Student Exchange

"So, you turned into an old man before to test our characters, me and Konan," said Yahiko after listening to Kizaru's explanation, with a look of understanding.

"But still, you went too far!" Yahiko, who had just cried, couldn't help but complain.

Standing beside Yahiko, Konan also nodded in agreement.

Staring fiercely with big eyes at Kizaru, the Golden Flash who had deceived Yahiko and herself, Konan looked at him fiercely.

"Oh well! I'm really sorry!" scratching the back of his head, Kizaru said with a smile.

"There's absolutely no sincerity!" Yahiko said with arms crossed, feeling annoyed.

"I'm really sorry about that! I'll make it up next time!" Kizaru said with a grin, looking at the two grumpy fellows.

"This is too much!" Yahiko said unhappily, watching Kizaru's smiling face.

Bending down, Kizaru's right hand rested on Yahiko's annoyed head.

Rubbing Yahiko's head and then Konan's, Kizaru looked at the two, restrained his smile, and said seriously, "I'm really sorry, Yahiko, Konan."

"I forgive you, Kizaru!" Yahiko's face lit up again with a smile, instantly becoming happy.

"Me too, Kizaru!" Konan, beside him, looked at Kizaru gently.

"That's great!" Kizaru said with a smile, retracting his right hand and standing up straight again.

"Kizaru, have we passed the test?" Yahiko, who looked up at Kizaru, eager to be his disciple, asked nervously.

Looking down at the two anxious and expectant children, Kizaru smiled without speaking, intentionally pausing for a moment. When the two became even more nervous, he finally spoke.

"Passed!"

Hearing Kizaru's reply, Yahiko and Konan became excited, looking at each other with joy on their faces.

Seeing the joyous children in front of him, Kizaru also smiled happily.

He planned to bring these two little ones back to the village and nurture them well. They would definitely become excellent students and subordinates of his!

As for what Yahiko said on the way, about returning to Amegakure after learning, Kizaru wasn't worried.

After returning with them to Konoha, Kizaru planned to send them to the ninja academy as soon as possible.

There, they would meet Nagato and make many new friends, establishing deep bonds with Konoha.

With such bonds, it would be difficult for them to leave Konoha and return to Amegakure, even in the end.

Even if in the end, Yahiko insisted on his childhood ideals and wanted to return to Amegakure, Kizaru wouldn't stop him.

Not only would he not stop him, but he would also strongly support him!

Growing up in Konoha from a young age, cared for by himself, and establishing emotional bonds with the villagers and ninjas, Yahiko was also deeply influenced by the Will of Fire.

With Yahiko like this, returning to Amegakure with the support of Konoha, becoming the new leader of Amegakure, what difference would it make from being a Konoha ninja and the leader of Amegakure?

At that time, under Yahiko's leadership, Amegakure would become a loyal partner of Konoha!

So, whether Yahiko would leave Konoha and return to Amegakure in the future or not, it would be in the village's interest.

Yahiko's ideals even brought Kizaru some inspiration.

Referring to the practices of a certain major nation from a previous life, Kizaru felt that if he became Hokage in the future, he could establish an advanced ninja academy in the village.

This advanced ninja academy would, on one hand, absorb outstanding graduates from ninja academys for further training and development, and on the other hand, establish a system for foreign exchange students.

Next year, he would allocate a portion of free, or even exam-free, spots to give to small ninja villages outside the Five Great Countries.

With Konoha's strong reputation, coupled with some intermediate and advanced ninjutsu techniques commonly used in the Five Great Countries, the free exchange student system would surely tempt some small ninja villages.

Kizaru knew that among these small ninja villages, there would definitely be those who could see through the conspiracy, but faced with such temptation, some would inevitably yield.

And as long as the exchange student system could persist, Konoha would harvest a group of elite-trained, friendly foreign ninjas who held goodwill towards Konoha from across the ninja world.

Among these well-trained foreign ninjas, if they could rise to high positions with Konoha's support, Konoha's influence in the entire ninja world would gradually increase.

Of course, there would definitely be spies and troublemakers in this process, but as long as the benefits far outweighed the losses, it would be excellent!

Soon, a formulated plan appeared in Kizaru's mind.

"Kizaru-sensei, what are you thinking about?" Standing beside Kizaru, Yahiko couldn't help but speak as Kizaru remained silent.

Recalling his scattered thoughts and temporarily shelving the plan in his mind, Kizaru looked down at Yahiko.

"It's too early to call me sensei now, Yahiko."

"Why? Didn't you say we've already passed the test?" Yahiko asked anxiously.

"After you return to Konoha with me, you need to enter the ninja academy first. Only after graduating from the ninja academy will I take on the role of your mentor," Kizaru explained with a smile.

Understanding, Yahiko raised his hands, clenched his fists, and encouraged himself, "I will definitely graduate from the ninja academy as quickly as possible!"

Afterwards, Yahiko looked at Konan, encouraging her, "Konan, let's do our best together!"

"Yeah!" Nodding at Yahiko, Konan replied firmly.

While the two of them were encouraging each other, the sound of a hawk cry came from outside the cave.

The sound was faint, but Kizaru, with his keen perception, still heard it.

Sensing the familiar chakra, Kizaru knew it was the ninja hawk used by the village to deliver messages.

"Let's go outside!"

Hearing Kizaru's words, Yahiko and Konan quickly followed him, walking towards the outside of the cave together.

Exiting the cave, Kizaru first rubbed the head of the now standing up Matatabi, much to the surprise of the two children who were watching excitedly.

"This is Matatabi, my good companion!"

Having his head rubbed, Matatabi, who had been angry just now, paused for a moment upon hearing Kizaru's words, and all its anger dissipated instantly.

"A good companion? This annoying guy occasionally says something nice after all!"

Feeling happy inside, Matatabi's gaze towards Kizaru softened considerably.

After introducing Matatabi to the two children, Kizaru ignored their excitement and looked up at the sky.

The ninja hawk circling in the sky spotted Kizaru emerging from the cave and dove towards him.

"Big Bro Kizaru, be careful!" Yahiko, noticing the hawk diving down, warned with concern.

"Kid, don't worry, that's a bird used by the village to deliver messages," Matatabi, kindly, explained to Yahiko and Konan.

"You... can talk?" Yahiko exclaimed in surprise, pointing at Matatabi.

"What a rude brat!" Matatabi glared at Yahiko, raising its voice.

"Sorry!" Yahiko quickly apologized, bowing towards Matatabi.

Raising his right hand, Kizaru let the descending ninja hawk release the scroll from its claws and said with a smile, "Go back!"

With another chirp, the ninja hawk, seeing Kizaru catch the scroll, spread its wings and flew towards the sky.

Watching the ninja hawk soar high, Kizaru withdrew his gaze and opened the scroll in his hand.

"Negotiations with Kumogakure stalled, return quickly."

Looking at the message on the scroll, Kizaru's smile had a hint of unknown meaning.

"What's wrong?" Hearing Kizaru's sigh, Matatabi asked concernedly.

"It's troublesome." Kizaru sighed.

"What's troublesome?" Upon hearing Kizaru's sigh, Matatabi seemed a little confused.

"If a child doesn't listen, what should you do?" Looking at Matatabi, Kizaru asked with a smile.

"A child not listening? Most likely, they're spoiled. A good scolding will do!" Hearing Kizaru's smiling response, both Yahiko and Konan, still children at heart, instinctively took a step back.

Big Bro Kizaru was becoming scary!

Both of them looked at Kizaru, silently sharing the same feeling.