The next morning, Shiro was escorted to the Hokage's office by two Anbu ninja.
Upon entering, Shiro couldn't help but silently think, What luck...
On the left was the kind and gentle Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting in a wheelchair, while on the right stood the gloomy and menacing Danzo Shimura.
What did I do to deserve the summons of these two old schemers together?
Shiro nervously swallowed, his gaze shifting left and right, but he avoided making eye contact with the two.
"Hmph!"
Seeing Shiro's reluctance to look at them, Danzo grunted, starting the conversation.
"Shiro, where did the power of the Nine-Tails come from?"
Shiro: Uh…
That's a rather blunt question. How am I supposed to answer this?
Should I tell you it was a system reward? Would you believe me?
After thinking for a while, Shiro decided to play dumb.
"Power of the Nine-Tails? Lord Danzo, what is that?"
"The power you unleashed yesterday," Danzo clarified.
"Oh… I don't know."
"When did you first notice you had this power?"
"I'm not sure."
"Then why did you lose control yesterday?"
"I don't understand."
A perfect denial, Shiro thought to himself with sincerity.
Danzo: …
Shiro: Totally honest here.
Smack!
Danzo slammed his palm on the Hokage's desk, turning to Hiruzen with an angry shout.
"Hiruzen, are you seeing this?!"
"With his attitude, are you really confident you can teach him? It's best to have him join me, where he can be properly trained."
Seeing Danzo's frustration, Hiruzen felt a sense of amusement and smiled gently as he waved his hand.
"Danzo, you're scaring the boy."
"Shiro, can I ask you a question?"
Ah, here comes the kind cop, now I can relax.
"Yes, of course, Lord Hokage. Please ask."
"I want to know, when you were with Naruto, did you notice anything strange? Did you feel something entering your body?"
Hiruzen had spent the entire night thinking about this. There were two main ways to obtain Tailed Beast chakra. One was becoming a Jinchuriki, and the other was absorbing the chakra of a Tailed Beast.
The Nine-Tails was sealed by the Fourth Hokage, with one half inside him and the other sealed inside the infant Naruto Uzumaki. The seal on Naruto's stomach remained intact, meaning that the Nine-Tails chakra had not been taken from him, and the half sealed in Minato's body was unlikely to return.
So, the chakra inside Shiro could only have come from absorbing the Nine-Tails chakra from Naruto.
Shiro was stunned hearing Hiruzen's guess.
I've been struggling to find an excuse to explain yesterday's incident, and now you've just handed me the perfect answer. Hiruzen, you're a lifesaver!
Shiro nodded vigorously.
"Ah, yes, yes, that's right, Lord Hokage! I've been feeling that for a while now."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, stroking his beard.
"I see, Shiro. I have one more question. Can you still use that kind of power from yesterday?"
Shiro could, but he didn't want to answer like that.
He pretended to gather strength for a moment before lowering his head in dejection.
"It seems like I can't. The power is gone."
Both Danzo and Hiruzen frowned at his response.
So it's a one-time thing?
Looks like our plans to rely on this kid to solidify the Hokage position are shot.
Shiro felt the atmosphere change. The warmth in their eyes had vanished, replaced by a faint, chilling killing intent.
"Hmph."
Hiruzen and Danzo are thinking the same thing, huh? Those two old foxes!
"But…"
Just as Hiruzen was about to order Shiro's detention, the twist came.
"I feel that if I stay around Naruto for a few more days, the power will return."
Hiruzen and Danzo were both stunned.
Wait, what?
You mean you're like a charging battery, and Naruto is your charger?
Hiruzen immediately decided not to lock Shiro up and resumed his warm smile.
"Ah, I see now. I understand."
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo, remembering their conversation from last night. The idea of using a human-shaped charging battery to replace a real Nine-Tails Jinchuriki didn't sound bad.
Hiruzen made up his mind and spoke again.
"Shiro, I called you here not only to clarify yesterday's situation but to discuss one more thing."
"Our Hokage assistant, Danzo Shimura, wants to recruit you. What do you think?"
Danzo was left dumbfounded, staring at Hiruzen in disbelief.
What?!
I was going to use the kid to get the deal done with Naruto, not recruit him as a soldier!
Meanwhile, Shiro looked even more shocked.
What the hell?!
Just as I get my system power, this old man Danzo already has his eyes on me?
This is bad!
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, can I have some time to think about it?"
Hiruzen nodded.
"Hmm, no problem. I'll give you one day, but you can't leave the Hokage building. I'm sure you'll come up with a satisfactory answer in a day."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
After saying this, Shiro turned and walked out of the room.
After Shiro left, Danzo couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Hiruzen, you—"
"You don't need to say anything, Danzo. I've agreed to your terms."
"Wait—"
"No need to wait. I've already made up my mind."
Hiruzen summoned two clones to escort Danzo out, locking the Hokage office door firmly.
Clang!
…
With nowhere else to go in the Hokage building, Shiro returned to his specially made cell.
As soon as he entered, he felt frustrated.
Damn!
Those two old foxes must have struck some secret deal behind my back.
Hiruzen's pretending to ask for my opinion, but he's already cut off all options except Danzo.
I only have one day.
To find a way to break the current situation, I must…
"System, begin simulation."
[Random talent extraction in progress, please wait.]