Will of Fire

Shintaro and Kurenai stayed with Yoshino until she recovered her composure before saying their goodbyes.

On their way, Shintaro said, "Shikaku-sensei has gone to the battlefield. I'm worried Yoshino-san will feel lonely at home. If you have time in the future, please take Shiro to keep Yoshino-san company."

Kurenai nodded understandingly and said, "I know, I'm not stupid."

Shintaro smiled, but his smile soon hardened.

Suddenly, an ANBU wearing a black hooded cloak and an animal mask appeared before them both.

"Uchiha Shintaro, Hokage-sama calls you, please go to the Hokage Building immediately."

"Understood."

After receiving Shintaro's reply, the ANBU quickly departed.

Kurenai frowned and looked at him worriedly.

After all, being called by the Hokage during wartime wasn't a good sign.

Kurenai was worried that Shintaro, like Shikaku, would also be sent to the most dangerous battlefield.

Shintaro gently placed his hand on Kurenai's shoulder, "No matter what orders the Hokage gives me, you don't need to worry."

"Because I'm strong, understand?"

Hearing this, Kurenai's eyes welled up with tears. She bit her pale pink lip and said, "I'm sure you'll be fine..."

Shintaro nodded, wiped the tears from Kurenai's eyes with his fingers, then turned and headed to the Hokage Building.

Upon reaching the Hokage's office, he knocked on the door.

"It seems I'll have to send you to deal with Kumogakure again... Come in."

Hiruzen's voice came from inside.

Shintaro pushed the door open and saw a familiar face inside, besides the Hokage, it was Minato.

"Shintaro, you're here."

Hiruzen waved and gently called him over.

"Hokage-sama." Shintaro bowed slightly.

Shintaro then greeted Minato, "Minato-san."

Minato also smiled gently and nodded.

"Shintaro, I have read the Jonin recommendation letter given by Shikaku. Your strength has indeed reached the Jonin level."

"I have always been optimistic about your talent. You will certainly become a pillar of Konoha in the future and an outstanding successor to the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen spoke directly, then changed the topic: "However, you are only eleven years old. You are too young and lack experience, so I do not approve of your promotion to Jonin."

Shintaro had killed the S-class rogue ninja Kakuzu, but he was not promoted to Jonin.

Using age and experience as reasons was absurd.

A ninja's strength is never measured by age, and in terms of experience, Shintaro had completed two S-rank missions.

Shintaro scoffed internally but kept a calm face and lowered his head, saying, "I understand Hokage-sama's intentions."

Hiruzen nodded happily and then revealed his purpose: "So I decided to let you train for another year, and then you can be promoted to Jonin after gaining enough experience."

"Sunagakure has fully invaded, and Kumogakure in the northeast has also made some moves. I hope you can go to the Northeast Fire Nation Defense Line as a garrison. After one year, I will approve you to officially become Jonin."

"Coincidentally, Minato is going there to strengthen the defense. Minato, you are a senior. You and Shintaro should take good care of each other when you arrive."

"Understood, I will take good care of Shintaro." Minato answered respectfully.

Shintaro then asked, "Then, can the assistant duty with Orochimaru-sama be suspended?"

Hiruzen smiled and said, "You didn't know, Orochimaru was assigned by me to be the commander of the Northeast Defense Line a few days ago before you returned to Konoha. It also applies to you going there to be his assistant."

Shintaro then had no more doubts.

Hiruzen then informed him of the specific arrangements, "Gather in front of the Hokage Building at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, and then Minato will lead a total of five hundred troops to the northeast headquarters, coordinated by Orochimaru."

"Understood."

After Shintaro bowed slightly, he bid farewell to both of them and left as Hiruzen indicated.

After Shintaro left, Hiruzen sighed and said to Minato, "Uchiha Shintaro's talent is truly too strong, a bit too strong..."

Minato looked at him with a complicated expression. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Hokage-sama, I think Shintaro is a good kid. There's no need to do this."

Hiruzen lowered his head, and his expression was unclear, "Shintaro may be a good kid, but the Will of Fire in his heart is not strong enough."

"Minato, you must further cultivate Shintaro's Will of Fire at the Kumogakure defense line. If he is willing to break free from the constraints of his clan, embrace the Will of Fire like Uchiha Kagami did, and work hard for the village, then I can trust him fully like the Second Hokage did."

"Minato, do you understand what I'm saying?"

Hiruzen raised his eyes and looked at Minato.

Minato solemnly replied, "Understood, Hokage-sama, I will apply and teach the Will of Fire to Shintaro."

Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.

"Minato, I have always been very optimistic about you. Among all my disciples, you are the best. You must work hard. Perhaps after this war, you can become the next great successor of the Hokage position."

Minato looked forward to it in his eyes, and he bowed and said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your training."

Hiruzen was no longer young, and he had more than once expressed his thoughts on the next Hokage.

Minato was clearly considered by Hiruzen as a very suitable candidate for the next Hokage.

"By the way, how is Kakashi's strength now?" Hiruzen asked again.

Minato replied, "Kakashi's talent is also very strong, and he is involved in all five elements, but he excels in earth and lightning elements. He is developing a lightning element ninjutsu, and his potential is no less than my [Rasengan]."

Hiruzen had always been optimistic about geniuses who excelled in learning ninjutsu, including Orochimaru and now Kakashi.

"Yes, then he should be strong enough to be a Jonin, right? I plan to promote him to Jonin."

Hiruzen showed his expectation for Kakashi's strength to grow.

However, Minato's answer disappointed him.

"It's still too early to be promoted to Jonin now. At least he should wait until his new technique is successfully developed. Perhaps he can be promoted to Jonin next year."

Hiruzen sighed, agreeing with Minato's statement, and then gestured for him to leave.

After Minato left, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and murmured to himself, "Jiraiya once said that no one compares to Namikaze Minato."

"This sentence also applies to Uchiha Shintaro."

"But you are different after all."

"Minato comes from a civilian background, while Shintaro, he comes from the Uchiha Clan..."

"The Will of Fire of Konoha still cannot be passed on to you."