“Hiruzen, put it away.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi complied and put away the crystal ball, then looked at Mito Uzumaki.
After hesitating for a few seconds, he voiced his confusion: “You don’t seem surprised at all?”
“You didn’t expect Ryun to win, did you?”
Mito Uzumaki smiled.
“Yes,” Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment and said as tactfully as possible, “From what I can see, his strength is…
somewhat inferior to Minato’s, but this time he displayed rather unusual power…”
“You, just say what you mean directly.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly: “In your opinion, how much of his strength is he hiding?”
This was the question he was most concerned about.
How much strength is he hiding?
And why hide it?
From the very beginning, when the Anbu reported who Kushina Uzumaki had been in contact with, Gekko Ryun’s file was placed on his desk.
According to the file, aside from a passable Konoha Style Swordsmanship, everything else was unremarkable.
He wasn’t optimistic about the “bond” between the two.
As the next candidate to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, everything regarding Kushina had to be handled with extreme caution.
The ideal situation would be to choose a true genius to establish the most reliable bond.
But when he hesitated whether to intervene, Mito Uzumaki stepped in to stop him, indicating to let things take their natural course.
Yet, in just a few days, he first displayed impressive ninjutsu, and then showed strength far surpassing Minato’s…
He had broken his expectations twice in a row.
Leaving him somewhat puzzled.
Mito Uzumaki gave him a meaningful look.
“Hiruzen, you place too much emphasis on so-called strength.
In fact, ever since Kushina told me about that child, I’ve been willing to believe in him.”
After a pause, she continued: “More important than strength is a kind-hearted soul.
Hiruzen, you are the Hokage, don’t forget the Will of Fire.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
The person before him was perhaps the only one in Konoha who could tell the Hokage that his Will of Fire wasn’t firm enough.
“Are you still worried about that child?”
“Forgive my foolishness.”
Mito Uzumaki shook her head: “You are the Hokage, it’s your duty.
Don’t worry, Kushina will bring Ryun over for dinner at home these next few days.”
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief.
As the widow of the First Hokage, Mito Uzumaki’s love for Konoha was no less than his own as Hokage.
Only by passing Mito Uzumaki’s test would he be completely at ease.
…
Ninja Academy, Training Ground.
Minato Namikaze looked at the shallow blood mark on his arm and sighed softly: “I lost.”
He understood perfectly well that while the injury seemed minor, almost healed already.
But on a real battlefield, that momentary lapse in focus would have been enough for an enemy to slit his throat.
“Minato, you are truly strong.”
Gekko Ryun sheathed his sword and praised sincerely.
This was the truth.
He also couldn’t figure out why Minato had lost focus during the fight—a mistake that had never happened before—rendering his subsequent plans useless.
He absolutely did not mean to retaliate for Minato’s habit of saying “Ryun-kun is really strong” every time he won against him in the past.
Minato Namikaze: “…”
By now, the surrounding classmates had erupted into an uproar.
They chattered excitedly, their eyes burning with fervor as they gazed at him, continuously shouting his name.
Even those who had supported him before the match hadn’t expected him to defeat Minato Namikaze.
At most, they had hoped he could hold out a little longer, to show Minato that, hey, don’t get too cocky—there’s still someone in Class A, third year, who can be your match!
This was the true measure of Minato Namikaze during his time at the Ninja Academy.
“Amazing!” Kushina Uzumaki bounced up and down, cheering nonstop.
Under Kushina’s excited gaze, he walked toward her direction.
“Wait.” Minato called out to him.
“What is it?”
Minato said with anticipation, “Next practical combat test class, let’s have another match, okay?”
“Uh…”
What kind of reversal was this?
The scene felt somewhat familiar?
Except now it was Minato who was actively challenging him.
He readily agreed, “Of course.”
“Great!
I’ll definitely work twice as hard!”
His expression shifted slightly.
Why did this feel a bit strange?
Hmm…
Could it be that he had pushed Minato to become even more monstrous?
Watching the two return to the lineup, the teacher recording the scores was too preoccupied to call the next pair of students.
His eyes were filled with nothing but joy, while his peripheral vision kept glancing at the nearby spectator stands.
His heart was practically bursting with happiness.
For a teacher, the greatest achievement was nurturing a genius.
Of course, if possible, the more geniuses, the better.
Although geniuses were born geniuses and had little to do with how they were taught…
But if one genius appeared, it was luck.
If two appeared…
Couldn’t that prove his teaching skills were exceptional?!
In any case, as long as geniuses emerged in his class, the teacher could get promoted and receive a raise.
Was there anything more wonderful in the world than this?
The teacher shouted inwardly: Yes!
That was, he didn’t even need to write a report—the Hokage’s three disciples were right there on the scene.
They had personally witnessed the performances of the two geniuses in his class!
It was like having his boss’s boss’s boss witness his merits firsthand—no one could take credit away from him.
He was so overjoyed he almost fainted.
Since starting his teaching career at the Ninja Academy, this was the most thrilling day he had ever experienced.
On the spectator stands.
Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade and Jiraiya, who were both stunned, and a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Turning to Nawaki, who was watching with dazzled eyes, he teased, “Nawaki, it seems I won’t have the chance to treat you all to Yakiniku Q this time.
What do you think?”
Tsunade snapped out of her daze, her emotions complicated.
Her own student had won—she should be happy.
But she didn’t feel particularly joyful.
Only one thought echoed in her mind:
Wasn’t this a guaranteed win??
How could she lose a bet on a sure thing??
Was that even right??
Minato Namikaze, if you can summon Gamabunta, why didn’t you?
Why hold back?
“Jiraiya, were you lying?”
“Ah.” Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh, his entire face scrunching up.
“No, I really didn’t lie to you.
Minato really can summon Bunta.”
Tsunade pursed her lips, unconvinced.
If you can summon but don’t, what’s the difference between that and not being able to summon at all?
“Sis, who’s Bunta?”
Nawaki asked curiously from the side.
“A big toad.”
Jiraiya didn’t even mind Tsunade’s tone anymore, sinking into deep confusion.
Could it be that Minato wasn’t the Child of Prophecy?
Or perhaps…
even the Child of Prophecy could lose?
A moment later, he regained his resolve and declared with absolute certainty, “Minato just didn’t use it.
If he summons Gamabunta, he’ll definitely win!”
Tsunade snorted, “I believed you and bet on Minato winning with you, but look how that turned out…”
Jiraiya quickly added, “You heard them too, right?
They set a time for their next duel.
Next time, Minato will definitely win.”
“Not necessarily.”
Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru.
“Hmm?”
Orochimaru watched Gekko Ryun, who was surrounded by a crowd, with a look of interest.
“If I recall correctly, Ryun-kun still hasn’t used his Ninjutsu, has he?”
Jiraiya thought for a moment.
“…I’ll start teaching Minato Ninjutsu right away.”
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya, who had somehow become fiercely competitive, and smiled.
“Remember to call me for their next duel.
I’m still betting on him to win.”