After transforming, I became the wife of all Naruto fans.

"Let's go!" Uzuki Yugao led Chiba quickly toward the back of Konoha Mountain.

After some time, the two arrived at the woods behind the mountain.

Before Chiyu could even see where the Third Generation was, the aroma of Maruboshi Kosuke's food wafted over.

Then came the third generation's hearty laughter.

"So, Kosuke, you need to take good care of yourself! The future of Konoha depends on you!"

"Hahaha, Third Generation Master, you're the same!"

As Uzuki Yugao approached with Chiba, she discovered that the Third Generation and Maruboshi Kosuke were enjoying their meal.

The distinct footsteps quickly attracted the attention of the Third Hokage and Maruboshi Kosuke. The Third Hokage looked over and said, "Oh, Yugao is here! And Chiba is here too!"

"Have you eaten? Why don't you come and have some? Kosuke's cooking is absolutely amazing!"

"No, I already ate before I came!"

Both Uzuki Yugao and Chiba shook their heads.

"Is that so? That's a real pity. Kosuke's skills are exceptional!"

The third generation shook their heads, looking as if they were truly disappointed.

He then looked at Maruboshi Kosuke: "Kosuke, now that Chiba is here, let me talk to this child!"

"Alright, then, Third Hokage, I'll be taking my leave now!"

Maruhoshi Kosuke wisely got up and left with Uzuki Yugao.

However, when he passed by Qianyu, he gave her a reassuring look.

Only then did the Third Hokage look at Chiba, revealing the kind smile that was becoming his mask:

"Qianyu, how about you accompany this old man for a walk?"

"Of course, Lord Hokage!"

Qianyu nodded.

The two of them walked through the woods one after the other.

It must be said that the ninja world's infrastructure is somewhat backward, but its natural environment is truly excellent.

It was a rare treat not to rush through the forest. Walking in the forest, with soft, humus-laden soil underfoot, the fresh, grassy air inhaled, and the delicate chirping of birds and insects in my ears, was quite pleasant.

After walking for a while, Qianyu felt as if her soul had been cleansed.

At this moment, the third generation finally spoke: "Not bad, right?"

"What?" Qianyu didn't react for a moment.

“I mean, isn’t this forest in Konoha pretty good?” the Third Hokage added.

“Indeed!” Qianyu agreed, “Walking in this forest feels like my soul has been cleansed!”

"Oh, so that's how you feel! Hahaha, not bad, it seems you're the kind of person who pays more attention to your own feelings!" The Third Generation laughed heartily.

Hearing his words, Chiyu wisely replied, "Third Generation Lord, aren't you one?"

“No!” The Third Hokage sighed regretfully. “As Hokage, I always keep my thoughts in mind.”

"Like now, as I walk through this forest, I'm thinking about why this forest is so wonderful!"

"Why is that?" Qianyu asked again.

The three generations solemnly declared: "Because there is an invisible hand controlling it!"

"Oh?" Hearing the Third Generation say that, Chiba became somewhat curious: "What do you mean?"

"Look!" The Third Generation pointed to the sky.

"Sunlight shines down from the sky and onto the leaves, allowing them to photosynthesize, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This oxygen is then absorbed by the animals in the forest, and their droppings become nutrients for the trees."

"In other words, as long as it's in this forest, everything can get what it needs, as if an invisible hand has planned it all out!"

"If it needs more, give it more, and then use what it produces to compensate for the others. Everyone can get their share, which is why this forest is so perfect!"

"I see!" Qianyu seemed to suddenly realize.

But in reality, she was constantly complaining in her mind.

It's just an ecological cycle, why bring up the invisible hand...?

It's as if the grass on the ground doesn't want sunlight.

In fact, it's not that it doesn't want it; it's just that the sunlight is being blocked by the big tree.

These three generations are just trying to fool her by treating her like a loser!

But after going on like this, shouldn't we get to the main point?

Chiba looked at the Third Generation.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage changed the subject: "Actually, governing a ninja village is the same."

"However, the ninja village does not have an invisible hand, so it can only rely on me, the Hokage, to allocate resources and do my best to ensure that everyone can get their share and be satisfied."

"Fortunately, I've done a good job of keeping everyone satisfied, which is why I've been able to serve as Hokage in Konoha for so many years."

The Third Hokage suddenly asked, "Chiba, do you understand what I mean?"

“…Understood.” Qianyu nodded, slightly speechless.

Because what the third generation meant was that they wanted her to give something up, right?

Such a simple goal, yet they go through such a long and complicated process, spouting all sorts of strange platitudes... I guess that's just how high-ranking leaders are; they always have to project an air of superiority.

