Chapter 36
Looking at the three eleven-year-old kids, Hiruzen could only marvel at how much they would grow in the future. Shisui, with his Sharingan, was already a formidable shinobi. Yamato's control over his Wood Release was strengthening with each passing day, and it hadn't been long since he began his training.
Iruka might be the most ordinary of the three, with limited chakra reserves, experience, and knowledge, yet Hiruzen still held him in high regard. From what he remembered, Iruka would grow up to be one of the most open-minded people in the village. So, he knew he could get along well with these two.
Yamato and Shisui were exceptionally strong for their age, having only interacted with powerful shinobi like Kakashi. They didn't understand what normal was and had never learned how to care for one another since they never needed to. Most importantly, they did not know how to support each other. Fearing the loss of their teammate, they would recognize their weakness sooner rather than later.
This was where Iruka fit in; at least, that was Hiruzen's impression. He wasn't an expert, but as an outsider, he noticed things that other shinobi didn't. Shikaku first recognized how adept the new graduates were at combat while overlooking their skills in survival, medical knowledge, and communication. Among them all, Iruka stood out as the best of this year's academy.
He got along well with the other students, assisted them with their studies, and was eager to learn not just from teachers but also from his classmates. Although Shisui achieved the highest grades in his year, he only began displaying this behavior in the later years of his studies and still didn't achieve the results Iruka had. Yamato never even attended the academy.
"From now on, you three will make a new team," Hiruzen explained. "Team Zero, I put you on the same team for one reason: I need you three to represent the village in the upcoming Chunin exams."
"What's that?" Yamato asked, stuffing himself with walnuts.
"What? You don't know what the Chunin exams are?" Iruka was so shocked that he completely forgot what Hiruzen had said previously. "It's a series of tests to determine if a genin deserves a promotion to Chunin."
"Oh, thank you," Yamato replied with a smile. "By the way, I'm Yamato. Want some walnuts?"
"I'm good, and I'm Iruka Umino. Wait, did you say Chunin exams? How can I possibly compete in them? I'm not ready; I just graduated this year, and I have barely started getting used to my team. Now I'll have to switch to a new one, and I don't even know them, and I…"
"Have some walnuts," Hiruzen stuffed Iruka's mouth with Yamato's snacks to calm him down. "The exams are in three months, which is more than enough time to get used to your new team and prepare for what lies ahead. You'll be training and doing missions together."
"Who will be our leader?" Shisui calmly analyzed the situation.
"I will."
A booming voice echoed through the office as a large man stepped through the door. He was one of the elite jonin of Konoha. His wild hair and the markings on his face made him intimidating to most, but his jovial smile put others at ease. His unique outfit and demeanor gave him an unmistakable presence that set him apart from anyone else.
"You're late, Choza," Hiruzen said. "This is your team for the foreseeable future: Shisui Uchiha, Iruka Umino, and Yamato. Before we begin introductions, a moderate level of trust must be established. Both Yamato and Shisui have already worked together, so they know each other well. I'm sure everyone has heard of the genius that is Shisui. However, Yamato is a special case, and what you hear from me must not be repeated to anyone else, not even to yourselves, am I understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Both Choza and Iruka straightened up and responded.
"Yamato didn't attend the academy, so his knowledge might be limited in some areas. I urge you, Iruka, to assist him with that," Hiruzen said, starting with the easiest part before dropping a bombshell. "And Yamato has wood release."
"Wood release?" Choza was surprised, but Iruka was so shocked that he could barely stand.
"Yamato was experimented on by Orochimaru since he was young. He is the only one to survive those experiments." Hiruzen continued to share shocking information. "It granted him wood release. Of course, it doesn't compare to the First Hokage's abilities, but it must remain a secret, at least for now. You can imagine how many would want to obtain it, so until he is strong enough to protect himself, he can't disclose it to anyone."
"Understood, Hokage-sama," Choza replied.
"I will protect this secret with my life, Hokage-sama." Iruka stood as straight as an arrow, trying not to panic.
