Dream on, old monkey! Put Ryo under your power? That's not going to happen! It was enough that in the last war Ryo had to be on the front line and not only perform the duties of iryonin, but also personally go into battle, although the place of such a specialist is exclusively in the rear, where he would be of immeasurably more use.
- Ryo is busy training and honing his shinobi skills," Nara shook his head regretfully, "which he would have to give up if he returned to work at the hospital, but even an excellent iryonin needs to improve his skills, so Ryo is willing to see patients privately.
- That's a shame, but it can't be helped," Sarutobi nodded and announced, "The meeting is over, thank you all for your work.
***
- Hiruzen, you've been a bit hasty with your latest escapade," the kunoichi turned to the Hokage with a frown, as soon as the trio returned to the office at the top of the tower and the Anbu guards were dispatched, "your reputation among the clans is already tarnished, and now the clanless shinobi will begin to question who's right and who's wrong.
After the recent spat, Danzo never stayed for such gatherings, and this time he hurried back to Anbu Ne's official base.
- I know, Koharu, I know," the Third Hokage sighed tiredly, sinking back into his chair, "but I couldn't do otherwise - Nara had too much influence, pulling the weak clanless kunoichi to the point of getting all three of them into the third stage, and Jiraiya's successes are unquantifiable, and you know what that means.
- We'll have fewer possible candidates for your position, while our rivals will have another," the Elder tightened her lips in frustration, "except that Ryo Nara is already a possible candidate in light of the recent information, and your and Jiraiya's reputations will soon be tarnished.
- Our forces have too much faith in the Will of Fire to understand such a questionable move if you put it in the right perspective," Homura nodded, agreeing with her and added, "and the Nara's have definitely prepared for a shift in public opinion in their favor, or they wouldn't have brought the Founders and Uzumaki to their side with their recent spectacle.
- I was prepared for accusations and even demands for justice in the form of a title for the eliminated genin, but I only played into his hands by giving him a good excuse to further boost his nephew's reputation, while hurting myself more.
- Rumors are already flying around Konoha that Jiraiya used the Hokage's power to clip the wings of his rivals after his team failed in the second stage," Homura said, adjusting his glasses, "and with a shinobi's reputation for using such methods against his own for the sake of a dispute, he's hardly likely to gain support for becoming village leader, and I'm surprised he hasn't come running to demand an explanation.
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