Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 122 I Will Not Allow Jiraiya to Be Naruto's Teacher

Uchiha Shisui asked, "Lord Natsume, if Lady Tsunade returns, will it affect your bid for the Fifth Hokage?"

Xia Zuo thought for a moment and said, "It will definitely have an impact, after all, she is the last Senju, the source of all medical ninjas in Konoha."

"The vast majority of my supporters overlap with Tsunade's supporters. If she also participates in the competition, it will be a battle of wits, and the outcome will be difficult to predict."

Uchiha Izumi frowned and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Xia Zuo said nonchalantly, "It's okay, we'll try our best. If we still don't succeed, then it's just that the time isn't right yet."

"We are all young and have plenty of time to continue working hard and build the necessary foundation for future success."

"Moreover, while our preparations may be insufficient, Lady Tsunade, who spends her days in casinos and taverns, is even less prepared, or perhaps completely unprepared."

"In short, stay calm, do your best in your work, and strive for the best results."

Naruto and Tenten were still young and only half understood what they were hearing.

But the two children were very obedient, so they loudly replied, "Yes, Brother Xia Zuo!"

Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Izumi, and Hatake Kakashi exchanged a glance.

They were of different ages, but had all experienced a lot and could understand Xia Zuo's words to varying degrees.

The three bowed their heads in admiration: "Yes, Lord Xia Zuo."

Of course, this was just Xia Zuo's way of comforting people.

Since he has enough strength, why should he hand over the initiative to someone else?

As night deepened, Hiruzen Sarutobi left his bedroom, his mind unsettled, and went for a walk in the yard. Gazing at the pale crescent moon, he seemed lost in thought.

"Don't you understand why you can't sleep?"

Xia Zuo appeared silently in the courtyard, smiling as he said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Actually, you sensed the aura I deliberately emitted; it gave you a creepy feeling."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly ripped off his pajamas, revealing his battle armor underneath: "Xia Zuo, what are you trying to do by infiltrating the Hokage's mansion?"

Xia Zuo laughed and said, "You know perfectly well what I'm asking, my Third Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked incredulously, "You dared to kill the Hokage?"

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "Why would you think I wouldn't dare kill you? Is it because you're strong, or because you think I'd be afraid of Konoha's rules and wouldn't dare to lay a hand on you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I truly did not expect you to be so audacious."

Xia Zuo shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, no, Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen must have thought of that, otherwise he wouldn't be so fully armed."

-

"But you seem to habitually rule out this correct answer."

"Hehe, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, have you noticed that for the past ten years, you've always ruled out the right answer before making a decision?"

"Then you'll wait for the result, accept it with resentment, and tell yourself: this is something I had no choice but to do."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback, then his expression grew increasingly grim.

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "This situation proves that you've gotten old, Hiruzen Sarutobi Jonin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi angrily retorted, "No matter how old I get, even if I'm no longer the Hokage, that's no excuse for you to commit violence!"

Xia Zuo said frankly, "You're right, I won't kill you just because you're old."

"So I patiently planned and waited for the right moment to launch a coup and oust you from power."

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly: "But you still came, carrying an evil killing intent."

Xia Zuo sighed and said regretfully, "I had no choice but to leave you with this situation."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, you're still so active even after you stepped down. Not only did you bring in Jiraiya to poach my talent, but you also went to Tsunade to hinder my path to Hokage."

"To be honest, I hold the real power in the village. Whether I become the Fifth Hokage or not is just a matter of opinion."

Xia Zuo naturally lied: "Besides, I'm only 17 years old. Waiting for a generation, becoming the Sixth Hokage is perfectly acceptable for me."

"But you actually want Jiraiya to become Naruto's teacher, which is something I absolutely cannot tolerate."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered, "You're not even Hokage yet, and you're already scheming to befriend the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Your ambition is enormous. Why make an excuse to oppose Jiraiya becoming Naruto's teacher?"

"Jiraiya was able to train Minato Namikaze, so he is the most suitable person to be Naruto's teacher."

Xia Zuo shook his head and said, "If Jiraiya is just Jiraiya, then you are right."

"Unfortunately, Jiraiya has been brainwashed by the Great Toad Sage and is no longer a ninja of Konoha, but a ninja of Mount Myōboku."

"The puppet ninjas of Mount Myōboku are naturally unsuitable to be Naruto Uzumaki's teacher."

"I will not entrust the twins of destiny to Mount Myōboku. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha must be ninjas from Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened: "What did you say? Naruto and Sasuke are both chosen ones? They, they are twins of destiny?"

"Xia Zuo, you seem to know a lot of information that I don't?"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi expressed his surprise and asked for details, he suddenly slammed his hands on the ground without warning.

A circular array of psychic runes unfolded around his hands.

[Spiritual Spell: Summoning the Vajra]

While he was speaking, he quietly prepared and completed the spell without using any seals.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's summoning jutsu failed. Not only did the Vajra Monkey not appear, but even the white smoke from the spatial exchange did not materialize.

Xia Zuo's smile remained gentle as he nodded in confirmation, "Yes, I know a great deal of secret information; it's one of my biggest secrets."

"This secret may eventually be exposed, but I won't give you the opportunity to pass on intelligence now."

"So before you came in, I set up a barrier to disrupt the environment for using the spirit communication spell, so that you wouldn't have the chance to inform the Vajra Mountain Ape Clan of the information."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out a kunai and asked, "When did the Konoha Village Barrier Team develop such a powerful barrier?"

Xia Zuo was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "I don't have time to take down the barrier class."

"This is my own ability. This barrier is not strong enough to stop the Flying Thunder God Technique, let alone the Kamui. It can only stop the Summoning Technique, sound, and light."

This is the Lv6 level [Electromagnetic Control] shared by Misaka Natsusa in the last dream. It has been combined with Magnet Release on Hokage Natsusa, and transformed into a wide-area sealing ability.

However, he hasn't had enough time to become familiar with it, and it's not yet perfected to the point where he can instantly create a barrier or forcefully seal upon contact.

However, given enough time, Xia Zuo can independently create a barrier to seal off an area, blocking sound, light, and spiritual communication.

It was precisely because of this ability that he decided to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi in Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath: "Enough with the nonsense. If you want to kill the Third Hokage, then come on up!"

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