"Pave the way?" Satoru didn't immediately grasp the Third Hokage's implication.
"Yes, pave the way," the old man confirmed seriously. "To become Hokage, you first need the Will of Fire. Yours burns fiercely; I've never doubted it. Not just me—Koharu and Homura acknowledge you too."
"Ninja Academy students are grateful to you. They're your peers, some older, but you won their support—and their parents', the people's support," the experienced shinobi continued, eyeing the youth. "Your strength speaks for itself: you're a master among peers and the shinobi world. Your body grows; power will too—you have limitless potential."
"Look at your missions—dozens of times more than anyone!"
"No matter how you see it, you're future Hokage. Even Orochimaru and Minato can't match your prospects. But to truly become one, do at least three things." The wise leader spoke candidly, a rare openness.
"What three things?" the young man asked curiously.
"First, daimyo support!" the village head explained. "Konoha is the Land of Fire's military. If the daimyo opposes your Hokage candidacy, no amount of our support helps. You understand?"
"What else?" He was ready to hear the full unspoken plan.
"Second, age," Sarutobi continued seamlessly. "Satoru, you may be wise beyond years, but years are years. Konoha sees you as potential Fifth or Sixth Hokage. But Fourth will likely be Minato. He's older, fits better, though not old..."
The youth said nothing. His age was indeed young, an irrefutable fact.
"I get that. What's the third?" the shinobi clarified.
"Last but most important—war merits!" Hidden Leaf's leader paused thoughtfully. "I've told you war looms. Lately, other hidden villages are suspiciously quiet, plotting something."
"I believe if war starts, you can seize the chance." The future Hokage hopeful understood: accumulate merits. Even daimyo couldn't object then.
"After First Shinobi World War, I became Hokage. After Second, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya got Sannin title from Hanzō Salamander... Tsunade vanished after her brother and lover died; Orochimaru guards borders year-round; Jiraiya's temperament unfit for Hokage..."
"So Orochimaru, Minato, and you—main future Hokage contenders," Konoha's leader stated confidently.
"Orochimaru's deep into forbidden techniques," he thought, "so no Hokage for him. Leaves Minato and me."
"So..." Satoru sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi leading to something specific, an unspoken subtext.
"So, go protect the daimyo now. Gain his support, don't neglect daily training. Your Hokage chances will soar," the mentor concluded earnestly, eyes locked on the young shinobi.
The young ninja realized the elderly Kage truly cared for his future, wishing him well.
"Hm... To become jonin, I need this daimyo guard mission. Plus, it'll hugely help future Hokage ambitions. No reason to refuse..." He quickly weighed pros, cons, benefits, risks.
"More benefits than losses! Good! I agree!" the young man accepted his patron's offer without hesitation and agreed to the mission to guard the Daimyo.
"Deal! But when I return, you must definitely make me a jonin!" Satoru exclaimed, fearing that Hiruzen Sarutobi might change his mind.
The Hokage gave an awkward smirk:
"Of course. I am the Third Hokage, and I keep my word."
Having received an affirmative answer from the village leader, the Hokage's interlocutor nodded in satisfaction.
"And what will happen to those kids?" He remembered the Academy students who had been studying under him.
"Don't worry, they all passed their exams with flying colors. Now they will become Genin, fresh blood of Konoha," the young man's mentor highly valued his teaching talents. To tell the truth, he wouldn't mind if he continued teaching the youth.
However, Satoru himself knew that his goal was not to be a chunin-instructor teaching children. To change the world, he needed absolute power and the greatest authority.
Returning home, the young man rested well that night, because the next day he was to set off on his journey.
The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, Satoru slung his travel pack over his shoulder and headed to the capital of the Land of Fire, where the Daimyo's residence was located.
The journey passed without any particular incidents, and soon the traveler reached the city where the ruler lived.
Every country has its own capital. The shinobi village in each country represents the military force, and issues like increasing or reducing the number of ninja require the Daimyo's approval. In other words, to a certain extent, the Daimyo holds supreme authority.
However, the village Kage's power is also quite great. Sometimes, when the Kage makes a decision, the Daimyo is forced to agree with him. The place Satoru was heading to this time was the capital of the Land of Fire.
The Daimyo lived in a castle surrounded by high fortress walls capable of withstanding a regular assault. These powerful fortifications inspired awe.
On the walls, not only ordinary warriors stood guard, but also ninja from Konoha, vigilantly watching the surroundings.
The young shinobi had not even approached the city gates when the guards stopped him.
"Kid? Who are you? Documents..." one of the guards roughly called out to him.
"I am a chunin from Konoha," the young man presented his identification. The guards were quite surprised to see such a young chunin, but in these times, geniuses were not that rare. Therefore, after a short check, they let him inside without further delay.
Entering through the gates, the young ninja found himself on the main street, flanked on both sides by numerous merchants and shops. However, judging by everything, trade here was not going too briskly.
"How's life treating you? Has trade always been this bad?" Satoru casually asked one of the sellers trading in foodstuffs.
"It's livable," the middle-aged man replied, wiping the counter. "It's pretty calm here, order is maintained. Trade isn't great, of course, but it's enough for bread with difficulty."
"Things are much worse in other countries than here. They say in the Land of Wind there's such poverty that people are practically trading children for food," the merchant added, lowering his voice.
"What? So not only is the economy in decline in the Land of Fire, but in other countries too..." Satoru felt a heaviness settle on his heart from these words.
"Yes, it's all because of the wars," the man sighed. "There's no money in the treasury, nothing to spare. All funds go to supporting Konoha... You ninja probably live in abundance?" the merchant recognized the youth as a shinobi by his clothes and demeanor.
Satoru silently nodded and, taking several Silver Coins from his wallet, handed them to the man.