Shinji said without the slightest hesitation, "Hokage-sama, I just learned this when I took Naruto to the training ground today. This jutsu is called Rasengan."
Then, Chakra immediately swirled up in his hand, in just an instant. A sky-blue spherical Chakra ball appeared in his palm.
Hiruzen, who had been calm and collected, became nostalgic, hand-sign-less A-rank jutsu right in front of him. His pupils instantly contracted, and he stood frozen, staring at Shinji in front of him. It was as if he saw that refreshing figure in Shinji.
"Fourth..."
Shinji looked at Hiruzen, who was stunned on the spot, the Chakra in his palm dissipated, and the Rasengan gradually vanished.
Just as it dispersed, Shinji seemed to sense something and looked towards a large window in the Hokage Office. There, a very heavy presence had just been felt. It was as if their mind had broken through for a moment, causing the presence to leak out.
"Shinji."
Before he could investigate further, Hiruzen interrupted Shinji's thoughts.
Shinji turned his head and looked at Hiruzen, who was staring at him with an expression of disbelief.
"Third Hokage, please speak."
"Who taught you this jutsu?" Hiruzen bit on his pipe, his eyes fixed on Shinji as he spoke.
He was thinking, could it be that his disciple, Jiraiya, had returned?
"Hokage-sama, I just started learned this today, but before that, I had researched a lot of information."
Shinji replied truthfully, after all, he did indeed learn it in front of Naruto today.
As long as Hiruzen wanted to know, although the following Anbu weren't too close to the training ground at that time, the presence of the Big Ball Rasengan at that time would inevitably be detected by them.
Hearing this, Hiruzen immediately frowned. His pipe kept puffing, emitting plumes of thick smoke. There was a lot of information in Shinji's words.
He just started learning today, but had researched a lot of information before that. He was clear on the latter point. Shinji often went to the Konoha library to look up a lot of information. Moreover, most of it was about the Fourth Hokage. At that time, Hiruzen just thought Shinji admired Minato.
After a long time, Hiruzen finally spoke, "Shinji, can you be more specific?"
Shinji naturally understood and explained everything, one by one. He also mentioned that the Fourth Hokage, Minato, had demonstrated the Rasengan at Ninja School. After all, Minato had just become Hokage at the time, and his popularity at Ninja School was arguably higher than Hiruzen's.
Shinji was only in the fifth grade at that time and was fortunate enough to have seen it once.
As Shinji's words fell, Hiruzen looked at Shinji.
He was thinking, was he too negligent, or were the Anbu he arranged simply not up to standard?
Relying on one observation and several years of information gathering, he deduced Minato's signature jutsu and then replicated it step by step.
Could it be that he, with his aging eyes, really failed to see such a genius?
Keep in mind, after Minato created this jutsu, even Jiraiya only learned it after discussing it with Minato step by step, and it still took a long time to learn.
Hiruzen's tone was flat, just staring intently at Shinji. "Shinji, do you know how unrealistic what you're saying is?"
"Third Hokage, whether it's the Fourth Hokage or you, you have always been my goal to strive for. For Konoha, no matter how unrealistic it is, one must always try."
As Shinji spoke, he looked at Hiruzen with burning eyes.
Hearing these words, Hiruzen was momentarily lost in thought.
He saw the youthful spirit a young man should possess in Shinji, which instantly dispelled the thoughts he had in his heart.
Hiruzen nodded with great relief. "Good!"
"This is the true meaning of the inheritance of the Will of Fire. Shinji, you are excellent."
He felt regret not only for his previous negligence but also for Konoha having missed a genius.
Hiruzen, having understood, said to Shinji, "Shinji, let's leave it at this for today. I'll find you tomorrow."
"Yes. Hokage-sama, you should also rest early."
Shinji first bowed in greeting. He naturally knew that things wouldn't end just like this. After all, whether it was Danzo or the other two Hokage Advisors, even Hiruzen in front of him, a series of tests would come his way later.
However, this was all what Shinji wanted, because if he kept hiding, his increase in strength could never be explained.
As for Danzo's follow-up moves, he believed that as long as the leverage he showed could attract Hiruzen, then no matter how much Danzo jumped around, nothing would happen.
On the contrary, with the system's teaching rewards, very soon, without Sasuke needing to act, he could deal with that bug in the gutter.
...
After Shinji left the office, Hiruzen sat in his office chair, deep in thought for a long time.
After thinking for a long time, Hiruzen asked, "Kakashi, what do you think?"
As soon as the words fell, a masked Anbu appeared in the Hokage Office with a Body Flicker. It was the same Anbu who had appeared before Shinji at the Academy.
After kneeling on one knee in greeting, Kakashi took off his mask and stood up, looking at Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, regarding what the Chunin Shinji just said, I have gone to investigate it. It is all true. I have even inquired with classmates from his same year."
"The Fourth Hokage indeed demonstrated the Rasengan at the Academy, and more than once."
After speaking, Kakashi said nothing more. It was as if nothing could attract his attention.
"Whew—"
After a long time, Hiruzen exhaled a puff of stale air.
Everything Kakashi said had led Hiruzen to make a decision in his heart.
Konoha has been lacking a signature fighting force for a long time. Since Shinji has such talent, it cannot be wasted, but...
Thinking of Naruto, he fell silent for a moment.
After all, the Nine-tails Jinchuriki, for Konoha, is not just a fighting force, but also leverage to deter other ninja villages.
If Shinji were to be transferred away, Naruto, who had just started showing signs of becoming more cheerful...
Thinking of this, Hiruzen looked at Kakashi, who was standing in front of him, and said, "Kakashi, you still don't want to leave the Anbu?"
Even if he wanted to arrange things for Shinji later, only Kakashi was the most suitable person to observe Shinji.
"Hokage-sama..."
Kakashi opened his mouth for a long time but couldn't say a single word.
Seeing Kakashi's appearance, Hiruzen nodded. "Alright, but later, when I want you to observe Shinji, I hope you can be prepared."
He had made up his mind.