"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
After gritting out this classic and timeless line, Danzo turned and left.
"Danzo! Hiruzen-sensei is the Hokage."
Makoto shouted coldly.
Bang!
The response was the sound of the door slamming shut.
Hiruzen watched this scene with a smile, growing more and more satisfied with his disciple.
A mere worm like Danzo… why would he need to act personally? His disciple could deal with him.
After leaving, Danzo was absolutely furious.
In the past, if anyone in Konoha dared to speak to him like that, he would have had them killed long ago—
Hatake Sakumo was so arrogant, Uchiha Shisui was so overbearing, and weren't they both taken out by him?
But the problem was, he simply couldn't do anything to Makoto.
Because this kid was under Hiruzen's absolute protection.
And Sakumo and Shisui hadn't received that treatment back then.
There was a very important reason for this… the talent drain in Konoha Village was currently too severe.
Coupled with the death of Hiruzen Shinsuke and his wife, Hiruzen was extremely lacking in someone he could trust 100%.
To be honest, Hiruzen didn't even trust Kakashi that much… after all, his father's death was a thorn buried in Hiruzen's heart.
And right at this critical moment, Makoto appeared.
Hiruzen's level of trust in him now was no less than that in his deceased eldest son, Hiruzen Shinsuke, perhaps even greater.
Danzo knew this very well: if he dared to make a move on Makoto, Hiruzen would absolutely fight him to the death.
Putting himself in the other party's shoes, if he had such a subordinate, he would also want to protect him fiercely.
Loyal, strong, young...
Danzo couldn't help but curse inwardly: 'Damn, where did Hiruzen find such a useful workhorse?'
If this guy were under his command, he wouldn't even need to use a sealing technique to control his mind.
Back in the office, Makoto put on an indignant expression: "Sensei, that old geezer Danzo has been disrespecting you for a long time. What do you think about taking him out?"
Hiruzen waved his hand and smiled: "Makoto, don't be so radical. Although Danzo has some ambition, it's all for Konoha in the end."
Makoto nodded, but inwardly he could barely hold back a laugh.
'Yes, yes, all for Konoha.'
'And then, after being in power for decades, you just keep killing off your own people, right?'
Although Danzo bears the main responsibility for this, Hiruzen's behind-the-scenes encouragement cannot be overlooked.
These two really are a pair of smiling tigers, two dark sharks.
Makoto then put away his kunai and asked: "So, Sensei, if I serve as an Jonin Instructor, which team do you plan to assign me to?"
The Flying Thunder God kunai in his hand was not the trident style modified by Minato, but the original style used by Tobirama.
After all, he had only learned this technique a year ago and hadn't yet reached Minato's level of strength.
But that should just be a matter of time.
Hiruzen took out three files: "If all goes well, I plan to put Naruto, Sasuke, and this civilian girl named Haruno Sakura into one team, and have you teach them."
The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and the last survivor of the Uchiha were both key training targets for Konoha… and also surveillance targets.
The reason Hiruzen added Sakura, a civilian with no background, was because he knew Naruto liked her. Putting her in the team would help manage the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki's emotions.
There was also a more important reason—
Hiruzen planned to use Makoto to influence Naruto and Sasuke.
Makoto was his die-hard fan, and Hiruzen hoped that Naruto and Sasuke would be influenced by him and also become die-hard fans of Hiruzen.
Then, he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would have the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki on his left, the last Uchiha on his right, and Nishikawa Makoto, who had learned Flying Thunder God Technique, in the middle—
Damn, wouldn't he be invincible across the Ninja World?
Yeah, he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wouldn't need to act personally… he'd just let his subordinates do the fighting, just like in the Third Great Ninja War.
Makoto was shocked.
'Had I stolen Kakashi's job?'
He immediately refused: "Sensei, I think I am not qualified for such an important responsibility. For one thing, Naruto's identity is very special. I believe someone proficient in Sealing Technique, or someone with a Sharingan, would be more suitable as the Jonin Instructor."
He didn't want to take care of those two problem children.
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
He hadn't considered that point.
"Indeed, Makoto, you make a good point. Then I'll consider other candidates."
Hearing this, Makoto breathed a sigh of relief: "Then, Sensei, I'll take my leave now."
"Mm, I look forward to your future performance."
Hiruzen smiled and watched him leave.
...
At this moment, the Ninja Academy was lively.
A large number of students and parents gathered at the school gate.
"Mom, look, look!"
Ran showed off the forehead protector on her head to her mother, Kisaki Eri, her eyes curving with smiles.
"Good job."
Eri gently patted her head. "When we get home, Mom will make something delicious for you and Sonoko."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ran and Sonoko, who had been smiling just a moment ago, turned pale instantly.
They both knew that Eri's cooking was truly terrible.
Sonoko, who had been dropped out two years ago, said in a trembling voice: "Um... Auntie Eri, why don't we eat out?"
Having been in this world for four years, Eri had studied Konoha's penal code and worked as a legal advisor in Konoha's public security department, doing quite well.
On the other side, Eriri was also showing off her forehead protector to her mother, Sawamura Sayuri.
But with her Tsundere personality, she would never throw herself into her mother's arms like Ran did.
"Oh my, our Eriri is so amazing~"
Sayuri actively hugged her.
The Tsundere Eriri pretended to struggle twice, but ultimately enjoyed her mother's embrace obediently.
Like Eri, Sayuri had gradually adapted to life in this world and made a name for herself—
Yeah, she wrote novels like Jiraiya.
She wrote the kind she liked best... boys' love novels.
Surprisingly, sales were quite good. She was the one among the transmigrated parents who earned the most money.
Last year, she also moved into a big house.
Yumiko, as usual, gathered with Yui and Hina, smiling and saying: "I hope that after we're assigned to teams, the three of us can be together."
In these four years, the three of them, along with Chizuru, had worked as servants in Makoto's house. But Chizuru had never been able to integrate into their little group.
And the Yukinoshita couple, who could be considered the wealthiest in the real world, were actually doing the worst.
One was in real estate, the other in politics… neither of these skills were useful in the Naruto World.
After all, these resources had long been monopolized by the Ninja Clans. Did they think civilians would get a share of the soup?
So for four years, the Yukinoshita Family's head had been working as a construction worker, while Mrs. Yukinoshita worked as a pastry chef at a dessert shop, serving dessert enthusiasts like Naruto and Mitarashi Anko… mainly the latter, of course.
When she first transmigrated, Mrs. Yukinoshita had worked as a waitress.
Over these four years, her other abilities hadn't improved much, but her cooking skills had certainly improved a lot. She was the family's economic pillar.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at her two daughters, who were also wearing forehead protectors, and was about to say something—
"Ah! Makoto is here!"
Everyone turned their heads in unison.
There was Makoto, strolling leisurely towards them.
Many students and parents cast admiring, awed, appreciative, and even jealous glances at him.
Ran, Kakeru, and others who had just been excited about finally becoming Genin couldn't help but show a bit of shame on their faces—
Clearly, they were all the same age, yet he was already a Chunin, while they were still being smug about becoming Genin.
The Aizono sisters, as usual, quickly ran up to Makoto.
"Makoto, look, look!" Airi held up the forehead protector she had just received but hadn't yet put on, smiling like a flower. "I've become a Ninja too!"
Makoto smiled and rubbed her head.
Just then, Marina's sharp eyes noticed something: "Huh? Makoto, the color of your vest... is it a bit different from before?"
Nishikawa Makoto smiled: "This is a Jonin vest."
As soon as he said this, the entire crowd erupted again.
'J-Jonin?!'
'Nishikawa Makoto was already a Jonin!?'