Talent System In The Naruto Universe

"Are you a dog? Breaking doors every day."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the wide-open doorway, feeling speechless.

"Lord Hokage,"

An ANBU ninja appeared upon hearing the commotion.

Wearing a frog mask, it was Haru.

"I'll go find him now," she said after a quick glance, immediately understanding the situation.

Regret, anger, slam.

She was far too familiar with this pattern.

"Wait a moment,"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped her. "Call Tsunade here first. I have something to discuss with her."

"Understood."

Haru disappeared instantly.

Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a long puff, letting the displeasure brought by Danzo's visit dissipate into the smoke.

--

"Old man! You'd better have something important for me!"

Minutes later, a voice full of annoyance reached him before its owner appeared.

Hiruzen looked up to see Tsunade storming in, clearly ready to confront him.

He didn't need to guess the reason—it had to be because of a losing streak at the casino.

"Where's the door?"

Tsunade noticed the missing entrance, paused for a moment, and asked.

"Don't worry about it."

Hiruzen waved it off indifferently.

"Who? Was it Danzo again?"

Tsunade quickly pieced it together, snorting coldly. "You really need to keep him in check!"

"He's not just any shinobi; he's a veteran who has contributed to Konoha."

Hiruzen knocked his pipe against the ashtray casually. "As long as it's for Konoha, let him be."

"For Konoha? More like for himself!"

Tsunade replied with disdain.

"Tsunade,"

Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Give me some face, will you?"

"Fine. What do you want?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Don't waste my time if it's nothing important."

"I called you here because of Hanekawa."

Hiruzen coughed lightly, steering the conversation in a new direction.

"Hanekawa?"

Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "What about him?"

"Danzo came to see me earlier—he wanted Hanekawa… Wait, stop!"

Hiruzen instinctively raised a hand but was too late.

Bang!

Tsunade slammed her fist into his desk.

"He dares?!"

Her furious declaration was punctuated by the desk cracking in numerous places before splitting cleanly in two.

Hiruzen opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

Oh, my poor desk. Two and a half years of loyal service!

He felt a pang of sorrow. It had been a good desk, and replacing it would mean an adjustment period.

"Don't worry, I've already rejected him."

Hiruzen hurriedly reassured her, fearing further destruction.

"It'd better be that way!"

Tsunade clenched her fists, exuding an aura of dominance.

"It seems you care about him quite a bit,"

Hiruzen said with a faint smile. "Why not take him as your student?"

"He's still not there yet,"

Tsunade replied with a slight smirk.

"Do you know why Danzo came knocking today?"

Hiruzen asked instead.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

If she remembered correctly, Hiruzen had already taken Hanekawa from Danzo's clutches once before.

There should be no reason for him to try again—unless something significant had happened today.

"The end-of-term exams?"

Tsunade guessed after a moment's thought.

"Exactly,"

Hiruzen confirmed. "He defeated Kakashi."

"No wonder,"

Tsunade said with a look of realization.

Based on Hanekawa's current performance, he was already on par with Minato Namikaze.

Adding to the fact that Hanekawa had grown up in an orphanage, Danzo Shimura was naturally unwilling to let him go so easily.

The best way to protect Hanekawa was to give him a clear identity.

Making him her student was undoubtedly the best option.

"I have high hopes for Hanekawa,"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said after a pause.

"If you don't take him as your student, I'll ask Jiraiya. He might be a better fit than you."

"No way!"

Tsunade instantly shot back. "He's mine!"

This was the first time she had met someone who could potentially change her luck.

How could she let him go to someone else?

Besides, what if following Jiraiya turned him into a pervert?

"So, neither this nor that. What's next? Do you expect me to take him as my student?"

Hiruzen chuckled.

As Hokage, making him his student would put Hanekawa in even greater danger.

Plus, Hiruzen was old and no longer had the energy to teach.

He was pushing Hanekawa toward Tsunade not just because of the boy's talent but also to give her some companionship. Ever since Nawaki's death, Tsunade had been alone, without any close bonds.

Being the most outstanding medical ninja in the shinobi world and the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, she needed to remain tied to Konoha, no matter the reason.

"Damn Danzo!"

Tsunade muttered irritably.

Hiruzen smoked his pipe calmly, knowing Tsunade well. Beneath her sharp tongue was a soft heart.

Though she claimed not to care about Konoha, she cared more than anyone else.

And as for Danzo, she was free to curse him as much as she wanted.

At that moment, Tsunade turned and stormed toward the door, her face cold.

"Tsunade?"

Hiruzen called after her.

"Tell Danzo this—Hanekawa is my student. He'd better not show his face around us again!"

Tsunade punched the doorframe as she spoke.

"..."

Hiruzen twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth.

My goodness, Tsunade, can't you just talk without hitting things?

"Haru,"

Hiruzen sighed. "Record all damages under Danzo's name."

There was no point billing Tsunade—she was broke anyway.

---

"Hey, old man, what happened?"

Moments later, a head popped in through the window—it was Jiraiya.

He jumped into the office and glanced around, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"What happened? Did Kumogakure invade?"

Jiraiya joked.

"Kumogakure doesn't have the guts to storm my office,"

Hiruzen replied dryly. "What brings you here?"

"I need to leave for a while,"

Jiraiya said after a brief hesitation.

"Off to find your so-called Child of Prophecy again?"

Hiruzen frowned.

"The Child of Prophecy is real,"

Jiraiya insisted firmly.

"Konoha isn't exactly stable right now,"

Hiruzen said slowly.

"Minato has already mastered the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. With him around, there won't be any problems."

Jiraiya dismissed the concern, unshaken by the tense atmosphere.

"You!"

Hiruzen slammed his hand down on his desk—only to realize there was no desk anymore.

"If anything happens, have Minato contact me. I promise I'll return immediately."

Jiraiya assured him.

"Fine, go then,"

Hiruzen sighed, deciding not to stop him.

With Jiraiya's strength, there wasn't much he could do to prevent it anyway.

"Thanks, old man."

Jiraiya grinned, tossing a book to Hiruzen as he turned to leave through the window again.

"A gift for you."

Hiruzen caught the book and read the title aloud.

"Demon Slayer Ninjas?"

He opened it out of curiosity and immediately felt his heart skip a beat.

This unfilial disciple!

Do I look like that kind of person?!

Hiruzen coughed awkwardly and quickly tucked the book away.

---

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