Arata felt that this body of his could completely master the secret techniques of those ninja clans.
However, he didn't rush to try. After pausing for a few minutes, he simply returned those secret techniques to their places and turned his attention to other scrolls.
He memorized the positions of all the scrolls that interested him, though to an outsider, it looked like a bear blindly picking corn, grabbing one, tossing another aside as he went.
Until finally, Arata walked to the deepest shelf and took down the two newest yet most ancient-looking scrolls from the top.
As he opened them and swept his gaze across the contents, his eyes narrowed instinctively.
Hiruzen… really did leave behind something good.
"Chidori?"
"Yin Seal?"
A look of natural delight appeared on his face as he sat cross-legged and began reading them carefully.
This reaction, however, caused Hiruzen, watching through a crystal ball in the Hokage's office, to frown.
"As expected… still too young. Too impatient," he muttered.
The truly powerful techniques were all in the Scroll of Sealing, S-rank forbidden techniques, secret arts, sealing jutsu, even A-rank techniques like the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. Naturally, Hiruzen would never leave that scroll here.
In his view, even B-rank techniques were already extremely valuable for Arata.
Outside, if any small or mid-level force obtained a B-rank technique, it could easily bring disaster upon them, even attracting the attention of Kumogakure's "bandits."
If not for Arata's evident talent and his recent performance, Hiruzen wouldn't have opened the Forbidden Techniques Library to him at all.
As for placing Chidori and the Yin Seal there…
Perhaps there was a hint of expectation, but more so, it was a test of Arata's character.
If he chose to steadily train in B-rank Wind Release or taijutsu, Hiruzen would rate him highly.
If he chose sealing techniques or other elemental jutsu, then slightly above average.
If he chose only the Yin Seal, perhaps slightly below average.
After all, even if Arata couldn't master it quickly, it would at least make good use of his chakra control.
But choosing both Chidori and the Yin Seal?
"Worst possible choice," Hiruzen sighed in disappointment. "Greedy and shortsighted. He doesn't even understand that biting off more than you can chew leads nowhere."
His original intention was simple: to let the boy pick suitable techniques before heading to war and strengthen himself.
Once on the battlefield, blades had no eyes.
If Arata earned merit, he might later gain access to far greater techniques, like the Spirit Transformation Technique once used by Dan Katō.
"Unfortunately… still too immature."
Even allowing Arata into the Forbidden Techniques Library had been a somewhat emotional decision on his part.
With that thought, Hiruzen stopped watching, ending the Telescope Technique, and returned to reviewing documents.
Konoha's vanguard forces had already been assembled; there was still much for him to handle.
Inside the Forbidden Techniques Library…
Sensing that the prying gaze had vanished, Arata finally smiled.
He stood and walked toward the clan secret techniques, spreading them all out in front of him.
'Now, let's see how much I can master in this time.l
'Ōtsutsuki bloodline… show me your limits!'
"Phew…"
After an unknown amount of time, Hiruzen exhaled deeply, setting down the last document. He instinctively looked out the window.
Winter nights came early, the sky was already dark, and the white streetlights below had all been lit, casting long shadows behind him.
Snow stretched endlessly into the horizon, dull and lightless.
Children's laughter drifted in from outside, like bubbles rising to the surface before bursting into sound.
"Already six?"
Hiruzen glanced at the time, his stomach protesting as he remembered he hadn't eaten lunch.
But before going home, there was one more thing to do.
With that thought, he left his office and calmly headed down to the underground level.
"If I'm not mistaken, that foolish boy must already be regretting his choice," he thought. "If necessary, I'll give him a few words of guidance… and perhaps temporarily let him keep the Yin Seal scroll."
Reaching the tightly shut door, Hiruzen formed hand seals to remove the barrier and seals, then gently pushed the door open.
Buzz!
A chaotic, piercing sound filled his ears, making him pause instinctively. Looking up, his pupils shrank.
Arata sat cross-legged in a corner, far from the shelves. Sweat soaked his white high-collared shirt, clinging to his back and chest, outlining a lean yet powerful frame.
Violent, uncontrolled chakra surged into his right palm, transforming into countless thin arcs of lightning that crawled outward, leaving brilliant blue trails in the air.
His knuckles were pale from tension, veins bulging along the back of his hand. His skin was scorched a dark brown, with tiny cracks oozing blood, quickly cauterized by the burning electricity.
"So that's how it is…"
Arata muttered as he stared at his arm with the Byakugan, seeming to understand something.
Hearing the door open, he looked up.
Their eyes met, and Hiruzen saw that those eyes were shining with astonishing brilliance.
In the next moment, Arata clenched his hand.
The chaotic lightning that had been wildly scattering suddenly collapsed inward!
Chiii!
The sharp screech fell silent for an instant, then erupted into a far more intense, condensed, and piercing sound, like a thousand birds crying at once, overwhelming the senses.
"Third Hokage-sama!"
Arata stood up excitedly, looking at the stunned Hiruzen.
"I learned it!"
The violent Lightning Release chakra was now tightly confined within his palm, no longer scattered sparks, but forming into something tangible.
Dense, visible lightning condensed into a solid mass.
Countless tiny but deadly arcs danced across its surface like living serpents, distorting the surrounding air itself.
That pure blue glow illuminated Hiruzen's vision completely, drowning out the candlelight.
"You…"
Looking at the boy before him, Hiruzen opened his mouth, and suddenly found his throat dry.