Chapter 40 – Izaya is a Little Confused
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for activating the selection system: Lie / Tell the Truth?
Option 1: Tell the Third Hokage the truth about what happened during this period. Reward: An additional 20% increase in training speed within the Ninja Academy grounds.
Option 2: Use an excuse to change the subject and act like a rebellious delinquent. Reward: An additional 20% increase in cultivation speed outside of Konoha Village.
Option 3: Tell a lie. Reward: An additional 20% increase in cultivation speed within Konoha (excluding the Ninja Academy).
"Damn it," Izaya thought, a flicker of irritation crossing his mind. "The system's acting up again!"
Seeing the three options materialize in his head only added to his current frustration. But with the system activated, he had no choice but to make a selection. After all... a 20% boost to his cultivation speed was incredibly tempting.
Naturally, he immediately ruled out Option Two. Becoming a traitor was out of the question.
The real dilemma was between Option One and Option Three.
"Tell the truth... or lie?"
After a moment's hesitation, he didn't overthink it. He directly selected Option Three.
Having made his decision, Izaya looked at the smiling Third Hokage and slowly spoke. "I've been skipping because... I just don't feel like going."
To be fair, this wasn't a complete lie. He genuinely had no desire to attend the Academy. With the future members of the Konoha 12 not even enrolled yet, he'd just be stuck with a bunch of cannon fodder classmates. He was better off laying low and training on his own within the village; it was far more efficient and safer.
"Oh?" The Third Hokage clearly hadn't expected such a blunt and simple answer.
Because I don't want to?
So I just don't go?
While the excuse had a ring of truth to it, the Hokage never imagined someone would actually use it in an official meeting with him. For a moment, three distinct veins of frustration throbbed on the Third Hokage's forehead.
Ahem.
A low, deliberate cough brought Izaya's focus back. The Third Hokage suppressed his complex emotions and adopted a patient, mentoring tone. "The path of a ninja requires immense dedication and hard work. Are you saying you no longer wish to become a ninja?"
What is this old man trying to do? Izaya was utterly bewildered.
Before coming here, he had braced himself for an interrogation from a squad of ANBU, expecting to be dragged off to a black site and questioned about his connection to Uchiha Itachi. But this...? This was completely different from what he had anticipated. The tone was all wrong! He had prepared for the worst, and instead, he was being asked why he was playing hooky.
"What's wrong? Are you still refusing to attend school?" the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, pressed on after Izaya remained silent. Seeing he still got no answer, Hiruzen continued, "Perhaps being a ninja isn't the best path for everyone, but I hope you won't simply give up and become decadent..."
"Me? Decadent?!" Izaya was floored. "Where the hell did he get that idea?"
This entire situation was the polar opposite of what he had imagined. He had no idea what "decadence" the Hokage was even referring to.
"Lord Hokage," Izaya began, deciding to play along for now to see where this was going. He still couldn't believe he was summoned just for a lecture on truancy. "As you can see, I've been at the Ninja Academy for so long and still haven't become a proper ninja. So, how about..." He studied the Hokage's expression carefully before pressing his luck. "How about you let me take a break? I can go back to the Ninja Academy next year?"
"Fine." To Izaya's utter shock, the Third Hokage agreed without any argument. "We'll leave it at that for today. Come and talk to me when you've thought it through and are ready to return."
"Can... can I go now?" If Izaya was just confused before, now he was completely and utterly lost.
Did he really call me here just to ask why I wasn't in school?
Questions swirled in his mind, but he knew better than to voice them. After bidding a polite farewell, Izaya left the Hokage's office, a deeply perplexed expression on his face as he made his way home.
The moment Izaya left the building, a middle-aged shinobi emerged from the shadows in the Hokage's office. Had Izaya been there, he would have recognized him immediately: Morino Ibiki of the ANBU.
In the original timeline, Ibiki was the formidable chief of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Force and the proctor for the first exam of the Chūnin Exams. He was a stern, uncompromising man, fiercely loyal to the Third Hokage.
"Ibiki," the Third Hokage spoke without turning around. "What is your impression of that boy, Izaya?"
"Hm?" Ibiki was slightly taken aback by the question. A look of surprise flashed across his stern features. In his assessment, the kid was utterly unremarkable—mediocre talent at best, no distinguished family background. The only thing notable about him was his long-standing failure to graduate. "A boy with terrible talent," Ibiki stated truthfully. He then moved to stand behind the Hokage, his eyes questioning.
"Terrible, is it..." A faint, knowing smile touched the Third Hokage's lips. He murmured, almost to himself, "That boy Izaya... is not simple."
With that, he walked over to his desk and motioned for Ibiki to join him.
"Come. Look at this..."
As Ibiki approached, the Hokage gestured to the scene displayed within his crystal ball.
"Is this... that boy's true power?!" Ibiki, a man known for his unshakable composure, couldn't hide his shock.
The image in the crystal ball showed Izaya training near the Forest of Death, unleashing Fire Release ninjutsu of a scale and power that defied all logic for a supposed Academy dropout.
Suddenly, everything clicked for Ibiki. He turned to the Hokage, his voice low. "Lord Hokage, is this the real reason you summoned him today?"
"Not entirely..." The Third Hokage stared thoughtfully at the image of Izaya's powerful jutsu, his expression deeply contemplative. There was far more to this "failure" of a student than met the eye, and he intended to find out what it was.