Chapter 19 - Hokage-sama and New Target
I walked into the Hokage's office with a cheerful, "Hokage-sama!" My voice was bright and full of energy.
The room was thick with tension. ANBU member Yūgao Uzuki stood across from Hokage Hiruzen, her purple hair barely visible beneath her mask. Her eyes were sharp and focused.
"Hi, ANBU-senpai!" I waved my hand with a wide smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Ding!!
[ New target found Yūgao Uzuki ]
"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!" I said, waving my hand in front of Hiruzen's face, trying to snap him out of his trance.
Yūgao Uzuki's brows furrowed in concern. "What's wrong with him?" I asked her, noticing that Hiruzen was frozen, his eyes wide and unblinking.
"I'm not sure," she replied quietly, her voice laced with worry. "He seemed to go into shock after I gave him the document. It's very important, but I didn't look at it myself."
I gently took the document from Hiruzen's hand. He was completely still, his face pale and eyes glazed. Yūgao Uzuki leaned in, her eyes widening with shock as she saw that the document was my mission report.
Hiruzen suddenly snapped out of his daze, his face turning a shade of deep red with anger and disbelief. "Y-you… how could you? How did you kill 100 shinobi all by yourself?" His voice trembled, and his fingers shook as he pointed at me.
He was clearly in disbelief. "How old are you? It's not just that you killed 100 shinobi—it's that you're still a kid. How could someone so young do something like this? You're just a kid who's barely out of the Academy, and yet you took on a suicide mission and defeated 100 shinobi from a country known for their assassination skills."
I tried to downplay it, my face slightly flushed with embarrassment. "Why are you so shocked? I just took down some weak shinobi."
Hiruzen's eyes widened further, his mouth opening in disbelief. "Weak? Weak? There were 70 Genin, 20 Chunin, and over 10 Jonin. Even the best of the best would hesitate before facing that many enemies."
I sighed, feeling a mix of pride and exhaustion. "I used up almost all my chakra, and my chakra points are damaged. I still have some chakra left, but I can't use it properly. Plus, I have a bit of Senju lineage and burned through some of my life force."
Hiruzen's expression softened slightly as he processed this information. "So, you used up almost all your chakra and some of your life force to defeat 100 shinobi?" he asked, his tone less accusatory now.
"Yes. I had to use a forbidden technique. That's why I want to train in Taijutsu and Kenjutsu," I said, meeting his gaze steadily.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, his furrowed brows slowly relaxing. He then nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "You've done a great job for Konoha. I'll arrange for you to train with Yūgao Uzuki."
Yūgao Uzuki nodded respectfully, her expression serious but supportive. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."
With everything decided, I glanced at the clock. Night was falling, and it had only been two days since I arrived. I still couldn't quite believe that I had taken down 100 shinobi.
In the corner of the room, I saw Kara, Juri, and Nami-sensei. They approached me, their faces serious but grateful. They handed me all their money, saying it was a reward for saving them. Their eyes were filled with sincere appreciation.
I shook my head with a warm smile, feeling touched. "Thank you, but I can't accept this. It was my duty to help."
With everything settled, I decided it was time to go home. I needed to freshen up and check on my mom. The past few days had been a whirlwind, and I wanted to take a moment to reconnect with my family and reflect on everything that had happened.