Chapter 20: A talk with my disciple

(Hiruzen POV)

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"How many alleys did you walk today, Sensei?" Orochimaru asked, his face showing signs of fatigue as he waited patiently in my office.

"Can't help it, everyone is too enthusiastic today," I replied with a chuckle, before settling back into my seat at the desk.

With the war against Sunagakure finally over, the returning troops from the Land of Rivers brought with them a surge of morale that quickly spread throughout the village like wildfire.

Although it was exhausting to be stopped and greeted at every turn, the happiness and relief shining in their faces made every moment worthwhile.

"Anyway, what do you think of your student Nawaki?" I asked, eager to hear his perspective.

Might Duy and Akio had already shared their observations about Nawaki with me, so I was particularly curious about Orochimaru's viewpoint.

"He is hardworking, resilient, and skillful in his Earth jutsu application. He also maintains a positive and cooperative attitude towards me and others. When fighting alongside others, he isn't single-minded. However, he can be overly confident at times. I believe he needs to be more cautious and develop better contingency plans when engaging in close-range combat. His main strength lies in Taijutsu, which could become a weakness if an opponent is skillful or fast enough to exploit the moments when he enters or exits the Third Gate state," Orochimaru said thoughtfully.

"So, what do you think he should focus on?" I inquired further.

"I can't comment much on his combat prowess centered around Taijutsu since Duy would be a more suitable teacher for that. He could improve his Earth jutsu application through practice and sparring. However, I believe he should also develop skills in stealth and sensing opponents through vibrations or even chakra, if possible. Additionally, he should progress in his fuinjutsu, which is impressive for a Genin but not exceptional compared to others," he concluded.

Orochimaru also suggested taking Nawaki to the battlefield, arguing that witnessing the harshness and hostility of the world firsthand would temper his confidence. Without this experience, his overconfidence could become his greatest flaw.

I agreed with this suggestion, recognizing that while many shine in this world, countless others crumble under pressure. Only a few withstand the strain and emerge like diamonds, shining brightly under the sun.

"Speaking of the battlefield…

"I think it's time for you to go with Tsunade and Jiraiya to join the Iwagakure war front. I believe summoning beasts would be effective against the Explosion Corps. Moreover, it would boost the morale of the troops there."

With the death of the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Ebizo, Shalan, and Chisa, and the annihilation of the Ryuka clan, it won't be long before Iwagakure and Amegakure launch relentless assaults on Sunagakure in their weakened state. This threat will eventually turn towards us after they finish with Sunagakure.

"Understood, Sensei. I will inform them," he affirmed.

With a proud smile, I began to chat casually about other matters, like the surprising news of my wife's pregnancy at an unexpected age. Curious, I also asked about the current situations in the Lands of Hot Springs, Frost, and Lightning.

Having never ventured beyond the Land of Fire for leisure due to perpetual conflicts during the Sengoku period with the Uchiha and their allied clans, and later engagements with the major four villages plus Takigakure after Shodai Hokage's passing, my travels were confined to Fire Country cities, often at the invitation of the Fire Daimyo or by his ministers during my tenure as Hokage.

Decades of village duty had made life somewhat monotonous, so I eagerly listened to his vivid descriptions, mentally transporting myself to those distant lands.

....

"Sensei?"

"Ah, yes," I quickly coughed, snapping out of my daydream.

After our pleasant chat, he departed to resume training his team.

Afterward, I opened a file to see yesterday's report.

"Hmmm." I scanned through the document, noting details meticulously recorded. Aside from a few paranoid patrol officers who had been rendered unconscious during the night, presumably due to Akio's actions, everything else appeared to be in order.

Of course, since I haven't seen a report about the Uchiha yet, it's best not to jump to conclusions before reading it.