PS: Good morning, noon, and night to all dear readers~~~ Meeting is fate, I hope this book brings you a different experience. If you don't like it, I wish you find a satisfactory book~
Note: The atmosphere in this book's comment section became warm, harmonious, and friendly from around chapter twenty. If your reading mood was affected by some bad comments earlier, (˃ ⌑ ˂ ഃ) this struggling author apologizes in advance~~~ This book has already made a name for itself in secondary creation, exceeding three thousand followers by chapter forty. If you want to build anticipation, you can glance ahead... After the First Great Ninja War, the Village was reorganized; the Second Great Ninja War was a passionate struggle... After the Second Great Ninja War, you can see Hiruzen's development, Danzo's infrastructure, Sakumo's farm, Hyuga's quality control, Uchiha's ore smelting... "When you're unhappy, go out and get some sun more often; a moldy mood will get much better."
"Cough... cough cough!"
Violent coughing, accompanied by a strange odor, instantly filled Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth and nasal cavity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly opened his eyes, gasping for air, his heart pounding.
Around him was a battlefield that had just quieted down.
Broken trees were still emitting smoke, the ground was pockmarked, and the remains of kunai and shuriken were scattered about.
In front of him, a man was half-crouching, his white short hair covered in dust, and his blue armor marked with shallow scratches.
It was the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
His palm was pressed firmly against the ground, his eyes closed, seemingly sensing something.
Around them, several figures formed a tight defensive circle.
Danzo Shimura, with his resolute face and gloomy eyes.
Uchiha Kagami, with his gentle demeanor yet three tomoe slowly spinning in his eyes.
And the serious-faced Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, as well as the burly Akimichi Torifu.
Every face was etched with exhaustion and vigilance.
This is... memories surged like a tide, crashing into his brain.
The Kinkaku and Ginkaku forces of the Hidden Cloud Village.
Pursuit.
Covering the retreat.
He had transmigrated, becoming the future Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And now, it was the critical moment of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's death in battle.
A huge panic seized his heart.
His body's instinct and the original owner's lingering will mixed together, making him blurt out:
"Teacher, let me cover the retreat!"
Beside him, Danzo Shimura's tightly clenched fist imperceptibly loosened for a moment, and the unwillingness in his eyes flashed, then was covered by more complex emotions.
Senju Tobirama slowly opened his eyes.
Those red eyes, now devoid of their usual sternness, instead showed a hint of relief and determination.
"There are at least twenty enemies, the elites of Kumogakure, and Kinkaku and Ginkaku are there."
His voice was calm, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself.
"Hiruzen, you have already done very well."
"Konoha..."
"There is no reason for the juniors to die first."
Senju Tobirama interrupted him, slowly standing up.
His posture was still upright, like an unshakeable mountain.
Everyone's heart sank.
They all understood what that sentence meant.
"From this moment on..."
Senju Tobirama's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, you are the Third Hokage!"
Boom!
This sentence was like a thunderclap, exploding in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
Hokage?
Me?
Now?
A huge sense of responsibility instantly enveloped him.
Senju Tobirama looked deeply at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Live."
"Protect the Village, protect the Will of Fire."
"Go!"
The last word carried an undeniable command.
Uchiha Kagami was the first to react, he reached out and grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi's arm, pulling him back forcefully.
"Go, Hiruzen!"
"Hurry up and go!"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado also immediately took action, guarding on both sides.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stumbled, passively retreating.
His gaze was fixed on that blue back.
Senju Tobirama did not look back again.
That back, which once gave them endless security, now appeared incredibly tragic and lonely.
He would face twenty elite Ninja of Kumogakure and Kinkaku and Ginkaku alone, buying them a chance to survive.
A huge sorrow and the confusion of becoming Hokage intertwined, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind blank.
It was at this moment that an emotionless mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[Detecting host's situation... Activating system...]
[Future Simulator, activated!]
A blue light screen, visible only to him, unfolded before his eyes.
[Currently facing a critical choice: How to lead the squad to a safe retreat?]
[Option A: Follow the original route, break through the eastern valley.]
[Option B: Risk retreating via the southern waterway, the journey is longer, but it may avoid the enemy.]
[Option C: Break through separately, each escaping on their own.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind was still in a state of stagnation.
How was it in the original work?
He couldn't remember, this period of history was too distant, and Kishimoto only briefly mentioned it.
But the original route must have been carefully considered and should be the safest choice.
He subconsciously wanted to choose A.
However, the moment this thought arose, Option A on the simulator panel suddenly turned a dazzling blood red.
Lines of small text appeared below.
[Initiating Future Simulation...]
