Chapter 100: The Third Hokage's Visit
When Nan opened the door, he froze in surprise. Standing before him was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He had expected questions about Uchiha Han's disappearance—the incident had shaken the entire shinobi world. Nan had already prepared himself for the inevitable interrogations.
The three people who had the most reason to care—Danzō, Uchiha Fugaku, and the Third Hokage—he had already anticipated.
Just yesterday, Danzō's men had dragged him off to Root. Later that evening, Fugaku had come by in person.
But Hiruzen hadn't summoned him at all, which Nan had found odd.
And now, here the Hokage was, personally visiting his house—carrying what looked like a bundle of food. That was the last thing Nan had expected.
Feigning surprise, Nan exclaimed:
"Lord Hokage! You came all the way to my home? And even with gifts? This is too much—please, come in."
Hiruzen chuckled warmly.
"I heard you had returned, so I wanted to check on you. Truth be told, I meant to come yesterday, but I thought you'd be exhausted from the long journey and didn't want to disturb your rest. So I waited until today. And since it's still early, I guessed you hadn't eaten yet. I brought you something."
Nan couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Now this is how you treat people.
Hiruzen had considered his fatigue and given him space before reaching out. Unlike Danzō, who had yanked him straight into interrogation the moment he stepped foot back in the village. And even Fugaku, though at least courteous, had still come prying almost immediately.
No wonder Danzō had never become Hokage. Compared to Hiruzen, his way of dealing with people was crude and heavy-handed.
The Hokage opened the bundle, revealing hot dishes from a local restaurant, and invited Nan to eat together.
Nan knew it was part of Hiruzen's way of building closeness—but even so, he felt a little warmth stir inside him. In both his lives, there had been few who ever treated him this kindly.
As they ate, Hiruzen spoke with a grandfatherly smile:
"About the recent battle—you have my thanks. Had you not stalled Pakura, the consequences could have been dire."
Nan lowered his gaze, his tone heavy with regret.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. I'd already drained the Yin Seal's stored chakra before the fight. In the end, I ran out and couldn't defeat Pakura. If not for Han suddenly appearing, I would've been killed."
Hiruzen waved the apology away, his voice firm but kind:
"No. That's not how you should see it. For someone your age to hold Pakura off that long was extraordinary. And with the Flying Thunder God at your disposal, you could've escaped the moment things turned bad—but you didn't. You chose to fight, to stay until every drop of chakra was gone. That resolve makes this old man proud."
Then, with a twinkle in his eye, Hiruzen added:
"And stop calling me 'Lord Hokage.' You're the student of Tsunade and Orochimaru—that makes you my grand-pupil. From now on, just call me Grandpa Third."
Nan blinked, then broke into a bright grin.
"Yes, Lord Ho—ah, Grandpa Third."
Hiruzen's smile deepened. The shift in how Nan addressed him had closed the distance between them.
"Good. Now then, since you've earned merit by holding Pakura back, tell me—what reward would you like? Whatever it is, Grandpa will see it done."
Nan hesitated, scratching his cheek, a bashful smile on his face as though embarrassed to speak.
Hiruzen chuckled.
"There's no need to be shy. It's yours by right. Just say it."
Encouraged, Nan finally nodded.
"Then… may I learn sealing techniques? I heard the creature Suna summoned—Shukaku, a tailed beast—was only subdued through sealing. Normal ninja can't kill beings like that. If another one ever appeared, I wouldn't have any way to deal with it. I want to be prepared."
This was no passing whim. The idea had been simmering in Nan's mind since the battle.
Back then, his Eclipse had severed one of Shukaku's massive tails and even an arm. Though the beast was resealed afterward, those pieces remained trapped within the Eclipse, never returning to its host.
The final slash had consumed nearly all of Shukaku's chakra—but even so, that chakra was not ordinary. Shukaku was born of the Ten-Tails' fragments, and the raw energy inside him could not be broken down by Susanoo.
When Susanoo dissipated, the leftover chakra fragments had instead become sealed within Nan's Sharingan.
Lately, Nan's eyes had felt heavy and swollen, as though something were pressing from within, leaving him uncomfortably burdened.
He knew the reason. The chakra of Shukaku lingered inside him, fragments sealed within his Sharingan. He could release it if he chose, but the thought pained him. This was bijū chakra—a treasure most shinobi would give anything to obtain. To simply cast it aside felt wasteful.
That was why the idea of learning sealing techniques had taken root in his heart. If he could master them, he could store Shukaku's chakra elsewhere, preserving it for a day when it might prove invaluable.
Of course, Hiruzen knew nothing of this. To him, Nan's request to study sealing jutsu seemed born of foresight—a young shinobi preparing himself should he one day face another tailed beast. Harmless, practical, even admirable.
"Very well," the Hokage agreed with a nod. "Sealing arts aren't forbidden, nor do they carry undue danger. If you wish to learn them while you're still young, it will only help you grow stronger. I'll have some materials prepared and sent to you soon."
Nan bowed his head with genuine thanks.
After a moment, Hiruzen's tone shifted, carrying the weight of quiet authority.
"Nan… did Danzō summon you yesterday? What exactly did he say?"
As the Hokage, Hiruzen was never blind to the undercurrents in the village. Even without a formal report, he knew Danzō far too well. His old comrade's suspicion of the Uchiha was relentless; now that Han had awakened the Mangekyō and defected, Danzō would be desperate for information—and Nan was the closest lead.
Nan didn't bother hiding it.
"Yes. Lord Danzō brought me to Root. He asked a great deal about Uchiha Han, but I honestly don't know much. I told him as much. Later, he asked if I would join Root, but I've no interest in the ANBU. So I refused."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though he quickly masked his reaction. That Danzō had interrogated Nan was expected. But that he had gone so far as to try and recruit him? That was another matter.
He remembered Danzō making the same proposal not long ago—and how firmly he had refused. Nan was too young, too gifted, too full of potential to be twisted into one of Danzō's weapons. The thought of the boy falling into Root's hands had been intolerable.
Fortunately, Nan himself had rejected the offer. If he hadn't, Hiruzen would have been forced to dirty his hands, personally demanding Danzō give the boy back.
Still, curiosity gnawed at him. Like Fugaku, he too longed to know more of Han—why he had fled, what his intentions were. But unlike Danzō, Hiruzen knew how to ask. He wove the topic in gently, almost in passing, probing without pressing.
Nan, however, was no fool. Just because Hiruzen had brought him food and kindness did not mean he would loosen his guard. He stuck to the same careful story he had used with both Danzō and Fugaku:
He and Han were brothers, yes—but strangers more than siblings. He knew nothing of Han's thoughts, nothing of his whereabouts.
Seeing that Nan truly had little to offer, Hiruzen did not press further. After they finished their meal, he rose to take his leave.
Notably, he never once asked whether members of the Uchiha clan had sought Nan out. Hiruzen understood well enough that they might have—and that if they did, they would have warned Nan to keep silent. Pressing the matter would only strain things unnecessarily.
Besides, he trusted the boy. Nan would not lie to him. He truly didn't know much about Han. And if even the Uchiha clan had failed to uncover anything, then there was little chance anyone else had.
For now, that was enough.