c33 - Have Been Waiting For A Long Time
In the Hokage building, Lord Sandaime Hokage wore a bright smile on his face, his eyes reflecting satisfaction and a sense of anticipation. He gazed at Minato, who stood beside him.
"What do you think, Minato?"
"Excellent, Lord Sandaime. He is the true inheritor of the Will of Fire. It's truly gratifying to witness such an outstanding junior rise," Minato replied, his voice full of admiration. His words reflected his deep belief in Yuuji's potential, seeing in him a shining new hope for the future of Konoha.
Sandaime nodded thoughtfully, his pipe slightly speeding up in rhythm as he took another puff. "The rising new generation, full of vitality. The perfect inheritor of the Will of Fire..."
There was a spark in the old Hokage's heart, a feeling that reminded him of the excitement he had when he first witnessed Minato's rise, and now, once more, Konoha was blessed with another such extraordinary talent. He couldn't help but think about the path that had brought Yuuji to this point—defeating Kakashi, the son of the White Fang, a feat that would have been unthinkable for anyone else.
"Such an outstanding descendant… Even Kakashi, whom we all regarded as Konoha's most promising, was defeated by him. And the words he spoke…" Sandaime's voice trailed off, lost in thought.
"Speaking of which, I still have some answers to the questions he wrote…" Sandaime Hokage opened a drawer and shared some of Yuuji's well-prepared, logical, and interconnected articles with Minato. As he read through them, even Minato couldn't help but praise them. They were remarkably insightful, showing a depth of understanding that exceeded his expectations. Yuuji was more than just a powerful ninja—he was a thinker, a planner, someone who could shape the future of Konoha.
"Minato, are you interested in taking Yuuji as a disciple?" Sandaime suddenly asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Minato was taken aback for a moment. "I just accepted Kakashi, and I don't have much knowledge of Yuuji's abilities with Blood Succession Boundaries…"
"I see. I understand. I will think about it again. You've worked hard, Minato. The task of forming a new ninja team is entrusted to you. I hope you can help Kakashi overcome his struggles and step out of the shadow he's in," Sandaime said, his tone more thoughtful than before. He then returned to considering the future arrangements for Yuuji.
With the current Kage-level powerhouses—himself, the Three Sannin, and Minato—there was little room for more. Sandaime's mind wandered, wondering whether Yuuji should be placed under one of the Sannin's tutelage. "Orochimaru, perhaps? No... Let's wait a bit longer," Sandaime murmured to himself.
...
Konohagakure had calmed down a bit after Minato and the others returned, but soon, an explosive piece of news spread like wildfire throughout the village.
"Shh, let me tell you a secret. Don't tell anyone, but Hatake Kakashi, the son of the White Fang, was beaten up!"
"What? The super genius Kakashi was actually beaten? Are you sure it's true?"
"Idiot, of course, it's true! I saw him limping back home. His face was half-swollen, and his mask was barely covering it!"
More whispers followed, each one more exaggerated than the last. The news spread rapidly, making its way through the streets and into every corner of the village.
"I heard it was a one-move defeat... Kakashi was completely defeated, no contest."
"Shiranui Yuuji, huh? I've heard of him. A genius with potential to surpass even Kakashi!"
"Shiranui Yuuji… He's amazing, huh? Sounds like he's a true powerhouse…"
As time passed, word of the new genius spread quickly. Yuuji, the one who had defeated the legendary Kakashi, was the talk of the town. The villagers and ninjas alike felt a renewed sense of hope as a new generation of talent emerged. The older generation had the Hokage, the middle-aged had the Sannin, and now, the new generation was rising with talents like Yuuji.
The atmosphere in Konoha shifted. Confidence began to blossom everywhere, suppressing any lingering doubts. Even the graduates from Yuuji's generation were deeply affected.
"What crazy growth. He was just a kid when we started, and now he's already surpassed Kakashi…"
"Damn it, he went to the battlefield for only two months, and look at him now! I want to join the battlefield too. I'll kill enemies for the village!"
"Yes! If Yuuji and the others can do it, then we can too!"
...
Some spies, however, had also taken note of this new development.
"A secret signal: Shiranui Yuuji, the super genius of Konoha, defeated Hatake Kakashi. He is a genius who has surpassed Kakashi and should be closely monitored."
"Send out the assassination unit…"
The intelligence department and Anbu were soon swarming with activity, using the opportunity to apprehend a group of spies who had caught wind of this sensitive information.
...
When the news reached Yuuji's ears, he stood still, watching Genma with a calm, yet slightly perplexed expression.
"Why has it become like this?" Yuuji thought to himself.
Genma, still fuming, muttered, "I swear, I only told Aoba and the others. I even told them not to spread it… but they went and told everyone. Liars!"
It seemed inevitable. Yuuji's defeat of Kakashi was so shocking that it could not be kept under wraps. The flame of youth had been ignited in the village, and there was no way to hide the light of blossoming talent.
Meanwhile, Duy, dressed in an apron, skillfully worked the iron ladle over the stove, his thoughts seemingly miles away. Yuuji's rise had left him in awe. He had taken on many tasks for Yuuji and, more recently, had come over to cook for him. The food, surprisingly, was quite delicious.
A group of them sat on tatami mats, surrounding the table for a simple dinner.
"How's the shoulder? Are you sure it's all healed?" Guy asked, his concern evident.
Yuuji, nonchalantly tearing off his shirt, replied, "Completely healed."
The others looked on in shock as the injuries from the dagger that had once pierced through his shoulder had completely disappeared. His self-healing ability was truly remarkable—almost terrifying.
Duy's gaze turned serious. How terrifying. The end of Yuuji's growth...
...
After dinner, as they all began to leave, Yuuji called out to Genma, his tone thoughtful.
"Genma, let me give you some advice. You're the patriarch, but you don't have to shoulder all of your clan's responsibility on your own."
Genma looked conflicted, as if something was slowly dawning on him. "Yuuji, you're more suited to be…"
"No. This is your responsibility," Yuuji interjected firmly, before sending Genma away.
Though Yuuji hoped Genma would understand, the reality was that Genma's path had already been set. As one of the future members of the 4th Hokage Guards, he would one day learn the Flying Thunder God technique, but for now, he still had a long way to go.
Time passed, and after a few days of rest, Yuuji remembered that he hadn't seen Shibi-sensei in a while. Deciding to visit the Aburame clan, he made his way to their compound.
"Seriously… I feel like I've forgotten something…" Yuuji muttered to himself.
Just as he stood outside the door to the Aburame residence, it opened, revealing a man in tight clothing waiting for him.
It was Aburame Torune.
....
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