Living long does not necessarily make one wise, but those who have lived long have certainly experienced the vicissitudes of life and mastered the ways of the world.
Someone like the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—has witnessed nearly the entire history of Konoha since its founding. Having survived from the First Great Ninja War to the present, he could truly be called a living relic of the village.
"You must be Toneri, right? Indeed, you are quite an exceptional child," Hiruzen said, rising from his seat and carefully scrutinizing Toneri before him. He drew on his pipe and smiled warmly.
Calm in action, steady in thought—he truly was an outstanding child. Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Toneri's tightly shut eyes.
And indeed… he was blind!
There were no eyes within, Hiruzen could sense that, and Toneri's calmly radiating chakra made it unmistakably clear.
Moreover, the sheer magnitude of his chakra was almost unbelievable!
And then there was this…
Hiruzen's peripheral vision caught sight of Toneri's companion, quietly following behind him—Kyokusen, the young girl.
Though her abilities were unclear, her chakra was likewise immense.
These two children…
Hiruzen furrowed his brows slightly, hesitant. Such children held limitless potential for the future.
If they could be brought to Konoha's side, they could secure decades of stability and prosperity for the village.
Yet, they were also ticking time bombs. Hiruzen, ever meticulous, understood this clearly.
The origins of these two were unknown. Though they called themselves Ōtsutsuki, Hiruzen had lived over sixty years and never encountered this clan name before.
Most importantly, there was Toneri's temperament. He was a child, yes, but his maturity far exceeded his age.
Gaining his loyalty—making him genuinely committed to protecting Konoha—would be extremely difficult. And even if he joined Konoha, if he turned against them during wartime…
The village would plunge into an abyss from which it might never recover.
The advantages and risks were far too clear, and Hiruzen hesitated deeply.
"Thank you for your kind words, Hokage-sama. You are far too gracious. Toneri is aware of his own limits; he is merely blind," Toneri said, smiling gently, as if he had not noticed Hiruzen's internal deliberation.
Though he could not see Hiruzen's expression, Toneri could sense that the Hokage's mood was no longer the same as before. Surely, he was thinking over something in his mind.
"Heh… as expected, a very polite child. Come, sit first. I really want to have a proper conversation with you," Hiruzen said with a smile, letting his own thoughts settle.
Some matters were not meant to be considered yet. First, he needed to understand this child to make the most accurate judgment.
No matter what, as long as Toneri harbored no intent to harm Konoha, Hiruzen was more than willing to establish goodwill with him.
Toneri certainly deserved that much—not even counting his terrifying innate talent, simply the colossal chakra within him was enough.
Though chakra alone does not determine everything, those with overwhelming chakra are rarely weak—a law of the ninja world.
Toneri smiled softly, offering no resistance. The four of them sat down, with Kyokusen standing quietly behind him.
"So, Toneri, having explored Konoha today, how do you find the village?" Hiruzen asked gently once Toneri was seated.
Konoha was a place he had devoted his entire life to, a source of immense pride. To him, it had become an inseparable part of his very existence.
"Konoha is indeed lively and prosperous. To be honest, although my travels in the ninja world have not lasted long, I understand why Konoha could be called a haven of the continent," Toneri replied evenly, showing no subservience. He was unsurprised by the Hokage's question.
With Hiruzen's experience and cunning, he would never bluntly ask Toneri such a question. He would first find an excuse to establish rapport.
"Heh… I'm glad you're pleased, Toneri. If you need anything, you can always ask Asuma," Hiruzen said, smiling in satisfaction, understanding Toneri's words perfectly.
"No need to trouble Asuma. There is something I wish to request directly from Hokage-sama," Toneri replied with a faint smile.
He glanced at Asuma briefly, then returned his gaze to Hiruzen.
"You… it's regarding the Hyūga clan, isn't it?"
Hiruzen paused, a thought crossing his mind. Indeed, Toneri seemed to lack nothing, except perhaps matters related to his eyes—and, evidently, the Hyūga clan.
"The Third Hokage lives up to his reputation. Kyokusen possesses the Byakugan, and I hope Hokage-sama can assist with this matter," Toneri said, nodding slightly, a faint trace of helplessness in his voice.
He was not afraid of the Hyūga clan. But since Hiruzen had now come to him directly, he might as well let the Hokage handle this troublesome matter.
Otherwise, the Hyūga would certainly come looking for him.
Though he was unafraid, dealing with unnecessary complications was not on his agenda.
His priority now was to identify a target within the Hyūga and acquire the necessary Byakugan.
After that, he could stroll through Konoha, observe, and adjust his plans accordingly.
If his scheme was discovered, he could simply leave the village.
END OF CHAPTER
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