Chapter 2: Becoming Part of the Hokage's Direct Line
At the central tower of the Forest of Death, the Third Hokage's crystal ball broadcast the battle in real time.
All the clan heads were stunned by the Miracle Squad's tactics—their coordination was seamless, their roles clearly defined.
Only the Hyūga and Uchiha clan heads looked displeased. The former was embarrassed by how poorly his clan's jōnin had performed, while the latter had his own reasons.
Starting with the Hyūga—never had their clan head imagined that their jōnin would be defeated so quickly. From start to finish, it hadn't even taken a minute before their scroll was taken. The remaining two weren't faring any better. If they failed to regroup, defeat was only a matter of time.
He couldn't help but wonder—was the Miracle Squad too strong, or were the Hyūga jōnin too weak?
"…Sigh. It seems the Hyūga truly need to step out more. This is practically a one-sided defeat."
The Uchiha clan head's face darkened as he watched Uchiha Shigeru's performance clearly.
As one of the clan's key prospects, Shigeru had always been given high expectations and careful guidance. Aside from forbidden techniques, every jutsu in the clan had been open to him. He had even received personal instruction from the clan's swordmasters.
And yet now, he had made such a fatal mistake.
Still too immature. He would need more training—otherwise, how could he carry the Uchiha's hopes and become Hokage?
Unlike these two great clans, the other clan heads were full of excitement. The Miracle Squad had proven through action that their sons and daughters were all geniuses—worthy of inheriting and strengthening their respective clans.
Some rejoiced, others worried.
The Aburame, Inuzuka, Gekkō, Hatake, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans all began to entertain similar thoughts.
If they could form such a team… couldn't we do the same?
Hiruzen smiled so widely his eyes nearly disappeared. These children—no older than ten, the youngest only eight—had fought three jōnin to a standstill. In a few more years, they would undoubtedly become Konoha's trump card.
Not only that—among them were several with the potential to reach Kage-level strength.
The Miracle Squad represented Konoha's next generation.
And this Namikaze Minato—his reflexes were exceptional. He needed to be watched closely.
Hiruzen stroked his chin, clearly intrigued by 's fighting style.
In just one battle, Minato had stood out. As expected—gold shines wherever it is.
Though each harbored their own thoughts, everyone continued watching the crystal ball in silence.
At this moment—
...
Inside the Forest of Death.
Hyūga Daiki attempted to regroup with Hyūga Shin.
But the others had no intention of letting them succeed. Kinoshita Hikaru pressed the attack relentlessly, locking Hyūga Shin in place.
Hyūga Daiki was also obstructed, unable to advance. To block him, Nawaki used Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart once more.
As a B-rank jutsu, it lacked destructive power and was usually used for construction—but every technique had its purpose. At this moment, it effectively prevented Hyūga Daiki from advancing.
Uchiha Shigeru regrouped and launched another assault, with Minato providing support.
The two moved in constant coordination—above and below, left and right, front and back—harassing Hyūga Daiki relentlessly. On top of that, the others constantly interfered, never giving him a moment's peace.
Nine against one.
And Hyūga Daiki couldn't go all out—he had to hold back from lethal force. Restricted and overwhelmed, he was soon defeated, his scroll taken.
Hyūga Daiki… eliminated.
On the other side—
Kinoshita Hikaru still hadn't gone all out, continuing to stall. In a monitored battle like this, it was better to keep some trump cards hidden—otherwise, who knew when they might be used against him?
Once Hyūga Daiki was defeated, the Miracle Squad's ten members surrounded Hyūga Shin.
No matter how strong he was, he couldn't withstand such pressure.
Before long, he fell under their coordinated assault.
Hyūga Shin… eliminated!
The battle ended.
...
The three Hyūga jōnin stood together, heads lowered, clearly shaken. But they showed no outward despair—defeat was already bad enough. If they lamented like losers now, they would truly disgrace the Hyūga clan.
"Miracle Squad—!"
Kinoshita Hikaru shouted.
Cheers erupted as the group broke into bright smiles.
At that moment, Senju Nawaki walked over to Uchiha Shigeru.
"Shigeru, your timing earlier was perfect. And your acting—it was so convincing I couldn't tell at all."
Shigeru's face flushed slightly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
"Of course. With the Sharingan, whether it's tracking attack trajectories or controlling the battlefield, nothing escapes my sight."
After speaking, he glanced nervously at the others. Seeing no unusual reactions, he secretly let out a sigh of relief.
I knew it would work. Uchiha Shigeru, you're a genius.
No one noticed at all. (^o^)
His heart leapt with joy, though his expression quickly returned to its usual cold demeanor.
"Alright, let's head to the central tower. The Third Hokage is waiting for us."
Kinoshita Hikaru led the group toward the tower.
...
"Congratulations—you've succeeded."
Hiruzen Sarutobi offered praise, then glanced at the Hyūga clan head, signaling with his eyes.
At this moment, the Hyūga clan head showed no trace of his earlier frustration. His expression was warm and composed.
"The Miracle Squad, is it? Why did you choose that name?"
"Because it sounds cool! (^_^)"
"…"
The Hyūga clan head was momentarily speechless. He had intended to offer encouragement—but how was he supposed to praise that?
He forced a stiff smile.
"It is indeed… quite cool. Among you, I see bonds and sincerity. Hizashi is fortunate to have companions like you. I hope you will continue to create miracles."
"Thank you. We will definitely protect our comrades—please rest assured."
This was the outcome everyone wanted to see. The Miracle Squad had proven through action that a ten-person team was viable.
But it still wasn't enough. They needed more achievements—to show the world the strength of Konoha's Miracle Squad.
At this moment—
Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"I now announced—The Miracle Squad is officially established. I will personally lead it."
The announcement was nothing short of explosive.
The Hokage himself would lead them?
This meant the Miracle Squad would be incorporated into the Hokage's direct faction. The clans not involved regretted it deeply.
The Uchiha clan head stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sudden surprise.
Though it wasn't the ANBU and didn't grant access to core secrets, it was still a major step forward for the Uchiha.
At this moment, he sincerely felt grateful to Kinoshita Hikaru.
Who would have thought that a childish agreement would yield such enormous returns?
Hikaru smiled.
He had taken another step closer to becoming Hokage.
But it still wasn't enough.
These were only external advantages—becoming Hokage ultimately depended on strength and reputation.
...
Walking alone through the streets, Kinoshita Hikaru acted just as he always did—helping vendors pick up fallen fruit, assisting elderly people across the road, doing whatever small things he could.
There was no special reason.
It was simply a habit.
Amid laughter and lively chatter, he waved and left.
"Little Hikaru."
"Lord Danzō, what a coincidence."
"Congratulations on becoming a genin. Come walk with this old man for a bit."
Kinoshita Hikaru nodded.
Whether fortune or misfortune—there was no escaping it.
Things are different now; he is no longer the ignorant fool he once was.