The window of the Hokage's office was half open.
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk and nodded after listening to Namikaze Minato's mission report.
"You've worked hard. Go back and get some proper rest."
"Thank you, Grandpa Third." Shin-chan turned and headed outside.
Namikaze Minato stood where he was without moving. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Shin-chan scratched his head. "No, my bundle's on my back."
"The letter His Lordship the Daimyo asked you to give to the Hokage."
"Oh, right." Shin-chan lowered his head and rummaged through his cloth bundle for a while.
He felt around on the left, then dug around on the right.
"Huh?"
When his hand came out of the bag, he was clutching that pale-blue haori.
The Third Hokage sat behind the desk. His gaze paused on the haori for an instant, then shifted to Shin-chan's face.
Shin-chan did not notice the change in the Third Hokage's expression at all. He placed the haori aside and continued burying his head in the bag to search.
"That's weird." Shin-chan stuck his whole face into the bag. "I remember putting it inside."
"No rush." The Third Hokage chuckled. "Take your time."
Shin-chan simply plopped down on the floor and dumped everything in the cloth bundle out.
A pile instantly spread across the floor: half a box of chocolate sticks, a change of clothes, and a folding fan.
"That fan." The Third Hokage pointed at the folding fan. "May I take a look?"
"Sure." Shin-chan grabbed the folding fan and handed it over.
The Third Hokage took the fan, his fingers lightly brushing over the ribs. "Where did this fan come from?"
"It's the reward Uncle gave me."
"Uncle?" the Third Hokage continued asking. "Which uncle?"
Shin-chan kept searching without lifting his head. "The uncle with the big belly, who lives in a really, really big house, and laughs while fanning himself."
"It was His Lordship the Daimyo," Namikaze Minato added from the side.
The Third Hokage unconsciously tapped the folding fan twice with his fingers.
"Found it." Shin-chan stood up, holding a wrinkled letter.
The Third Hokage took it, looked at the stain on the envelope, and fell silent for an instant.
He opened the envelope. The letter paper inside had also been crushed out of shape. The letter was not long, and the Daimyo's handwriting was as powerful as ever.
The Third Hokage read it from beginning to end, then lifted his gaze from the letter and looked at Shin-chan.
"You two go back and rest first." The Third Hokage folded the letter and slowly leaned back against his chair.
The office door closed softly.
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe and tapped it twice against the desk.
...
Early the next morning, the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open.
Jiraiya was the first to walk in, yawning. "Old man, why did you call all three of us over so early in the morning?"
Tsunade followed behind him, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Orochimaru was the last to enter. There was a faint bluish shadow beneath his eyes; clearly, he had stayed up all night doing experiments again.
Only after all three of them were standing there did the Third Hokage set down the pipe in his hand.
"I called you here because there is something I want to discuss with you."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "What kind of matter requires all three of us?"
"I intend to take in a final student."
The office fell silent for an instant.
Tsunade's eyebrows rose. Jiraiya's mouth opened slightly. Even Orochimaru tilted his head a little.
"Old man, you're taking a final student at your age?" Jiraiya stepped forward.
"Am I not allowed to take a student just because I'm old?"
"It's not that you can't." Tsunade lowered her arms from her chest. "It's just that you haven't personally taught students in so long. Why did you suddenly think of taking a student?"
"I met a suitable child."
Jiraiya and Tsunade looked at each other.
They both understood the weight behind the Third Hokage calling someone "suitable."
"I am rather interested to know," Orochimaru's voice sounded, "what kind of child could make you think of taking in a final student, Teacher."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe and took a puff. "Nohara Shinnosuke."
"That kid, huh." Jiraiya's expression became very interesting.
Tsunade also seemed to remember something.
"The student Teacher previously asked me to take." Orochimaru also had an impression of him. "That name was on the list."
"So you took him?"
"No." Orochimaru shook his head. "At the time, my experiment was at a critical stage. I didn't even have time to eat."
Tsunade gave a light snort, clearly not surprised by Orochimaru's order of priorities.
"These old bones of mine have limited energy." The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled smoke. "That is why I called you here. I want you to help teach him."
"If you don't have time, then don't take in a student." Tsunade's tone was completely blunt. "Taking one in and then asking others to teach him? What kind of thing is that?"
The Third Hokage was momentarily choked by her words. He lifted his teacup and took a sip, but he did not get angry.
He understood Tsunade's temper. Her mouth showed no mercy, but every word made sense.
"I do have some time." Orochimaru turned his gaze toward the Third Hokage. "My recent experiment has just come to an end."
"Then I'll leave it to you." The Third Hokage stood up. "That child is not quite the same as ordinary students. Just keep that in mind."
Orochimaru nodded slightly. "I will observe him carefully."
The next day, the news spread through Konoha.
"Lord Third Hokage is going to take in a final student."
"Who is it?"
"Nohara Shinnosuke."
"Nohara? I've never heard of that ninja clan."
When Hiroshi went to work, two colleagues who usually did no more than nod when they met him both smiled at the same time.
"Hiroshi-senpai, good morning." One of them took the initiative to approach, holding a small paper bag. "These are snacks my family made. We made too many yesterday, so I thought I'd bring you some."
Hiroshi wanted to say, "You don't have to be so polite," but the other person had already stuffed the paper bag into his hand and turned away.
He stood there holding the paper bag, still unable to figure out what was going on, when the second colleague had already walked up to him.
"Hiroshi-senpai, you really maintain your ninja tools well."
Hiroshi lowered his head and looked at the ninja tool pouch at his waist. The thread on the blade clasp had been wrapped by himself, and it had already come loose several times. Misae had told him more than once to replace it with a new one.
"What's going on today?" Hiroshi scratched his head.
He had only just reached his seat when three more people came over to greet him.
"Hiroshi-senpai, you worked hard on this morning's mission."
"I haven't gone on a mission yet." Hiroshi scratched his head. "I just arrived."
"Right, right, right. Just arriving is hard work too." That colleague continued without changing expression. "Let me take this document to the archive room for you."
"That's not mine..."
"No problem. It's on the way." The colleague had already picked up a stack of documents from his desk and strode away.
In the distance, a colleague who had fallen behind on the news found it strange. "What's with Hiroshi today? Why are so many people going up to him?"
A colleague beside him leaned over and lowered his voice. "You still don't know?"
"Know what?"
"The Third Hokage is going to take in a final student."
"What does taking in a final student have to do with this?"
"The child he's taking in is surnamed Nohara."
~~~
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