Why do people always try to deceive me?
Who dares to say Shimura Danzo isn't easy to anger?
Can Konoha find anyone who likes to lose their temper more than Shimura Danzo!
Akihara Kagura quietly watched the old man's smiling face, this old guy is clearly the culprit driving Shimura Danzo to the brink of murderous rage!
"Let's go fishing first!"
The old man leisurely blew a smoke ring, his smile benevolent: "Little one, if you don't eat enough at night, it might affect your growth..."
The old man looked at Akihara Kagura, seemingly unmoved, and continued: "If you get back too late and Danzo gets angry, I'll help you talk to him."
"Oh?"
Akihara Kagura raised an eyebrow, showing a provocative expression: "Lord Danzo is the Hokage Assistant in the village, does your word matter?"
"Danzo and I have been old friends for years..."
The old man nodded, showing obvious confidence in his eyes, very sure he could subdue Danzo: "Whenever I speak, he listens."
"Old folks love to boast..."
Akihara Kagura's face clearly showed a hint of displeasure.
"Grandpa is the Hokage of the village!"
Naruto Uzumaki quickly chimed in, but then clenched his tiny fist, adding: "But that's only temporary, when I grow up, I'll definitely replace him as Hokage, and I'll surpass him too!"
Just as Naruto Uzumaki said, the old man was indeed Konoha's Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, but he wasn't wearing the Hokage Kasa this time.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had originally been watching the spectacle in the Forest of Death from his office, intending to check the village's situation, and ended up seeing Akihara Kagura and Naruto Uzumaki together.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately seized the opportunity to meet these two little ones, passing on the Will of Fire to the village's future was something he always enjoyed doing.
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't put on airs, including Naruto Uzumaki, the children weren't afraid of the Third Hokage, they mostly just respected him.
Of course.
Some kids in the village didn't know the grandpa always strolling around was the Hokage, and when they suddenly learned it from others, they'd always go 'Wow' in surprise, changing their attitude to one of respect.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was happy to gently pat those kids' heads at such times, showing that the Hokage of the village was a kind and benevolent old man.
Such children often cherished the old man more.
Such children were more easily planted with the seeds of the Will of Fire.
However...
Today's a bit unexpected.
When Akihara Kagura learned the old man before him was the Third Hokage, after his initial shock, he even showed a hint of wary hostility!
"Hehe..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face still bore that kind smile, seemingly unfazed by Akihara Kagura's hostility, knowing that Danzo's kids were all a bit off.
"You... are the Third Hokage?"
Akihara Kagura warily eyed Sarutobi Hiruzen, frowned, and shook his head: "Doesn't look like a Hokage at all, a real Hokage should be like Lord Danzo..."
When Akihara Kagura said this, he seemed to recall Naruto Uzumaki's declaration about wanting to be the Hokage.
"Kids shouldn't dream!"
Akihara Kagura clamped Naruto Uzumaki's head, ruffling his hair: "You have no chance, Konoha's future Hokage will definitely be Lord Danzo!"
"Get your hand off!"
Naruto Uzumaki grabbed Akihara Kagura's wrist, loudly objecting: "Impossible! I'll be Hokage! That Danzo guy has no chance!"
"Why not?"
Akihara Kagura patted Naruto Uzumaki's head: "Konoha can be without anyone, but not without Lord Danzo! Lord Danzo will definitely be Hokage!"
"..."
Watching all this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes showed a bit of sharpness.
However, this sharpness vanished without a trace, the old man instantaneously reverting to that kind demeanor, as if it had never appeared.
"Oh?"
"Danzo wants to be Hokage?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled gently, continuing slowly: "He and I grew up together, I've never heard of him wanting to become Hokage..."
"..."
How could you say such things?
How could you say such heartless things?
Does this old guy know nothing of Danzo's thoughts?
Yes.
Danzo never told me.
But as Lord Danzo's top confidant, I surely know his thoughts!
While suppressing Naruto Uzumaki's attempts to continue his retaliation, Akihara Kagura earnestly asked Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Does Lord Danzo truly not want to be Hokage?"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily at a loss for words.
This question, if answered with a lie, might be exposed, leaving this young man with the impression that I lie—how could I pass on the Will of Fire in the future?
"Maybe he's thought about it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to use a nebulous tactic.
"I knew it."
Akihara Kagura patted Naruto Uzumaki, signaling the kid to quiet down, continuing to address Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Actually, Lord Danzo had thought of being Hokage, right?"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently nodded.
"Didn't the Third Hokage just say he and Lord Danzo were friends?"
Seemingly grasping the truth, Akihara Kagura began to casually concoct stories: "Maybe back then both the Third Hokage and Lord Danzo had a chance to run for Hokage, and Lord Danzo likely could have been Hokage, but he didn't want to compete with a friend and potentially lose their friendship, so he had to let the Hokage position go to the Third Hokage..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned grim.
Back then, his position as Hokage was directly appointed by the teacher, Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, it could even be called a mission given in crisis, Shimura Danzo never had a chance to be Hokage!
This kid...
The lens through which he views Shimura Danzo is way too strong!
Sarutobi Hiruzen faintly felt that the conversation's topic with Akihara Kagura had somewhat deviated; wasn't he here to pass on the Will of Fire to the village's future?
Why are they discussing his and Shimura Danzo's struggle over the Hokage position?
"Kid."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, blowing out a large smoke ring, determined to bring the topic back on track: "Hokage isn't a position for people to fight over, it's a responsibility to bear, the Hokage bears the hopes and recognition of everyone in the village..."
"Hokage..."
Akihara Kagura lowered his head, deep in thought, seemingly captivated by Sarutobi Hiruzen's words: "Needs to bear the hopes and recognition of everyone in the village?"
"Indeed..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice had a hint of fatigue.
Seeing Akihara Kagura and Naruto Uzumaki both fall into contemplation, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally nodded in satisfaction, intending to give these two little ones a solid lesson.
"Third Hokage."
Suddenly, Akihara Kagura's expression became earnest: "My hope is to have a bowl of steaming hot Ichiraku Ramen when I'm hungry..."
"Me too! Me too!"
Naruto Uzumaki raised his hand quickly, looking at Akihara Kagura and said: "When I become Hokage, I'll definitely treat you to ramen every day!"
"...Fine, I'll treat you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen clutched his pipe forcefully.
After all, he had just said that Hokage should bear all people's hopes and recognition, and at this moment, not fulfilling this couple of requests seemed it wouldn't inspire them to continue listening to the Will of Fire lesson...