Konoha: Tsunade, I Am the Hokage! [6]

“What do you plan to do? Maybe... be a little more patient with Kakashi.”

The Third Hokage looked at Jiraiya.

Kakashi was the biggest problem child.

But—

He was also exceptionally gifted. The Third couldn’t bear to see that talent go to waste. He was still hoping Jiraiya would give the boy a chance.

But Jiraiya only replied, “If it really comes to an outcome we don’t want... then maybe it was never meant to be.”

“I’m off.”

He waved a hand and disappeared from the office.

The Third Hokage let out a heavy sigh, his face clouded with worry.

---

The Next Day.
Forest of Death.
Training Ground 7.

Yūhi Kurenai had arrived early. But to her surprise, both Kagenori and Kakashi were already there, seated beneath a tree, quietly resting.

She tiptoed closer, not daring to make a sound.

Maybe I should just sit and rest...

But I can’t stop thinking...!

Kurenai looked up at the shifting shadows of the trees above, her heart a tangle of emotions.

After a while—

“Ah, sorry, sorry. Ran into something on the way. I’m late.”

Jiraiya grinned sheepishly.

“Jiraiya-sama, you’re very late!” Kurenai glanced at the time.

Any later and it would’ve been lunchtime.

But—

Seeing the three genin in front of him, Jiraiya’s smile froze mid-face.

One wore a mask, gaze frosty as ice.

The other two looked completely composed.

“Working together so well already, huh? Seeing this, I feel a lot more confident you’ll pass the assessment.”

Clearing his throat, Jiraiya casually pulled a pair of bells from his waist pouch.

“Kakashi, I don’t know what your first test was like, but mine’s simple. Get the bell from me, and you pass.”

Clink—

The bells jingled against each other as he hung them back.

“Any questions?”

“If we get one bell, does that count? Or do we have to get both?” Kakashi asked.

Jiraiya answered, “Given the difference in strength between us, you only need to get one to pass. But—whoever performs the worst will be tied up, miss lunch, and take part in a separate afternoon test.”

Kakashi took a deep breath and said nothing more.

Jiraiya looked at the other two.

“And you?”

“No problem,” Kagenori replied.

“Alright, then let’s begin. You have a bit of time to plan your strategy.”

Whoosh!

In an instant, the three genin vanished from sight.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. They all went in different directions? Could it be...

His heart sank slightly.

He had high hopes for Kagenori. But if the boy had such shallow tactical thinking or so little sense of teamwork, it would be a serious disappointment.

At that moment—

“Kagenori... we’re really not going to coordinate with Kakashi?” Kurenai whispered.

“Of course we are. You and I will plan and work together to create openings. He’s a chūnin—if he won’t take initiative, there’s only so much we can do.”

Kagenori’s tone was calm.

Kurenai let out a breath of relief.

“So what’s the plan?”

“You and I will engage directly, draw his attention. Use genjutsu and traps to create an opening for Kakashi. See if we can get a bell. Your role’s to support with illusions, then…”

“Got it.”

...

“Let’s begin. When the sand in this hourglass runs out, if you haven’t taken a bell, you fail all the same.”

Jiraiya flipped the hourglass and quietly scanned the surroundings.

“Well hidden.”

A faint smile curled at his lips.

If nothing else, their fundamentals were solid.

But—

One of them had made a mistake.

Jiraiya stepped forward seemingly at random, but each movement was calculated.

Crack!

A huge bound log came sweeping in from the front.

Jiraiya instantly flickered away.

But—

In that brief moment, a distorted figure appeared ahead, then vanished.

Kurenai?

[Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death]

Jiraiya instantly recognized the jutsu and surged his chakra to disrupt his flow.

In a flash, he broke the illusion.

However—

In the next instant, multiple traps flew at him simultaneously.

Jiraiya flickered again.

He landed on a tree branch, alert and watchful.

These brats...

Not a single one to underestimate!

He never expected the girl from the Yūhi clan had already mastered a B-rank illusion.

Before he could reassess, two figures burst from the brush.

Kakashi wielded a blade. Kagenori shot up from below with [Body Flicker].

