Sarutobi Hiruzen took another deep breath of smoke, and slowly exhaled.
His tone then carried a trace of worry as he said.
"However, he ultimately is not a child who grew up in Konoha. He was only brought back at age five, and has stayed in the village for barely two and a half years at most. I worry... he lacks sufficient sense of belonging to Konoha."
"The stronger his power, if his heart is not here, the greater the potential future problems."
The office fell quiet for a moment, only the faint crackling sound of burning tobacco could be heard.
Nara Shikagure pondered for a moment, then spoke again.
"Lord Hokage, your concern is not unfounded. But from current observations, Sora has shown considerable kindness and bonds towards the children of the orphanage, his classmates at the ninja academy, and even marginal ninja like Might Duy."
"He is not a cold and ruthless child. We can definitely use these bonds to gradually cultivate his feelings for the village."
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened silently, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk.
He knew Nara Shikagure's analysis was very reasonable, and also aligned with the "bond" philosophy he had always upheld. But as the Hokage, he had to consider more, and further ahead.
A child of such extraordinary talent yet from outside, like a double-edged sword. Even though he clearly understood in his heart that Sora's upper limit might not reach the very top, just looking at the current momentum, Sora could at least reach the initial Kage level in the future.
Used well, Sora would be a top-tier weapon capable of withstanding storms and protecting the village. But if there was the slightest mishap, this power far exceeding his peers could also cause unpredictable trouble.
Moreover, as the Hokage, Sarutobi Hirutobi knew better than anyone that orphans from outside villages like Sora did not have an easy life in Konoha.
"I hope so." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Fortunately, the Anbu still has Sakumo."
He seemed to be saying this to Nara Shikagure, and also seemed to be talking to himself.
"With me in the Anbu, there won't be any problems."
A calm yet indisputable voice suddenly sounded from the corner of the office.
At some point, a figure had appeared there as if blending into the shadows, silently and without a sound. He seemed to have been there all along, just no one had noticed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikagure both seemed accustomed to this and were not surprised.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up towards the corner. "Sakumo, you're here."
Hatake Sakumo slowly walked out from the shadows. He was wearing standard Anbu attire, but did not have a mask on his face. His gaze was sharp, his aura steady. The famous White Light Chakra Sabre was sheathed at his waist. Merely standing there gave people an inexplicable sense of security and pressure.
"Yes, I just returned to hand over a mission." Hatake Sakumo's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other. "Regarding the situation of No. 567, Sora, I am already aware."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him. "What do you think of this child?"
Hatake Sakumo gave a concise evaluation.
"Amazing talent, precocious temperament, extremely high combat intelligence. As for loyalty, currently it seems he may not feel deeply about the concept of 'Konoha', but he will protect those he cares about. And the people he cares about are currently all in Konoha."
These words were undoubtedly an affirmation of Nara Shikagure's earlier analysis.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression softened considerably. Getting such an evaluation from Hatake Sakumo was enough to explain many things.
"With you watching over him, I am reassured." Sarutobi Hiruzen finally showed a smile. "I never need to worry about the Anbu with you in charge."
Hatake Sakumo gave a slight nod. "It's my duty."
With his response, the originally tense atmosphere in the office also quietly eased, no longer as grave as before.
...
From beginning to end, none of them expressed any doubt about Sora instantly breaking Uchiha Kenta's genjutsu.
With their level of strength, they all clearly understood that in the state of having opened four Gates, the flow of chakra in Sora's body would become extremely fast. Not to mention just a D-Rank Hell Viewing Technique, even if it were a B-Rank genjutsu, he could break it quickly.
Moreover, Sora had shown similar genjutsu breaking performance earlier when fighting Uchiha Takumi.
As for the instructors like Eagle, they were merely "unable to see clearly due to being involved", stunned by the scene of a seven-year-old Sora defeating an Uchiha, and didn't have time to think carefully. When they came to their senses afterward, they also belatedly realized the key point, so naturally there was nothing to question.
...
Orphanage – Nonō's Home.
After dinner, Sora returned to his room and let out a long sigh of relief.
Three months of high-intensity Anbu training and assessment had almost occupied all his time and energy. Not to mention developing the fruit ability, even maintaining daily training was quite difficult.
Now finally back in this relatively private space, a long-lost sense of relaxation spread.
Sora moved his still somewhat sore and stiff limbs, feeling the power that had been dormant for a long time within him slowly awakening and flowing.
"Three months without practice, I wonder if I've gotten rusty."
Sora murmured to himself, then focused his mind, attempting to mobilize the power of the Azure Dragon Fruit.
A warm current rose from within his body, quickly surging towards his arms.
Dense patterns of azure dragon scales appeared on the surface of his skin. His fingertips became sharp, gleaming with a metallic cold light. The entire process was smoother than he remembered. Wherever his will went, the power followed as easily as moving his fingers.
"Huh? It seems... easier?" Sora was somewhat surprised.
He tried to direct the power towards his legs. The same feeling of smoothness came. The muscles of his calves slightly bulged, covered with a layer of tough scales. His toes also underwent subtle draconic changes.
Next was his chest. The skin over his heart became hard, faintly forming the rudiment of a protective scale armor.
"It seems these three months of high-intensity taijutsu training and life-and-death combat, although not directly training the fruit ability, greatly improved my body control and willpower, indirectly promoting the fruit's fusion and development." Sora quickly figured out the key.
Zoan-type Devil Fruits were inherently closely related to the user's physical strength and spirit. The Anbu's training was undoubtedly an efficient "catalyst".
"Since that's the case, might as well try developing a new part."
Sora focused his attention on his back. This was a visual blind spot and also a part easily ambushed in battle.
If he could cover his back with dragon scales as well, his defense would be greatly enhanced, at least he wouldn't have to worry about being easily stabbed through from behind by ordinary kunai.
He closed his eyes, carefully perceiving the muscles and bones of his back, guiding that warm power to flow towards his spine, shoulder blades...
The process was more difficult than imagined. The nerves in the back were not as sensitive as those in the limbs. The flow of power was somewhat sluggish, as if separated by a membrane. The generation of scales was also intermittent, appearing and disappearing.
Sora exhaled, beginning to patiently try again and again, adjusting his breathing and the frequency of power output.
Sweat gradually soaked the special bandages on his body, but the fully focused Sora didn't mind, as if he had returned to the days of bitter training by the river day after day.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he finally felt a clear burning sensation along a line in the center of his back, along his spine. Dense, tough dragon scales finally stably emerged. Although the area was still not large, they indeed covered the vital point.
"Success!" Sora felt a surge of joy in his heart, slowly withdrawing his power. The draconic characteristics gradually faded.
He collapsed onto the bed, feeling the slight fatigue transmitted from his body, but his heart was quite satisfied.
Now, Sora's hands, legs, and chest could be quickly beastified at will. His back could also slowly complete the transformation under his control. Currently, only the waist and head remained.
Once these three parts were trained to be as flexible and instantly beastified as his hands, that would be the peak of the second stage he originally envisioned. Partial Beast Transformation.
After that, he could try to enter the third stage. Complete Beast Transformation. Azure Dragon Form!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━