Chapter 115: The Third Kazekage Laughs
After all, before arriving in this world, Souta had merely been a robotics expert back on Earth.
Souta's former world was one where even ordinary people could create something grand: erecting towering skyscrapers with careful planning, repairing broken roads to restore order, or even managing international trade routes with well-designed systems of distribution.
In that world, innovation did not always emerge from the highest leaders—it often came from small individuals carrying big ideas.
That was why, when the Kazekage asked whether all those things could be achieved without becoming Kazekage, Souta felt a deep, unsettling confusion.
To Souta's heart, the question itself sounded strange, almost contradictory to everything he once understood. To him, of course ordinary people could bring about great change—so long as there was knowledge, hard work, and opportunity. But here, in this world… did that logic still hold true?
Souta's thoughts spun rapidly. His face tightened with unease. He lowered his gaze briefly before raising it again, staring into the Kazekage's eyes with a look that held a massive question mark.
For Souta, this was one of those moments where the distance between his old world and his new one revealed itself sharply—making him realize that he was still struggling to find solid ground to stand upon.
"Yes, unless you are a Daimyō or a noble," the Third Kazekage said, his expression calm, though his voice carried a subtle undertone of seriousness. His deep eyes seemed to probe, testing the hidden intent behind Souta's words, making the air in the room feel slightly heavier.
"..." Souta did not respond. He chose silence. Seeing this, the Third Kazekage let a faint smile appear on his lips. Souta's silence became an answer in itself; his mouth pressed firmly shut while his small fingers, resting in his lap, clenched together slowly.
"Alright, that's enough. Now, Souta, please use the three basic Ninjutsu," the Third Kazekage finally said. His tone this time was lighter, yet still carried an undeniable authority.
Hearing that, Souta nodded, then stood up from his seat. The wooden chair he had been sitting on let out a soft scraping sound against the floor. His breathing came a little heavier, but his eyes shone with conviction.
He began with the Transformation Jutsu. Smoke erupted around him, curling like a thin fog that engulfed his small body—until in the blink of an eye, the figure of the Third Kazekage himself stood where Souta had been.
"In that case, I'll just become Kazekage for the sake of my dream… even if my dream is not to become Kazekage," Souta said, now in the Kazekage's form, attempting to mimic his voice as closely as possible.
The result made the Third Kazekage burst into hearty laughter.
His laughter echoed through the room, warm yet carrying a hidden pride. Meanwhile, Aomi only smiled faintly, her lips curving in a soft arc. The Head of the Ninja Academy also allowed a thin smile to appear, stroking his beard with quiet amusement.
Then, with another puff of smoke, Souta's figure reverted back to his true self. His breathing came a little uneven now, but his expression radiated satisfaction.
Next, Souta performed the Substitution Jutsu. A puff of smoke appeared, and in an instant, a wooden puppet stood where Souta had been, while Souta himself had swiftly moved to sit back down in his chair with nimble grace.
"Oh? Is this a wooden puppet you crafted yourself? Quite impressive for a child who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy," the Third Kazekage murmured, his tone carrying praise. His eyes gleamed faintly, as though genuinely impressed.
That wooden puppet was something Souta had drawn from a storage scroll hidden beneath his clothes. The scroll itself looked simple, but the ease with which Souta used it showed clearly that he had already grown accustomed to handling it.
Souta quickly retrieved the puppet and sealed it back into the scroll. Then he moved on to perform the Clone Jutsu. The clone that appeared looked exactly like him, but it was only an ordinary Clone Jutsu—merely an illusion, not a tangible copy.
...
Chapter 116: Waiting for the Interview Result
The clone figure stood at Souta's side, mirroring his every movement with flawless precision, yet it remained untouchable—merely a shadow without weight.
A faint shimmer radiated from its surface, like light dancing upon water, emphasizing that the figure was not flesh and bone but the pure reflection of power itself.
From the movement of his fingers to the slight nod of his head, everything was synchronized, making it seem as though the room was filled with two Soutas moving in perfect unison.
"Good, you've shown us everything we needed to see…" The Third Kazekage spoke with a faint smile, his tone carrying a note of satisfaction.
The man's voice resonated softly within the room, infused with the authority of a village leader who had been tempered by countless battles and years of experience.
His smile was small, but his gaze was deep, the eyes of a teacher both testing his student and placing great expectations upon his shoulders.
"Understood." Souta responded with a firm nod, his expression serious. A thin line of sweat slid down his temple, yet his eyes never lost their sharp resolve. Each droplet that fell seemed to mark the tension of this trial.
But within Souta's gaze, there was no sign of surrender—only determination hardened like steel. His breath came slightly faster, his chest rising and falling more than usual, but he stood tall, maintaining his dignity before the three figures now judging his worth.
"So, we will deliberate for a moment. Could you step outside and wait at the door?" the Third Kazekage said, looking directly at Souta. His eyes were calm, yet they carried a clear signal that the test was nearly at its end. There was a finality in his words, a line dividing trial from decision.
"No problem." Souta nodded, then immediately walked out of the interview room.
His steps appeared steady, but within his chest his heart was pounding faster than normal. Each footfall echoed distinctly upon the wooden floor, its rhythm reinforcing the restless beat of his heart.
When Souta stepped out, he found the teacher—the very one who had escorted him to the interview earlier—still waiting at the entrance.
The teacher stood upright, his body almost motionless, as though he had long been accustomed to waiting patiently in countless similar situations.
Souta blinked in mild surprise, his eyes widening slightly before quickly returning to normal.
That fleeting change in expression lasted no more than a fraction of a second, but it was enough to show that beneath his composure, Souta was still a young man easily swayed by the weight of the moment.
"Well then, how did it go? Smoothly?" the male teacher asked with a warm smile. His voice was light, as if deliberately trying to ease his student's nerves.
That smile was like a small balm against Souta's unease, a reminder that although he was being tested, he was never truly alone.
"Smoothly, sensei!" Souta nodded, returning the smile with a faint one of his own. It was a simple expression, yet within it lay an unmistakable sense of relief he could not fully conceal. His chest felt a little lighter, though the lingering tension still clung stubbornly behind that smile.
"Good, then let us wait a short while." the teacher said with a nod, folding his hands calmly behind his back. His posture was like that of an unshakable guardian statue, yet it radiated tranquility.
"Yes!" Souta replied promptly, his body leaning forward ever so slightly in a gesture of respect. It was a small movement, but it conveyed his deep appreciation toward the figure who had long guided him.
The two of them waited together for one or two minutes before a voice called Souta's name from inside the interview room. The silence between them had felt stretched and heavy, every passing second dragging slowly like the reluctant hands of a clock.
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