Fourth Raikage A:
Here's another joke, everyone: Sarutobi Hiruzen swings his staff, and even Uchiha Madara has to kneel! Hahaha!
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki:
@Fourth Raikage A – You're really on a roll with these jokes! That one was hilarious too! Hahaha!
OldLadyPretendingToBeYoung:
So you're saying Sarutobi Hiruzen's staff technique is so strong that even Uchiha Madara would kneel? That would make him the strongest Hokage in history, wouldn't it?
Fourth Raikage A:
@Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki – Got another joke. Let me know what you think.
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki:
Hurry up! I can't wait.
Fourth Raikage A:
The strongest Hokage in history—Sarutobi Hiruzen—only ranks seventh on the Five Kage Combined Ranking! Hahaha!
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki:
That one might be the funniest yet! Hahahaha!
ImmatureKidWhoLovesTsunade:
@OldLadyPretendingToBeYoung – Old lady! Just thinking about the fact that you were the disciple of the so-called "strongest Hokage in history" who only ranked seventh has me dying of laughter!
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@First Hokage Hashirama Senju @Second Hokage Tobirama Senju – That wasn't my wording! That's what the scroll said as part of the reward description!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
Also! Let's not forget—my students, the Legendary Sannin, were nightmares to the shinobi of other villages during that era! You all saw it yourselves!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
And everything I did—was for the sake of the village!
Kakashi Hatake:
@Everyone – Hear me out... What if the scroll's evaluation is accurate?
Fourth Raikage A:
What do you mean?
Kakashi Hatake:
@Fourth Raikage A – It's like your "100% Hit Rate: One Thousand Years of Death." For the Third Hokage, it's "100% Staff Catch"—but the catch is literal.
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki:
I don't get it. How is catching a staff the same as getting hit in the most sensitive spot with the Thousand Years of Death?
Fourth Raikage A:
Exactly! Catching a stick is nothing! How does that compare to my technique?!
Kakashi Hatake:
It might be about the posture.
Nara Shikamaru:
Ah, I see! Kakashi-sensei, you're saying the posture of catching the staff is the key, right?
Kakashi Hatake:
Exactly. When the Third uses his staff strike, the target is guaranteed to catch it—possibly in a kneeling position.
Nara Shikamaru:
So the target doesn't just catch it voluntarily—it's forced. And maybe the only way to "catch" it... is by kneeling.
Kakashi Hatake:
Right. That's why the scroll says: Even Uchiha Madara has to kneel!
Uchiha Madara:
Seriously? That's absurd! I'm insanely strong, and the Third Hokage is garbage compared to me. And yet if he swings that staff, I have to kneel and catch it?!
Second Hokage Tobirama Senju:
Looks like the Third's reward has little actual damage—but maximum humiliation.
Second Hokage Tobirama:
@Sarutobi Hiruzen – You stinking monkey! From now on, you are absolutely forbidden from using a staff!
Uchiha Madara:
Hahaha! Tobirama, this is the first time you've done something decent. I completely agree with this ban!
Uchiha Izuna:
Niisan, don't worry! If Sarutobi Hiruzen ever dares use his staff against you, no matter where I am, I'll rush in and take the hit for you!
Uchiha Madara:
Onii-chan!
Uchiha Izuna:
Niisan!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Second Hokage Tobirama – Sensei! You can't do this! My main weapon is a staff! You can't ban me from using it!
Second Hokage Tobirama:
You don't get a say in this!
Tobirama thought to himself: If he ever got the chance, he'd definitely clean house.
Even though he believed he could defeat Hiruzen effortlessly—
If that stinking monkey used the staff technique against him, he'd have to kneel and catch it, no matter how strong he was.
How humiliating!
And if Hiruzen decided to get petty and kept using it on him...
Wouldn't he be stuck kneeling forever?
No. Absolutely not.
Tobirama Senju would never allow Sarutobi Hiruzen to wield a staff again.
Konoha – Chūnin Exam Venue
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was extremely ugly.
Earlier, he had been quite smug.
He'd assumed he might take the #1 spot on the ranking.
Instead, he got seventh.
And the reward? Not a power-up, not an attack—just a humiliating, troll move.
How could that compare?
Other people's rewards drastically boosted their strength.
Even Fourth Raikage A's reward—when paired with Lightning Release or a spiked club—was brutally powerful.
But him?
He ranked seventh, and got a joke of a reward.
He sighed...
Then suddenly, his eyes lit up.
Wait!
Just like Hashirama had said...
His reward might not deal direct damage, but...
The target is forced to kneel and catch it with their bare hands.
So what if... he coated the staff in poison?
What if he combined the staff strike with other ninjutsu?
Wouldn't that be devastating?
Because—
The scroll said 100%.
Even someone like Uchiha Madara—the God of Shinobi—would be forced to kneel and receive the strike.
If used properly, this move could be unbeatable.
And best of all—
It was incredibly humiliating!
Hiruzen's gloomy face turned into a grin.
Suddenly, it didn't seem like such a weak reward at all.
In fact, it might be very powerful.
And his summoning beast—Monkey King Enma—also used a staff.
If Enma got the same bonus...
Then he really might be unstoppable.
Enma could handle the staff work, and Hiruzen could unleash his ninjutsu when the enemy was forced to kneel.
After all—
He was the so-called "Ninjutsu Professor", mastering all of Konoha's techniques!
Hahahaha!
Now he really might be invincible!
Not only did he contribute more to Konoha than any other Hokage—
But in terms of combat ability, maybe he really was the strongest Hokage in history.
Grinning ear to ear, Hiruzen suddenly tagged the entire chat group.
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Everyone – Fine, I'll admit it! That whole "strongest Hokage in history" thing? I'm the one who had it spread around the village!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
Because—it's true! I am the strongest Hokage in history!
Anyone got a problem with that? Anyone who disagrees—step up!
Let me test my staff on you! Hahaha!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Everyone – Remember my name—Sarutobi Hiruzen!
I am the strongest Hokage in history!
No, scratch that—the strongest in the entire ninja world! Hahahaha!
After Hiruzen's declaration, the entire chat group went dead silent.
No one replied.
Everyone was stunned.
Was this guy going insane from disappointment over his ranking and reward?
Did he really believe he was the strongest Hokage?
The strongest ninja in the world?!
What kind of delusion was this stinking monkey spouting?
Konoha – Chūnin Exam Venue
Hiruzen actually burst into laughter in real life.
Everyone nearby gave him weird looks.
Especially Orochimaru, who was standing right next to him.
He had felt a bit wary of Hiruzen earlier...
Now, he exhaled in pure relief.
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