"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 186: Whirlpool
After the Second Hokage's era ended, the young ninja Sarutobi Hiruzen became the acting Hokage.
Well, actually, he wasn't that young—he was exactly thirty years old at this time.
However, at his age he was still considered an immature ninja. People were particularly critical of ninja who hadn't experienced the chaos of war, and securing the Hokage position would be no easy task for him.
At this time, a considerable number of ninja hoped Yūshin could become the next Hokage. While the younger generation of ninja weren't very familiar with him anymore, the older generation certainly wasn't extinct yet.
Prestige, popularity, strength, achievements—there was nothing questionable about any of it. Yūshin's status alone as founder of The Fireflies was sufficient to make him the next Hokage.
But Yūshin had no such ambitions. The Konoha left behind by the Second Hokage wasn't exactly riddled with internal contradictions, but it had certainly developed "big corporation syndrome," which made Yūshin feel there was no need for him to take over Konoha... After all, whoever occupied this position couldn't do much better—or much worse.
Yūshin had already been an entrepreneur once; he didn't want to start a second venture. So the next Hokage's selection still followed the Second Hokage's dying wishes.
However...
Let's put it this way: Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't even suppress his peer ninja, let alone those old-timers who had survived the war.
Old-timers naturally had their own style—how could they possibly submit to young people?
Look at their previous leaders: first came the invincible "God of Shinobi" Hashirama Senju—nothing to say there, Hashirama was a charismatic leader.
Then came the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Though Tobirama's prestige didn't match Hashirama's, he had been Hashirama's right-hand man in conquering the world, and had actually shared in the First's glory. Therefore, he was viewed as the First's successor, and no one had objections to him.
But what about the Third? Sarutobi Hiruzen—put that name alongside Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, and does it harmonize? It's completely out of place.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't up to par—maybe if they dug up his father Sarutobi Sasuke, that would be different.
But there was no helping it—Yūshin refused to become the Third Hokage... Being ranked behind Hashirama was acceptable, but why should Yūshin be ranked behind Tobirama and be diminished by a generation? Yūshin rejected such self-deprecating behavior.
I, Yūshin, am not inferior to Tobirama in this lifetime, and my character surpasses Tobirama's by a thousandfold... No, that's not even character—that's "the radiance of humanity."
But there was one thing Yūshin could never beat Tobirama in: Tobirama was Hokage, so his funeral standards would definitely be higher than Yūshin's... Wait, Yūshin still had his good friend Kiyosuke Shimizu. A Hokage could at most get a "village funeral," but when Yūshin died, he'd definitely get a state funeral.
Regardless, Yūshin had been roped in by Tobirama—at least during this period, he couldn't abandon Konoha.
Though unnecessary, Yūshin still handled Tobirama's remains according to his wishes... This really didn't matter much. Using Edo Tensei on Hashirama was a trump card, but what use was using Edo Tensei on Tobirama?
Flying Thunder God would have to transform from an offensive skill to a support skill—Tobirama's strength was inherently problematic.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was only the acting Hokage. Acting Hokage meant he wasn't the Hokage—at this time he couldn't even obtain the official "village chief" title granted by the Land of Fire's daimyo.
During this leadership transition, the only thing that satisfied most Konoha ninja was the village council leadership team... Since the Hokage's authority wasn't in the acting Hokage's hands, it naturally rested with the advisory council.
At this time, Konoha had five advisors: Yūshin, Mito Uzumaki, (Nara) Hideyuki, Ashina Uzumaki, and the Hyūga Clan leader.
Among them, the one who could actually handle daily affairs was Hideyuki—Yūshin and the others just served as stabilizing figureheads.
To put it harshly, Tobirama's timing of death was actually quite good.
The previous Shinobi World War had just ended, and the ninja villages hadn't yet accumulated strength for the next Shinobi World War, so his death wouldn't cause serious turmoil inside or outside Konoha... Ninja being dissatisfied with the new Hokage candidate didn't count as turmoil.
A month later, Konoha after the Second Hokage's death was finally basically straightened out. New Hokage, new atmosphere—the new power center began trial operations.
Meanwhile, the Hokage Rock carvings of the First and Second were nearly completed. You could say Tobirama's luck in his final life stage was quite good—he didn't even have to awkwardly look at his own three-dimensional giant portrait every day... Even someone like him could accumulate good karma—infuriating.
