"Shinji, this time it was my mistake in judgment."
Hiruzen heavily exhaled a puff of smoke. After listening to Shinji's account, he looked at Shinji, who had almost recovered and spoke with a serious expression.
Shinji waved his hand and said, "Uh, sensei, you can't be blamed for this. After all, who would have thought I'd encounter something like that on this trip?"
He himself hadn't expected to coincidentally run into Orochimaru. Moreover, it was the first time he had heard Hiruzen admit to a mistake.
Hiruzen shook his head and said, "No, Anbu missions inherently require at least two people per team."
Missions had been heavy lately. Coupled with the investigation into the suspicious masked man, even the Anbu's standard two-person team couldn't be guaranteed.
Hiruzen muttered, "It seems I can't rush things too much."
He felt that some matters shouldn't be rushed. Otherwise, any Anbu could encounter something like Shinji.
Whether the mission could be completed was one thing. Whether they could even survive was another.
Furthermore, his once most beloved disciple had almost killed his youngest disciple.
And there was the attack on the border outpost, though that remained to be confirmed.
However, as someone who understood Orochimaru, Hiruzen was convinced it was highly probable.
Thinking of this, the look in his eyes gradually sharpened.
"Alright, from now on, Shinji, you just focus on getting some good rest."
Hiruzen stopped speaking, then after a long pause, he got up and motioned for Shinji to follow.
Shinji, who had been planning to go back and rest, was momentarily stunned. He followed Hiruzen out of the Hokage Office, slowly turning down several corridors.
It wasn't until they reached a secret room at the end that Hiruzen stopped and waved his hand.
The next moment, Shinji felt the ninjas lurking nearby instantly disappear.
Hiruzen stepped forward, performed a few hand seals, and pressed his palm against the door.
After a Fuinjutsu rune appeared, the door was pushed open.
Shinji's gaze swept past Hiruzen's body, and after seeing what was inside, his pupils involuntarily constricted, looking at Hiruzen with a hint of disbelief.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, explaining to Shinji, "This is the Scroll of Seals. It records some forbidden Ninjutsu and even S-rank Ninjutsu, all of which require sufficient strength to use."
From the moment he first saw the giant scroll, Shinji's mind had been buzzing.
Was he getting such a big gift package out of the blue?
Hiruzen spoke, as if recalling the past, "Your three senpais have all studied this scroll. They all found their own paths from the jutsu within and gradually grew."
Hiruzen said, his eyes turning to Shinji, "Originally, I planned to wait until you became a Jonin and had a certain level of composure before having you come here. However, it doesn't seem too early now."
Shinji was currently only a Chunin in terms of rank. Yet he was able to escape from Orochimaru, his once most satisfactory disciple, by relying on intelligence and tactics.
Even if there was a certain element of luck, this achievement was commendable for many people.
Saying this, Hiruzen took down the hanging scroll and patted it with his hand.
He turned and handed it to Shinji, saying, "Aside from some inhumane jutsu and the Reaper Death Seal, you can study all the others. The time limit is two hours."
Hiruzen looked at Shinji with a serious expression, his tone leisurely as he instructed him.
Shinji quickly nodded and took it, responding, "Understood, sensei."
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction, then walked out of the secret room with his hands behind his back.
He said, "No one will disturb you during these two hours. However, I have one request."
"Within one year, you need to complete the mission requirements for promotion to Jonin. At that time, I will propose your recommendation during the jonin meeting."
"I will propose it as the Hokage, but the promotion assessment will involve three veteran jonin."
"This way, they will have no objections, and you will be able to establish yourself among the jonin in the future."
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Shinji remained silent for a long time.
The path to jonin promotion involved a recommendation from a veteran jonin. Then, after being approved by the Hokage and successfully passing an interview assessment with a jonin, one could be promoted.
As for Hokage nomination, it seemed only Jiraiya and a few others had had such an opportunity, but it had to go through a jonin meeting.
This was not to say that the Hokage didn't have such authority. On the contrary, once nominated by the Hokage, promotion was almost 100% guaranteed.
