"To protect a village where everyone can live in peace and smile together every day."
Sitting behind his massive mahogany desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. It was a warm, incredibly genuine expression that smoothed the deep wrinkles of his face. "You have a truly beautiful dream, Suzuki-kun."
"No, Hokage-sama," Suzuki replied softly, bowing his head in perfect, practiced modesty. "I am just rambling. I know exactly how limited my own power is as a civilian-born ninja."
"Nonsense," Hiruzen insisted, waving his hand gently. "Even if your chakra reserves are small now, you have become a shining example for your peers. You defeated a prodigy with pure ingenuity. Your dream is magnificent."
"But if it weren't for you—the man who has guided and protected this village for decades—I wouldn't even be standing here," Suzuki continued, keeping his tone fiercely earnest. "My dream would be completely impossible without the peace you provide, Hokage-sama."
"Suzuki-kun..."
Damn, Hiruzen thought, his heart swelling. He absolutely loved this child!
Listening to Suzuki was like listening to the literal, living embodiment of the Will of Fire. For an aging Hokage surrounded by ambitious clan heads and cynical veterans, finding a young, brilliant boy with such pure devotion made Hiruzen feel as if he had discovered a priceless, long-lost treasure.
"By the way," Hiruzen asked, shifting the topic to business. "Would you mind explaining the mechanics behind the jutsu you used against young Sasuke earlier?"
"Of course, Hokage-sama."
Suzuki didn't hesitate for a single second. He immediately detailed the exact chakra flow, the necessary hand seals, and the thermal-to-light conversion theory behind the Fire Release: Flashbang.
He knew perfectly well that hiding it was meaningless. Frankly, while the Flashbang was a fantastic tactical tool, it had severe limitations. If an opponent knew it was coming, they could simply close their eyes. Furthermore, the blinding light didn't discriminate between friend or foe—using it in a team formation without proper coordination would blind his own allies.
But if it were any other ninja, they absolutely would have kept their mouth shut. In the shinobi world, a self-developed, secret technique was a closely guarded lifeline.
Suzuki, however, possessed a different mindset than others. He wasn't shortsighted like any other ninja, who treated their treasured jutsu like the most guarded secret; instead, he saw that this jutsu was nothing but just a stepping stone. He understood that to gain massive returns, you had to pay an initial investment cost. Handing over the Flashbang jutsu as an entry fee was his way of paying to secure a sponsorship and protection from the Hokage himself.
"Thank you for your explanation, Suzuki-kun," Hiruzen sighed, feeling a sudden pang of guilt at how freely the boy had handed over his hard work without asking for compensation.
The ANBU had thoroughly vetted Suzuki's background. His history was an open book: he was an orphan who had painstakingly built his life step by step. He earned his living by renting out empty rooms in his deceased parents' house and had slowly expanded into a localized charcoal delivery business. And yet, despite working like an adult to avoid starving, he still managed to study ninja history, chakra theory, and basic medical ninjutsu.
"You have given the village a valuable technique," Hiruzen said, leaning forward. "Do you want me to reward you with something? If there is anything you desire, please, tell me."
"No, that is completely fine, Hokage-sama," Suzuki smiled gently. "The only reason I had the luxury to develop this technique in the first place is because you keep the village safe. That is reward enough."
It wasn't entirely a lie. If the village was engulfed in a brutal war, a twelve-year-old orphan like him would have been drafted as cannon fodder long ago.
"You are such a good child, Suzuki-kun."
Hiruzen sighed helplessly, his guilt only deepening. The boy was too pure! "What about another jutsu? If you want a specific technique to help you grow stronger, I can grant you access to the library scrolls."
Other than ninjutsu, the Hokage couldn't think of anything a genin would want.
"A jutsu?" Suzuki blinked his dark eyes, pretending to consider the offer carefully. "I might not need a specific jutsu right now... but I do need a teacher. I lack the specialized knowledge required to develop my next technique."
"Oh? A new jutsu?!" Hiruzen was genuinely startled. "You are already planning to develop another one?"
