Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint whisper of wind from the open windows. Jiraiya's lips thinned, his usual jovial demeanour replaced by a rare seriousness. Renjiro's fists clenched beneath the table, his nails biting into his palms.

He had fought to escape the jaws of death in Kumogakure, only to return to a noose tightening around his neck. Now, his actions—a little bit reckless, but necessary—had become the linchpin of a potential war. The weight of it all pressed against his chest, but he forced himself to remain steady.

Hiruzen exhaled, the sound heavy with contemplation. His gaze flickered between the three men before finally settling on Renjiro. "This is a dangerous game, Renjiro," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "One with no easy moves."

"I'm aware, Lord Third," Renjiro replied, his tone resolute despite the unease twisting within him. "But I stand by my actions. I did what was necessary to protect the mission and the village."

The Hokage regarded him for a long moment before nodding, his expression unreadable. "Let us hope it was enough."

Shiba folded his arms, his gaze distant as he considered the broader implications. "The question now," he said slowly, "is how we handle Kumogakure's ultimatum without sparking the war they so clearly want."

Hiruzen, Shiba, and Jiraiya exchanged a brief glance, unspoken words passing between them. Finally, the Third Hokage cleared his throat.

"That will be all for now, Renjiro," Hiruzen said, his deep voice carrying the weight of finality. "The briefing is over. Take this time to rest and recover."

Renjiro hesitated for the briefest moment before bowing respectfully. "Understood, Lord Hokage," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. As he turned to leave, Jiraiya's voice stopped him mid-step.

"Hold up, kid," Jiraiya called out, a casual yet commanding tone cutting through the silence. "Wait for me outside. I'll be out in a moment."

Renjiro nodded curtly before exiting the room, his footsteps muffled against the wooden floor. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the three older shinobi alone. For a few moments, silence enveloped the room.

Jiraiya crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his expression a mixture of bemusement and disbelief. "Well, that kid's got guts. I mean, going toe-to-toe with a jinchūriki at his age? That's either bravery or insanity."

Shiba let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Daring, indeed," he said, his tone laced with dry humour.

"And yet, it's that kind of audacity that makes him a double-edged sword. Courage like that can cut through the enemy… or slice through your own side if wielded recklessly."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him as he gazed thoughtfully at the flickering flames. "He reminds me of Tobirama-sensei," he said quietly, his voice carrying a tinge of nostalgia. "Brilliant, fearless, always willing to take the riskiest path if it meant protecting the village. That kind of courage is rare, even among shinobi."

Jiraiya snorted, a wry grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't have been so daring at thirteen. Back then, I was still trying to figure out how to stop getting pelted by Tsunade's punches."

Shiba smirked at that but quickly sobered. "Daring or not, he's growing stronger, faster than most shinobi his age," he said, his tone more serious now.

"That's both a blessing and a curse. The stronger they get, the more likely they are to see brute force as the solution to every problem. And guess who has to clean up the mess when that happens?"

Jiraiya chuckled. "You, I assume?"

"Exactly," Shiba replied dryly. "It's exhausting."

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office remained tense, the only sound being the occasional rustle of papers on Hiruzen's desk. The weight of unspoken truths lingered in the air as Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped together in a contemplative gesture.

Jiraiya straightened, his usual air of levity replaced with a rare seriousness. "What are we going to do about the leak?" His voice cut through the quiet, drawing both Hiruzen and Shiba's attention. "We all know who's behind it."

The Hokage's gaze darkened, his features hardening. "I will handle it," he said firmly, his tone leaving little room for argument.

Shiba and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. They knew better than to press Hiruzen on this issue. His reluctance to confront Danzo was a frustration they had shared for years, a source of endless debates that always ended in the same way—Hiruzen's unshakable loyalty to his old comrade.

Shiba sighed, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. "You know as well as I do that this won't end well if it's left unchecked."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low and resolute. "It is not a matter for discussion. I will address it in my own way."

Jiraiya chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Your own way, huh? Just don't wait too long. The last thing we need is Danzo stirring up more trouble while you're busy looking the other way."

The remark was pointed, but Hiruzen let it slide, his expression remaining stoic. He turned his attention to Shiba, who had been quietly observing the exchange.

"What about Kumogakure's ultimatum?" Shiba asked, leaning forward slightly.

"What path are we taking there?"

The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, his features etched with the weariness of years of leadership. He exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. "This isn't a decision we can make lightly," he said at last. "The council needs to be involved. The consequences of a wrong move here could plunge us into another war—one we cannot afford."

Jiraiya nodded, his expression grave. "Fair enough," he conceded. "But whatever path we take, we can't afford to let our guard down. Renjiro might've escaped this time, but next time, it could be worse."

The faintest hint of a smile tugged at Jiraiya's lips as he added, "Still, I've got to admit, the kid's got guts. Facing down a jinchūriki at his age? I wouldn't have dreamed of doing something like that back when I was thirteen."

Shiba arched an eyebrow, his tone dry. "No, you were too busy trying to peep into bathhouses."

The quip drew a laugh from Jiraiya, easing some of the tension in the room.

Hiruzen allowed himself a faint smile, his gaze thoughtful. "Renjiro's progression is satisfying," he said, his voice carrying a note of pride. "If he continues on this path, he may one day rival even the greatest shinobi of our generation."

Jiraiya tilted his head, his expression curious. "You're thinking about the Hokage selection, aren't you?"

The Third Hokage didn't answer immediately, his thoughts momentarily distant.

'If we can avoid war for another decade, who knows? Renjiro might give Minato, Orochimaru, and even Jiraiya himself a run for their money.'

Jiraiya blinked, caught off guard by the unspoken implication. "Wait, you're serious, aren't you?"

Hiruzen's eyes met Jiraiya's, his expression unreadable. "In fact… perhaps I should consider training him myself."

The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Shiba's usually composed demeanor faltered for a moment, his eyebrows rising in surprise. Jiraiya, on the other hand, let out a low whistle, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Well, well," Jiraiya drawled, leaning against the wall with a smirk. "The Professor himself, is considering taking another student? I never thought I'd see the day."

Shiba shook his head, a faint chuckle escaping him.

Hiruzen ignored their reactions, his focus turning inward. "Renjiro has potential. If nurtured properly, he could become one of Konoha's greatest assets. It's my duty to ensure he's prepared for the challenges ahead."

Finally, Hiruzen straightened, "Shiba, ensure that a council meeting is scheduled. We'll need their input before any final decisions are made regarding Kumogakure."

Shiba inclined his head, rising smoothly to his feet. "Understood, Lord Hokage."

'More work for me as always' He thought to himself

Jiraiya followed suit, stretching lazily as he pushed away from the wall. "Guess that's my cue to head out," he said, his tone lighter now. He paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder with a teasing grin. "Try not to scare the kid too much with your training, old man."

Hiruzen allowed himself a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

As Jiraiya opened the door, he let out a low whistle. Instantly, the ANBU operatives who had been dismissed earlier returned, silently taking their positions around the room.

Jiraiya glanced back at Hiruzen one last time, his expression thoughtful. "I already have the information from Kumo, I will hand it to the Research team to verify it. After that I will get back to you."

With that, he stepped out, Shiba following close behind. The door closed quietly behind them, leaving the Hokage alone with his thoughts. Hiruzen's gaze returned to his pipe, his mind heavy with thoughts

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