CHAPTER 126:

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"If you're not working hard enough... then work harder."

When Kitahara Hitoshi said this, not only the small group but even the Yuhi Kurenai team outside was stunned. Because... can you actually say something like that?

"..."

"If the effort is not enough, then double it. Effort isn't just a concept..."

Inuzuka Kiba quickly interrupted, "This kind of thing—love..."

"My strength... there's a gap compared to the average Jōnin," Kurenai Yuhi admitted. "But it hasn't improved for years. I've tried. It's just... I've hit a bottleneck." She shook her head.

As a Konoha ninja and a Jōnin squad leader, she knew what was happening in the upper ranks. The Third Hokage had already been disqualified by Tobirama, and the Second Hokage had selected Kitahara Hitoshi as the next candidate. One more push and he would become the Fifth Hokage.

So in front of the next possible Hokage, she had to show respect.

Kurenai Yuhi is a shinobi with exceptional appearance. She has long jet-black hair, ruby-like burgundy eyes, refined features, and a charming figure.

Kitahara Hitoshi glanced at her, his expression unreadable. Various data about her quickly surfaced in his mind. He had asked Tobirama to compile ninja files—not for Tobirama to memorize, but to help himself study them more efficiently.

Yuhi Kurenai, like in the original timeline, graduated alongside Asuma. Since childhood, Asuma had been pursuing her and shielding her—meaning she'd never truly experienced hardship.

So Kitahara asked, "Do you think you've worked hard enough?"

"Yes," Kurenai Yuhi nodded.

"Then try harder," Kitahara replied.

"No, what I mean is, I have worked hard—"

"Have you really?"

"Your effort is less than one-third of Yūgao Uzuki's, less than half of Kakashi's, and not even one-thousandth of Might Guy's."

"Yūgao had no real achievements during her Genin days, but she worked tirelessly. She learned Konoha-style kenjutsu and rose to the rank of Tokubetsu Jōnin through swordsmanship alone. Then she joined the Anbu. Even when not on duty, she practiced fifty thousand swings every day."

"Kakashi? Don't be fooled by his tired appearance. He was always training."

"I was in the same class as Kakashi," Kurenai replied quickly. "He's a genius—"

"Don't dismiss all his effort as just 'genius'," Kitahara snapped.

Kurenai went silent.

"As for Might Guy..."

"He was in your class too, and he didn't even pass the academy entrance exam. He had zero aptitude for ninjutsu."

"But he never gave up. He trained twice as hard. Since the day he joined the academy, he's done over a billion repetitions of Taijutsu drills—Leaf Hurricane, Konoha Whirlwind."

"He ran around the village thirty thousand laps."

"And now, he's a real Elite Jōnin."

"Still think you've worked hard?"

"Your physical stats are poor. That's true. But have you ever done ten thousand reps in a day?"

"Your theoretical knowledge is lacking. During the Chūnin Exams, how many written questions could you answer?"

"Naruto and Sasuke couldn't answer them at first either. But they combed through the village library. Read every book."

"And yet... you say you've worked hard?"

"What were you aiming for?"

"Watering flowers, trimming grass, raising a cat?"

"Eating dango with Asuma and drinking with Anko?"

"Even Anko trains harder than you."

Might Guy: This...

Might Guy: I can't believe it...

Kakashi: Why?

Might Guy: Kitahara Hitoshi understands me perfectly. He said exactly what's in my heart.

Might Guy: I've always been chasing you, Kakashi. You're a genius... but you still train hard. So what about ordinary people like me?

Might Guy: If effort isn't enough... I can only try harder. If I can't do 500 push-ups, I punish myself with ten laps around Konoha. If I can't finish ten laps, I do a thousand punches...

Might Guy: Now that I think about it, I've been drenched in sweat for years.

Kakashi: ...

Kakashi was silent.

He knew it was true. He was called a genius from a young age, inheriting his father's talent. But he also knew talent wasn't enough.

So he trained. At twelve, he created Chidori, later Raikiri.

Was that just talent?

No. He worked hard.

He hated the title "genius"—it erased his sweat, his sacrifice.

He trained to get stronger, because Obito gave his life to show him that strength comes from will.

Even Obito... worked hard, awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan right before him.

Hashirama: ...

Hashirama: Are you all this intense?

Tobirama: Big brother, shut up.

Tobirama's Records: I support this.

Hashirama: Huh?

Hashirama suddenly found himself under attack.

But... it wasn't wrong.

For ordinary ninjas, not children of the Sage of Six Paths...

Sage of Six Paths: ...It seems the young ones are truly trying their best.

Hamura: Big brother, stop talking.

Hamura: You don't even use hand seals in your jutsu. You'll get attacked if you speak now.

Sage of Six Paths: Uh...

Minato: That may be, but...

Minato: The situation seems bad.

Tobirama: What happened?

Minato: Kitahara-kun... made Kurenai cry.

Tobirama: ...

In the live broadcast, everyone could see Yuhi Kurenai crying as she used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Temple of Fire.

She returned later—only to take her student away.

Black Zetsu: ...

Though Black Zetsu was online, Kaguya was also watching.

As usual, she was nibbling on Chakra fruit pieces prepared by Kitahara Hitoshi.

But this time... something seemed wrong.