Developing a completely original jutsu was notoriously difficult; many Jonin went their entire lives without inventing one. For a newly graduated genin to already have a second technique planned was astonishing! If Suzuki had managed to create the Flashbang using only his limited, civilian inheritance, what could he invent with proper, high-level knowledge?
"Yes, but I lack the theoretical foundation," Suzuki admitted.
"What kind of jutsu are you trying to create? What knowledge do you need?" Hiruzen asked quickly, his curiosity fully piqued.
"I need to learn advanced Genjutsu and Fuinjutsu (Sealing Arts)."
"....."
Hiruzen blinked slowly. He looked at the boy, utterly bewildered. "You want to develop a new Fire Release technique... by combining it with Genjutsu and Fuinjutsu?"
"Yes, sir."
"..."
Sealing arts aside, Hiruzen couldn't even fathom how a raw, destructive element like Fire could be synthesized with an illusionary Genjutsu. Yet... the sheer impossibility of it made it incredibly intriguing.
"Haha! You young people are truly amazing," Hiruzen chuckled, shaking his head. "Very well. I will arrange for a specialized teacher to instruct you."
"Eh? Are you sure?"
"Don't worry about it," Hiruzen said, waving his hand dismissively before Suzuki could refuse. "You are a highly talented young man, Suzuki-kun. With proper guidance, I am certain you will contribute greatly to Konoha. Do not disappoint me, understood?"
Looking at Suzuki, Hiruzen briefly saw the phantom overlay of another brilliant, blonde-haired young man who had once stood in this very office. Unfortunately, that young man had died far too soon. But his spirit—the true essence of innovation and dedication—seemed to have been reborn in this orphaned civilian.
"....."
Suzuki looked appropriately speechless before bowing deeply. "Thank you, Hokage-sama! I will not let you down."
Hook, line, and sinker, Suzuki thought, keeping his face aimed at the floor to hide his satisfaction.
Why had Hiruzen accepted Suzuki's request so easily?
Because Suzuki's jutsu were based on Fire Release! Hiruzen was heavily investing in Suzuki for a very specific, politically calculated reason. The Sarutobi clan's signature elemental affinity was Fire. Unlike the Uchiha with their Sharingan, or the Hyuga with their Byakugan, the Sarutobi clan didn't possess an overpowered genetic bloodline. They relied entirely on their massive numbers, their political acumen, and their mastery of standard jutsu.
If Hiruzen supported Suzuki, and Suzuki successfully invented a new, revolutionary Fire jutsu... the Sarutobi clan would directly benefit from the new arsenal.
It was a mutually beneficial business transaction. Hiruzen's motives weren't entirely pure, but Suzuki didn't care. By accepting Hiruzen's investment, Suzuki was now officially operating under the absolute political umbrella of the Third Hokage. Danzo couldn't touch him now.
"By the way," Hiruzen asked, pulling open a drawer in his desk. "What are your natural chakra affinities?"
"My affinities?" Suzuki blinked. "Fire, Wind, and Yang release."
"Oh? Wind as well?" Hiruzen nodded in approval. He pulled out a worn green scroll and tossed it across the desk. "Here. You can have this, too."
"Eh? What is this?" Suzuki asked, genuinely startled by the sudden bonus.
"It is a C-Rank Wind technique: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough." Hiruzen had just tossed it over on a whim, but he was incredibly curious to see what Suzuki's analytical mind could do with it. "Study it well."
[Target Acquired: Wind Release - Great Breakthrough.]
[Analysis Complete. The chakra flow pathways have been successfully mapped and integrated into the host's database. Ready for immediate use.]
Well, that was easy, Suzuki thought, mentally dismissing the Manager's prompt.
Outwardly, he clutched the scroll to his chest as if it were a priceless holy relic. He bowed his head so deeply that his back was completely parallel to the floor.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! I will treasure this!"
As Suzuki finally left the Hokage's office, he couldn't help but smile. The jutsu was a nice bonus, but the real prize was the absolute peace of mind he had just secured. Tonight, for the first time in this dangerous ninja world, he was going to sleep perfectly soundly.