Chapter 35
Hokage Tower, Hokage's Office.
Seated behind his desk, adorned with the Hokage hat, Hiruzen Sarutobi rhythmically tapped his fingers against the wooden surface, deep in thought. Beside him, White Fang stood respectfully, silent and composed.
"Could it be that we struck gold? We recruited a kid, and he turned out to be a super genius?" Hiruzen suddenly mused aloud.
"It's hard to say," White Fang responded with his head slightly lowered. "Hokage-sama, Haruto Saito's strength is indeed improving. Over the past half month, ANBU has been closely monitoring him and keeping detailed records. He is growing, and quite fast at that, but if you're saying he managed to kill an elite Jonin... I find that absolutely impossible."
"Explain." Hiruzen leaned forward slightly.
"There is a vast difference between being able to kill an elite Jonin and doing so swiftly and silently. The former simply requires equivalent strength; in a head-on battle, one would naturally emerge victorious. But the latter? That requires strength far surpassing the average elite Jonin to execute a swift and silent kill."
Hiruzen nodded. The analysis was spot on. He understood this logic well, but he simply did not want to admit it. He truly hoped that Haruto Saito was a super genius.
He had always valued talent. If Haruto could serve Konoha, it would be ideal. After all, he was only twelve years old. It wasn't too late to mold him. If he truly possessed extraordinary talent, then all the better.
"So, you believe..." Hiruzen prompted.
"There was someone else involved." White Fang immediately answered.
"Hm?" Hiruzen tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes. "You're suggesting that someone is secretly protecting him? Helping him?"