Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all..."

"Nothing much, sensei, goodbye."

Shisui waved goodbye.

He still didn't understand and needed to continue seeking answers.

Kyōichi watched them leave and sighed inwardly.

In Konoha, it wasn't just the Uchiha who were isolated, like a village within a village.

There was another clan just the same.

The Hyuga clan!

At least the Uchiha sent people to the ninja academy every year, while the Hyuga clan barely sent anyone, mostly teaching within their clan.

However.

Only the Uchiha faced targeting, while the Hyuga didn't face any policy suppression, the reason wasn't just because the Uchiha clan "had different intentions."

Even if Shisui became clan head and led the clan to become "good" Uchiha, Danzo might not put down his blade.

Regarding attitudes toward the Uchiha, he was even more severe than the Third.

If Shisui couldn't understand the reason for the divide between the Uchiha and Konoha's civilians, there was no need to explain these things in detail.

Kyōichi turned and headed towards Ichiraku Ramen.

As for the Third.

What was there to worry about?

The Third was different from Danzo after all.

He was just interacting with Shisui as teacher and student, letting Shisui and Obito help civilians more and do volunteer work, the Third should be grateful!

He arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.

Just as he was about to sit down, a figure quickly rushed towards him.

Whoosh~

A sound rang out.

A masked ANBU ninja appeared.

"Kanda Kyōichi, Lord Third demands your presence at the Hokage Tower."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll go right away."

Kyōichi was surprised.

However.

The other party was very purposeful, clearly here specifically for him.

He didn't think too much and followed the ANBU ninja to the Hokage Tower. Both used the Body Flicker Technique and moved extremely fast, arriving at the Hokage Tower in just seconds.

"Lord Third, I've brought him."

"You may go."

"Yes!"

The ANBU ninja disappeared.

In the office, only the Third Hokage and Kanda Kyōichi remained.

The Third Hokage took off his hat, smiling like an ordinary old man as he stood up, looking Kyōichi up and down before sighing: "I never expected that after not seeing you for several years, you'd grown so much!"

"Lord Third knows me?"

Kyōichi was slightly surprised.

"Of course, your grandmother and my sensei were close relatives. When you were born, I even held you."

The Third said with a smile.

"This... I never heard grandma mention this."

Kyōichi scratched his head embarrassedly and laughed awkwardly.

However.

He was clear in his heart.

Whether this actually happened was hard to say—

Most likely it didn't.

But there was no need to expose this. The Third saying these pleasantries, and using various gestures since entering to close their psychological distance, clearly wanted to win him over.

This was better than keeping distance.

"Hahaha, counting it out, you're of my nephew's generation, sit, let's talk like family."

"Thank you, Lord Third."

Kyōichi bowed.

Only after the Third sat down did he take a chair and sit.

The Third picked up his pipe, lit it with a smile and then said: "How have you been feeling since returning to the village after your injury?"

"Lord Third, you might not believe this, but after recovering from my injury, I feel my body has become stronger, and my Water Release jutsu seems more powerful."

Kyōichi truthfully revealed part of the information.

The Third's smile grew even brighter, and after taking a puff of his pipe said: "oh? although it is surprising, it's not impossible. You have Senju blood in you, the Senju bloodline has it's own set of mysteries."

The Third grew increasingly pleased.

Kanda Kyōichi didn't hide anything, giving honest feedback.

This was very good!

He took a puff of his pipe and continued: "I've also heard about your performance at the academy.

Currently it's wartime, the academy's grade organization and graduation times are chaotic, following routine procedures doesn't mean much, your flexible teaching methods are very good!"

"Thank you, Lord third!"

Kyōichi smiled broadly while inwardly pondering the Third's intentions.

Mentioning the Senju bloodline and academy performance.

Was he going to promote him?

"No need to be nervous, I called you here to chat, and also to ask, since your strength has reached jonin level, would you be willing to take the jonin exam?"

The Third took out an application form.

A jonin examination application.

This form needed to be filled out by him.

"Jonin exam?"

Kyōichi was stunned.

He had guessed there might be some benefit coming his way, but hadn't expected it would directly be the jonin promotion exam.

Jonin...

He fell into deep thought.

This had both advantages and disadvantages. As a jonin, he would have more power and freedom, but correspondingly more responsibility, and future missions would be more challenging.

However.

That said.

The Third's assessment of his abilities was clear, and not promoting to jonin might make him suspicious instead.

Thinking of this, he scratched his head and said: "Lord Hokage, I'm only a chunin, I'm worried my abilities aren't enough."

"Your strength is definitely sufficient, other aspects can be trained. After many years of war, there are many jonin vacancies that urgently need to be filled. If you can fill one, that would be best."

The Third sighed.

"If Lord Third thinks I can do it, then I'll try!"

Kyōichi breathed a sigh of relief.

He took the form and signed his name on it.

"That's more like it. Ability can be cultivated, spirit and will are key. There aren't many people who can understand the Will of Fire anymore."

The Third said with a smile.

Kyōichi understood the implication.

Shisui!

See?

He knew the Third would have to thank him!

Of course.

The Uchiha side was probably fuming right now - such a good genius, and after becoming a teacher for just a few days he turned out like this. One of these days they might come looking for trouble.

However.

It didn't matter.

The current Uchiha were just cowards.

When Madara defected, they didn't dare follow.

After Kagami died and the Third took power, gradually pressuring them away from Konoha's center, they still didn't dare resist.

Only when life became unbearable did they think of rebelling.

What were they doing before?

Kyōichi thoroughly looked down on the current Uchiha—including Fugaku Uchiha.

He was also an incompetent one.

Weak and indecisive.

If Shisui could change his unrealistic delusions and get rid of his naive problems, even Shisui would be much more qualified than Fugaku.

Leaving the office.

Kyōichi walked home, secretly pondering.

The Third's attitude was very clear.

He was recruiting him, hoping he would lean towards the Hokage faction.

For this he even brought up the old Senju connection, dredging up ancient history to build relations. Though laughable, it was enough to prove the Third had no ill intentions towards him.

In the short term, there was no need to worry about the Third taking action against him.

In fact.

The Third might even protect him from Danzo's interference.

He just needed to guard against underhanded methods.

As for the jonin promotion, with war coming next year, having jonin status would benefit him greatly.

So.

The jonin position was definitely worth pursuing.

However...

"After becoming a jonin, what about my system?"

Kyōichi looked at his teacher system.

This system was good for teaching, but after becoming a jonin, there was no way he could continue staying at the ninja academy.

But he was just a temporary teacher anyway, even if not a jonin, it seemed unlikely he could continue at the academy after recovery.

Thinking of this, Kyōichi's thoughts became clearer.

After becoming a jonin, he could apply to lead a team, or at worst exercise his "teaching nature" by giving guidance to others.

Not a big problem!