'Nano, how long for the information transfer and body transformation transfer?'
[Information transfer: will take less than a minute]
[In consideration of the host's age, your skeletal frame can't support the muscular frame needed to perform the taijutsu techniques observed. Chakra-related transformation transfer is safe, however.]
'How long would that take?'
[6 hours]
'Alright. Adapt my body to the best it can be, without causing me harm, of course.'
[Affirmative]
Sasuke, who was already in his bed, fell asleep right away with the help of nano.
(Next Day)
Sasuke woke up very early
'I feel refreshed. Nano, give me a breakdown of what changed in my body.'
[Affirmative. Muscle, bones, and skin were enhanced to the absolute peak for your age, without causing any deformities.]
'Good, go on.'
[Chakra coils are developed beyond your age group. Your body has been adapted to generate all six chakra natures observed more efficiently]
[Notice: Sensitivity to chakra increased]
'So I have all chakra natures except for wind? And I even became a sensor. I almost have them all. Nano, we gotta catch 'em all. For today, we will try to observe wind chakra.'
[Affirmative]
Sasuke got up out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He washed his face and brushed his baby teeth, then he changed into his everyday clothes.
He felt incredibly good. His body was light and precise, like a sharp razor blade.
"Good morning, Sasuke."
Raiki was eating breakfast alone. Raina was still asleep
"Good morning, Dad. Off to work?" Sasuke joined his dad at the table
"Yes. I told your grandpa about your visit yesterday. He said that he will try to see you today on his break."
"Really? That would be great."
"Why do you want to see him anyway?" Raiki said as he took another bite of his breakfast.
"I wanted to get his permission to use the second floor of the library."
"Sasuke..." Raiki paused as if thinking about his wording, "The reason the library is separated into different floors is so one could build a foundation. Even if you go to the second floor, you won't be able to understand anything. Not unless you learn about the basics on the first floor."
"But I think I'm ready for the second floor."
Sasuke insisted
"HAHAHA! Sasuke, I said the same thing to my dad. Trust me, you're not ready."
"Don't underestimate me, Dad. I might be only three, but I'm better than anyone else around."
"Hahaha! Sasuke, you're just as stubborn as I was. How about this? I will give you the same test my father gave me. I was a few years older than you, but I think this will be a good humbling experience for you."
"What test?" Sasuke's heterochromatic eyes twinkled with childish excitement.
"I'll let you use the second floor of the library for one week. If you explain to me, in detail, how one of the main jutsu categories works, I'll grant you any one wish."
"Even if that wish is to go to the third floor of the library?" Sasuke asked slowly.
"Sasuke, if you pass, I'll take you there myself," Raiki said with a smirk on his face. If even he couldn't pass that test when he was 6, how could his 3-year-old son pass?
"One more question. Is the second floor the same size as the first?"
"No. It's smaller."
"Alright, you can take me there before you go to work."
"Alright, hotshot. Finish your breakfast, and I'll take you there," Raiki patted Sasuke on the head.
After breakfast, Sasuke and his dad walked towards the library. Once they got there, the librarian recognized them right away.
"Good morning, Lord Raiki. Good morning, Sasuke. How can I help you?"
"Good morning. Sasuke here," Raiki pointed at his son, "is currently undergoing a test by me. He has temporary access to the second floor of the library. Only one week starting today. After that week is over, do not let him into the second floor."
"Understood, sir." The librarian bowed slightly
Raiki turned around and left
"You can go up those stairs. That will take you to the second floor. Good luck on your test, Sasuke," The librarian pointed at a set of stairs in one corner of the library.
"Thank you."
Sasuke didn't waste any time at all. He went up the stairs. The second floor was the same space as the first, but the bookshelves were smaller.
'Alright, nano, let's get to scanning.'
A long time passed as Sasuke was scanning the books without a break. It helps that there was no one there other than him. And the librarian was on the first floor. She never bothered him.
