Chapter 14 — Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fire Release Experience
[Confirming historical projection target: Hiruzen Sarutobi]
[Extracting abilities from the target…]
Five Release: Great Combo Technique, Enma Summoning Scroll, talent for combining five different chakra natures, Telescope Technique…
A dazzling array of options flashed by in rapid succession. Among them were abilities that made Tetsuya's heart race with desire—along with a few completely useless ones.
For instance, the infamous Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Even if he drew it, Tetsuya would only lock it away and never use it.
Although a Miracle-tier Sealed Artifact would most likely not fear that so-called Shinigami, Tetsuya had no intention of gambling on the one percent possibility.
Without absolute certainty, who would dare exploit the Shinigami's loopholes the way Orochimaru once had?
That said, while any clear-minded person knew that the so-called "strongest Hokage in history" was largely political propaganda, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength could not be entirely denied. When he fought Orochimaru, he was already sixty-nine years old, yet he still displayed steady Kage-level power. Among normal shinobi, he stood at the very peak—on par with Ōnoki, who had mastered the Bloodline Selection.
The rapidly spinning pointer gradually slowed, pulling Tetsuya's wandering thoughts back to the roulette wheel.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fire Release Experience]
When the pointer finally came to a stop, Tetsuya stared at the glowing option, momentarily puzzled.
The roulette wheel suddenly shattered, transforming into a streak of light that shot into his forehead, instantly dragging him into a strange space.
At the center of the space stood a lone child of seven or eight. He had mud-colored spiky short hair and wore a black shirt. His features were utterly ordinary—the kind you would never notice in a crowd.
This is… young Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Just as realization dawned on Tetsuya, an irresistible force yanked him into the boy's body, placing him in a peculiar state of possession.
Rat – Tiger – Dog – Ox – Rabbit – Tiger!
The moment Tetsuya fully merged, the young Hiruzen "came to life." In less than two seconds, he completed six hand seals, and chakra surged to his throat.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Six fist-sized fireballs shot from his mouth, splitting apart midair and streaking toward the target from different angles before converging at a single point and exploding in a burst of scorching heat.
This feeling… was no different from casting it myself.
In an instant, the sequence and motions of the hand seals, the flow of chakra, and the control required to manipulate the fireballs' trajectories to corner an enemy—all of it was etched deeply into Tetsuya's mind.
After dozens of repetitions, the sealing speed increased to under a second. The number of fireballs rose to eight, their temperature intensified, and their flight speed improved further.
So this is what they mean by "Fire Release experience"?
Once the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique reached peak proficiency, Hiruzen took out shuriken and fused them into the fireballs, making them even harder to defend against.
Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique.
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Fire Release: Great Blaze Technique…
One Fire Release ninjutsu after another was unleashed. Hiruzen's figure gradually matured—from child to adolescent to young adult—and the difficulty of the techniques he performed rose accordingly. Waves of searing flames illuminated the entire space again and again.
Time lost all meaning during the training.
When Tetsuya finally opened his eyes, his head felt unbearably heavy—his mental energy clearly overdrawn.
Has only half a day passed in the real world?
Suppressing the urge to rush out and find a training ground to test his Fire Release, Tetsuya walked to his bed and lay down. The moment he closed his eyes, he fell fast asleep.
---
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone amid thick smoke, steadily puffing on his pipe.
My own disciple has chosen the wrong path, intent on destroying Konoha… I truly failed as a teacher.
Only after the last shred of tobacco in the room had burned to ash did determination return to Hiruzen's eyes. He stood and pushed open the window.
The breeze gradually swept the smoke out of the office, though the heavy smell of tobacco would not dissipate so quickly.
"Someone."
At Hiruzen's command, an ANBU appeared before the desk and knelt on one knee.
"Where are Jiraiya and Tsunade now?"
Since he now knew what the future held, the first priority was naturally to determine the candidate for the Fifth Hokage.
Having partnered with Danzō for a lifetime, Hiruzen understood better than anyone how deeply he coveted the Hokage's seat. But as the village's Hokage, one must shine like the sun upon the village—not rule it through shadowy and dishonorable means.
Looking across Konoha today, even Kakashi—the one Hiruzen thought most highly of—fell short, whether in strength or temperament. Forcing him into the position would only mean he could not suppress Danzō, and a single misstep might plunge Konoha into internal chaos.
As for his own son, Asuma…
Hiruzen shook his head, discarding the thought entirely.
Rather than place his hopes on Asuma, he might as well wait for Konohamaru to grow up.
Thus, the famed Sannin of Konoha became the few viable choices. Jiraiya was in his prime and already stronger than his aging teacher. With him in charge, the village's internal specters would be firmly suppressed. As for Tsunade—though the Senju Clan had dispersed and assimilated into the village, two Hokage had once come from their ranks, leaving behind immense prestige and political legacy in both the Land of Fire and Konoha. If she were willing to assume the position, everything would fall into place naturally.
"The last time Lord Jiraiya sent intelligence to the village, he was within the borders of the Land of Earth. We should soon be able to pinpoint his exact location. As for Lady Tsunade, although she has never contacted the intelligence unit, she has remained around Tanzaku Town for the past six months…"
Hiruzen pressed a hand to his forehead, a headache forming.
Tsunade's love of gambling… exactly like the First Hokage.
"Contact both of them immediately and order them to return to the village at once. Otherwise, treat them according to the laws for rogue ninja—"
He paused, then shook his head and corrected himself.
"No. Tell them this old man is about to die. If they still care about our master–disciple bond, then come back and see me off one last time."
Compared to forceful measures, appealing to sentiment was far safer. Though Hiruzen knew his two beloved disciples harbored dissatisfaction toward him, decades of shared history were not so easily severed.
Even Orochimaru—the disciple who killed his teacher—had tears sliding down the corners of his eyes when he witnessed his death.
After the ANBU vanished, Hiruzen's burden eased slightly. He began carefully recalling Tetsuya's words.
"Regicide of the Teacher is Konoha's tradition…"
Thinking back to the meaningful tone in which those words were spoken, Hiruzen felt utterly perplexed.
Aside from Orochimaru killing him, who else had died at the hands of their own disciple? Since it had been emphasized, it must refer to someone among Konoha's higher-ups—not ordinary jonin or lower-ranking ninja.
Could it be that the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife were connected to one of their disciples? Or perhaps, in the future, either Jiraiya or Tsunade would fall to a student of their own?