightened.
'Remember: it won't be because you're the strongest, but because you've become someone strong enough to protect everyone.'
Wind swept down from the Hokage Rock, fluttering clothes.
The children half-understood; Hiruzen smiled and walked away.
Only Konohamaru stood watching his grandfather's back.
For a moment that figure seemed taller than the stone faces…
One day later.
The final round of the Chunin Exams officially began.