Chapter 29 – The Child Who Cries Gets the Milk
The next morning, Taichi arrived at school early and approached Teacher Yamada to request leave. Yamada looked at him in surprise—this was the first time he'd encountered a student asking for leave on the second day of the semester. Yet, thinking of Taichi's usual conduct, he agreed without hesitation.
With approval in hand, Taichi wasted no time. After leaving school, he headed straight for the Hokage's office.
It was Taichi's first time at the Hokage Building. By itself, the bustling structure didn't seem particularly tall, but framed by the distant Hokage Rock, it carried a certain solemn grandeur.
As he entered, a chūnin stopped him abruptly. "Hey, kid! This isn't a place for some brat who isn't even a proper genin yet."
Taichi looked over and recognized a staff member. Undeterred, he stepped forward. "I'd like to see the Hokage. Could you tell me how?"
The chūnin frowned, impatient. "You think the Hokage is someone you can just walk in to see?"
"Then please notify him. Tell him it's Lady Tsunade's disciple, Taichi Matsushita, who wishes to speak with him." Taichi spoke calmly, without a hint of fear.
The chūnin studied him carefully, as if trying to discern the truth behind his words.
"Wait here," he said, turning and heading down the stairs.
"Thank you!" Taichi replied politely.
Left alone, he took in his surroundings. This was the mission hall, where ninja accepted and handed over assignments. Even early in the morning, many ninja were busy with paperwork and mission transfers—a clear sign of Konoha's prosperity. After all, a ninja village survives on its missions.
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About ten minutes later, the chūnin returned. "Follow me. The Hokage wants to see you." He led Taichi to the office door. "Here it is. You go in yourself."
Taichi took a deep breath, adjusting his mindset. Success or failure would hinge on this moment.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Pushing open the door, Taichi found the Hokage smiling at him—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Tsunade's disciple," the Hokage teased.
Taichi's face flushed red. "Apologies, Hokage-sama. I took this measure only to meet you." He bowed deeply in respect.
Hiruzen chuckled. "No need to worry. I know about your situation with Tsunade. She hasn't formally accepted you as her disciple, but she is clearly training you as her successor. It's fair to call you her student."
"Really? I always thought my efforts weren't enough," Taichi said, feigning humility.
"You've done very well," Hiruzen affirmed.
"Today is just the start of the semester. Why come to see me?" the Hokage asked, steering toward the main matter.
Taichi explained everything from yesterday, recounting the events in full. "Since I'm a student of the Ninja Academy and you are the principal, I'm technically your student too. So I must obtain your consent for where I go."
Hiruzen remained silent, puffing on his pipe. Soon, smoke shrouded his face.
"Taichi, don't worry about this. Just focus on your studies at the Ninja Academy from now on," Hiruzen finally said.
"Understood, Hokage-sama. I will follow your instructions," Taichi replied without hesitation, emphasizing his obedience.
"Then you may go," Hiruzen added, signaling the end of the meeting.
Taichi left the Hokage's office, carefully closing the door behind him.
As Taichi departed, Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Danzo… you've clearly defied my orders," he muttered under his breath.
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After leaving the Hokage's office, Taichi returned to the small forest training ground. Last night's encounter with Danzo had left him thoroughly shaken.
Feeling powerless in the face of Danzo's attack intensified his desire to grow stronger. Yet, he knew improvement wasn't instantaneous—it required steady, continuous effort over time.
For now, what Taichi lacked most was time. The only option was to train harder and accumulate experience daily.
Looking at his attribute panel, he regained confidence. He already had a significant advantage. With steady, methodical training, one day he could bring Danzo down. With that thought, Taichi pushed aside all distractions and focused on his exercises, one by one.
Konoha Root Base
"Lord Danzo, the Hokage has arrived. He is currently in the main hall," a ninja reported, kneeling on one knee as he entered the office in a flash.
"How strange… why would Hiruzen come here?" Danzo thought to himself.
Unable to come up with an explanation, he rose and made his way toward the main hall.
"Hiruzen, it's been a long time since you've visited Root," his chilling voice echoed even before he appeared.
Footsteps echoed along the cold, damp corridor. Hiruzen Sarutobi's Hokage cloak brushed past the condensation on the walls. Candlelight in the main hall flickered as Danzo stepped in, elongating his shadow across the dim walls.
"When did the Hokage start inspecting the 'mouse hole' in person?" Danzo's staff thumped on the floor with a dull sound. Three subordinates, wearing boar masks, followed silently behind him.
Hiruzen removed his cloak and draped it over his arm, spinning his pipe with a practiced flick of his fingers. "Yesterday, the medical team delivered three reports of poisoning. The symptoms match those of the rain-ninja test subjects who disappeared last month," he said, stopping five steps away to avoid the iron chains hanging from the ceiling.
"For the future of Konoha, sacrifices are necessary…" Danzo murmured.
"Even targeting children from the Ninja Academy?" Hiruzen suddenly raised his voice, shaking the iron candlesticks. His fingers tightened around the pipe, turning white with anger as ash fell onto the flame-patterned fabric of his cloak. "Now even six-year-old children must fall under your 'Root'?"
"Their potential can only be fully realized in Root…" Danzo countered coldly.
"Bang!"
The pipe shattered against a stone pillar, startling hidden creatures into fleeing.
"Teacher Tobirama established the Ninja Academy so that children wouldn't have to fight on the battlefield! What you're doing goes against his original intentions!"
"Don't speak to me of Tobirama. I am the true heir of his will. Hiruzen, you're too weak—for Taichi Matsushita, for the Uchiha, and for every other ninja village," Danzo said ominously.
"You raise beasts with tender lies, only to have them tear out your throat when they grow strong…"
"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen suddenly roared. His chakra snuffed out most of the candles above him, leaving only the flames of anger burning in his eyes. "Teacher Tobirama chose me, not you!"
As the boar-masked subordinates gripped their swords, Danzo raised his hand to stop them. The gesture, however, only provoked Hiruzen further. Was this Root truly Konoha's Root, or Danzo's Root? How dare they raise their blades against the Hokage?
Danzo's voice continued, cold and sinister: "Just wait… when the sword of the Cloud Village rests at that brat's neck—"
"Enough!" Hiruzen grabbed his cloak and turned, refusing to argue any longer. "Taichi Matsushita's matter ends here. You will not pursue him again. He is already under Tsunade and Jiraiya's guidance. You don't want your lab destroyed, do you?" Hiruzen delivered his final warning.
The massive iron gate slammed shut, shaking dust from the walls. Danzo's staff wedged deep into a stone crack.
"Damn it!" he muttered. But thinking of Tsunade, he reluctantly gave up. For someone without extraordinary talent, it wasn't worth clashing with her.
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