Deep within the forest, beneath the moonlit sky, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained standing silently before the enormous trench carved through the earth.
The old Hokage felt an unfamiliar headache.
“Anyone could theoretically become his instructor…”
“…but why is he unwilling to join my side directly?”
Hiruzen genuinely wanted to cultivate Yoruha personally.
At only twelve years old, Yoruha already possessed combat ability approaching—or perhaps even surpassing—ordinary Kage-level shinobi.
Such talent was monstrous.
No village leader could ignore it.
Meanwhile, after tonight’s battle, Yoruha had gained a rough understanding of his current strength.
Against the Third Hokage—
He could win easily.
Even if Hiruzen attempted desperate methods like the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Yoruha’s overwhelming speed and physical pressure would never allow the old Hokage enough time to complete the necessary restraint.
After all, when Hiruzen sealed Orochimaru years later, he first needed to immobilize him physically.
Against Yoruha?
That opportunity would never exist.
At minimum, Yoruha already possessed Kage-level combat ability through pure physical force and Haki alone.
And that was without fully unleashing the power of the Mag-Mag Fruit.
Once magma abilities entered the equation—
His destructive capability increased dramatically.
What surprised Yoruha most was another discovery.
In this world, chakra seemed to amplify the power inherited from Akainu.
The destructive force generated by the Mag-Mag Fruit now exceeded what Sakazuki originally displayed in the One Piece world.
The fusion between chakra and Devil Fruit power created terrifying synergy.
And Akainu was not even a speed-specialized fighter.
If Yoruha had inherited the abilities of someone like Borsalino instead—
His current combat ability would likely become even more absurd.
After returning home, Yoruha simply went to sleep peacefully.
For the first time since transmigrating into the Naruto world, he no longer felt pressured by the fear of future disasters.
With strength came security.
And tonight’s battle proved that clearly.
Meanwhile—
At the battlefield deep within the forest.
Several masked ANBU ninja suddenly appeared among the trees.
The moment they saw the massive fan-shaped trench stretching across the forest—
Everyone froze.
“…What happened here?”
“This level of destruction…”
“Did the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki lose control?”
One ANBU ninja spoke nervously:
“Could this be from a Tailed Beast Bomb?”
A silver-haired ANBU standing nearby stared at the devastation gravely before shaking his head.
“No.”
“A Tailed Beast Bomb would create even greater concentrated destruction.”
“But…”
His visible eye narrowed slightly.
“The person responsible for this must be terrifyingly powerful.”
The silver-haired ANBU was naturally Kakashi Hatake.
Ironically, this was supposed to be his final night serving directly within ANBU before becoming a Jonin instructor the next morning.
Yet unexpectedly—
Something monstrous happened inside Konoha itself.
The ANBU members continued analyzing the battlefield cautiously.
The destroyed terrain clearly showed signs of a frontal shockwave rather than traditional ninjutsu bombardment.
Which made the scene even stranger.
Suddenly—
The Third Hokage appeared beside them silently.
“No need to investigate further.”
“This damage was caused during a sparring session.”
The ANBU members stared in shock.
“Sparring?!”
“What kind of person could fight the Hokage and create this level of destruction?”
Hiruzen merely smiled faintly.
“You’ll understand eventually.”
The ANBU immediately stopped asking questions.
As elite operatives, they understood boundaries very well.
If the Hokage chose not to elaborate, then the matter was classified.
Hiruzen then spoke calmly:
“Kakashi stays.”
“The rest of you may leave.”
The others disappeared instantly.
None of them found it strange.
The Third Hokage always regarded Kakashi highly.
Once the others left, Kakashi removed his ANBU mask slowly.
Moonlight illuminated his tired expression.
Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back while gazing toward the massive trench again.
“Kakashi.”
“Tomorrow, you officially become a Jonin instructor.”
Kakashi nodded silently.
Hiruzen continued:
“This time, I hope you won’t handle students the same way you did previously.”
“Your new team is extremely important to Konoha.”
“Especially Naruto and Sasuke.”
Both boys carried enormous political and emotional significance within the village.
One was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The other was the final survivor of the Uchiha Clan.
“I’m entrusting them to you.”
“I hope you can nurture them into future pillars of Konoha.”
“Successors of the Will of Fire.”
Kakashi remained quiet for a moment before finally asking:
“Hokage-sama…”
“…who exactly caused this?”
Even now, Kakashi found the battlefield difficult to comprehend.
The Third Hokage smiled mysteriously.
“You’ll know tomorrow.”
“He’s… a very interesting child.”
Then Hiruzen slowly looked toward the distant Hokage Rock.
“Perhaps one day…”
“…his face may be carved there as well.”
Kakashi’s visible eye widened slightly.
“You’ve already considered him for that position?”
The Third Hokage sighed.
“I considered it.”
“But whether it’s possible…”
“…I honestly don’t know.”
Kakashi blinked.
“Hm?”
The Third Hokage’s expression became oddly helpless.
“Can you persuade him?”
Kakashi froze.
“…Persuade him?”
“You mean… he refused?”
Now Kakashi was genuinely shocked.
Someone rejected direct attention from the Hokage?
And not only that—
Possibly rejected future succession implications as well?
“Doesn’t he want to become Hokage?”
Kakashi found it almost unbelievable.
Within Konoha, nearly every child dreamed about becoming Hokage at some point.
Even shinobi who later abandoned the dream still respected the title deeply.
Even the once-proud Uchiha longed for the position.
Yet Hiruzen sighed again.
“If only he thought that way.”
The Third Hokage clearly implied his intentions earlier when inviting Yoruha to become his direct subordinate.
Given Yoruha’s intelligence and maturity, there was no chance he misunderstood.
He simply refused.
And his reason was maddeningly simple:
Not interested.
How exactly was Hiruzen supposed to persuade someone using logic against that answer?
Kakashi became increasingly curious.
“Hokage-sama…”
“…this entire battlefield was caused by him?”
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
“By one punch.”
Kakashi immediately thought he misheard.
“…One punch?”
“Yes.”
“Just one.”
Hiruzen’s expression gradually turned solemn.
“If that strike landed directly on me without defense…”
“…I would not be standing here speaking to you right now.”
Kakashi stared blankly at the gigantic trench again.
His thoughts became chaotic.
One punch?
Without ninjutsu?
Without explosive tags?
Without large-scale elemental release?
Impossible.
Yet the Third Hokage clearly was not joking.
Then Hiruzen revealed the most terrifying part.
“Do you know why that punch was so frightening?”
Kakashi remained silent.
The Third Hokage’s expression became increasingly complicated.
“Because…”
“…that child doesn’t even know offensive ninjutsu yet.”
“This destruction came purely from physical strength.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Kakashi temporarily lost the ability to respond.
A human body capable of producing this level of destruction with raw force alone was completely abnormal.
Eventually, Kakashi spoke slowly:
“…Is he a taijutsu specialist?”
“Even stronger than Guy?”
Kakashi understood Guy’s strength very well.
But even Guy in normal conditions absolutely could not produce this scale of devastation through a casual strike.
As for the Eight Gates—
At least based on Kakashi’s current understanding, Guy had not yet reached the terrifying future level capable of reshaping battlefields with raw force alone.
Yet this unknown academy graduate already had.