"Lord Hokage, even though that boy can't perform Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, he independently developed a technique astonishingly close to the Rasengan! He's a different kind of genius!"
In the Hokage's office, Guy was speaking passionately, almost vibrating with excitement as he recounted what happened earlier.
In Guy's eyes, the so-called prodigies from major clans weren't true geniuses. They simply had better bloodlines, superior environments, and countless resources.
For a civilian to rise to greatness, the path was a thousand times harder. That's why he admired Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage so deeply.
He hoped that the Hokage could support that student of his.
Sarutobi took a slow puff from his pipe and studied the boy's report.
"And how is his taijutsu?"
"His physical strength and strength surpass Lee's and even special Jonin," Guy reported earnestly. "I had initially planned to recruit both into my team after graduation, but now I see... keeping Toji Fushigura under me would be a waste."
Sarutobi fell into a long, contemplative silence.
The report was detailed and blunt.
[Name: Toji Fushiguro]
[Chakra control: Top-tier]
[Academic scores: First in class]
[Taijutsu performance: First]
[Kunai and shuriken jutsus: First]
[Ninjutsu: Unable to perform even basic Clone Jutsu]
[Genjutsu: Easily dispels illusions, but cannot cast any]
Yet somehow, he had managed to recreate the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan independently. And it took him less time than Minato to master it.
There was no denying it. Toji was a genius, one that didn't fit into the usual molds of talent.
"Lord Hokage!" Guy pressed again, unable to contain his excitement.
"I'll meet him first," Sarutobi said after thinking for a while. "Then we'll decide."
***
The next morning…
"Today's shuriken test results are in! Toji and Tenten tied for first place. The rest of you need to step up!" the instructor announced.
"Yes, sir," came the half-hearted reply from the rest of the class.
Tenten clenched her fists but sighed in resignation. She had long since accepted it. Ever since Toji's rapid rise a year ago, her reign as number one in weapons training had ended. Now she was lucky to tie.
But Toji wasn't just a specialist in shurikenjutsu.
In every field outside ninjutsu and genjutsu, he was simply... unstoppable. Every instructor at the Academy, when speaking of him, would inevitably end with a thumbs-up and a long, helpless sigh.
Tenten couldn't help but admire him... though part of her wished he'd just stick to throwing practice and leave some records for her.
"Toji-kun, want to practice throwing together?" she asked hopefully.
"Ah, sure," Toji nodded. As a rich girl who usually pays for his lunch, he couldn't refuse her small requests.
But before they could start, the instructor suddenly called him from the side.
"Toji! Can you come here?"
Toji gave Tenten an apologetic smile before jogging away. The teacher waving him over was Mizuki, the first villain shown in the story.
He was only competent at teaching basic techniques and weapon skills. No wonder he tried to steal the book of seals.
"You called for me, Mizuki-sensei?" Toji asked.
"It's not me," Mizuki said with a smile. "Lord Hokage is visiting today. He specifically requested to meet you. Head to the conference room immediately."
Toji's eyes lit up.
It worked. He was sure of it. This had to be thanks to Guy-sensei putting in a word.
He was sure that Guy wouldn't keep Rasengan a secret; that was why he showed it.
Suppressing the grin threatening to burst across his face, he bowed and sprinted off.
Watching him disappear down the hall, a few of his classmates muttered enviously:
"So lucky..."
"Even the Hokage wants to meet him. That's on another level."
"Tch, what kind of genius can't even use ninjutsu?" one scoffed bitterly.
The others fell silent.
On the side, Rock Lee merely shook his head and jogged toward the training field.
These people had no idea. They saw only the shining surface. But none of them saw the blood and the sweat Toji shed to get his current strength.
***
Outside the meeting room, Toji knocked politely.
"Lord Hokage, it's Toji Fushiguro."
"The door's open. Come in."
"Yes, sir."
Toji entered respectfully, finding the Third Hokage calmly reading through a thick folder, glasses perched low on his nose.
Without looking up, Sarutobi spoke: "I see from your records that besides training, you've spent a great deal of time in the library these past two years?"
"Yes, sir," Toji replied. "Without talent for Ninjutsu, I realized I'd need to create techniques that don't rely on them.
But the more I studied, the more I understood... creating new jutsu requires deep knowledge across many fields."
"Quite right," Sarutobi said, nodding approvingly.
Too many Academy students underestimated theory classes. It was rare and precious to find someone like Toji who understood how vital real knowledge was.
Still... it was a real shame.
'Such potential, shackled by an inability to learn even the basics of ninjutsu...' Sarutobi sighed in regret.
"Guy told me that you also developed a new technique?"
"Well," Toji scratched the back of his head, "I wouldn't call it new exactly. It turns out the Fourth Hokage had already created something very similar. I managed a basic version without realizing it and only recently understood how to improve it."
"Show me," Sarutobi said kindly, setting the folder aside.
Toji nodded and, just as he had done with Guy-sensei, demonstrated the Rasengan.
The Hokage observed closely, noting the fine control and the stable structure.
So similar to Minato's method. Sarutobi sighed. Truly, great minds think alike.
"You didn't know the Rasengan beforehand, and you developed this on your own," Sarutobi said, smiling. "You're doing great, Toji. Don't sell yourself short."
"Yes, sir."
"Any other ideas you've been working on?"
"Yes," Toji said without hesitation. "I believe there's untapped potential in chakra shape manipulation and ultra-dense compression."
Techniques based purely on raw chakra have the advantage of being performed without hand seals. Combined with taijutsu, they can be devastating."
He spoke smoothly and passionately, eyes shining. He almost sang the will of fire in order to be more convincing.
This is the interview that will decide everything.
Sarutobi listened carefully.
He nodded, impressed, but after a moment chuckled, "You're not wrong. Past Shinobi have explored these paths, but they eventually moved on because adding nature transformation usually makes jutsu vastly stronger."
Toji fell silent. He couldn't deny it.
Even the Rasengan itself was, in a sense, incomplete. Minato had intended to combine it with nature transformation, creating something even more powerful.
Sarutobi went on, "Kids like you and Rock Lee are rare. For most, ninjutsu is the easiest and quickest route to power."
"That's true," Toji admitted. "But I just happen to be... the exception."
"Exactly," Sarutobi smiled. "And sometimes, it's exactly those exceptions that push the next generation forward."
He leaned back thoughtfully.
"You showed Guy your technique for a reason, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir. I want to request early graduation so I can begin studying medical sciences in the hospital." Toji didn't hide his plans, as he needed the old man's permission.
"You want to learn medical ninjutsu?" Sarutobi raised an eyebrow.
"No, not to become a medical ninja," Toji clarified quickly. "I want a deeper understanding of human anatomy. The best place to learn that is the medical department, and if possible, I'd like to study the chakra scalpel technique as well."
Of course he didn't say that his real target was Tsunade's techniques. For that, he needed to start from the basics and follow her path.
Just the thought of creating something like RCT made him salivate.
Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the desk thoughtfully.
"Early graduation programs were abolished years ago. However... a special permission form for 'alternate study' could be arranged."
He paused, then smiled again.
"I'll set a full Chūnin-level practical exam for you, excluding ninjutsu, of course. Pass, and you'll get your transfer."
Toji smiled and expressed gratitude. "Thank you very much, Lord Hokage!"
Even though the condition seems harsh, he had an absolute
confidence in his abilities.
He will definitely pass and start the first phase of his plans.