45 - 45 - A Meeting in the Hokages Office

A day before Hiroto had the kids sign up for the graduation exam, he found himself in the familiar confines of the Hokage's office, a place that bore the weight of countless decisions shaping the future of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The end of another academic cycle was approaching, and this time of year was always going to be very busy for Hiruzen and the teaching staff. They had to group the fresh genins and assign them to their sensei, who would turn them into capable shinobi. This involved a ton of paperwork, thought, analysis, and a lot of discussions that had to be done with both the academy teachers and the new senseis.

That is why Hiruzen had asked Hiroto to come here today before the final exams had even taken place to get a jump start on the elite class that was sure to not have any kids fail the graduation exam due to the kids spending five full years in school.

As Hiroto entered, he bowed slightly, a gesture of respect and acknowledgment toward the leader of the village. "Lord Third," he greeted, his voice carrying a note of reverence.

In the dimly lit room, Hiruzen's attention was fully on Hiroto. He leaned slightly forward and posed the question, "So, do you think that all the kids in your class will try to graduate this year?"

Hiroto responded with calm assurance, "Yes, I don't see why any of them would wait; most of them could have graduated years ago."

Hiruzen, pleased, nodded his head at his response and said, "Good." He then looked down at a file on his desk and continued. "So for your elite class, you have 30 kids, which means that we should be getting 10 fresh elite genin squads this year, and hopefully all of them will at least make special jounin in a couple of years, and most of them should make jounin."

Hiroto interjected with a quick addition, his voice laced with a hint of pride, "And we also have the 3 prodigies and several geniuses who should easily make elite jounin within a few years."

Hiruzen, conveying his agreement through a gentle nod, remarked, "Yes, there are many in your group who have great potential; you have done well teaching them."

With a gleam of respect in his eyes, Hiroto bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Lord Third." After a short pause, he added, "Do you have any special considerations for the genin squads, or would you like me to make all the preparations and form them?"

With a few names already floating in his mind, Hiruzen leaned forward, sharing his thoughts, "I actually have two teams in mind. First, I'd like to put Fugaku Uchiha and Satoshi Senju on a squad. I'll allow you to pick the remaining third member for the squad, and we can discuss their sensei at a later date. I have an Uchiha and a Senju lined up that I think would do well as their sensei."

Hiroto, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, finally asked, "So we are going to split the three prodigies up?"

Hiruzen paused. The room fell silent as Hiruzen let out a weary sigh, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "Unfortunately, it isn't smart to have two Uchiha on the same team. There is no reason to put two Sharingans together."

He elaborated further, "I would like to put Izuna Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, and Hinoka Hyuga on the same team."

Hiroto mulled over the idea briefly before responding, "That sounds like a great plan. They would work well together. Having the Sharingan and the Byakugan on the same team works great together, and Minato will work well on whatever team he's placed on. Plus, he is a wind user, and both Izuna and Hinoka can use Fire Release."

Hiruzen quickly responded, "Yes, that's what I have considered."

Hiroto, a glint of curiosity in his eyes, before posing his question, said, "So, do you have an idea for their jounin sensei?"

With a warm smile, Hiruzen announced, "Yes, I have great hopes for this squad, and a jounin has just come back to the village after a long absence. I think he would be a perfect fit to teach this elite squad."

Hiroto's eyes sparkled with intrigue as he leaned in. He arched an eyebrow, the question slipping out almost carelessly, "Oh really, who is it?"

Hiruzen paused, contemplating whether to reveal the information. After a brief moment of hesitation, he finally relented and disclosed, "It is one of my students, Jiraiya."

Hiroto, unable to contain his enthusiasm, exclaimed, "Yes, I imagine there couldn't be a better pick for a sensei than one of the legendary sannin." Just a year had passed since the moment Hanzou proclaimed Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru as the three legendary Sannin, a decision that had reverberated throughout the shinobi world, casting them in the light of legends.

With a dignified nod, Hiruzen conveyed his pride in the renowned titles held by his three students. He confidently affirmed, "Yes, so now that we have those two teams out of the way, I will trust in your judgment to pick the rest."

He then handed over a file and continued, "Here is a list of all the available jounins that would be good to pick for an elite class like yours."

With a bright smile, Hiroto received the file, a symbol of the trust placed in him. "Thank you, Lord Third. I will do my best to pick the best 8 squads I can make."

Hiruzen offered a nod, his features alight with seasoned wisdom. "I'm sure you will," he stated, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken trust and expectation.

As the conversation dwindled to a natural close, Hiroto seized the moment to ask, "Is that all, Lord Third?"

Hiruzen offered a nod of approval, his expression conveying deep gratitude. "Yes, that will be all. Thank you for all your hard work for the village," he declared, his words carrying the warmth and esteem he held for the efforts made on behalf of their home.

With a subtle bow, Hiroto acknowledged the moment, then quietly departed from the confines of the office.

With a contemplative air, Hiruzen shifted his focus to the unseen, his words echoing softly, "So what do you think?"

Jiraiya, who had been lounging on the windowsill of his office, smoothly climbed in, an air of nonchalance about him. He casually dusted off his clothes before fixing an incredulous gaze forward. "And why would I want to train some snot-nosed brats?" he asked, the words rolling off his tongue with a blend of disdain and curiosity.

Hiruzen turned his gaze towards Jiraiya, a hint of challenge in his tone. "And what about the three orphans you've taken under your wing these past few years? Training them in the middle of a war, no less."

Jiraiya, caught off guard by Hiruzen's knowledge, paused for a moment before replying. A light chuckle escaped him as he said, "Oh, you heard about that, huh?"

Hiruzen's reply came swiftly, "Yes, Tsunade told me about it when she and Orochimaru came back, and you decided to stay in Amegakure."

Jiraiya paused, reflecting for a brief moment before replying, "Yeah, well, those kids were special. I see something in them, and they're orphans, so who else will help them if not me."

Hiruzen, his voice tinged with pride, answered, "Well, these three kids that I'll have join your squad are all very special as well. The girl Hinoka is a genius, and Izuna and Minato are both prodigies like I haven't seen in years."

Jiraiya arched an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smirk. "Two more prodigies, you say," he mused, his voice laced with a blend of curiosity and skepticism.

With a tone rich in pride, Hiruzen announced, "Well, there's actually three, but one's not going to be in your squad. However, with your help, these three kids, Izuna, Minato, and Hinoka, will easily make elite jounin within a few years. You know we need the extra help in this time of war, so please do it for the village even if you don't want to. Besides, you've been away from the village during wartime for far too long now. The least you can do is what I ask of you now that you're back."

Jiraiya let out a sigh, his eyes rolling in mock frustration before he acquiesced, "Fine, you win. Since you asked nicely, I guess I'll teach the three kids."

Hiruzen, wearing a gentle expression, sincerely offered, "Thanks."

Jiraiya, with a playful smirk on his lips, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. His voice, tinged with mock indignation, said, "Like you didn't know I'd eventually give in."

With a gentle smile playing on his lips and a hint of curiosity in his eyes, Hiruzen inquired, "So, have you talked to Tsunade or Orochimaru?"

With a thoughtful frown creasing his brow, Jiraiya leaned back, his voice carrying a blend of curiosity and concern. "I talked to Tsunade recently, but I haven't seen Orochimaru in a while." The quiet around them seemed to absorb his words, adding gravity to their meaning.

The two continued to catch up deep into the night, both giving their different insights into the war.