From the night of genocide, marching towards the strongest.

"I'm getting old, and my efficiency in handling things is getting worse and worse."

The Third Hokage silently smoked, feeling his energy was not what it used to be, and began working overtime more and more frequently.

"Boom, boom, boom."

Just then, a steady, slow knock came at the door. The Third Hokage, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, spoke.

"Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and a short old man wearing a yellow bodysuit and square-framed sunglasses walked in.

If Naruto saw this old man's appearance and clothing at this moment, he would definitely exclaim in surprise.

Because this old man is Chen Baojun, the Konoha Dragon God who was resurrected, whom Naruto mentioned a few days ago.

"Baojun, is something the matter?"

Upon seeing the visitor, the Third Hokage showed a hint of surprise and teased, "Is it because the village is currently short-handed that you're planning to return to the front lines to fill the manpower gap and contribute to the village's development?"

Chen Baojun shook his head and said with a wry smile, "You're joking, Third Generation Elder. The village is full of talented people now, and the young people are already capable of shouldering the future of the village. I, an old man who is half-buried in the ground, will not come here to hold the young people back."

Faced with Chen Baojun's explanation, the Third Hokage smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and made a self-deprecating remark.

"You old guys have someone to take over and you can relax, but old men like me have to shamelessly stay in this position."

"The Third Hokage is still vigorous despite his old age. The villagers and ninjas trust and respect you very much. The achievements the village has made under your leadership are obvious to all."

"I'm getting old." The Third Hokage waved his hand and laughed, "My position as Hokage is just a transition. Once the young people in the village have grown up, I will hand over this position to them. I can also take a break and spend some time at home with my grandson."

"Speak, Baojun, what brings you here this time?"

After a few pleasantries, the Third Hokage got straight to the point.

Chen Baojun pondered for a moment before speaking, "I came to see you about Naruto; he contacted me."

"Naruto?" The Third Hokage was slightly taken aback, and his expression became much more serious.

How did Naruto find you?

It's important to know that Chen Baojun's file lists him as a dead man, a ninja who died in the Third Shinobi World War. This fact was personally handled by the Third Hokage, and the fact that he was still alive was known only to the Third Hokage in the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

How could Naruto possibly find a dead person?

Or rather, how did Naruto come to know Chen Baojun?

Chen Baojun gave a wry smile and replied, "Naruto found a scroll I left behind in the Konoha Library. He found me based on the tombstone address written on it. Because... well... I couldn't help myself and taught him a lesson with taijutsu."

"I see." The Third Hokage nodded in understanding. "And then?"

"Then, for the past few days, that child has been pestering me, wanting me to be his teacher and teach him martial arts."

“Because Naruto’s identity is of great importance, so…” Chen Baojun looked at the Third Hokage, who still appeared calm, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “So I wanted to report this to you first and see what you think.”

The Third Hokage flicked the ash from his cigarette, not answering his question directly, but instead softly asking, "Baojun, what kind of kid do you think Naruto is?"

Chen Baojun pondered for a moment, then said with a headache, "Quirky, outspoken, disrespectful, impolite, reckless..."

The Third Hokage quietly smoked his cigarette, without interrupting.

"It's fair to say that Naruto has been giving me a real headache these past few days, but..." Chen Baojun's expression turned serious as he changed the subject.

"I could see the loneliness in that child's heart, the loneliness of longing to be recognized. Although he had a carefree and nonchalant attitude, wasn't he also using his smile to cover up his inner anxiety and to prevent others from worrying about him? In a way, that child wasn't stupid, or rather, he was a real idiot!"

"Moreover, that child is a very determined person. Once he sets his mind on something, he will always do his best to do it."

Chen Baojun sighed, recalling Naruto's determination and the taijutsu he had developed through long and arduous training over the past few days, and finally concluded with a sentence.

"That child will definitely become an excellent ninja in the future, a pillar ninja who will shoulder the future of the village."

"Hahahahaha!"

The Third Hokage listened quietly until Chen Baojun finished speaking, then burst into laughter, revealing a smile of great satisfaction.

"Baojun, it seems you have a very high opinion of Naruto."

After saying this, the Third Hokage was silent for a moment, then put on an extremely serious expression and asked earnestly, "Baojun, do you think Naruto is the incarnation of the demon fox as rumored in the village?"

"No!" Chen Baojun shook his head and denied it.

"That child is a hero, a hero who imprisoned the Nine-Tails with his own body, a hero of Konoha just like his parents!"

As a former top elite Jonin of Konoha, the so-called fox spirit incarnation could deceive unsuspecting villagers, but it could not fool him.

He could clearly distinguish between the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Nine-Tails' incarnation.

Even the moment Chen Baojun saw Naruto, he deduced Naruto's true identity.

With blond hair and the surname Whirlpool, who else in Konoha has the surname Whirlpool?

Although Chen Baojun did not know the identity of the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he did know the Fourth Hokage's wife, Kushina Uzumaki.

