"So… can we begin the next phase of preparation?"
"Teach me as many ninjutsu as you can within one month."
Hiroki's voice was calm.
No one answered.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Minato, Nawaki—every one of them was still frozen in shock.
It wasn't just a matter of how strong Hiroki was.
It was how he was doing it.
How was he using ninjutsu without hand seals?
In the ninja world, hand seals were the foundation of most techniques. Even prodigies couldn't escape them—at best, they simplified them or performed them one-handed.
The Second Hokage had reduced Water Dragon Bullet from dozens of seals to just a few.Haku could weave seals with one hand.Minato would later do the same.Jiraiya could even form seals with his feet if he had to.
But seals still existed.
True seal-less ninjutsu were incredibly rare—and every single one was notoriously difficult to master.
More importantly…
None of them had ever heard of someone turning a sealed technique into an unsealed one.
That alone overturned everything they knew.
Tsunade was the first to recover.
"No."
Her voice was firm.
"I refuse."
She stepped forward, eyes locked onto Hiroki.
"Yes, you're strong. Yes, you've achieved things I can't even fully understand. You've automated medical ninjutsu that even I struggle to perfect."
"But you're still a ten-year-old child."
Her gaze softened briefly as it flicked toward Nawaki—then hardened again when it returned to Hiroki.
The more terrifying his talent became, the more unwilling she was to let him step onto a battlefield she herself wasn't confident of surviving.
"Someone like you shouldn't be thrown into a meat grinder like Hanzo's battlefield," she said coldly."Your place is here—learning, growing, becoming the pillar of Konoha's future."
She clenched her fists.
"I will not watch another child die."
Jiraiya stood quietly at her side.
For once, he wasn't joking.
If Tsunade hadn't spoken up, he would have stormed straight into the Hokage's office himself and torn this plan apart.
The Will of Fire wasn't about sacrificing children.
It was about protecting them.
Hiroki was exactly the kind of ninja they should protect.
Yet Hiroki didn't argue.
He didn't retreat.
He simply looked at Tsunade and asked calmly,
"Lady Tsunade… you believe I'm not qualified to take part in that level of battle?"
"Of course," she replied without hesitation.
She crossed her arms, chin lifted.
"You lack real battlefield experience. Your body hasn't finished developing. Your total chakra reserves are still limited."
"For someone like Hanzo, one mistake is death. Clever tricks and strange abilities won't save you."
Then her tone softened slightly—but only slightly.
"That's why I'm willing to teach you. Personally."
"But first, you must prove that you can survive."
She raised a finger.
"You don't need to defeat me. You don't need to injure me."
"You only need to remain unharmed under my attacks."
"If you can do that, I'll acknowledge your right to even consider this plan—and I'll teach you everything I know."
"But if you fail…"
Her voice turned cold.
"You stay in the village and wait until we return."
The meaning was clear.
This was no sparring match.
This was a test of survival.
Nawaki and Minato both inhaled sharply, staring at Hiroki in disbelief.
Remain unscathed against Tsunade?
One of the Hokage's disciples.A monster of raw strength.
Against a ten-year-old genin?
Hiroki smiled.
"Alright."
Why not?
If he couldn't handle Tsunade, talking about Hanzo would be meaningless.
"However," he continued, raising a finger, "I have conditions."
"First, the test will take place one week from now."
He'd pushed himself hard today. Fighting immediately would be foolish.
"Second," his gaze shifted to Jiraiya and Orochimaru,"Before the test, the three of you will let me learn some basic ninjutsu."
"I'm not fighting Lady Tsunade completely unarmed."
"Huh?" Jiraiya scratched his head."You mean… we demonstrate them for you? Like facing a Sharingan?"
"Something like that," Hiroki said."But you don't need to perform them."
"I just need to touch you."
"For about an hour."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
An hour?
He remembered clearly—it hadn't taken nearly that long for Hiroki to copy everything Maoyi had.
This kid was deliberately lowballing it.
Tsunade let out a sharp laugh.
"Arrogant little brat."
"Fine. I agree. I want to see what kind of monster you can become in seven days."
Jiraiya grinned.
"I'm in. Now I'm really curious."
He stepped forward first.
A faint chime echoed in Hiroki's consciousness.
[New compatible target detected: "The Legendary White-Haired Toad Sage — Jiraiya."][Chakra communication link established.][Access permission pending.]
[Open and view data?]
Hiroki's smile deepened.
This month… was going to be interesting.
----------------------------------------------
To read chapters in advance go to P@treon - harsh07
Read upto Chapter 80 in advance