Chapter 6 – Ninja Academy
It wasn't that Hatake Kyūjō had a cold heart. The truth was, in his current infant body, he simply had no other choice. If he couldn't sleep peacefully and grow properly at home, what else could he possibly do?
He truly wanted to give everything for the two people he now called his parents. But with a body this tiny and powerless… there wasn't even a sliver of a chance.
And just as he'd predicted, the inevitable bad news arrived—half a month later.
That morning, as usual, Kyūjō had just finished nursing, cared for by a nanny the Hatake family had hired. Now he was lying on the tatami mat, stretching lazily.
In truth, his body had long since adapted—he could walk normally without issue. But to avoid suspicion, he always acted like a regular baby when others were around. Only at night, when the house was quiet and empty, would he do physical training.
But then... the sound of firm, synchronized footsteps approaching the outer courtyard made his tiny heart tense up all at once.
He immediately activated his Infinity Perception System to its fullest extent.
— — —
Outside the gate stood several shinobi in standard Konoha flak jackets and forehead protectors, all standing respectfully behind none other than the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen.
In front of Hiruzen stood a boy—the eldest son of Hatake Fūka and Yamanaka Suzune, who had both just perished in a mission. That boy was none other than Hatake Sakumo.
Still in the prime of his life, Sarutobi Hiruzen gently placed a firm, calloused hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke with a warm, steady voice.
"Sakumo… you're not a little kid anymore. You're a shinobi now. And as a shinobi, you must learn to be strong. If not for yourself, then for your little brother…"
"The funeral arrangements for Fūka and Suzune will be handled by the village. You don't need to worry about it. For now, take a break from missions. Stay home, clear your mind."
"If life gets too hard, come talk to me anytime. Hm… actually," Hiruzen hesitated for a moment, his gaze softening. "You're still young, and taking care of an infant brother isn't easy. If you feel overwhelmed, I can ask my aunt to help take care of him temporarily. How does that sound?"
Sakumo remained silent for a beat, then slowly looked up. Though his youthful face still bore the softness of childhood, his eyes shone with unwavering resolve.
"Thank you for the offer, Hokage-sama… But I'll be fine. I can take care of my little brother on my own."
"…Alright then." Hiruzen nodded with a faint smile, patting Sakumo's shoulder one last time before turning and walking away with the Konoha shinobi trailing behind.
Only after they were gone did Sakumo's tightly held tears finally break free, streaming silently down his cheeks…
— — —
Hokage's Office
Back in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was deep in a heated argument with the three elder councilors: Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
The tension in the air was thick.
"Danzō!! Kazuya Ōi was doing fine—until you transferred him to your ROOT division! And not long after, he became a rogue ninja! What exactly did you do behind the scenes?!"
"And who gave you permission to assign Fūka and Suzune on an S-Rank mission to the Land of Lightning to pursue him?! How dare you issue such a dangerous mission without my approval?!"
"What do you think our shinobi are, Danzō? Tools?! Just what are you plotting?! What else are you hiding from me?!"
Hiruzen glared at his old friend, veins bulging at his temples, the fury plain on his face.
But Shimura Danzō—the one everyone called "The Shadow of the Shadows"—stood there calmly, exuding more composure than even Hiruzen himself.
"Hiruzen," Danzō said coolly, "calm yourself."
"Think about it. Why was it me—not you—who saw through Kazuya Ōi's disloyalty? It's because you've become too soft. You coddle the shinobi of this village."
"Look at the major clans—Uchiha, Hyūga, and the rest. Do you really believe they prioritize the village above all else? Or are they just clinging to their own selfish clan interests?"
"Face it, Hiruzen. You never stopped to ask yourself that."
"And besides… shinobi must always be prepared to die for the mission. Fūka and Suzune failed to complete theirs. They failed. So why should they be spared?"
"They didn't even deserve the title of shinobi. Especially Fūka—being called an 'elite Jōnin' was nothing but an overstatement."
Danzō's cutting words struck like a slap to Hiruzen's face.
He clenched his fists. His anger deepened.
Danzō, of course, knew Hiruzen inside and out. He knew this man would never sever ties over something "minor" like this. Their shared history—decades of friendship, battlefields, camaraderie—was far too deeply rooted.
Still, Danzō couldn't help but wonder...
Did Tobirama-sensei lose his mind when he named Hiruzen as his successor?
What did Hiruzen have that Danzō lacked?
To Danzō, strength wasn't enough. A true Hokage needed clarity. Resolve. Cold logic.
Hiruzen, to him, was too soft. Too emotional. Too easily swayed by the past.
And just as he expected… Hiruzen did nothing.
Thanks to some gentle persuasion from Homura and Koharu, the whole matter was smoothed over once again, fading into the background like every other dark stain before it.
— — —
Four Years Later
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Hatake Kyūjō, our protagonist, was now over four years old—though still not quite five.
And today, under the morning sun, he stood hand-in-hand with his older brother Hatake Sakumo, who had now become a full-fledged Jōnin.
They stood before the towering gate of the Konoha Ninja Academy.
"Kyūjō, today's your first day at school," Sakumo said, smiling gently like a young father. "Are you excited?"
Kyūjō gave a casual shrug.
"Eh… not really."
Truthfully, he didn't care much for the whole "Academy" thing. Most of what they'd teach there, he had already learned—and mastered—long ago.
But if he didn't enroll, he'd have no legitimate excuse to train or display his abilities openly.
Now that he was officially entering the Academy, he could finally embrace the role of a "Genius Child" and show off a little… and maybe, just maybe, set some things in motion.
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