[Choosing A, you will lead the squad into the eastern valley.]
[Half an hour later, you will encounter an ambush by Kumogakure, numbering over thirty, led by an elite Jonin. Kinkaku and Ginkaku have clearly made thorough preparations.]
[A fierce skirmish breaks out.]
[During the battle, to protect you, the newly appointed Hokage, Uchiha Kagami awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, and with the absolute power of Susanoo, annihilated the pursuers.]
[But his eyes suffered irreversible severe damage, his visual prowess rapidly declined, and his body sustained serious hidden injuries.]
[Although the squad successfully retreated, Uchiha Kagami died young several years later due to his severe injuries.]
[His death became one of the catalysts for the breakdown of relations between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, planting the first seed for the future clan massacre.]
The scene flashed by.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have personally witnessed that gentle man, with blood flowing from his eyes, opening a path for them with his life.
A chill shot up his spine to the crown of his head.
"What the hell!"
He cursed inwardly.
What a joke!
Uchiha Kagami!
This most important bridge connecting the Hokage and the Uchiha Clan, a key figure who died young in the original work, the root of the tragedy was actually here?
Absolutely not!
He must not be allowed to die!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind raced.
Why could Kumogakure predict their route?
The Kinkaku and Ginkaku unit... Right! Although they were pursuing the Second Hokage, within Kumogakure, this was considered a coup, not a defection.
Therefore, the high-ranking officials of Kumogakure were very likely secretly cooperating with their actions!
This ambush was fundamentally an official act of Kumogakure!
They wanted to wipe out the Second Hokage's direct disciples and the future high-ranking officials of Konoha in one fell swoop!
Realizing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
It's best to change the route.
His gaze swept over the other two options.
Option C, breaking through separately, seemed to have a higher survival rate, but as a newly appointed Hokage, if he abandoned his comrades and escaped alone, his prestige would instantly drop to zero, and he wouldn't be able to be Hokage.
So, only Option B remained.
The waterway.
"Hiruzen, make a decision quickly!"
Danzo's voice sounded from the side, with anxiety and a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.
He was also observing.
Observing what kind of judgment this rival, just chosen by his teacher, would make in a life-or-death situation.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado's gazes also turned to him.
They trusted their teacher's decision, but also needed to see that Hiruzen Sarutobi was worthy of that trust.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart.
He looked up, the sadness and confusion in his eyes having faded.
"Abandon the original route!"
"Change to the southern waterway!"
The command was crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.
Danzo's brows instantly furrowed.
"Waterway? That will be a much longer detour, and mobility in the water will be restricted. Once discovered..."
"Danzo, this is an order."
"I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi directly interrupted him, looking directly into Danzo's eyes.
At this moment, he was no longer the gentle comrade, but the Third Hokage of Konoha.
Danzo's words were stuck in his throat.
"I trust Hiruzen's judgment."
Uchiha Kagami was the first to speak in support.
He could feel that the Hiruzen now was different from before.
"Let's go."
Akimichi Torifu said in a booming voice; he always supported Hiruzen.
Koharu and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances. Although they had doubts, they understood that Hiruzen's choice was not baseless.
"Yes!"
The group no longer hesitated, immediately changed direction, and rushed towards the southern river.
The night was their best cover.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was constantly on edge, he kept sensing the Chakra fluctuations around him, his mind highly concentrated.
Time passed by second by second.
Half an hour.
An hour.
Until they were completely away from that area, the group emerged from the water and found a hidden cave to rest temporarily.
Danzo sat in the corner, his gloomy gaze fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, not saying a word.
Uchiha Kagami walked over and sat beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, handing him a water bottle.
"Thank you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it and drank a mouthful.
The crisis was temporarily averted.
And in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, that mechanical voice sounded again.
[Successfully avoided the initial branch of the Uchiha's decline.]
[Completed hidden mission: Continuation of the Will of Fire.]
[Mission rating: Perfect.]
[Issuing rewards...]
[Congratulations to the host, all five Chakra natures have been greatly enhanced!]
Instantly.
A vast amount of Chakra application techniques and combat experience flooded into his mind.
From hand seals, to Chakra refinement and nature transformation, to Ninjutsu control and range coverage.
Is this the power of the golden finger?
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the surging Chakra within him and his newfound understanding of Fire Release Ninjutsu.
A powerful feeling filled his limbs and bones.
Next, he would face Danzo's ambition internally, and the covetous gaze of various Ninja Villages externally.
He looked up at the dark night sky outside the cave.
Teacher, I will inherit your Will.
But I will do it in my own way.
Live, and lead Konoha to live on!