"What! Jiraiya ran off? Orochimaru said he's busy?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared blankly at the report from the Anbu ninja. What was going on?
Were these his disciples?
Were these his most successful disciples in "brainwashing" with the Will of Fire?
They couldn't even be bothered to participate in the selection of Hokage candidates. How disgraceful!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff of his cigarette, feeling quite vexed. Jiraiya, that fool, was understandable. He was naturally carefree and a difficult person to pin down.
But Orochimaru was his favorite disciple! Diligent, studious, meticulous in his work, and incredibly talented. How could he possibly be busy?
This was impossible!
Unbeknownst to Hiruzen, Orochimaru's mental state had been shattered by Jiraiya recently. He was holed up in his laboratory, refusing to come out. In the past, Orochimaru might have vied for the Hokage position, but he had already decided to defect. The village would never permit the things he intended to do.
Moreover, compared to a "god-like" power, the position of Hokage seemed trivial.
Most importantly, Orochimaru felt that if he had to face Jiraiya again, he would be tempted to beat Jiraiya to death, let alone compete with him for Hokage.
"You may go. Summon Minato Namikaze."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke. Now, with only Minato Namikaze as a Hokage candidate, it was exactly as Lin Yu had predicted!
Could it be that Jiraiya and Orochimaru's absence was also Lin Yu's doing?
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. Although Uzumaki Lin Yu was a bit unreliable, he should have some restraint when it came to Hokage candidates. He wouldn't go this far!
As for Fugaku Uchiha and Danzo Shimura, the former, as the Uchiha clan head, Hiruzen could never allow him to become Hokage. He knew very well that if Fugaku became Hokage, he would only seek benefits for the Uchiha clan. This alone was enough for Hiruzen to make up his mind.
The village needed balance, not the dominance of one clan. This was unacceptable.
As for Danzo... Hiruzen Sarutobi had already retired. What right did Danzo have to take over?
He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was the Hokage, and his word was final!
*Bang!*
The door to the Hokage's office was pushed open, and Danzo entered with a stern face. He looked down at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said sternly, "Hiruzen, I've heard everything. It's your own disciples' fault for giving up their opportunities!"
"But you can't possibly make that brat Minato Namikaze the sole Hokage candidate because of this. He's too young and inexperienced to be Hokage!"
"Hiruzen, let me do it. Only I am fit to be Hokage. If you can't do it anymore, let me! I will definitely make this village the strongest in the ninja world!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Danzo's rambling. He took a drag from his cigarette and said calmly, "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"You!"
Danzo was frustrated! What did Hiruzen mean by that? Was he calling Danzo too verbose? Or was he saying Danzo shouldn't meddle in affairs?
Damn Hiruzen, you'll regret this someday!
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "Danzo, you are too radical. The war has just ended. The village needs to recuperate and needs a young, energetic Hokage to lead them!"
"I think Minato is quite suitable!"
Danzo opened his mouth, about to say something else, when he heard Hiruzen continue, "You don't need to say anything more! I am the Hokage! Do as I say!"
Danzo was stunned. He had never seen such a formidable Hiruzen Sarutobi!
However, a strange feeling suddenly arose in Danzo's heart. Why was Hiruzen only this domineering towards him? Did he think Danzo was easy to bully? He was even scolding him!
I am your dear little Dan-dan! You damn scumbag Hiruzen!
Danzo said coldly, "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "I am the Hokage!"
Danzo: ... Can't you say something else? You're the Hokage, so you're amazing. I'm leaving! I'm leaving, okay!
Danzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a cold expression for a while, then flicked his sleeve and stormed out. This Hiruzen Sarutobi was infuriating!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long drag of his cigarette, feeling very pleased. Arguing with Danzo was so enjoyable. It seemed retirement wouldn't be boring after all.
He would visit Danzo's Root headquarters occasionally and have a chat with Danzo!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a crystal ball from his drawer. He touched it, and Danzo's figure appeared in the transparent crystal ball. In the image, Danzo seemed to sense something and glanced back suspiciously. Hiruzen quickly turned off the screen.
He chuckled inwardly: Danzo, you can't escape my grasp! (Just for chatting purposes~)
For a moment, the Hokage's office was filled with smoke. Minato Namikaze, who had just arrived, hesitated at the door.
Minato Namikaze covered his nose in disgust as he saw the thick secondhand smoke seeping from under the door. Becoming Hokage... did it involve so much anger?
He was starting to... hesitate!
...
On the streets of Konoha, Lin Yu was heading towards the Hokage building, hoping to find some novel missions. Perhaps a plea for help from the Land of Demons, or a flying fortress from the Sky Ninja Village. He wanted to see if he could trigger any missions with astonishing rewards.
He was getting sick of the routine missions in recent years. This cheap, second-hand system was probably out of resources, or perhaps he had exhausted all the missions for this generation. He would have to wait for the next generation to be born before any "unusual" missions would be released.
Lin Yu had also been trying to fuse attributes, even attempting to combine Yin and Yang to awaken the true Rinnegan. But he had made no progress. His pupil power was increasing slowly, like a snail. Lin Yu felt there was a barrier between him and the Rinnegan, a barrier that could only be broken by completing a certain mission!
"Eh? Are you Uzumaki Lin Yu?"
Lin Yu turned his head to look at the person approaching. Two Hyuga with Byakugan, and... Neji?
If that was the case, Minato would become Hokage this year, Naruto would be born next year, and then Minato would kick the bucket!
Ahem, he shouldn't kick the bucket. After all, Obito had no reason to kill Minato Namikaze. If he wanted to kill someone, it would be me, Uzumaki Lin Yu, his teacher.
Hiashi Hyuga glanced at the spacing out Lin Yu with disdain, adjusted his collar, and said, "Uzumaki Lin Yu, you..."
"Has your wife given birth yet?" Lin Yu blurted out.
"???"
Hiashi Hyuga was momentarily stunned, then cursed, "What does it have to do with you whether my wife has given birth or not!"
This Uzumaki Lin Yu was as annoying as Kushina! Why did he immediately ask about someone's wife giving birth? It was as if he cared more than I, the father!
"Sorry, sorry! I just saw that your younger brother has already had a child, so as the elder brother, are you... incapable?"
Lin Yu scratched his head. What he just said was indeed inappropriate. He was just too impatient.
"Who are you calling incapable! Next year, my wife will definitely give birth to a chubby boy!"
Lin Yu pouted, "It'll definitely be a girl."
Hiashi Hyuga was enraged, "Impossible! It will definitely be a male heir like Neji!"
Lin Yu put his hands behind his head and chuckled, "Wanna bet?"
Hiashi Hyuga's mind raced, and he roared, "Let's bet! It'll definitely be a male heir!"