The Third Hokage smiled lightly.
He didn't continue the heavy topic from earlier. Instead, he suddenly asked:
"Kakashi has taught you many jutsu. You've mastered all of them, haven't you?"
Yoruha wasn't sure where this was going, but he didn't hide anything.
"I've learned them all."
The Third nodded.
"It seems he has little left he can teach you. Kakashi possesses many jutsu, but most are conventional techniques. There aren't many that will still be useful to you."
"From now on, if you want to learn new techniques, go directly to the Archives. Every jutsu Konoha has—
even some forbidden techniques—
is preserved there."
For a moment, Kakashi froze.
He hadn't expected the Third to be this generous.
Yoruha might not understand the significance of the Archives—
but Kakashi understood all too well.
The Archives held not only Konoha's complete jutsu catalog,
but also historical records, confidential documents, and even black-ops files.
Even he wasn't allowed to access it freely.
Back when he'd tried to look up information about Wood Release, he'd had to sneak in—
and the Third had caught him.
Only individuals the Hokage deeply trusted—
and who held significant political or military standing—
were allowed to enter freely.
Even the Scroll of Seals was stored there.
This meant the Third Hokage now fully trusted Yoruha.
It also meant something else:
Yoruha was now officially tied to the Hokage's faction.
Yoruha, however, was simply delighted.
He had long been interested in many of Konoha's higher-level jutsu:
Flying Thunder God
Wood Release
More Uzumaki sealing arts
Even certain forbidden techniques
He smiled politely.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
The Third nodded, satisfied, while Kakashi's expression remained… complicated.
After chatting a little longer, Kakashi led Yoruha out of the Hokage building.
Yoruha's ninja file had already been updated:
He was now officially a chūnin.
Even Yoruha himself found the speed of all this hard to believe.
Confident as he was, he never imagined he'd become a chūnin at his age.
It meant higher-ranked missions, more pay, and more real combat experience.
But Kakashi wasn't smiling.
Yoruha noticed.
"Kakashi-sensei… are you not happy?"
Walking down the busy street, Kakashi glanced sideways at him.
"Happy, yes. But do you know why the Hokage promoted you?"
Yoruha slipped his hands into his pockets and grinned casually.
"I probably know. But I don't really care."
Kakashi paused mid-step.
Then, seeing Yoruha's light, unconcerned smile, a faint laugh escaped him.
"…I suppose you wouldn't care.
No matter what, I'll be going in with you."
Yoruha didn't know the Third's true intentions.
In his mind, the promotion was simply a way to "get more work out of him."
He didn't realize the Third wasn't planning to use him—
he was planning to raise him.
Even planning to skip Kakashi entirely and groom Yoruha to become the Fifth Hokage.
Just like he had done with Minato back then.
If Yoruha hadn't displayed the overwhelming power he showed in the Land of Waves, the Third would have slowly cultivated Kakashi as his successor.
Then after Kakashi, the Sixth could be someone else's problem.
But Yoruha's performance changed everything.
The same way he had once considered Orochimaru his successor—
until Minato appeared and Orochimaru crossed too many lines—
he passed the hat to Minato.
And now, looking at Yoruha…
He saw potential even greater than Minato's.
Minato had been a genius, yes.
But Yoruha's talent resembled Hashirama's more than Minato's.
And the Third was already certain Yoruha possessed Sage Body traits.
Kakashi, meanwhile, was misunderstanding too.
He thought Yoruha was upset about being dragged into political waters.
So when Yoruha complained:
"Kakashi-sensei, seriously… what kind of teacher squeezes his student for labor like this?"
Kakashi blinked.
He suspected Yoruha hadn't understood anything from earlier.
So he explained:
"You know what the Third meant by promoting you, right?"
"Of course," Yoruha shrugged. "Promote me so I can work harder for the village. I've already accepted that mentally."
Kakashi's mouth twitched.
Yes—
Yoruha had completely misunderstood.
He sighed and clarified:
"The Third promoting you has nothing to do with that."
"When the Hokage personally appoints someone chūnin, he's sending a message to every faction in the village."
"He's telling them which side you belong to."
"And letting you into the Archives?
Even I have to get permission to enter."
Yoruha frowned slightly.
Seeing that, Kakashi assumed Yoruha disliked being pulled into politics.
He quickly tried to reassure him—
But before he could speak, Yoruha nodded calmly.
"Whatever. I don't care who I'm affiliated with. I'll just do what I'm supposed to do. I don't want to get involved in other things, and I can't, anyway."
Kakashi stared at him.
He genuinely hadn't expected Yoruha to take it so lightly.
"You're not bothered by the Hokage deciding this for you?"
Yoruha smiled.
"Why would I be? He's the Hokage. It's his right."
"And it doesn't harm me. No reason to be upset."
Kakashi chuckled.
"If you can think that way, good. Now that you're a chūnin, I can call you for missions openly—Tōichi won't be able to object."
Yoruha replied dryly:
"Tōichi-sensei probably won't be happy to hear you say that."
"He won't mind," Kakashi said confidently. "He'll be happy to see you promoted."
They walked further down the street, and when they passed by Ichiraku Ramen, they ran into Naruto and the others heading in.
"Kakashi-sensei! Yoruha! You're finally out!"
Naruto waved excitedly.
Sasuke and Sakura stood behind him.
Yoruha glanced sideways at Kakashi, grinning.
"Kakashi-sensei, looks like you're treating us today."
Kakashi sighed.
"Ah…"
He had planned to buy the newest volume of Jiraiya's book later…
but fine.
At least Naruto liked ramen.
If he'd liked barbecue, Kakashi's wallet would've died on the spot.
They walked to the counter.
Naruto beamed.
"Kakashi-sensei, Yoruha—
did you come here because you already knew we'd eat ramen today?"
Kakashi stayed silent.
Yoruha responded instantly:
"Yup. Kakashi said he was treating."
Naruto's eyes sparkled like fireworks.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI, YOU'RE THE BEST!!"
Kakashi stared at Yoruha, lips twitching.
He definitely never said that.
Sasuke, meanwhile, eyed Yoruha carefully.
He wanted to know what had happened in the Hokage's office.
Sakura, too, was curious.
And they both knew one thing for certain—
Whatever it was, it definitely involved Yoruha being amazing again.
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