The second floor contained 868 books. But those books were much more refined. The theories explained in them were detailed and deep. And the overlapping had decreased a lot. There was almost no duplicated information.
The information was so much richer. It contained chūnin-level knowledge.
Sasuke looked at the clock on the wall. It was getting close to lunch. He had a few more books to scan before he was done with the whole floor.
---------------
(Hiruzen POV)
This war is just as awful as all the others before it. Nothing changed. People died, villages were destroyed, innocent children were sent to war and died young, too young.
It all started as small skirmishes along the borders of the smaller nations. Then that damned Ōnoki had to go and invade the hidden grass village. He just had to try his luck and try the land of fire.
No, even though Ōnoki tried to lay siege to the border of the land of fire, this war was bound to happen anyway. I've lived long enough to notice the pattern.
It breaks my heart to think that since the founding of the village, every generation that came after saw war.
Hiruzen looked at the pile of files in front of him
I recognize those names and faces. I saw them on files when they graduated from the academy. Now I see them again, but in different files. Casualties.
Most go through war as children. And if they survive the war by some miracle, they see it again as adults. And if they didn't die the first time, they die the second. I'm one of the very few who are lucky enough to see the birth of my grandchild.
That's right. Sasuke came to visit yesterday.
(3rd Person POV)
"Owl"
Just as Hiruzen spoke the name, an anbu with an owl mask appeared in front of him, kneeling.
"We are going for a walk. The rest should stay here."
Hiruzen turned and left his office, followed by Owl.
Once they were far away, Hiruzen spoke again.
"Lose the mask for now, Raiki. I'm going somewhere, not as the Hokage, but as a grandfather."
"You're going to see Sasuke?"
"Yes. The office felt suffocating. I need a moment away from all of this."
"I understand."
"How is he doing these days? I haven't seen him in a while." Hiruzen looked thoughtful for a moment. "Not since he tried to sneak into the clan meeting that one time," Hiruzen reminisced. He tried to smile at his grandson's silly actions, but the weight of the war was still on his shoulders.
"He was fussing over the library."
"Oh? He's three now; he should be able to access it."
"He went for two days, and then he wanted to go to the second floor."
"Reminds me of a certain stubborn boy who insisted he was ready too early, too."
"Yeah. I told him that I was the same way. You want to guess what his answer was?"
"He probably threw a tantrum and shouted, 'Don't underestimate me, Dad! And probably threw a few things around," Hiruzen said, his mind was off the war enough for his face to smile a bit.
"Not really. Sasuke is a better-behaved child than I was. He just told me not to underestimate him." Raiki also had a relaxed smile on his face
"I see. How did you handle him?"
"I knew that he would try to get to the second floor either way. So I did to him what you did to me."
"That silly test?"
"Exactly. He will spend a week focused on learning something, fail, then realize that he needs to develop his basics first. He's smart enough for that."
"What did you promise him? You wanted me to teach you the water dragon jutsu back then." Hiruzen's eyes stared far into the distance like he was recalling a fond memory
"He asked for access to the third floor of the library. I think he heard about the secret third floor from the librarian, and as any adventurous child would, he wanted to go to that secret location."
Hiruzen chuckled a little. "It looks like you will have a harder time raising him than I had raising you and your siblings."
"Oh yeah? Why is that?"
"Sasuke is much smarter than any child I have ever seen. I never said this to anyone, but he is much more of a genius than any child I've seen, including myself."
"Why do you call Sasuke a genius. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to hear that, but I'm also concerned. Geniuses tend to die too early."
Hiruzen paused for a moment. "He learned to speak and read incredibly fast. Even with all of his antics, he never did anything dangerous or stupid. He's sharp, you can see it in his eyes. He is ahead of his years."
The two had entered the clan compound and even reached the library
They entered through the front door. The librarian rushed to them, but a wave of Hiruzen's hand caused her to stop and bow as they walked by.
They made their way up the stairs and walked around the corner.
"A genius beyond his years, you said." Raiki had to hold back from rolling his eyes.