I'll cover the rear!
The one who will cover the team and take the greatest risks should, of course, be me, the captain.
(Of course, the bait will be me, the Hokage.)
Kakashi, from now on, you are the captain.
(Hiruzen, from this moment on, you are the Hokage.)
The intelligence will be entrusted to you for protection.
(The village is now in your care.)
In the Hokage's office, the boy's clear and firm voice, coming from the crystal ball, uttered those familiar words.
A vivid and intense image, etched deep into the soul of the third Hokage, suddenly surged forth.
In that instant, the calm yet resolute profile of the black-haired boy in the rain was strikingly similar to the face of the teacher he had last looked back at in his memory.
A profound sense of disorientation overwhelmed the third Hokage, as if the barrier of time had been breached at that moment.
After a long time, he slowly, extremely slowly, took a breath, closed his eyes, and calmed the turbulent waves churning within him.
He was sensible from a young age, grew up in an orphanage, and took the initiative to help with chores and take care of younger children.
He is friendly, cares about his companions, runs errands for the elderly in the neighborhood, helps his neighbors, and gets along well with his classmates.
Grateful for the kindness shown to him, he donated his meager earnings from his work to the orphanage that had raised him and held a thank-you banquet for his swordsmanship teacher…
Information about that child flashed through the mind of the third Hokage like fragments.
A moment later, the third Hokage opened his eyes again, his gaze regaining its usual depth and clarity.
His gaze fell on the desk, where an application report that had just been delivered that afternoon lay, a formal document from a student in Ninja Academy applying to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
He picked up his pen and smoothly wrote one word: [Approve]
He paused, feeling that this was still not enough.
So, below the approval, he added another line of comment: "In addition to the regular Ninjutsu library access, a number of practical B-rank and C-rank Ninjutsu may be made available for him to choose from and learn, as an encouragement. The specific list will be discussed and drafted by the academic affairs office and its instructors."
After writing this sentence, he pondered for a few seconds, feeling that it was still insufficient.
"Additionally, if the student encounters difficulties in his studies, he can apply through their homeroom teacher to have a suitable person provide regular or specialized guidance. I will take care of this matter."
With the final stroke of his pen, the third Hokage gently placed the report aside, his gaze once again turning to the gradually subsiding rain outside the window.
......
Some time later, it was the weekend.
The fourth training ground of Konoha was bathed in the soft light of dawn.
At this moment, Shinichi is doing push-ups here, a basic physical training exercise.
His movements were precise and steady, each sinking and rising accompanied by a clear rhythm of exertion. Sweat dripped down his chin and neck, leaving dark stains on the ground beneath him.
At this moment, he was not carrying the huge stone as before. Instead, he was wearing a dark-colored weighted garment that fit his body, and several metal blocks with tiny runes were also tied to his limbs and waist.
This was a professional weighted gear that he carefully selected from a tool shop, similar to the style that Rock Lee later wore.
Realizing how demanding the conditions for generating a blue-level talent were, requiring a shocking effect that would impact the entire Hidden Leaf Village and potentially require the approval of influential key figures, he adjusted his strategy.
Exaggerated behaviors to grab attention are no longer the priority; efficiency is now the key.
These devices, which can apply load more evenly and scientifically, are more effective for his current physical training.
Scattered around him were eight figures that looked exactly like him and dressed exactly like him.
These Shadow Clones are either practicing chakra control by treading water, practicing swordsmanship with longswords, or studying a scroll.
For Shinichi, who now possesses the Genius talent that brings a leap in all-around learning efficiency, the Quick Thinking talent that enhances the speed of thought processing, and the Ninja Academy Student occupation that slightly enhances his ninja abilities, after receiving the scroll, he learned how to use it after only reading it once.
Chakra originates from the fusion of physical and spiritual energy.
Shinichi's body and mind, especially his body, are already quite strong thanks to the enhancements from various talents. Therefore, if he goes all out, he can create more than ten Shadow Clones, reaching slightly more than half of the maximum number of Shadow Clones allowed by this Ninjutsu.
But that would be too much of a burden. In order to achieve a more lasting and efficient effect in his training, he is currently only maintaining eight clones.
Everything is progressing according to plan, and in some aspects, it has even exceeded expectations.
Not long ago, he received an official notification from the school that his application to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu had been approved.
When he received the Ninjutsu scroll, he discovered that it contained more than just the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
The scroll also included several other practical jutsu and sword techniques, as well as a B-rank and several C-rank Fire Style Ninjutsu.
This made Shinichi realize that his actions at the cemetery that day must have been observed by the third Hokage, especially his last words, which were completely consistent with the core of the second Hokage's last words, which must have deeply touched the third Hokage.
Therefore, his application was not only approved smoothly, but he also received some extra benefits.
Over the years, through various actions, Shinichi has not only generated various talents but has also carefully crafted an image: mature and sensible, kind, hardworking, and grateful.
Such an orphan genius with a clean background, impeccable character, and seemingly pure and aspiring nature is undoubtedly very much to the liking of Konoha's higher-ups.
Even someone like Danzo Shimura might inwardly scoff at such naiveté, but he would never deny that his subordinates or friends were this reliable, controllable, and pure in their beliefs.
Even bad people hope that the people around them are good people.
In retrospect, this long-term image management was undoubtedly successful, as it convinced the Third Hokage to make him a key figure in his development.
Just as they discovered and nurtured Minato Namikaze back then, the Konoha Council was happy to see and support such a loyal and upright genius, and bring him into their ranks.
"I'll focus on upgrading the Resilient (White) talent next."
While doing push-ups, he focused his attention on the Resilient (White) talent on his system panel.
[Resilient (White): Your physical endurance and recovery are superior to those of ordinary people. You can recover from blows faster and have a higher pain tolerance.]
From now on, the morning stone-carrying running exercise at school will be replaced by his Shadow Clones conducting public, high-intensity resistance training on the main body, so that every student who comes to school in the morning can see his figure gritting his teeth and enduring attacks, yet standing firm time and time again.
At the same time, the Foodie talent, which allows for the rapid replenishment of energy through food, also has significant upgrade potential. Perhaps it can be used to intentionally consume large amounts of food during lunch breaks or meditation breaks.
He also needs to keep an eye out for the occasional competitive eating contests held in the village, and participates whenever he has the chance, thus spreading the label of having an amazing appetite and being able to eat a lot.
With his thoughts cleared, he finished the last set of push-ups, slowly stood up, and glanced at the Shadow Clones still busy on the training field.