"Good. Choza will explain the rest. You are free to leave." Hiruzen wasn't surprised to see that Iruka remained in place while the others were ready to go. With a nod, Choza took the other two with him. "Please feel free to ask, Iruka."
"First of all, I thank you for this opportunity, and I will do my best, but I am not ready, Hokage-sama." Iruka slumped down, as if all his strength had left him. "I am scared. I'm not good at anything. I've just begun to adjust to life as a genin. Why make me do this?"
"Shisui is a genius, as you know," Hiruzen replied. "Yamato's abilities make him special as well. But there's one thing they lack that you possess."
"What do they lack?"
"Fear," Hiruzen replied. "They don't know what that is because they've never felt it. You might think that's a good thing, but I beg to differ. Fear isn't something to ignore; it's a natural emotion humans experience. It plays a crucial role in shaping how we think, feel, and behave to ensure our survival and protect us from various harms."
"I still don't understand, Hokage-sama. All I will do is hold them back."
"Iruka, don't underestimate yourself. You're skilled enough, and what you don't know, you'll learn. Sure, Shisui and Yamato far surpass you in combat, but that's all. They'll learn as much from you as you will from them. And so what if you hold them back? Sometimes, that's what a good teammate needs to do for his team. Most importantly, I trust you to make this team balanced and prepared for the exams. Because I promise you, they won't survive if your teamwork is lacking."
There was nothing else Hiruzen could say to change Iruka's perspective, and anything else would spoil the tests he was preparing. Iruka had to overcome this himself. However, Hiruzen believed that Iruka was far stronger mentally than anyone else. Seeing him now was proof of that, as it hadn't been long since the boy was at the bottom of the abyss.
With just a few words of encouragement, Iruka pulled himself up and graduated from the academy with good grades. As much as Iruka claimed to be average, Hiruzen knew better. He was one of the individuals who reviewed the exams and conditions for graduating, wanting to keep them in the academy for a longer period.
Iruka was smarter and more calculating than he realized, but his personality was too bright for that to show just yet. Hiruzen read Iruka's responses to hypothetical situations, and this year, he appreciated Iruka's answers the most, as they prioritized the survival of his team and the protection of his village. These responses weren't ideological; strong arguments and reasoning backed them.
Hiruzen might have been mistaken in his thinking, but he didn't truly care about mission success. It was likely ingrained in shinobi blood to succeed at all costs; the end goal held more value than the process itself. Still, there were limits, and even shinobi were human. That was why Danzo and Orochimaru operated in secrecy.
Regardless, Hiruzen believed that Iruka was a connection that would help ground Yamato and Shisui a bit more. He thought they would learn to take care of their teammates better. Most importantly, Hiruzen believed that Iruka would gain confidence in himself and surpass anything he could ever achieve.
Unfortunately, he couldn't reach Jiraiya in time to teach them. Still, Choza was more than competent for that task. Despite his personality, he was an exceptional shinobi, being the leader of Ebisu, Genma Shiranui, and Might Guy. Two of them were in Kusagakure overseeing operations and handling tougher missions for the village, while Might Guy was already a formidable shinobi at such a young age. Choza had earned Hiruzen's trust for nurturing outstanding shinobi.
"Hokage-sama." An ANBU emerged from the shadows. "You received a letter." Hiruzen checked it and instantly recognized its sender and content. The Akatsuki were on the move. The mission and its employer remained unknown. Kisame Hoshigaki and Sasori of the Red Sand had set out.
Short and precise, it conveyed everything it could, but ultimately not much. Still, it didn't sit well with Hiruzen. The shinobi who had departed were too dangerous, and with the Chunin Exams approaching, it felt too coincidental to ignore. Hopefully, it was nothing, but what if Kumogakure's plans were more ambiguous than Hiruzen realized?
It seemed there was no rest for him. However, what concerned Hiruzen the most was the silence of his system. The time between missions grew longer, and right now, it seemed to have nothing for him to do. Maybe he could view it as a relief since it wasn't warning him of anything, but somehow Hiruzen felt even more uneasy about it.