At dusk, Yūshin sat atop the cliff, gazing down at the village below with its scattered lights... He felt like not long ago he and others had stood here overlooking the forest below. Unexpectedly, the forest had become a village, and that person had become an old popsicle.
"Lord Yūshin..."
A voice sounded behind Yūshin. He turned to glance at the speaker, then smiled:
"Oh, it's Aoi. Please, sit."
Yūshin gestured for her to sit beside him. He felt like he was becoming everyone's confidant... confidant uncle.
"Still feeling upset?"
"Much better now, just... still somewhat confused."
Hagūgen Aoi was only thirteen—she couldn't really understand the concept of death... She wasn't a child who'd grown up during wartime. On the contrary, she was the Hokage's daughter and had previously lacked sufficient understanding of life's cruelty.
"What's there to be confused about? You're a ninja—just work hard to become the strongest ninja."
"The strongest ninja... Should I become someone like Uncle?"
"Hashirama? Why not Tobirama?"
"My father's strength was just so-so, completely insignificant compared to Uncle."
"..."
Yūshin paused, then burst into laughter. Too interesting—what a pity Tobirama couldn't hear this himself.
After laughing, Yūshin suddenly realized he really should retire... Well, he'd retired several times but never cleanly.
It was also time to cultivate the next generation.
"Aoi, extend your hand."
"My hand? Like this?"
Yūshin turned sideways and grasped Hagūgen Aoi's palm... After all, this child was named Hagūgen Aoi.
He began using the Spore Technique, converting two Kekkei Genkai into spores and transferring them to her—Boil Release and Storm Release.
For Yūshin now, Kekkei Genkai weren't particularly useful anymore—he had new ability development concepts... Besides, this didn't mean he'd lost these two Kekkei Genkai; he could still re-synthesize them later.
"How does it feel?"
"It feels... like my chakra is somewhat different, but I can't tell exactly how."
"Heh, you can gradually experience it later. Oh... I'm also giving you my sword."
Yūshin removed the bladeless sword Rushū and presented it to Hagūgen Aoi.
"Go on. You'll definitely become a stronger ninja than Tobirama someday."
After Hagūgen Aoi left carrying the sword, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been quietly observing everything, finally chose to appear.
"Lord Yūshin, I seem to have arrived at an inopportune moment."
"You have troubles too?"
Yūshin was somewhat speechless. A child comes to talk about feelings, and now an old guy also comes to talk about feelings? How could this be the same thing?
"I'm just worried I'm not doing well enough."
Yūshin stood up, sighing inwardly again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's build was relatively short—Yūshin could easily place a hand on his shoulder.
"Be more confident. Even if you don't believe in yourself, don't you believe in Tobirama's judgment?"
"Tobirama-sensei..."
Well, Tobirama actually misjudged people quite often. Overall, could he be considered someone who recognized and utilized talent well?
Hard to say.
"You lack presence. Look at that young girl just now—her life goal is to surpass the First Hokage. What about you? Do you want to surpass the First Hokage?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
You already said she's a young girl—only someone with a newborn calf's fearlessness and childish innocence could say such things. Me? At my age?
Sarutobi Hiruzen deeply suspected that if he claimed he wanted to surpass the First Hokage, Yūshin might throw him off the cliff.
"Show some spirit. Among the younger generation of ninja, you're the most suitable to become Hokage."
Yūshin patted Sarutobi Hiruzen's shoulder, then turned and left... He couldn't waste time being sentimental with grown men. One word of guidance was enough—those who understood would naturally understand.
"I'd rather make mistakes than do nothing at all"... If Sarutobi Hiruzen could say such words, he'd have overcome his character's weakness.
Look at the First—though cheerful, when it came time to flatten Madara Uchiha, he showed no mercy. As for the Second—no need to elaborate, rotten to the core.
Truly rotten to the core. After Tobirama's death, Yūshin not only had to help educate his daughter but even had to help educate his successor.
...
Konoha Year Thirty-One: The First's family welcomed another addition—a child named Nawaki was born.
This child was wonderful in every way, but the moment Yūshin saw his features, he knew this child was fated to be vulnerable to explosive tags. He'd have to remind the family to be careful in the future.
