Just as Ryoma was relentlessly teasing Asuma, a young man who bore some resemblance to Ryoma appeared beside him.
He wore Konoha's standard shinobi uniform with a black, form-fitting fishnet undershirt and sported the signature pineapple-shaped hairstyle of the Nara clan.
Sensing the newcomer, Ryoma set down the thoroughly roughed-up Asuma and greeted the man, "Uncle Shikaku, you're here."
Nara Shikaku nodded. "Come with me. The Hokage has summoned you."
With that, the two swiftly made their way towards the Hokage Building.
Left behind on the spot, Asuma began to experience a mental whirlwind.
'The one who just arrived was Clan Head Nara Shikaku, and that guy Ryoma called him Uncle.'
Rubbing his chin, a flash of insight brightened Asuma's eyes. 'Clan Head Shikaku is roughly the same age as my elder brother Shinnosuke. Since I am Shinnosuke's younger brother, that means... Ryoma should call me Uncle!'
'But now, Ryoma has become my older brother... which also means... Elder Brother Shinnosuke would have to call Clan Head Shikaku Uncle!'
The clever Asuma was putting his clever brain to work once again.
...
On the way, Nara Shikaku wore an uncharacteristically serious expression. Seeing Shikaku's demeanor, Ryoma could roughly guess the reason. He must have learned about Ryoma possibly awakening a Kekkei Genkai.
Although Ryoma knew the true origin of these ghost shadows and the mask, he couldn't simply explain it to the Hokage and the others.
A grand wave of the hand, followed by a casual 'I'm a transmigrator! Bet you didn't know! This mask has quite the story!' In his previous world, there was this cartoon specifically about...
He wouldn't even finish three sentences before probably ending up on Orochimaru's operating table. They'd slice him into a hundred different pieces without repeating a pattern.
Of course, Ryoma had also made some preparations to deal with the Hokage's inquiry. Since he was choosing to expose this proactively, he still had to try and be as prepared as possible.
However, if he could smoothly pass this Hokage interview, using this ability in the future would become much more convenient. After all, cloaked in the guise of a Kekkei Genkai, anything he didn't understand could just be blamed on it.
There was no way he could have such an awesome ability and keep it hidden and unused forever!
Shikaku suddenly broke the silence. "Ryoma, when the Hokage asks you questions later, just say what you know. I'll handle the parts you don't."
Ryoma glanced at his stand-in uncle and obediently nodded in agreement. He knew Shikaku was reminding him not to speak carelessly later. If he really didn't know how to answer something, Shikaku would be there for him.
To be honest, Shikaku's treatment of him was truly beyond reproach. Whether it was teaching Ryoma during his training or taking care of him in daily life, Ryoma could feel the bond named blood kinship from him.
Nara Shikaku deeply understood the significance a Kekkei Genkai wielder held for a clan, and even for a shinobi village. Although as a long-established clan within the Hokage's faction, Shikaku couldn't be one hundred percent certain of the Hokage's stance on this matter.
Therefore, he could only rapidly think through various scenarios that might occur and their corresponding countermeasures on the way.
Ryoma was his elder brother's child; he naturally didn't want him to suffer any grievance. But the village was a web of intertwined forces, and many people would not want to see the Nara clan possess excessively powerful strength. A broken balance was the most frightening thing.
Ryoma naturally understood this principle as well. If asked what Konohagakure had the most of, Ryoma felt it was politicians. Not to mention anything else, just take Danzo, 'the strongest Shadow of Blame,' for example.
He was probably already brewing some scheme, wanting to recruit Ryoma into the Root for development.
Therefore, to ensure that Sarutobi Hiruzen would, for Ryoma's sake, continue performing the beloved hidden program 'I Am the Hokage' with Danzo, Ryoma decided that today, he would be the perfect comprehending heir and propagator of the Will of Fire!
'No one understands the Will of Fire better than me!' Ryoma shouted inwardly.
...
Arriving at the Hokage Building, Shikaku led Ryoma straight to the Hokage's office. Entering the room, they saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was not yet as aged as in the anime, buried in a mountain of documents.
Nara Shikaku bowed with Ryoma and announced clearly, "Konoha Special Jonin Nara Shikaku, along with trainee ninja Nara Ryoma, reporting to the Hokage, sir!"
Hearing the voice, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, a friendly smile on his face. "You're here, Shikaku. And this must be little Ryoma."
Ryoma quickly replied, "Greetings, Lord Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, speaking very casually.
"It's alright, little Ryoma, no need to be so nervous. Calling you here this time is just to understand the situation. After all, the appearance of a possible Kekkei Genkai wielder in the village is no small matter. Can you tell me when you first discovered you had this special ability?"
Ryoma thought for a moment before answering, "It's like this, Lord Hokage. When I first started training in the clan's secret techniques, I noticed I seemed somewhat different.
It wasn't until a few days ago, after I completely mastered the Shadow Imitation Technique, that I discovered I could easily shape my shadow into human forms to assist me in combat. I call the shaped shadows 'Ghost Shadow Soldiers.'
They have no consciousness of their own and obey my commands, with strength roughly at the level of an average genin. However, the more Ghost Shadow Soldiers I create, the drain on me increases exponentially, and the duration I can maintain them also shortens considerably..."
Listening to Ryoma's answer, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into thought. "I see..."
Ryoma's answer could be described as thorough and unreserved, even mentioning his own weaknesses.
It completely resembled the behavior of a child encountering an unfamiliar problem, finally seeing a trustworthy elder they could confide in.
"Then, Ryoma, have you ever felt physically unwell before, or felt your body was very different from usual?" Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to ask.
Nara Ryoma seemed to think very hard for a while before saying, "If I had to say when I felt my body was different... it should be after my parents passed away. I fell seriously ill, bedridden for a long time before recovering. After that, I always felt my body was a bit strange, but I thought it was because the illness hadn't fully healed, so I didn't pay too much attention..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. 'Was it triggered by the shock of his parents' death in the line of duty?' He then asked a few more innocuous questions, seemingly showing concern for Ryoma.
Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze turned sharp, looking directly at Ryoma as he said slowly, "Ryoma, how do you view the matter of your parents... dying in the line of duty?"
Hearing this, Ryoma seemed to recall something sorrowful, his voice gradually choking up.
"My... my father and mother were both excellent ninja of the village. In my heart, they are great because they fought for the village to the very end. Although... although they didn't stay with me for long, I believe... my parents' sacrifice was not meaningless. They will inspire more young people to become pillars supporting the future of Konoha!"
Listening to the tearful "heartfelt outpouring," Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but pause for a second. He took a puff from his pipe and said slowly, "What a good child."
For such a young child to possess such awareness, he truly lived up to being a talent cultivated by the Nara family!
"Then, little Ryoma, what do you think the village's Will of Fire represents?"
Ryoma composed his emotions and, with a slight excitement fitting for a youth, said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Lord Hokage, I believe, where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will burn eternal! The Shadow of Fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will always sprout. This is the Will of Fire of the village in my eyes!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned. He seemed to see a rising new star, wrapped in the 'Will of Fire,' illuminating his increasingly wrinkled old face.
If it were him, he could definitely become a successor of the Will of Fire! The village's future needed a child like this!
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