'Well, all that can wait, I guess.'
There was no point in overthinking it. He could only prepare for the worst and hope for the best; nothing changed. First came the structure of the test, then the security of the village and VIP quests. Next, he needed to devise a plan for dealing with the Kumogakure shinobi if they tried something funny. Finally, he had to find a way to neutralize the Akatsuki if they were coming for him or the village.
'Fuck, why it has to be so complicated.'
It was too difficult to think; all of these situations seemed to pile up on top of each other. He just couldn't get it done. However, the thought that he could disrupt Kumogakure's genin in the Chunin Exams provided him with a bit of motivation. Still, aside from those issues, there was just too much to handle at that moment. Why did he have to give Kakashi a vacation?
There was only one way out of this paperwork. He needed a new assistant, but unfortunately, only one came to mind, and she was already taken. Yet, looking at the mountain of paperwork, Hiruzen decided it would be more worthwhile to enter a tiger's den than face it alone. It seemed like Tsunade had it easy for too long.
…
Tsunade suddenly felt chills run down her back as she oversaw the new medical equipment. She closed the window, thinking it was just a cold draft. She didn't have time for distractions. With all the money the old man was giving her, she needed to show some results.
She had no intention of having any contact with patients, so she dedicated her time to research and consultation. Her fear of blood had not disappeared, preventing her from working with the injured. Even after some sessions with Inoichi, she didn't find any relief, attending only because the old man begged her.
She wanted to have a drink and blow off some steam by gambling. But that damn old man had some kind of expectation for her, forcing her to work. She begrudgingly had to admit that their relationship was better than she had expected. And now she had to accept that part of their falling out was her fault.
"Tsunade-sama," a doctor rushed into her office. "We have a critical patient suffering from chakra exhaustion."
"What are the complications?" Hearing the doctor, Tsunade quickly concluded that it was as simple as chakra exhaustion.
"He has experienced major organ failure," the doctor continued as Tsunade rushed out of her office. "He needs his chakra stabilized immediately, but infusing foreign chakra without precise control would only put him in greater danger."
"With room?" Tsunade asked, aware of how quickly she needed to act before the patient experienced permanent damage.
"305."
Upon hearing the answer, she didn't wait for the doctor and rushed in by herself. As long as there wasn't any blood, she felt capable of handling it. Everyone was aware of her condition, so if there had been any blood, she would have been warned. Even though most doctors had good chakra control, none of them could compare to hers.
"Good, you're here." As Tsunade entered the room, she was shocked to find the Third Hokage already attending to the patient. "I managed to stabilize his chakra with my own, but that's the limit of my knowledge. I need your help to repair any damage."
Without hesitation, she placed her hands on top of the Third's and, using her chakra, guided him. Thankfully, it seemed the Third had arrived just in time to stabilize the boy. Together, they quickly simulated the patient's heart, which was in danger of shutting down completely, and eased the blood circulation.
"He will be fine," Tsunade said after checking the patient's body. "But I will have a word with the boy once he wakes up. How foolish can one be to exhaust his chakra to this extent? He needs a good lesson. He was lucky this time that you came to him; otherwise, who knows what could have happened?"
"Don't be too hard on the boy," The Third wiped his sweat. "I wonder what kind of desperation drove him to push himself so much."
It appeared that the boy was just a student, not from any clan. Yet, The Third looked at him with the worry and care he had shown her when she was his student. He was getting soft. As Hokage, he shouldn't have time to care about some kid he didn't even know. And yet here he was, perhaps on his way to meet her, helping the kid.
"What did you want to see me about?"
"Oh, I wasn't looking for you," the old man smiled at her. "I just wanted to borrow Shizune for a bit."
A.N. Sorry for a bit of delay. I build my first pc, and it took far more time to get it right than I expected. Especially when I realized I didn't have a screwdriver. And than that I needed to buy another one, because the one I bought was too big for ssd. Just my luck. Still, everything works and you can await more chapters.