Naruto: Thrown Into the Leaf
Chapter 33: No Time Left to Rot

"A good leader doesn't seek power. He's called to it."

— Jon Snow, Game of Thrones

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[First-Person POV – Hiruzen Sarutobi]

The room was silent… too silent.

I stood in the middle of my study, hands clasped behind my back, eyes fixed on the far wall.

There were notes pinned to it — strategies, names, something that I had to do. A sealing tag pinned to the door — so no one would hear me. This had become routine over the years now, a conversation with the ghosts… and with my conscience.

My body ached. The weight of years had settled into my bones like lead. I hadn't slept in days. Perhaps longer. And the dreams, if I could even call them that — when they came — were filled with faces I failed.

Tobirama-sensei. Nawaki. Dan. Minato. Even Orochimaru.

So many names. So many dead.

A sound,

Then the door opened, and there stood Jiraiya — tall, reeking of sake

(Pic)

He looked at me for just a moment before he frowned. "You look sick, Sensei."

I gave him a tired smile, or the best I could manage. "Sick men lie in bed and rot," I said quietly. "I don't have the luxury for that."

Jiraiya stepped forward, his voice lowering, and serious now. "Do you really have to do all this yourself? Sensei."

I turned slightly, enough to meet his gaze. My voice came out softer than I intended, but each word was heavy. "Time is the one enemy I can't outwit Jiraya. If I wait… if I die lying in this house like a weak old man, even the insects will mock me. I'd rather go out in a blaze — cleaning up the mess that I created, fixing what I can. At least then, when I meet Tobirama-sensei in the Pure World… I'll have something to show him."

There was silence between us. He understood, even if he didn't want to.

I turned fully, facing him. "Listen, Jiraiya. After this… find Tsunade. She's the only one who can hold this village together."

He sighed. "She won't come back. She hates the village now… and hates the title more than I do."

"Then convince her." My voice sharpened, but not from anger. "Because if she refuses… you'll take the mantle."

He looked like I slapped him across the face.

"I don't want to be Hokage, Sensei. I never did."

"Then try harder to make Tsunade say yes," I said, voice low and firm. "The village can't go leaderless. If you can't convince her… then you will become Hokage. That is my will."

He didn't answer with words. He just vanished, in a puff of smoke.

I stood there alone for a moment longer. My hands were still behind my back,

Then I stepped outside. The sun hadn't risen yet, but I didn't care. I walked toward the Hokage Tower, one slow step at a time.

When I arrived, I said nothing to the shinobi standing guard. I entered my office, sat down for only a moment… then I called.

An ANBU knelt before me within seconds, silent as death.

"Go," I said quietly. "Call for Otis."

The war hadn't come yet.

But the board was set—

and time…

time was bleeding out faster than I could stop it.

***

[Third-Person POV]

Location: Training Field 9 – Morning

Mist clung to the grass and the village was still mostly asleep.

The sun hadn't even risen when Otis arrived at the designated training field.

This place was different — all dirt and rock, scorched in places, as if lightning had struck the ground repeatedly. The trees at the edge were trimmed back, and the open space stretched wide like a battlefield.

He stood there quietly, eyes scanning the empty field.

No one.

Then—

A gust of wind.

And a BOOM as a cloud of dust exploded just ten feet in front of him.

Otis didn't flinch.

From the swirling haze of wind, a tall figure stood—dramatically lit as if the world itself paused for his entrance.

Green jumpsuit. Orange leg warmers. Bowl cut. Eyebrows like black commas that were pressed too hard.

(Pic)

Otis blinked.

"…You must be Otis!" the man declared, voice louder than necessary and brimming with… unshakable enthusiasm.

Otis didn't answer immediately. He just nodded once.

The man struck a flamboyant pose. "I am MIGHT GUY! THE BLUE BEAST OF KONOHA! AND TODAY…"

A pause.

He spun on one leg mid-air 

"…YOU BEGIN YOUR PATH TO TRUE BURNING YOUTH THROUGH TAIJUTSU!"

Otis stared.

Another silence.

Otis folded his arms. "Right."

Guy's expression softened just a bit. He walked forward, the drama leaving his voice. "The Hokage told me you were strong. That you've trained your body beyond most academy students… no—beyond most chunin."

Otis unfolded his arms. "I've trained on my own. I'm not helpless."

"I know," Guy said with surprising calm. "You've got power in your body. I can feel it from here. But raw power without form is like a blade without a handle — you'll hurt yourself before the enemy."

Otis tilted his head.

Guy grinned. "That's why I'm here."

A moment passed.

Then Guy broke it with a sudden leap backward.

"SHOW ME YOUR STRIKES, YOUNG OTIS!"

Otis didn't speak. He just stepped forward into his usual fighting position — low, arms loose and slightly back. His knees adjusted automatically to the slight slope in the dirt. He'd done this a thousand times.

Otis struck.

Straight and Sharp. A jab aimed clean for Guy's chest.

Blocked.

Otis's follow-up was a twisting elbow. Guy ducked. Otis spun into a sweep.

Guy backflipped.

Then came a blur of green — Guy was right in front of him. No warning.

Otis leaned back just enough — the incoming palm grazed his forehead. He swept with his leg—

But Guy was already gone.

A chuckle came from behind. "Not bad."

Otis turned, eyes narrowing. "I wasn't ready."

"The enemy won't wait for you to stretch." Guy struck a dramatic stance, and flashed a thumbs up — his teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

Otis struck again.

A kick. A feint. A pivot.

Blocked or Redirected.

Guy never struck back 

Otis's frustration was growing by the second.

Then Guy leaned in mid-motion and whispered:

Otis froze.

Just for a second.

"You've trained your body well. But taijutsu is also communication. You don't just break things. You read them."

Guy stepped back with a casual chuckle.

"Today, we fix your stance. Tomorrow, we build your flow. And in one year—"

He pointed to the sky.

"—you will not just be strong. You will be flawless."

Otis stared.

"LETS START WITH TEN THOUSAND PUNCHES!"

"EACH ONE FILLED WITH YOUTHFUL FLAME!"

Guy gave a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing so brightly it practically blinded a bird flying overhead.

The bird squawked, veered off course, and crashed into a nearby tree.

"Welcome to taijutsu training!"

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(A/N)

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