A hopeful prospect.
The group was walking together back to the Village, Shirubā asleep on Jiraiya’s shoulders, Lord Tobirama in the lead, Tsunade and Orochimaru on either side of their former teammate, and Hiruzen bringing up the rear, looking at the sleeping child. When first he had seen, the newly named, Shiruba from their vantage point in the forest trees, called out to investigate the reports of dark smoke clouds raising from an outlying settlement, he thought the boy must be fragile; in need of protection, with no family, barely any food, and his injured shoulder. When this small boy leapt from his shelter, kunai in hand, prepared to kill whoever had come upon him to survive, the Sarutobi man had begun to realize his mistake. When the boy had barely made a sound as his shoulder was reset he was certain he had been horribly wrong, and at last when he first saw the flickering fire in those golden eyes as the boy accepted their offer to become a soldier in a war the boy had already suffered losses from, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the leaf had just gained an immeasurable treasure.
When they arrived at the gates, the guards announced their arrival as Nawaki ran out to greet Tsunade with a hug and asked about the boy on Jiraiya's back. Lord Second went off to arrange a place for the boy to stay and his enrollment into the Ninja Academy. Orochimaru lingered for a time then went off on his own once Jiraiya was called away to take the child to his new home and Tsunade went off with her brother. Hiruzen has a good feeling about this boy, he only hoped he was right this time.
Hiruzen headed off to the markets, purchasing some basic supplies for Shirubā, kunai, shuriken, scrolls and the like. He got books on the fundamental aspects of Chakra and its manipulation, use of ninjutsu, taijutsu basics, and genjutsu principles. He couldn't tell what the boy’s affinities might be so he settled for getting the basics of them all. Well maybe his instructors would be able to figure it out, tomorrow would tell. The fueter Third Hokage had a sense that this pupil would not take long to graduate from the academy and this thought brought a smile to the thirty year old’s face.