Konoha Year Thirty-Two, June, early morning.
Mito Uzumaki woke up as usual. She was no longer young but remained energetic... Uzumaki ninja possessed longevity genes.
In a certain sense, Mito Uzumaki was an extremely strong person. Though she'd lost her husband, her life attitude remained positive and upward... She understood a simple truth: no matter who was missing or who died, the world would continue turning.
In the morning, she handled some village affairs.
After lunch, she visited her daughter Senju D to see several children.
Besides Tsunade and the newborn Nawaki, after Tobirama and his wife passed away, Hagūgen Aoi was also adopted by Senju D.
Therefore, Mito Uzumaki was very satisfied with this life of doting on grandchildren—she even somewhat understood why Yūshin constantly clamored about retirement.
That evening, just as Mito Uzumaki thought this day would pass like any other, her elder sister Uzumaki Ruri suddenly appeared before her, then pulled her away with the same vigor as in their youth.
"Sister Ruri, don't rush—what's happened?"
"Something major—the old clan leader is dying," Uzumaki Ruri said.
Mito Uzumaki tensed momentarily, but immediately relaxed:
"Don't talk nonsense—the old clan leader's health is still quite good."
"Quite good? Hmph, what ninja lives to eighty or ninety... The old clan leader has rarely regained consciousness—he has something to tell us."
"You always have such a sharp tongue."
The two entered the Uzumaki residential area. Upon reaching the clan leader's home, they saw the emaciated old clan leader half-reclining in bed.
Though it was clearly summer, he was covered with thick quilts.
Despite being aged beyond recognition with all his hair and beard gone, Ashina Uzumaki's mental state was indeed quite good at this moment.
Upon seeing Mito Uzumaki and Uzumaki Ruri, he immediately dismissed the several Uzumaki ninja who were caring for him.
"You've come? Help me up."
"Old clan leader, don't strain yourself. With all this getting up and lying down, your old bones will fall apart," Uzumaki Ruri pressed Ashina Uzumaki's shoulder, preventing the old man from moving about.
"Clan leader, if you have any instructions, just tell us to handle them."
Mito Uzumaki agreed with Ruri's approach—old people refuse to accept their age and just like to fuss about.
Ashina Uzumaki shook his head and insisted: "Help me up."
Uzumaki Ruri had no choice but to bend down and carry Ashina Uzumaki on her back... She felt terrible, because the old clan leader truly wouldn't live much longer—he now weighed less than fifty pounds.
"Old clan leader..."
"To the basement."
"Yes, old clan leader."
The two brought the old clan leader to the hidden basement in this residence. They both knew the basement was actually empty except for that inscribed stone tablet.
After reaching the basement and sealing the entrance again, the old clan leader patted Uzumaki Ruri's shoulder, actually indicating she should put him down.
Uzumaki Ruri had no choice but to comply.
Unexpectedly, Ashina Uzumaki's face flushed with color, and his body actually regained mobility.
He walked unsteadily to the stone tablet, extended his fingertip to lightly touch the inscriptions, stopping at the final damaged line.
"The Uzumaki Clan has always had a secret rumor that's almost exclusively passed down among clan leaders."
At this point, Mito Uzumaki and Uzumaki Ruri exchanged glances—they could only let the old clan leader say whatever he wanted.
"When it was passed down to my generation, I initially paid it no mind."
"Until I heard that name."
"Do you know? I personally erased this final line of text... It was too absurd, but for the clan's fate, I had to carefully guard this secret."
"Old clan leader, what was the final line?"
Uzumaki Ruri also had to take this seriously—she was actually urging the old clan leader.
At this point, don't reminisce about the past. If the secret wasn't revealed before he died, who could they blame?
"This concerns the Uzumaki Clan's origins."
The old clan leader glared at Uzumaki Ruri, then closed his eyes and began reciting softly:
"From when the radiant fire ignited
The bloodied could breathe
A thousand years of lamentation began to cycle
People of the Whirlpool
By true name inscribe the prayer
Calamity gradually rises
Only you
Can shatter it
The twenty-first of the sixty-third year
Fulfill the mission
Return to true form
...
The Whirlpool is Yūshin"
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