Too lazy to argue with the Third Hokage, Chiba asked directly, "So, Hokage-sama, what do you want?"

"Qianyu, I heard you've mastered Ice Release?"

Instead of giving a direct answer, the third generation raised a new question.

"Yes!" Qianyu finally understood.

It seems that her actions in visiting Bai yesterday revealed that she knows Ice Release.

"Can I take a look at this?" the third generation asked.

Without hesitation, Qianyu immediately formed hand seals: "Ice Release: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystal!"

"call--"

A biting, cold wind suddenly appeared in the forest.

The next second, an ice crystal magic mirror suddenly solidified, reflecting the gleaming light in the Third Generation's eyes!

"Good, good, good, good!" Looking at the magic mirror, the Third Hokage exclaimed four times in a row, "It's just like what that kid Haku showed me before!"

"It seems you've truly mastered Ice Release, Chiyu. What an amazing talent!"

The third generation was extremely excited: "Even among me, your talent ranks in the top three!"

Qianyu smiled nonchalantly: "Lord Hokage, you flatter me!"

"How could that be?" The Third Hokage waved his hand. "Actually, we've been researching Ice Release ever since Haku came to Konoha."

"But unfortunately, Bai's ice release comes from his bloodline. He can only say that he knows how but not why. The village's researchers traced back to the source, but they couldn't find the key."

"Only you, Chiyu, with just one scroll from Haku, successfully reproduced the Ice Release bloodline limit, making Ice Release no longer a mystery in Konoha, nor exclusive to Kirigakure."

"Someone like you will surely be recorded in Konoha's future history books and have your name etched in history, so how could it be an overstatement?"

The third generation showered Senba with compliments.

It seems that Qianyu has already surpassed the first and second generations, and even the third and fourth generations.

However, Qianyu knew very well that this was a case of praising her to death.

First, they flattered her, and then she naturally couldn't refuse the third generation's request.

So why can't we just say things more directly?

"Lord Hokage, you've made me blush!"

Qianyu touched her face, first pretending to be shy.

Then, just as the Third Generation was about to speak, Chiba interrupted him, saying, "So, please say whatever you want to say!"

"Is that so? That's fine then!" The Third Hokage's eyes shifted rapidly as he looked at Chiba, who was covering her face and seemed genuinely shy.

Finally, he took a deep breath and slowly said, "Then I'll be frank!"

"Could you provide the village with your method of cultivating Ice Release?"

"Don't worry, just like I told you before, the village will definitely not treat you unfairly! Can you tell me what you want?"

"Anything is fine?" Qianyu couldn't help but ask.

“Anything is fine!” The Third Generation nodded firmly.

"Is that so..." Qianyu rested her chin on her hand, thinking seriously.

After a while, she looked at the third generation and said, "I want..."

"You actually want this?!" The three representatives were shocked upon hearing Qianyu's request.

Finally, after frowning and pondering for a long time, and looking at Chiba carefully several times, the Third Hokage slowly nodded.

"If this is all you're asking for!"

"can!"

……

After confirming each other's needs, Chiba bid farewell to the Third Generation and went home alone.

Although her Ice Release technique was acquired through skill points, she already possessed the knowledge, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to handwrite another Ice Release training scroll.

Two days later, holding the Ice Release training scroll, Chiyu arrived at the Hokage Building and took what she had asked for.

For Qianyu, this was just a perfectly normal transaction.

However, shortly after Chiba left, a person with bandages on his right hand and right eye, and a cane in his left hand, walked into the Third Hokage's office.

"Oh!"

Danzo sat down aggressively at the Third Hokage's table.

Seeing his close friend's obviously ill-intentioned arrival, the Third Hokage smiled and said, "Oh, isn't this Danzo? What brings you here today?"

"Hmph, Sarutobi, why pretend you know what's going on!" Danzo slammed his cane down heavily. "You know perfectly well why I'm here!"

"Hey, what are you saying!" The Third Hokage squinted and leisurely tapped his pipe. "I'm not a mind reader, how would I know what you want?"

"Then I'll be blunt!" Danzo's sinister single eye stared intently at the Third Hokage: "I want a scroll of Ice Release too!"

"You didn't give me that white one before, but instead wasted it by putting it in the hospital. You said it was to create a new bloodline family, so I can understand."

"But now, you should at least give me a share of the Ice Release scroll written by that genin named Phoenix Temple Chiba!"

As he spoke, Danzo was somewhat speechless.

That's Ice Release! The powerful bloodline of the Kirigakure-Yuki clan, who once roamed the world.

