"Sensei, I think we still need to be cautious about Kirigakure."
In the Hokage's office, Makoto once again approached Hiruzen.
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage, who had been preparing to use the Crystal Ball Technique to spy on the women's bathhouse, raised an eyebrow.
Makoto continued: "Although I think it's unlikely that a third-rate Ninja would spark a war, Karatachi Yagura is, after all, the madman who created the Bloody Mist era. Who knows what he's really planning."
Hiruzen, who had been thinking about how to get rid of the kid and get back to his peeping, suddenly grew serious.
True.
Madmen couldn't be judged by logic.
Even though the Konoha's elder council loved to torment their own people, they never went as far as Yagura's extremes.
Moreover, his unprecedented request to let Kirigakure Ninjas participate in the Chunin Exams… what was his real goal? No one could guess.
"Then what do you suggest, Makoto?"
"First, we should deploy an elite force to guard the southeastern coast of the Land of Fire to prevent a potential Kirigakure invasion."
Makoto paused, "I recommend Might Guy."
"Oh? Why?"
"Guy-senpai has experience fighting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen during the Third Great Ninja War. Also, I've heard that Kirigakure's swords can absorb Chakra. It's perfect to send our village's top Taijutsu expert against them."
This statement was a bit inaccurate… it was actually Guy's father who took on the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the last war.
But the latter part was reasonable.
Hiruzen thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright, I'll arrange for Guy to lead two hundred Ninjas to the eastern border."
Makoto smiled inwardly.
This operation wasn't just about guarding against external threats like Obito and Orochimaru. Internal threats also needed to be managed.
The most troublesome among them was Guy with his Eight Gates Technique.
With him gone, things would be much easier.
Makoto added: "I have one more idea, Sensei."
"Go on."
"I want to look at the Scroll of Seals again, to see if there are any new techniques suitable for me."
Hiruzen hesitated.
Two years ago, he had made an exception to let Makoto view the Scroll of Seals, allowing him to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Now wanting to see it again so soon… it was too frequent.
More importantly, Hiruzen felt that this young disciple of his was already strong enough.
He didn't need to get stronger.
That would threaten his own position.
Just like Sakumo back then.
If you're strong, Uncle Saru is happy, but if you're too strong, Uncle Saru doesn't like it.
Sakumo's suicide probably had little to do with Hiruzen directly.
Otherwise, Kakashi wouldn't still be working for him like a loyal dog.
But when rumors started spreading, Hiruzen certainly didn't stand up for Sakumo either.
After all, back then Hiruzen wasn't yet fifty. He was in his prime.
He hadn't had enough fun yet, you know?
Sakumo was already becoming too prominent. What would happen in a few more years?
At this moment, Hiruzen looked at Makoto and seemed to see the shadow of Sakumo—
A young prodigy, no background, no bloodline. Just shy of becoming too prominent.
Seeing Hiruzen's silence, Makoto instantly guessed what he was thinking.
'That's the real you, Sarutobi-sensei.'
Makoto smiled inwardly, then said with a serious expression: "If war really breaks out, I will be on the front lines. To enhance the reputation of Konoha and you, Sensei, I hope to become stronger."
At these words, Hiruzen's expression changed slightly.
He realized a problem… if war did break out, he absolutely couldn't stay behind the lines and let others fight like he did in the last Great Ninja War.
The reason was simple: the top-tier workhorses like Minato, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya were either dead, gone, or had fled.
There was no one to replace them.
And the Makoto before him was undoubtedly the best choice.
Should he continue to strengthen Makoto, giving him the chance to become too prominent, to become the second White Fang?
Or take a risk and train a new top-tier workhorse to fight for him?
Hiruzen pondered briefly, then slammed the table and decided:
"Alright, go to the archives room later."
He was nearly seventy years old. Was it really appropriate for him to go to the battlefield? No, it wasn't.
Better to leave the opportunity to the younger generation.
Besides, Hiruzen thought further: Even if Makoto achieved great accomplishments, the Daimyo wouldn't let a twelve or thirteen-year-old become Hokage.
By the time Makoto turned eighteen, there might be a slim chance… and by then, Hiruzen would be past seventy-five. Retiring wouldn't be out of the question.
Then, under Hiruzen's guidance, Makoto went to the top-secret archives room, protected by Sealing Techniques.
Watching Hiruzen's back as he formed hand seals to undo the barrier, Makoto couldn't help but sigh.
'Sitting in the Hokage's seat for so long, still not satisfied, Sarutobi-sensei?'
...
The second Chunin Exam reached its fifth day.
Following Iruka's notification, Makoto, as a Jonin Instructor, was invited to the central tower in the Forest of Death.
According to Iruka, because so many teams had passed the second exam, they decided to hold an additional test in the central tower to eliminate half of them before proceeding to the third exam.
When Makoto arrived at the central tower to reunite with his three students, Utaha greeted him with a hint of pride:
"Sensei-kun, we were the second team to arrive~"
"Oh, impressive, impressive." Makoto reached out and ruffled her hair.
The senpai's face flushed slightly as she swatted his hand away: "Don't treat me like a child."
Ran and Megumi also came over: "Makoto-sensei, aren't you curious who got first?"
Makoto smiled nonchalantly: "Second place is already excellent. As expected of my students."
Having lived two lifetimes, he knew well that asking 'who got first' at this moment would crush their confidence.
Even though he was the same age as these girls in this life.
Sure enough, the three girls' faces lit up with joy. Utaha and Megumi couldn't help but think of their clubmate, Aki Tomoya… they had thought Makoto only surpassed him in strength, but when it came to emotional intelligence, the two weren't even in the same league.
Makoto's arrival drew many eyes.
Like in the original work, Sasuke, who had been bitten by Orochimaru, looked at Makoto without hiding the frustration and fighting spirit in his eyes.
For the first two years of school, he had firmly held the top spot in their class.
But in the third year, Makoto had shot up like a rocket, leaving him further and further behind, and now he had even become a Jonin.
Feeling the pain on the back of his neck, Sasuke gritted his teeth and covered the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
'Damn... how long would it take to gain the power to kill that man?'
Makoto's gaze swept mainly over the players.
To his surprise, almost all the players had successfully made it here, unscathed—
Oh no, not all unscathed.
Makoto noticed that Kakeru was missing an arm.
But even so, the players' survival rate far exceeded his expectations.
"What a pity. I was expecting a few to die," Makoto said with a smile.
Hearing this, some players couldn't help but frown. To be honest, the second exam had already brought them to death's door.
But Makoto's next words made their hair stand on end even more—
"Don't worry. There will be plenty more chances."
Speaking the most terrifying words in the gentlest tone.
When the Konoha Crush Plan came, Makoto doubted there wouldn't be a few casualties.