Jiraiya’s lips twitched into a faint smirk.

Clang!

His kunai met Kagenori’s, deflecting it just in time.

Kagenori didn’t linger—he vanished again, landing on another tree.

But—

“Nice strategy.”

Jiraiya’s voice came from behind.

The “Jiraiya” they had just attacked dissolved into mist.

A shadow clone.

The real Jiraiya attacked with a flurry of punches and kicks, lightning-fast.

Within moments, he and Kagenori exchanged three punches and two kicks.

Not bad!

Jiraiya was impressed.

Kagenori’s taijutsu...

Among genin, definitely elite. Probably better than many chūnin.

Sensing the boy’s caliber, Jiraiya upped the intensity.

But—

Poof!

The figure in front turned into a wooden log.

The real Kagenori had already fled to another position.

Good kid!

A glint of approval flashed in Jiraiya’s eyes.

It wasn’t just Kagenori’s speed, substitution, or flicker—it was his judgment.

The moment Jiraiya got serious, the boy retreated without hesitation.

That level of composure... impressive.

“Over here!”

A massive log trap came swinging from above—Kurenai had triggered it, buying time for Kagenori.

But—

Jiraiya smashed it apart with a single punch.

“If this is all you’ve got, you’re never passing this test.”

“Move!” Kagenori called out.

He knew—

Jiraiya wasn’t using his full strength.

In real combat, the man could’ve easily used [Wild Lion's Mane Technique] or moved even faster.

He was one of the legendary Sannin, after all.

Right now, Jiraiya was just fast enough to keep the pressure on.

Kagenori needed traps or teammates to escape—this was a test.

But—

He’d led Jiraiya right where he wanted.

Whish, whish, whish!

Wooden stakes laced with barbs shot toward Jiraiya mid-air from all directions.

Simultaneously, two shadowy figures launched at him.

One looked like Kagenori.

The other had transformed into Kakashi.

The two “clones” charged in unison.

From above, Kurenai weaved hand signs.

In a blink, the wooden stakes and two attackers reached Jiraiya.

Suddenly—

His hair grew wildly, lashing out in every direction.

He caught the first few stakes and then lashed at the attackers.

Boom!

The clones exploded on impact.

Kurenai’s original illusion: [Naraku Bunshin—Hell’s Mirror Clones].

A genjutsu-enhanced shadow clone with explosive properties.

Jiraiya’s chakra had remained unstable, keeping him immune, but in that instant—one of the “stakes” morphed into a person.

Kakashi, gripping a rope, blade flashing like a beast’s fang, dove straight for Jiraiya.

Clang!

Jiraiya blocked with a kunai.

But—

A breeze stirred behind him.

Kagenori?

So fast!

Jiraiya was startled.

He knew Kagenori’s Body Flicker was exceptional, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.

Seven years old, and already at this level...

Unbelievable.

And not just speed.

His punches, kicks, body control—all far beyond the average for his age.

Only Kakashi or that other little monster could rival him.

And now—

He had another Kakashi attacking him in tandem.

Blade, kunai, fists.

Accompanied by the ever-shifting illusions of falling sakura.

The coordination was dazzling.

Then—strike!

Blade and fist landed together.

“Careful!”

Kagenori’s fist connected—and in that instant, he sensed something off.

That texture’s wrong...

No way their ragtag attacks could truly land a hit on Jiraiya.

Sure enough—the Jiraiya before them melted into a pile of sludge.

[Earth Clone].

“Above!” Kurenai shouted.

No further orders needed. Kakashi slashed upward—

A massive net dropped from the canopy.

Around them, the stakes pinned by Jiraiya’s hair earlier also surged inward.

Rip!

Kakashi’s blade tore a huge hole in the net.

But before he could recover, Jiraiya was already at his throat.

Only—

Kagenori flickered between them.

Boom!

Their fists collided with full force.

BOOM!

Kagenori was blasted into the ground—but as he fell, he shouted:

“Jiraiya-sama! You wouldn’t want people finding out that every day, you’re secretly—”

---

This is a fan translation of 木叶：纲手，我才是火影！by 卖身葬节操 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!