The small white rabbit form of Kaguya—sitting on Kitahara's shoulder or head—didn't do anything. She simply observed, nibbling the Chakra fruit silently.

Yet when Kurenai burst into tears... Black Zetsu noticed something off in Kaguya's expression.

Kitahara Hitoshi might be ruthless, but he must never make Kaguya cry.

Only...

As Yuhi Kurenai cried, Kaguya looked shaken.

The current Ninja Rabbit and Little White Rabbit also seem to be thinking—has he really been working hard? Or perhaps... she never truly tried. That's also correct. If she had exerted herself, maybe she wouldn't have been sealed by her two unfilial sons from the very beginning, then forced to endure a thousand years, and even now, she still has to put in effort just to recover her original strength.

Eighteen...

Has she really been too slack?

That seems to be the case.

Z—

Kitahara Hitoshi noticed a rabbit bite mark on his right hand. The Ninja Rabbit had bitten him. He had thought Kaguya's power system was unnecessary—yet he was still bitten. A black rod appeared under his left sleeve, materializing from thin air.

!!

Hinata noticed it.

...

"This thing is best left alone," Kitahara Hitoshi quickly stopped her.

Simultaneously, he activated the gate of Black Rod X to the Temple of Fire.

Boom!

The moment Black Rod X made contact, the gate lost all color. The entire wall connected to it turned gray and then quickly disintegrated, crumbling like dry mud into dust.

"This is…"

As the host of the Temple of Fire, Jilu was stunned. The temple was supposed to be protected by enchantments, yet not only did the barrier vanish, even the outer walls collapsed and disappeared.

Too shocking.

The big pillar stared blankly: What is this?

Namikaze Minato: Is that some kind of instant-death jutsu?

Senju Tobirama: Yes. This is the first time I've seen a ninjutsu that causes immediate death.

Hamura: Big Brother…

Sage of Six Paths: …Yeah.

Hamura referred to him as Sage of Six Paths, recalling how a thousand years ago, after the two of them first rebelled against their mother, she had used this technique—Total Ashes Annihilation. Back then, they didn't know what kind of move it was. Their mother used it, but not against them.

Looking at it now...

As long as it lands, it's instant death.

Hamura: In other words...

Sage of Six Paths: Yeah.

In other words, back then, Mother had the power to finish the two of us. But she didn't. She held back. Yet we turned around and sealed her without mercy.

Sage of Six Paths: Maybe this title of mine... is truly deserved.

The big pillar was speechless:!?

He realized the two brothers—Sage of Six Paths and Hamura—had both entered a state of remorse and self-reflection.

Black Zetsu observed silently. He noted how the two foolish elder brothers didn't expose their mother's identity—smart. As for the technique? Of course she had such a move. Mother was simply too kind.

Time passed.

Several days later, Kitahara Hitoshi's vacation ended.

At the Hokage Office—

"Speaking of which…" Kakashi, while submitting documents, finally opened his mouth. If he was going to say anything, it should be about himself first. Kitahara Hitoshi had returned to the village, yet hadn't acknowledged him. This made Kakashi want to cough blood. But then he wondered—could this be a test?

So he said nothing and instead reported normal village affairs.

"The ninjas in the village have been on edge lately," Kakashi began. "Kitahara-kun didn't announce any upcoming assessments, yet rumors have spread. Chūnin, Jōnin... all of them are nervous."

Tobirama listened closely and responded.

"That's expected. Most of the rankings and standards were already messed up under Sarutobi's system."

"And then you have those who lost the chance to become ninjas due to injuries sustained while protecting the village—they also need to be recognized. Subsidies for that group must be arranged."

Tobirama believed in clear rewards and punishments. Naturally, these subsidies should be funded by copying the estates of certain disciples and reallocating them.

He also now understood what happened to the Fourth Hokage's two hundred million ryo. Danzo had embezzled it all for Orochimaru's Sharingan experiments. Damned Danzo. Then there was the Uchiha clan's wealth—most of what could be touched had been funneled into Root's development and Hashirama Cell experiments. Installing Sharingan drained chakra, so Danzo had to supplement with Wood Style cells. Damned Danzo.

...

Kitahara Hitoshi nodded. "This is something that needs to be added to the agenda."

"But if we're going to reassess all ninjas in the village, we'll also need to update the village records."

"As for me, I can recall about 80% of the village from memory. But even I might be mistaken."

"So the remaining 20% might need assistance from the Second Hokage," Kitahara added. "Kakashi-sensei, you too can help."

"Eh?" Tobirama paused.

Update village records? What records?

Big Pillar Hanhan: Tobirama, what does Kitahara Hitoshi mean?

Senju Tobirama: I'm not sure.

Namikaze Minato: Update the records?

Namikaze Minato: That's worth considering.

Big Pillar Hanhan: Tobirama, hurry and follow him—go!

Big Pillar Hanhan: Kitahara Hitoshi's on the move!

Senju Tobirama: Eh…

Tobirama quickly followed with Kakashi.

They arrived at the Valley of the End. The massive statues of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara still stood tall at both ends. But Kitahara Hitoshi wasn't there to pay homage to the founders of Konoha.

He pulled out a scroll from his pocket.

As he unfurled it, the blank sections of the scroll revealed sealed marks.

Kitahara Hitoshi lightly tapped the back of the scroll. One of the three hidden maps appeared.

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