"Old Man Third Hokage, what is this?"
Jokichi held the envelope full of money, staring dumbfounded at the Third Hokage.
"This is your living allowance for this month."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, taking a puff from his large pipe. His face, having weathered many storms, looked radiant, and the wrinkles carved by time stretched out, brimming with a smile.
After a long time, he exhaled a smoke ring and continued, "Your hard work all this time, I have seen it all. With such a massive amount of training, it will not do without enough good food to support it. From now on, your living allowance will be raised to this level."
"Oh! So that is how it is!"
Jokichi accepted the Third Hokage's explanation and took out the money to put it in the drawer of his bedside table.
After all, his performance recently had been astonishing. Whether it was the perseverance in his training or his potential for progress, he was worthy of the higher-ups' attention and cultivation.
Seeing Jokichi accept his explanation so easily, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded faintly, "Take a look at the other things!"
"Mhm!"
Jokichi nodded and opened the remaining envelope and the two scrolls one after another.
The envelope contained an admission notice for the Ninja Academy in April next year. One scroll contained insights and techniques for practicing chakra control, and the other was a sealing scroll containing ninja tools such as shuriken, kunai, and a katana.
The Third Hokage stood by, smoking and said, "To become a ninja, just training your body well is not enough. You also have to master the use of ninja tools and ninjutsu. These can help you go further on the path of a ninja. What do you think, do you like them?"
"I like them."
Jokichi's brows rose with joy. He bowed slightly to the Third Hokage and thanked him, "Thank you, Old Man Third Hokage."
"It is good that you like them." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. "So, when the Ninja Academy opens next year, will you be going?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Jokichi clenched his fists in front of his chest, his eyes firm. "I will definitely become the strongest ninja. I will definitely not let the events of five years ago happen around me again."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled with relief. He took a deep puff of smoke and exhaled it gladly.
"Then this old man wishes you success in achieving your dream!"
He looked out the window and continued, "It is getting late, this old man will not disturb you any longer. Rest well!"
"Take care, Old Man Third Hokage." Jokichi waved him goodbye.
"Mhm!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and turned to walk towards the door.
When he reached the door, his body suddenly paused. He turned his head and suddenly asked, "What do you think of Uzumaki Naruto?"
Jokichi subconsciously replied, "He is quite good, just a bit of an idiot."
After saying that, he realized it was a bit impolite to say that in front of him and wanted to explain. However, he saw the Third Hokage's eyes twitch, mutter something to himself, and then leave with a hearty laugh.
"Old fox!"
Seeing the figure getting further and further away and completely disappearing into the night, Jokichi wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and let out a complete sigh of relief.
He was sure the Third Hokage's last question was not a spur-of-the-moment thing, but a deliberate probe into his true reaction.
Both the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzo were old and cunning. Although their ways of doing things were different, in terms of craftiness, Danzo really could not even catch up to the Third.
His contact with Uzumaki Naruto would attract the attention of Shimura Danzo and the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage must have sent people to investigate and must have used the crystal ball to observe his situation.
Otherwise, he would not be so clear about exactly how far he had trained.
But he was still uneasy and had to come personally to test him.
"This should be related to the talent I have shown!"
Jokichi roughly guessed.
He had started training hard very early on, but he was young then and did not have the Hot-Blooded Headband and the Perfect Sage Body. The amount and progress of his training were unsatisfactory.
An ordinary kid without any merits, even if he harbored ambitions and ulterior motives, would not attract attention. Because a guy without ability would not pose any threat.
Even if he came into contact with an important Jinchuriki, they would at most just have subordinates investigate a bit.
But Jokichi's progress over the past half year had been rapid. Not only did his training volume increase drastically every day, but the potential he showed was also very astonishing.
Such outstanding performance could not help but attract attention.
Whether it was to cultivate talent for the village's future or to prevent certain bad things from happening, as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to show the proper attitude and measures.
The probe just now should have been a test.
And his hearty laughter as he left indicated that he had passed the test and would receive a lot of care from the village in the future.
Jokichi felt very fortunate that it was the Third Hokage who came.
If the Third Hokage came, it meant he was someone he valued and wanted to cultivate. This way, Shimura Danzo would not send people over.
Or rather, he would receive a warning from the Third Hokage, not allowing him to extend his reach to him.
Although Shimura Danzo often feigned compliance while acting in opposition, he still would not disobey the Third Hokage on such minor matters.
Both of them were old and cunning, but their ways of doing things were different.
Faced with potential problems, the Third Hokage would investigate thoroughly, while Shimura Danzo would directly nip any potential problems in the bud.
If Root had come, Jokichi would only have had the choice of killing them and defecting.
Fortunately, it was the Third Hokage who came.
After a while, when his mood had calmed down, Jokichi started to take inventory of the things the Third Hokage had given him.
There was fifty thousand ryo in money, and the ninja tools consisted of twelve shuriken, three kunai, a katana nearly a meter long, and a manual for maintaining ninja tools.
The ninja tools were all standard issues. They were neither bad nor top quality. A bunch of mass-produced goods, enough for practice and ordinary missions.
It was the scroll that could seal items that Jokichi couldn't bear to put down.
His system space could only store forged items; outside items could not be stored. Now that he had a scroll that could store items, it would be much more convenient in the future.
In addition, the contents of the scroll recording chakra control practice were very familiar to Jokichi. It was tree climbing and water walking.
Jokichi was not surprised. After all, it was a single lineage of succession; it would be strange if the methods were different.
However, what surprised Jokichi was that there was a white hair stuck in the ink of the scroll.
It probably fell off when the Third Hokage was writing it!
Thinking this, Jokichi picked up the hair.
[Ding! Found special material "Erudite Hair", can forge special item "Book of Omniscience", do you want to forge?]
"Book of Omniscience!?"
Jokichi's eyes widened.
Just hearing the name of this thing sounded awesome. And connecting it to the fact that the Third Hokage knew all the ninjutsu and secret jutsu of Konoha...
If nothing went wrong, this book definitely recorded all the ninjutsu the Third Hokage had learned in his life.
Holy crap, I am really going to take off now!
Jokichi did not lack hardware now, he lacked software. The arrival of this Book of Omniscience was just right.
"Forge."
In the next second, a thick-covered book as thick as a brick appeared in his hand.
The cover of the book was brown, with a pattern of steep mountains and rivers on it, and a huge eyeball right in the middle.
"Book of Omniscience: When opened, it allows the holder to view the scenery within a thirty-kilometer diameter centered around them."
"Ha!?"