It was just that the situation back then was that the Konoha Council feared Hiruzen's influence would become too vast. That's why they added a requirement that it must be approved by a jonin meeting vote and assessed by three jonin.
This also led to Hiruzen never nominating anyone again after Jiraiya and the others.
Hiruzen wanted him to accelerate his entry into the Hokage faction's inner circle.
Thinking of this, Shinji solemnly nodded and said, "Understood, sensei."
Hiruzen slowly walked away, and from his retreating figure, one could sense a hint of loneliness.
Shinji pursed his lips, guessing it was because of Orochimaru.
Once upon a time, Orochimaru was arguably the disciple Hiruzen was most satisfied with. He was just a little away from becoming the Fourth Hokage.
Shaking his head and no longer overthinking, Shinji unrolled the Scroll of Seals.
The first thing he saw was Naruto's signature Ninjutsu, Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
And for the Ninjutsu that followed, even Shinji, who had a way to obtain Ninjutsu through rewards, found his breathing unconsciously quickening. After all, this was a collection from several generations of Hokage.
Among them, Tobirama, a master of forbidden jutsu, had the most contribution.
And the latest additions even included jutsu contributed by Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. Without exception, they were all S-rank or even forbidden level.
Shinji sat down and began to read through them. He paid no attention to some of the missing blank spaces. Those were most likely the Reaper Death Seal or inhumane Ninjutsu that Hiruzen had mentioned earlier.
No matter how much Hiruzen trusted Shinji, he wouldn't let him see those. After all, there was already the precedent of the Fourth Hokage dying in his prime from using the Reaper Death Seal, and then Orochimaru developing forbidden jutsu through human experimentation.
Shinji, who didn't have a suicidal mindset, naturally disliked looking at these and began to deeply memorize them one by one. Even if he couldn't learn them, it still broadened his horizons.
When he encountered them in the future, he would at least know what they were.
— — —
Minato, in the sealed space, sensed that Chakra fluctuation again within Naruto's body.
The next moment, Minato, who had been having a one-sided conversation with Nine-Tails, apologized to Nine-Tails and then vanished.
Kurama, which had been lying in its cage with its eyes closed, merely raised its eyes slightly for a glance. Then it continued to lie there indifferently.
Minato had been doing this often lately. Kurama had already gotten used to Minato's unpredictable appearances and disappearances. As long as he didn't disturb it, it was fine.
When it was sleeping, Minato often buzzed like a mosquito non-stop. And it couldn't do anything to Minato, which was very annoying.
When the vanished Minato reappeared, his expression was very solemn.
"It was actually hidden here."
In front of Minato's gaze was a barrier tightly enveloped by a huge Fuinjutsu rune.
And on the outer periphery of the barrier, a brilliant ball of Chakra glowed brightly, pulsating strongly like a heart.
As if sensing Minato's gaze, a subtle fluctuation flashed across the brilliant Chakra, then disappeared without a trace.
Minato's expression grew increasingly somber, and he turned and vanished again.
"It seems I'll have to find Naruto's sensei to help."
(End of Chapter)
New Book
Naruto: Reborn With a Template System
Satoshi transmigrated to the world of Naruto and became an ordinary Uchiha.
Facing the night of genocide three years later, he had a headache.
Thankfully, at the critical moment, he successfully activated the Template System, acquiring Tobirama's Template at the start.
Flying Thunder God, Master of Forbidden Techniques, Ninja World Scientist, and even Sage Arts, all of them were mastered.
[Tobirama has become the head of the Uchiha clan.]
[Reward: No side effects when using Mangekyo Sharingan]
From then on, Satoshi bore the surname of Uchiha, but became the splitting image of the Second Hokage.
Until one day, when Orochimaru used Edo Tensei...
Tobirama was stunned when he saw the white-haired, red-eyed Uchiha kid who was skilled in all kinds of forbidden techniques.
"How come this naturally evil Uchiha brat looks exactly like me when I was young?!"