After being caught in the Blood Mist of the Mist Ninja, he was a rare descendant of blood, and a male at that. It was fortunate that he was found by the Third Hokage.

How can someone possibly master Ice Release with just a vaguely written Ice Release scroll?

Is this what genius is?

Danzo couldn't help but recall the scene when he read his teacher's Flying Thunder God scroll.

This is how he saw it:

Second generation: Flying Thunder God, just do it like this, then do it again and that will do.

Danzo: What is that?

When Minato Namikaze saw it: Oh, I see. As expected of the Second Hokage, I've got it!

"..."

Danzo shook his head speechlessly.

However, the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before he quickly turned his attention back to the Third Generation.

Then something even more infuriating happened: his demands were so clear, yet the third generation still refused!

"The Ice Release scroll you mentioned, yeah, there really is one!"

"But if I give you a copy, there's no rush, right? I just received it myself and haven't had a chance to verify it yet!"

The Third Hokage, grinning like a fox, said slowly, "After all, the lives of Root ninjas are precious. It wouldn't be good if something went wrong during training!"

"You!" Danzo sat up abruptly, his face showing obvious anger.

In his view, it was just a scroll for cultivating Ice Release techniques; he didn't even know if he could cultivate it. Was it really worth it?

However, Danzo forcibly suppressed his anger: "The affairs of Root are none of your business!"

"How about this, you give me the scroll of Ice Release, and we'll keep track of Root's training progress together, okay?"

Danzo made concessions.

"Is that so..."

Such a concession was somewhat tempting for the third generation.

One person's plan is short-sighted, but two people's plans are long-sighted. Root has extensive experience in this area. If we had information about Root, they might actually be able to quickly reproduce Ice Release.

However, even with Danzo's concession, the Third Hokage still shook his head: "No rush!"

"Come on, you must be exhausted from rushing all this way. Have some tea first!"

The Third Hokage poured Danzo a cup of tea.

As he lay on one side, he kept muttering, "You, you, you're always too hasty in everything. Let me tell you, Danzo, you can't eat hot tofu if you're too hasty. We're all this age, we should be more composed."

"Have some tea first, then we'll continue..."

They talked about three generations and so on, but never got to the point.

Faced with these three generations, Danzo experienced once again the feeling of being unable to exert his strength, a feeling he had experienced countless times in the past.

Moreover, this feeling was different from when he faced the Uchiha clan, where he could walk alone and decide the fate of the Uchiha clan with a single word.

Because the Third Hokage was the Hokage, and he was the Hokage's assistant, his power came from the Hokage. Openly opposing the Hokage was tantamount to opposing his own power.

Since the third generation has now shown this attitude...

Danzo suddenly had a flash of inspiration and looked at the Third Hokage.

Noticing Danzo's gaze, the Third Hokage, who was about to say something, suddenly shut up and gave a knowing smile.

Knowing what he was going to say, Danzo instantly flew into a rage, slammed his hand heavily on the table, and uttered the line he had rehearsed countless times: "Sarutobi, you will regret this!"

The Third Hokage smiled slightly: "Danzo, I am the true Hokage!"

Danzo: "Hmph!"

Immediately after being rejected, Danzo skillfully got up, went out, and slammed the door shut.

"Bang!" The sound of the door being slammed shut echoed, and the Anbu guarding the Hokage's office gave a knowing smile.

To be honest, his family makes wooden doors, and in recent years they've even started specializing in the business of making the Hokage's office in Konoha.

For reasons that everyone understands, the Hokage's office did not last long, which allowed his family to become wealthy from this alone and even afford to support him as an Anbu member.

So after he became a member of the secret service, he was specifically transferred here to guard the gate.

For others, guarding the gate is boring and tedious, but for Danzo, every time he slammed the door, it was a joyful moment of money falling into his pocket, so how could it be boring?

However, at this moment, no one was paying attention to the little schemes of the secret guards.

After Danzo left, the Third Hokage smiled and continued to attend to his own affairs.

Although his relationship with Danzo, the "You Regret, Danzo, I'm a Shadow" drama, often unfolds, the reasons for each instance are actually different.

For example, this time, it was because Danzo had once again reached out to him.

Not long after Chiba left, Danzo arrived. What's that called?

Therefore, rejecting Danzo can be considered a mild but effective warning.

Of course, sometimes he simply wanted to show off that he was the Hokage, and there's no need to go into details about Danzo's angry expression.

After Danzo left, the Hokage Building fell silent.

One day later, the third round of the Chunin Exams officially began!