Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"That girl named Tenten is quite impressive."

Jiraiya continued his report.

"She has a natural aptitude for space-time techniques."

"However..."

"It seems she's already trying to carve out a completely new path for herself."

"So I only taught her some fundamental summoning techniques..."

"And a few ways to combine them effectively."

"...She may very well create a path no one has ever walked before."

"The little girl Karin is different."

"I'm not particularly fond of her personality."

"Even though she's an Uzumaki..."

"She doesn't seem interested in the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques."

"In that case..."

"Even if she has talent..."

"She won't achieve much in that field."

"If we're thinking about her future..."

"I'd actually recommend she study under Tsunade."

"She might discover where her true strengths lie."

When talking about the girls...

Jiraiya sounded considerably more reliable.

His analysis was organized and well-reasoned.

The Third Hokage couldn't help nodding repeatedly.

His blood pressure even seemed to drop a little.

"...Then..."

"What about the two from the Hyūga Clan?"

At the mention of the Hyūga...

Jiraiya's expression grew noticeably more serious.

"Old man..."

He looked directly at Hiruzen.

"Do you want the honest answer?"

"...What exactly do you mean by that?"

"No."

Jiraiya smiled faintly.

"I just think..."

"If you still had the personality you did years ago..."

"My advice would be this."

"Konoha should probably start preparing for the possibility..."

"...that the Hyūga Clan might someday rebel."

"..."

"You little brat."

Hiruzen glared at him.

"Stop making sarcastic remarks in front of me."

The Third Hokage immediately withdrew the praise he'd just been giving Jiraiya in his mind.

He might be old.

His strength might not be what it once was.

But after decades navigating Konoha's politics...

How could he fail to hear the hidden meaning in Jiraiya's words?

He wasn't talking about the Hyūga at all.

He was criticizing how Hiruzen had handled the Uchiha Clan.

After Tsunade and Jiraiya returned to Konoha...

Neither of them had originally intended to reminisce with him.

But Hiruzen, prepared for what he believed might be their final meeting...

Had confessed everything.

His desire to atone to the village.

His intention to step down as Hokage.

The result...

Was exactly as expected.

Both Tsunade and Jiraiya rejected the idea outright.

They even refused the position of Hokage entirely...

Forcing Hiruzen to remain where he was.

And Jiraiya...

Never missed an opportunity to poke at him over it.

...At least...

They're finally willing to talk to me again.

"Hahaha..."

Jiraiya laughed freely.

"You really have changed, old man."

Then he stopped beating around the bush.

"As for Hyūga Hinata..."

"I'm sure you've already secretly watched what she's been learning."

"I estimate she'll master it completely within just a few more days."

"After all..."

"According to her..."

"Naruto already laid an exceptionally solid foundation for her."

"And Hyūga Neji..."

Jiraiya paused.

A nostalgic smile appeared on his face.

"Watching him..."

"Reminds me of the first time I met Minato."

"That kind of overwhelming natural talent..."

"It's impossible to hide."

He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Honestly..."

"This generation of the Hyūga Clan..."

"Whether from the Main House or the Branch House..."

"They're all extraordinary prodigies."

"As one of the older generation..."

"I'm truly looking forward to seeing what they'll become."

"Hiruzen-sensei..."

Jiraiya looked at his teacher sincerely.

"You really did leave Konoha with an excellent future."

Those heartfelt words made deep wrinkles spread across Hiruzen's smiling face.

Perhaps it was because he had grown old...

But lately he often found himself reflecting upon his years as Hokage.

Of everything he had accomplished...

The one thing he believed he had done right...

Was providing an environment where Konoha's younger generation could grow.

He had never hidden his affection for the village's youth.

He always expressed it openly.

Including...

The disciple standing before him now.

Jiraiya.

One of the Legendary Sannin.

One of the greatest shinobi in the world.

All of them...

Were Hiruzen Sarutobi's pride.

Which was precisely why...

The mistakes he had left behind...

Had to be resolved by his own hands.

No matter what it cost.

"...Then regarding the task I assigned you for the Chūnin Exams..."

"Forget the rest."

Jiraiya waved a hand.

"I wasn't interested before."

"And honestly..."

"I still wasn't."

"But..."

"After meeting these young shinobi..."

"I've changed my mind."

He turned away with his usual carefree smile.

"I'll accept."

"I'll serve as the Chief Proctor of the Chūnin Exams."

"But everything else..."

"I'm afraid I can't help."

"Old man..."

"You'd better keep trying to convince Tsunade."

"Or just take my advice."

"Kakashi really would be an excellent choice."

"If you don't want to become Hokage yourself..."

Hiruzen snapped.

"Then stop throwing out ridiculous suggestions!"

Grumbling all the while...

The Third Hokage stood up and followed Jiraiya downstairs toward the main hall.

He also needed to personally review this year's list of Chūnin Exam participants.

Not because he lacked confidence.

Simply because...

There was no one else available.

The ANBU were still under observation.

People like Danzō and Homura had all been imprisoned.

As a result...

These days, Hiruzen often found himself handling everything personally.

Practically a commander without subordinates.

...Come to think of it...

Maybe those two little brats refusing the Hokage position actually does make some sense...

Meanwhile...

At the training ground...

Hinata looked delighted as she gazed at the ninjutsu she had successfully formed in her hands.

She had mastered it even earlier than Jiraiya predicted.

Mainly because...

Naruto had already taught her almost everything.

The only parts she hadn't understood...

Jiraiya had simply translated into terms she could grasp.

Naturally...

Everything fell into place.

Just as Hinata was about to practice once more...

A distant cry reached her ears.

"Can someone..."

"...Please help?"

"Something terrible happened..."

The voice was faint.

A child's voice carried by the wind.

"...Hm?"

It sounded familiar.

Though she hadn't met her often...

Hinata immediately recognized it.

It belonged to Moegi...

One of Konohamaru's teammates.

Did something happen to them?

Without hesitation...

Hinata activated her Byakugan.

The next instant...

Her expression changed.

She saw more than just Konohamaru's little team.

There was another familiar chakra signature...

And three completely unfamiliar ones.

Hanabi?

Why is she there?

...It looks like they're fighting.

Without another thought...

Hinata vanished from the training ground.

Meanwhile...

Inside one of Konoha's narrow alleyways...

Kankurō frowned as he stared at the back of his hand.

A faint red mark remained there.

He looked maliciously toward the little girl in the kimono who had struck him.

"...What kind of trick was that?"

He still couldn't understand it.

She had only given his hand a light tap.

Yet because he'd been careless...

His entire hand now burned with pain.

"Don't be scared!"

Hanabi stood confidently in front of Moegi and Udon.

She activated her Byakugan.

"They're just a few outsiders who happen to be older than us!"

At that moment...

Her tiny figure seemed unbelievably dependable.

"Hanabi-chan is way more reliable than Konohamaru!"

Although Hanabi was actually younger than all of them...

To the members of the Konohamaru Squad...

Anyone fearless enough to stand before these frightening strangers...

Was worthy of being called—

Boss Lady Hyūga!

Looking at the children before him...

None of whom were even genin...

Kankurō became even more irritated.

"...Are all Konoha brats this badly behaved?"