Furthermore, given Naruto's resemblance to his parents, his true identity is self-evident.

"It seems you've already guessed Naruto's true identity."

The Third Hokage sighed, put down his cigarette, and extinguished it.

As the orphan of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Naruto should have grown up with the respect and care of the villagers as the son of a hero.

However, because Naruto is the vessel for sealing the Nine-Tails, if enemies or other individuals with ulterior motives were to discover his identity, Naruto would be in constant danger.

Therefore, in the Third Hokage's view, the best way to protect Naruto was to conceal both of his identities and let him grow up like an ordinary child.

The Third Hokage intended to do this, but the result seems to have been disastrous.

Everyone in the village knew that Naruto was the incarnation of the demon fox, but no one knew that he was the son of a hero.

What we shouldn't have known, we now know; what we should have known, we've been kept in the dark.

With decades of political acumen, the Third Hokage would never do something so foolish. After all, the identities of the previous two Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were very well hidden, but Naruto's generation made it public knowledge.

Mini-drama: The Third Hokage flipped through Naruto's information and saw that the words "Nine-Tailed Fox" were written crookedly on every page of the book.

The Third Hokage couldn't sleep, so he carefully read through the pages until midnight, finally discerning two words written between the lines.

Danzo!

Chapter 39 Naruto's Taijutsu and Sakura's Water Release.

"I am fully aware of your purpose in coming here."

The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "If you think Naruto is a good kid and he has earned your approval, then if you want to teach him, then teach him. Don't worry about anything."

He had been watching Naruto's performance over the past two years. Although Naruto was still carefree and nonchalant, he had stopped playing pranks and sleeping in class. Instead, he had become a diligent and hardworking student.

This child is diligently cultivating himself in order to gain everyone's approval.

He was greatly relieved to realize this.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage smiled and continued, "Naruto's physique is very special, and it can be said that he is very suitable for practicing taijutsu. You are getting old, and you can't just take your superb taijutsu to your grave. It is a good thing to have a disciple to inherit your mantle."

Chen Baojun nodded and said in a deep voice, "I understand, Third Generation Lord!"

"Hmm." The Third Hokage nodded, a kind smile on his face, and encouraged, "I also look forward to seeing what kind of ninja Naruto will be when he inherits the secrets of the Konoha Dragon God."

"By the way, that child grew up without parental love, and the villagers keep their distance from him because of the rumors about the fox demon. Besides his skill training, he also needs your help in other aspects."

Chen Baojun was silent for a moment, then said earnestly, "I understand, and I will certainly live up to your expectations."

"Hehe, I believe you. Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and rest. This old body of mine needs to go back to sleep too."

"Yes!"

"Naruto who practices taijutsu?"

"I wonder what kind of ninja I'll become in the future?"

After Chen Baojun left, the Third Hokage looked at the photo of the Fourth Hokage hanging on the wall and muttered to himself.

"I didn't expect that Naruto wouldn't inherit your and Kushina's talents in ninjutsu and sealing techniques, but instead went down the path of taijutsu."

--------------

The next day, after lunch, Sakura, led by her father Haruno Chika, headed towards Maruboshi Kosuke's house.

Halfway there, Sakura hesitated and asked, "Dad, is this really okay? Isn't it too impolite to suddenly visit Grandpa Kosuke?"

"It's alright, Sakura!"

Haruno Chiu was a tall, middle-aged man in his thirties. His dark pink hair was styled into a ridiculous five-pointed star shape, making it look like Patrick Star had grown on his head, which was quite comical.

He then revealed his white teeth and said cheerfully, "Before coming here, I already informed Senior Kosuke yesterday that I would be paying him a visit today."

"But..." Sakura muttered softly, "Wouldn't it be too abrupt, too sudden, and disturb Grandpa Kosuke?"

"Haha, it's alright!" Haruno Zhao laughed heartily, hands on his hips. Seeing his daughter looking a little uneasy, he said, "Don't be nervous, Sakura. Seeing how nervous you are, I'll tell you a joke to relax you."

Sakura's expression immediately turned blank: "No!"

Ignoring his daughter's verbal rejection, Haruno Chōya began telling his own jokes.

Once upon a time, there was a steamed bun. He was walking along and got hungry. Guess what happened next?

Haruno asked mysteriously, but Sakura just remained expressionless.

"Later, he actually ate himself, pfft, hahahahahahahaha!"

Haruno Chō clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his face beaming with joy, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

"They actually ate themselves! How stupid! Hahahaha!"

........

Haruno Chizuru snapped out of his reverie of the joke and, seeing that his daughter still had a blank expression, asked curiously, "Huh? Wasn't that joke funny? Then I'll tell you another one."

Once upon a time, there was a match...

"That's enough, Dad!"

Sakura interrupted Haruno's lame joke with a dark expression and pulled him aside.

"Let's hurry to Grandpa Kosuke's house, so as not to keep him waiting."

“Uh…” Haruno Chō swallowed the lame joke in his mouth with a reluctant look on his face.

"All right!"